From left: Avril Rauer, mother of the groom, Michael Zia Mian, Anabella, Edward Seaga, father of the bride and Ahmed Zia Mian, father of the groom.
-Winston Sill photoChester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer
THE ABSOLUTELY dee-vine former First Daughter, Anabella Seaga, the second of three children of Edward Seaga and Mitsy Seaga, married six-footer bronze godling Dr. Michael Zia Mian in a fabulous ceremony last Saturday afternoon. Dr. Zia Mian is the son of international consultant Ahmed Zia Mian and Avril Rauer.
The wedding took place at the Garrison Church of the Ascension, at the JDF Up-Park Camp Headquarters. It not only bore all the hallmarks of a state ceremony, it took fabulous style to a new order and then some!
The theme of unquestionable style was the signature of the church ceremony, and was carried over and amplified to the nth degree, at the reception that followed at the St Andrew, Queensway mansion of Hugh and Pamela Hart. And thus capping a whirlwind courtship and romance that began some seven months earlier.
Luvs, the wedding was scheduled to commence at half-past-four, but so great was the anticipation that guests and onlookers began gathering at the Garrison Church of the Ascension, from as early as 3:00 p.m. By 4:00 p.m. the trickle of guests became a fully blown tsunami of the fabulous, the quoted, the politicos, the literati and the glitterati.
My Dears, it was prime-time and then some, as with each arrival of the famous, the fabulous and or the powerful, there was a surge of energy as the paparazzi rushed forward to capture the arrival, and those already gathered craning their elegantly coifed heads, to see the new arrivals. And my Dears, there were lots to see as indeed, this was a couture moment and then some as the ladies were dressed to the nines and looking flawless! Their gents, equally resplendent in their Savile Row ensembles and thus making for one fabulous fashion parade!
My Dears, it was like unto a Hollywood red-carpet moment; a State do even, and marvellously so!
THE ARRIVALS
The groom arrived with his party some minutes before the scheduled time for the beginning of the wedding ceremony and took up his position in the church's vestry, as he awaited word of the arrival of his bride. She, however, was a little late in getting to the church, but when she did, Children, she was flawless! And fabulously so!
Oh, my word! There she was, being assisted from the Silver Grey Mercedes sedan, by her parents, and for a few moments the rush of photographers made it impossible to fully appreciate her stunning entrance. But as the paparazzi melted out of the way and she made her way into the church on the arm of her father, there was no mistaking her regal elegant bearing and her simply stunning bridal ensemble!
My Dears, there she was in a Spanish Mantilla Cathedral veil, trimmed with chantilly lace, that kept her features clothed, and sporting an absolutely fabulous frock of off-white vintage English lace re-embroidered with oval pearls and transparent sequins. And for the regal touch, a Princess Empire line and a sweeping train, making a peek-a-boo effect of her off-white satin. She wore diamante stiletto sandals, as she glided into the church and up the aisle to the music of the Jamaica Military Band. The Adventist Praise Choral did the musical and choral honours. The bridal march being It was Under The Coconut Tree made it not only fabulous, but exotically so, as there was no escaping the styling and flavour of the traditional mode and serenity, that was the atmosphere.
And when she was presented to her groom, he looked a picture of stately sartorial elegance. His elegantly athletic frame and bronze features were highlighted by his winsome pearl-white smile.
Standing a few feet away from her was her mother, Mitsy Seaga. She looked positively and oh so regal in a sapphire blue silk chiffon dress. It was embossed with blue sequins and blue crystal beads that began with a V-neckline and ended in a form-fitting slender gown that climaxed in a sweep of blue silk chiffon, complemented by sapphire blue chandelier earrings and a corsage of vanda orchids. She fought valiantly to hold back her tears, but failed it made for a magical moment!
Oh. My dears, it was all that, and then some!
Following the ceremonial charges and acknowledgements by the officiating Reverends: Rev. Dr. Roderick Hewitt and Rev. Maj. Dr. Sirrano Kitson; the couple introduced The Ceremony of Taste. Here the bride and groom were fed salt, pepper, vinegar, water and sugar as symbols of the many challenges and or facets of marriage.
And then, there they were; after less than an hour of officialdom Dr. Michael and Mrs. Zia Mian a flawless picture of newly wedded marital bliss, making their way down the aisle the audience on its feet and applauding and into the world as one.
THE RECEPTION
Now this was a cocktail reception and then some. Not only did the cocktail hour become two, it was a fabulous affair of un-equalled social repast and august society! Me daahlings, it was an 'A-Crowd' do and nothing but!
Daahlings, every-which-where one looked there was the fabulous, the 'In', the powerful and the grand! It made for a study in pure and unadulterated sophistication! My Dears, we are talking a style extravaganza and social masterpiece.
Anyways, with guests laa-de-dahing, and a-meeting and a-greeting each other and cocktails flowing like everybody's business, the afternoon soon became evening. With the approach of evening guests were ushered to their designated seats under two giant Marquees set on the front lawn as a precaution against the eventuality of rains, that hovered in the skies all day! It made for
an even more intimate affair for an already fabulously intimate Do!
There was a calling to order, by the Master of Ceremonies Simon Roberts; followed by the invoking of spiritual blessings by Rev. Maj. Dr. Sirrano Kitson, before dinner. Dinner taken, there was the cutting of the wedding cake followed by a bounty of toasts.
My Dears, this was a Love-Fest and then some, beginning with a toast to the bride's parents by Hugh Hart; followed by a reply by the bride's father, which saw Edward Seaga paying a moving tribute to Mitsy Seaga, for her role as a devoted mother to their three children. He was followed by Frank Phipps, who toasted the groom's parents; and in his reply, the father of the groom Ahmed Zia-Mian, overwhelmed by the occasion choked back tears, in his homily of a toast.
The groom's stepfather, Yehuda Rauer, toasted him; and was followed by Tanya Lazarus, who toasted the bride; with Delreo Newman toasting the bride and groom. But the Oscar went to the groom who, in his reply, was a study in oratorical suavity, faultlessly charming wit, and continental ease!
The ceremony over, there was no traditional tossing of the bouquet by the bride. In yet another touching and moving moment, she called her mother to the fore curtsied and then presented her with her wedding bouquet, as a testimony for her enduring love and support over the years.
CARIBBEAN HONEYMOON
And then the couple opened up the night's dancing, and partied some, before dashing off to get ready for their Caribbean honeymoon. My daahlings, it was like that! Style-perfect and then some! A study even in elegance and charm! Now, as for the company, faultless society and nothing but! Luvs, we are talking the very acme of le créme here; and the who's who of who's!
Among those out included: the mother of the groom Avril Rauer; a radiant looking Carla Seaga; Sir Alister and Lady McIntyre; Pamela Hart and her children Justin and Belinda Hart; Ron and Jean Anderson; Fay Tortello; Ann Adderley and her fabulous daughter Kimberly Adderley; Derrick and Joan Mahfood; Christopher Seaga; Andrew and Amanda Seaga; a fabulous looking Dr. Mavis Gilmour Petersen, in a show-stopping gown; Desmond and Valerie Levy; Christopher Nakash and wife Zein Issa; the elegant Barbara MacNamee; Wayne Chen and wife Diana Thorburn; Howard Hamilton; Madge Seaga; Richard and Janet Taylor; Eddie Shoucair; the lovely Lynda Mair; Ryan Peralto; Mary Abrahams; Dr. Ken and Vilma Baugh; Capt. Michael and Anne Marie Feanny; Derrick and Karleen Smith; Sammy and Jane Crichton; Bruce and Lorna Golding; Richard and Simone Khouri; Pearnel and Gloria Charles; Albert Seaga; Audley and Maureen Shaw; Richard Lake; Mike Henry and his stunning wife Dawn; Rosa Vaswani; Abe and Giselle Dabdoub; Zeva and Rena Kashav; Shirley Williams, looking absolutely fabulous; Ed Bartlett; a radiant Babsy Grange; Horace and Norma Clarke; Chris and Sandra Annamunthodo; Mark and Raquel Reddie; Nii and Jama Odunton; Howard Mitchell; Helmut and Charmaine Steiner; the lovely Michelle Stubblefield; the beautiful Gail Whiteman; James and Fiona Godfrey; Tony and Julie Cortizas; Shalom and Nessa Hodara; Jim and Carla Higgins; Metry and Nicole Seaga; Saleem and Anna-Kay Lazarus; Wayne and Karen Vaz; Phillip and Debbie Medina; Mary Veira; Clay Moodie; Israel and Nancy Pinchas; Pat Nelson; David and Tracy Lazarus; Donahue Jarrett; Charmaine Anderson; Ron and Jane Gross; Keith and Rose Gentles; and Danae Grandison; plus several scores others.
What a simply beautiful affair!
