Janet Sivera, Senior Gleaner Writer

Newly-weds, attorney-at-law Kamla and her husband, banker Kishan Fernando, take their first journey as man and wife after their wedding ceremony.

When Donald Trump's wife Melania wore the Christian Dior Haute Couture wedding dress at her nuptials, the tabloids went wild.

When Kamla (Samuels) Fernando walked the aisle garbed in a replica of the gown, the over 300 guests at the Half Moon Royal Pavillion opened their mouths in awe. Cameras flashed, tears fell from uncontrollable tear ducts and groom Kishan Fernando beamed with pride.

In 21 years, event coordinator par excellence, Weston Haughton, had not missed a Miss Jamaica World Beauty Pageant, but last Saturday he did, just so he could crown the ultimate queen - Kamla Fernando.

The jewel of Montego Bay's most revered Metty Scarlett Jones and Kingston's renowned businessman Winston 'Spoogy' Samuels took unto herself a charming Zambian-born, Jamaican-bred, culturally rich Indian 'boy' named Kishan as her husband.

Mind-blowing ceremony

In a spine-tingling, mind-blowing ceremony befitting monarchs, the destiny of the attorney and her banker was sealed. Their journey may have begun in two different worlds, of separate cultures, but each spun individual threads, lending texture, colour and pattern to the big design - marriage.

The larger-than-life event was housed under an 80 x100-foot tent, brilliantly decorated in sunshine colours, orange, white and gold. Decorator Paulette Henry had done it again.

The family spared no expense in preparation for the big day. From the invitations designed by Encore Studios, the same people who did Star Jones' wedding, to the impressive and stately orange wedding cake by Jamaica's best, Rose Lee, the Fernandos, Samuels and Scarlett Jones' wrote their place in history.

The celebration kicked off last Thursday, with an intimate family dinner at Pier One. The morning after the wedding they were at it again, with brunch at the Wexford.

Dinners and brunches out of the way, the bride was chauffeured in an E200 2006 Mercedes Benz by celebrated attorney George Thomas, while the groom's parents Fay and Sydney Fernando were rewarded for their role in nurturing a gentleman.

Officiated by Rev'd. Courtney Walters, the couple was escorted by a fabulously adorned bridal party of: Thausha Martin, Neesha Rodney, Twanya Surtherland, Tamara Riley Dunn, Kymani Erskine, Charitha Fernando, Roger Roomes, Richard Rainford and David Bakelmun.

Music commenced with the Negro spiritual sounding Herbert Morrison Choir, journeying through saxophonist Tony Greene and climaxing with the soul stirring tones of tenors Rory Frankson and Rory Baugh.

Cabaret performer A'lisa and Audley Scott whose voice literally makes love to the music were the star studded cast.

Fine food

The event was cemented by Half Moon Hotel's professional food and beverage crew which literally outdid themselves, with the presentation of fine food.

The wedding witnesses included: Arlene Hylton, Dolly and Michael Barber, Leroy 'Dougo' Dunkley and wife Sameera Dunkley, Sheila Stevens, Robert and Beverly Russell, Cleveland and Jasmin Blake, Vin and Hazel Martin, Vandyke McKenzie, Sam and Yvonne James, Andrea Lyle, Ava Shields, Jean and Neville Davis, Pauline and Rashida Erskine, Winston Samuels Jr., Kareem Samuels, Indrajith Fernando, Shirani and Ranjit Wijeranjith, Isabel Fernando, Donald Reynolds and Fagan Calvert.

Judith Thompson, Janet Lewin, Norma Taylor, Hyacinth Ford, Fred Smith, Hon. Dean Peart and wife Vinette, Jeff McKitty and wife Yvonne, Barry and Barbara Baugh, Mayor Noel Donaldson and Dr. Horace Chang and wife Paulette.