Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

Picture perfect for the Bowmans

It all began with a glance eight years ago. And then their worlds collided when they officially met at a meat shop. Today, Randy Stewart and Hugh Bowman are not two strangers who met by chance, but husband and wife.

Stewart and Bowman tied the knot on July 28 at the Clifton New Testament Church in St. Andrew. The officiating minister was the Rev. ClovisFoster.

Their journey to happiness began in 1999 at Partners Meat Shop on Red Hills Road in St. Andrew. Before that chance meeting, she usually saw him at church.

"While at the meat shop, I saw Hugh; he was playing around with his sister's data bank. I took it from him and put my number in it", said a very proactive Stewart.

A few days later, she was at home baking when the the phone rang. It was Bowman. The two got into a lengthy conversation in which Stewart was so engrossed, she burnt her cake. A week later, after many telephone conversations, he decided to make a move. Though shy, he called anyway. He said, "I have something to ask you." Stewart took the reins and said, "I know what you want to ask. You want me to be your girlfriend. And the answer is yes."

Well worth the wait

After eight years of dating, Randy and Hugh said, 'I do'. - Contributed photos

They dated for seven years before he popped the big question in July of 2006. Stewart had just received her first pay cheque and felt like splurging it all, but Bowman disagreed. They had a disagreement but made up shortly after. She was to decide on the location for them to go, and she decided on a seafood restaurant in Hellshire, St. Catherine.

"While we waited to be served, Hugh went down on one knee, and in front of everyone asked, "will you marry me?"

"I began to cry and a lady across from our table said, a what do har? He asked again and, of course, I said yes!"

Stewart, 23, is a sub-editor at the Gleaner Company and the daughter of Valerie Hamilton-Stewart and Victor Stewart.

Bowman, 24, is a librarian at National Works Agency in Kingston, the son of Alphemia Bowman and Nehemiah Bowman.

The couple shared their love at a wedding ceremony with family and friends, followed by a reception at the the Terra Nova All-Suite hotel in St. Andrew. They honeymooned at Couples Sans Souci in Ocho Rios.