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College sweethearts wed

Published:Sunday | September 11, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Spencer and Naomi Darlington (centre) have some fun at the Hope Botanic Gardens in St Andrew. - Contributed
The wedding cake. - Contributed
Spencer and Naomi Darlington are a picture of wedded bliss during their photo shoot at Hope Botanic Gardens. - Contributed
From left: Page boy Spencer Darlington Jnr., groomsmen Deuwell Vassell, Oral Buchanan, Clifton Darlington, Matthew Campbell and best man George Forbes point to the evidence that Spencer Darlington is now a married man!
From left: A radiant Mrs Naomi Vassell-Darlington with her maid of honour Sereika Smith-Mills, bridesmaids Kerene Salmon, Peeta-Gay Ross, Rose Darlington-Angel Carlene Vassell-Moonga.
From left: Vallin Darlington, mother of the groom, the happy groom, Spencer Darlington and his bride Naomi Vassell-Darlington, Thelma Vassell, mother of the bride and Hurdley Vassell, her father of the bride.
Signing of the wedding register: Standing from left: Bishop Joyce Bernard, Sereika Smith-Mills, maid of honour and George Forbes, best man observe the newlyweds sign the official documents.
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Spencer Darlington and Naomi Vassell became husband and wife in a beautiful ceremony at Faith Cathedral Deliverance Centre, 104 Waltham Park Road, St Andrew, on Saturday, July 9.

Bishop Joyce Bernard of Central Tabernacle Deliverance Centre in Savanna-la-Mar officiated. The organist was Minister Bethel Y. Davis while the soloist was executive administrative director of INSPORTS, Ian Andrews.

One of the memorable highlights of the ceremony was a dance solo by Rachel Clarke.

The ceremony began at 9:37 a.m. and lasted for just over an hour. As the bride and groom exited the church, butterflies were released into the bright and sunny morning sky. Following this, the bridal party journeyed to the scenic Hope Botanic Gardens for official photos and then to The Knutsford Court Hotel for the reception.

Some 100 guests were in attendance, among them Wayne Walker, former Jamaica cricketer Wayne Lewis and his wife, Sheron; G.C. Foster College lecturers Paulet Jones, Denese Stoney-James and her husband, Laurel; Linda Williamson and husband Davey, Maurice Westney and former vice-principal Edwin Murray and wife Joyce, along with sports management specialist and part-time lecturer Paulton Gordon, freelance journalist Everard Owen and wife Eveth, and Annette Smith, vice-principal of Quality Academics.

The music at the reception was provided by veteran disc jockey Donovan Dacres. The cake was done by Marcia Mitchell, and florists were Deserene Robinson and Denese Brackett of Charnae's Floral & Decor while the wedding planner was Genevieve Barnett.

How we met

"I met my wife in 2006 at G.C. Foster College. The relationship started in our English class when the lecturer Paulet Jones arranged the class in pairs and asked us to write a descriptive piece about each other. I had secretly admired Naomi who later admitted to me that she also admired me but much more subtly. I really admired her for her beauty, neatness, level of organisation, mannerism, sense of purpose and caring qualities.

After listening to what both of us had written, the lecturer realised that the admiration was mutual and she told Naomi that if she had received that sentiment about herself, she would have it framed it. Our conversations got more frequent, we started dating on a more serious level and our relationship blossomed.

On Sunday, November 14, 2010 (during the Gleaner-sponsored Restaurant Week), I asked Naomi out to what was a surprise birthday dinner at Hotel Four Seasons with two of our close friends. During dessert, I proposed. I had given the waiter prior instructions and he discreetly came to the table and dangled the engagement ring in front of her. Naomi was stunned but ecstatic and started screaming. She looked at me in amazement and I popped the question and she said yes!