By Janet Silvera, Gleaner WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
OCHO RIOS hotelier Camille Ramdon and UPS division manager Robert Walker Jr. lit a large white candle; lip-locked passionately and released 12 white doves indicating their unity and the birthing of their new life together.
The occasion was their wedding ceremony... the venue, the non-denominational seemingly vintage Prospect Chapel in St. Mary the guests were a combination of international and local flavour.
The bride and her wine-red dressed maids, who kept the groom and his red and white dressed groomsmen waiting for an hour, arrived at 5:00 p.m. in a stretch Limousine Mercedes Benz. Wrapped in an elegant, lily white Demetrius design, the nervous and obviously smitten Camille, stood outside the church door awaiting her cue.
"I can't wait to see him, he is sooo handsome and he has the character to go with his good looks," she confided lovingly.
Her anticipation and urgency was soothed by the sound of the voice of Jamaica's queen of soul Karen Smith, who opened the ceremony with the 'The Lord's Prayer.'
When it was time to walk to the processional hymn; Camille on the arms of her uncle, Nehemiah Ramdon, walked up the aisle with conviction and readiness. Within an hour of the proceedings Camille and Robert Walker Jr. exchanged vows and were declared husband and wife by officiating minister, Pastor Wesley Boynes.
In his message, Pastor Boynes cleared up any misconceptions that the couple may have had regarding the institution of marriage. "The world has the idea that marriage is a legal contract, but I want you to know that it is also a spiritual contract," he said, while reading from the book of Ephesians.
Assisted by visiting minister, Reverend Michael Chapman, the charming groom, Robert, was reminded that Camille was the flesh of his bone, just as the Bible says, "A husband should love his wife as Christ loved the church".
Reverend Chapman charged Robert to provide, protect and nourish his wife.
At the end of the spine-tingling, goose-pimpled generating ceremony, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Walker Jr. stood at attention and allowed 12 doves to release any unseen restrictions in their lives.
An elegant and simply marvellous reception followed at Villa Viento, which naturally lends itself to creativity.
On arrival guests ears were massaged by the pulsating rhythms of a Caribbean Steel band, their eyes were caressed by the very tastefully done decorations and their taste buds stroked by delicious fruit cake.
As dazzling and impressively striking as the setting was, nothing compared to Camille's ailing mother Betty Ramdon, shared in the happy occasion.
Mrs. Ramdon was not strong enough to make it to the church, but her short presence at the reception made that real difference to the couple.
It is not everyday that a groom cries at his wedding, but when Robert Walker Jr. cried openly for joy, during the groom's reply, that also made this wedding extra special.
Master of ceremony Dionne Mathis did the event justice, Ned Wong, Vana Taylor, Newton, Denise and Chantal Gray, Taffi Norris, Eric and Kristopher Walker, Barbara Robinson, the groom's mother and Faye Miller are just a few of the persons who shared the occasion.
