Thu | Dec 7, 2023
ISLAND WEDDING

A year and a half long distance...

Chantal and Richard tie the knot after first in-person meeting

Published:Tuesday | March 14, 2023 | 12:19 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
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Richard and Chantal are a ‘shore’ match made in heaven.
Kermara Pictures
Richard and Chantal are a ‘shore’ match made in heaven.
The elated husband and wife share a beautiful moment as a blended family with their children from previous relationships. ‘These are our daughters,’ the married couple proudly shared as shared the frame with Joanna James (left) and Kianna Bell.
Kermara Pictures
The elated husband and wife share a beautiful moment as a blended family with their children from previous relationships. ‘These are our daughters,’ the married couple proudly shared as shared the frame with Joanna James (left) and Kianna Bell.
These wedding rings are symbols of unwavering love for each other.
Kermara Pictures
These wedding rings are symbols of unwavering love for each other.
The husband-and-wife duo could not thank this divine matchmaker enough for making this unexpected connection possible.
Kermara Pictures
The husband-and-wife duo could not thank this divine matchmaker enough for making this unexpected connection possible.
The couple was excited to say ‘I do’ at a venue like Hunny Bay Resort, which provided a scenic semi-beach setting, perfect for an idyllic hand-in-hand walk into forever together.
Kermara Pictures
The couple was excited to say ‘I do’ at a venue like Hunny Bay Resort, which provided a scenic semi-beach setting, perfect for an idyllic hand-in-hand walk into forever together.
The Bells utilised the wedding colours to engage in a blue-and-yellow unity sand ceremony.
Kermara Pictures
The Bells utilised the wedding colours to engage in a blue-and-yellow unity sand ceremony.
Laughter is the language of these soulmates.
Kermara Pictures
Laughter is the language of these soulmates.
For the beautiful Chantal, the happiest day of her life was made better with these lovely bridesmaids by her side.
Kermara Pictures
For the beautiful Chantal, the happiest day of her life was made better with these lovely bridesmaids by her side.
The groomsmen join forces to support Richard on his big day.
Kermara Pictures
The groomsmen join forces to support Richard on his big day.
The family and friends that pray together stay together. The Bells were overjoyed that their loved ones came out to witness the matrimonial union.
Kermara Pictures
The family and friends that pray together stay together. The Bells were overjoyed that their loved ones came out to witness the matrimonial union.
The newly-weds’ white wedding cake, with pops of vibrant yellow and cool blue, was made with love by Nadine’s Slice of Heaven, located in St Ann.
Kermara Pictures
The newly-weds’ white wedding cake, with pops of vibrant yellow and cool blue, was made with love by Nadine’s Slice of Heaven, located in St Ann.
This exquisite, curve-hugging mermaid gown from Unions Bridal Boutique features a one-shoulder overlay and detachable train.
Kermara Pictures
This exquisite, curve-hugging mermaid gown from Unions Bridal Boutique features a one-shoulder overlay and detachable train.
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We’ve often heard of a match made in heaven. But this time around, it was one of God’s very own earthly angels who connect two beautiful souls. Chantal Cogle was introduced to her beloved, Richard Bell, through her pastor. The two entered a long-distance relationship and went on to ring wedding ‘Bells’ almost two years later.

“My husband and I met through my pastor, who is his cousin. She (the pastor) hooked us up via the phone, because he was living in Cayman and I was in Jamaica,” Chantal told Island Wedding.

Although they were acquainted with each other, they really began bonding in 2020 over rough times. “I first thought that this is such a good man, but he has been treated unfairly all his life, and he deserves all the love in the world. It started off as just a friendship, being there for each other, and just grew from there,” she said.

The pair decided to make things official a few months after corresponding over the phone.

Chantal loves just how hard-working, caring, kind, God-fearing and family-oriented Richard is. “It is obvious that he cherishes our relationship, he makes every effort to show me how much our relationship means to him. He has helped me realise that even when I thought I lost my true self, I still had more inside to offer, and I’m capable of being way more than I am,” she said.

Richard, who currently lives in the Cayman Islands, found Chantal to be beautiful, loving, caring, kind and responsible. As a single father, he appreciated what a wonderful mother she was to her daughter. “We would play games together and pray together. In everything, she is present and respectful,” he said.

As a couple, the duo went on their first date to the Sunshine Grill, located at the Suite Restaurant in the Cayman Islands. This was the first time Chantal was seeing the country and she was happy to share in that very lovely dining experience with her partner.

Richard then decided he couldn’t have Chantal returning home empty-handed. Communicating over a long distance for over a year and a half and interacting with her in person gave him enough confirmation that she was the one. So, on her final night with him, before she headed back home, Richard asked the love of his life to be his wife.

“We went out to have dinner at Pepper Bar & Grill in Grand Cayman. I knew that she had to leave to go back to Jamaica. So I surprised her by proposing to her there. She said yes, and I felt so good,” he explained.

The proposal was amazing, Chantal shared, adding, “He went down on one knee, without my knowledge, and to my surprise he popped the question. I never expected it to be on our first trip meeting face-to-face. But he said he knew I was the one, so there was no need to wait. It was absolutely beautiful, in my eyes!”

Wedding planner

Becoming her own wedding planner, she engaged in the nuptial process with the help of family and friends, and the support of her partner while he was in the Cayman Islands. For the wedding dress, the bride-to-be said yes to a gorgeous gown from Unions Bridal Boutique.

“I saw Unions Bridal Boutique on Instagram and instantly, I knew they had exactly what I needed, and they sure did! They had a variety of dresses to choose from; and I knew I wanted something simple but gorgeous,” she said enthusiastically.

On December 23, 2022, two days before Christmas, Chantal and Richard merrily said ‘I do’ in a beautiful wedding ceremony at Hunny Bay Resort in Priory, St Ann. With love in the air, the bride made her way up the aisle to marry her soulmate.

“Our wedding was amazing. To this day, our guests are still talking about it,” the bride recounted. “It was all that I dreamed it would be, and more.” As kindred spirits, the groom stated that the big day was incredible. “The wedding was very good, exactly what I was hoping for. The best moment for me was when I finally kissed my wife.”

Both expressed immense joy in sharing their first dance together as husband and wife. “Our songs were Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion and Just The Way You Are by Taurus Riley. We really enjoyed ourselves dancing. I didn’t even know my husband was such a good dancer! It was a magical moment, I felt joy in a different way,” Chantal added.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com