Island Wedding | A ‘Lyttle’ love sparks lasting romance for Jermaine and Ombetta

From shared glances on the compound of Papine High School in St Andrew in September 2010 to a beautiful wedding ceremony in Connecticut 15 years later, Jermaine Lyttle and Ombetta Gordon’s journey came full circle when they said ‘I do’ on November 8, 2025. What began through field hockey and their time in the prefect body quietly grew into a lasting romance.

 A young Ombetta was honest with her friends about her feelings for Jermaine, and word got around. It eventually sparked a small romance rumour, which Jermaine, of course, had to address with his admirer.

“I’ve been hearing non-stop rumours about being in a relationship with a girl named Ombetta, whom I’ve never met. But this was because she would always share her interest in me with her friends, who would then gossip about it,” Jermaine told Island Wedding, adding, “That’s how I heard about her and arranged a meeting,” he shared. “She was this cute-faced girl with bright eyes and a contagious smile that reeled me in on the first meet.”

“Once one of my friends saw me blush when Jermaine walked past, it went downhill from there,” Ombetta recalled. “I found him attractive and began noticing him more as we crossed paths,” she continued.

It wasn’t until after high school, when both attended the University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica, that friendship laid the foundation for something deeper.

And, for Jermaine, clarity came early. “She resembled the type of woman a man would have as his wife,” he said.

For Ombetta, it was a simple but meaningful act of care that spoke volumes.

“He walked me home from UTech to Tavern, to make sure I crossed the Hope River safely at 10 p.m. after my last [class] and walked back by himself,” she said.

Ombetta told Island Wedding that Jermaine’s actions reflected a deep level of commitment and courage.

They eventually went on their first date at Emancipation Park as friends and, by January 2012, Jermaine asked Ombetta to be his girlfriend.

When asked which of his traits she admires most in her other half, Ombetta highlighted Jermaine’s protective nature. As for Jermaine, Ombetta’s drive is one of the many things he adores.

“This woman will not stop until she gets what she set her mind on. [Whether it’s a] degree, career, [or] relationship. She [will] not stop until the very thing she set her mind on [comes] to fruition. That kind of determination is what attracts me more than the sun’s gravitational pull!” Jermaine explained.

Although their journey has included challenges, such as relocating to the United States, the couple shared that they have remained each other’s support system through it all.

Years later, in February 2025, Jermaine took the next step, proposing on a bridge over a lake, in an intimate moment shared between just the two of them.

“It felt nerve-racking, knowing I was embarking on a new journey of commitment with the person I love. It was like seeing something I always wanted and finally making the move to seal the deal,” he admitted.

The couple had previously discussed marriage, so the timing wasn’t a surprise for Ombetta, and the moment was everything she had hoped for.

“I was happy and elated … I had a gut feeling. I felt that he was going to propose, so I made sure I was ready to receive the love,” she added.

With a 1950s-inspired theme, ‘Just a Lyttle Love’, and a rustic orange palette, the couple’s wedding ceremony was held at The Society Room in Hartford and officiated by Reverend Kerry McClure.

Ombetta's entrance made it a moment to remember, with Jermaine sharing that, “Heads turned when she came down the stairs, hailing as a well-awaited queen. It was a moment of tears, and you just had to be there.”

Both serving in the United States Army Reserve, Ombetta’s most memorable moment of the day’s festivities was her promotion segment.

“This was [during] our wedding party dance, and when I was promoted from Specialist Gordon to Specialist Lyttle. This was done by removing the Gordon name tape from the Military PC (CAP) and replacing it with the official Lyttle last name. This was done and initiated by the groom, and all the military battles that attended joined the stage for the celebration,” she highlighted.

A nod to their upbringing and the fact that most of their guests were Jamaican, the reception was held on the same property and featured well-known ‘90s tracks from the island, including music from Voicemail and Marvia Providence.

The couple celebrated their honeymoon in Aruba.

ruth-ann.briscoe@gleanerjm.com