Lennox Crooks and Virginia Shoucair as they exchange wedding vows at Stella Maris Church, Shortwood Road, on Saturday July 2. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
UPON ENTERING Stella Maris Catholic Church, it was immediately obvious that this couple knew the business of flowers, as, on Saturday July 2 music and flowers made matrimonial magic when Lennox Crooks of Best Buds and Virginia Shoucair of Record Plaza, exchanged vows under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Michael Lewis. The bride was escorted up the aisle by her son Dominic Shoucair.
Guests entered the church past a three-tiered floral topiary and moved up a carpeted aisle between tulle-draped pews, crowned with sprays of orchids and tropical blooms. The couple exchanged vows as well as platinum and diamond rings beneath a canopy of more tropical splendour. Mrs. Crooks carried a bouquet of blush rosebuds and orchid petals held together by pearl-trimmed ribbons.
The bridal party looked like a pastel rainbow in lilac, yellow, green, pink, blue, perfectly contrasting with the bride's strapless off-white gown that hugged the bodice and flaired to the hemline. It featured embroidery, crystals, beads and sequins and ended in a train edged with the same pattern. These were all locally made. The bridal party wore upswept coiffeurs cinched to one side with orchid-filled combs that matched their dresses.
Music for the ceremony included You Raise Me Up by Wayne Armond and Richard McDonald and the popular Squeeze Disco at the reception.
Number 16 Hyperion Avenue in Jacks Hill was transformed by the Best Buds team of florists headed by Daisy Reynolds. Following cocktails and music by Jamaica Humming Bird Steel Band, guests repaired to tents so transformed, they looked like royalty was coming.
COLOUR THEME
The colour theme continued, this time with more tulle, oriental lanterns and umbrellas; topiary centerpieces with tea candle light and butterflies to be released upon the couples' first dance and - fittingly - glass containers of lucky bamboo for each guest to take away.
S-shaped food stations were laden with Ciao Bella's signature scrumptious feast including: Thai chicken curry, Panamian style snapper, char-grilled beef tenderloin, roasted mixed potatoes and lamb. The magnificent wedding cake was yet another Selena Wong signature creation.
