Winston SillDr. Wykeham McNeill and wife Sheila Benjamin pause for a photograph with Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke (right) and Prime Minister P.J. Patterson (second left). Also in the picture are Dr. McNeil's son Jordan McNeill and Sheila's daughter Ashleigh Fernandez.
Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
And so after years of courtship, Junior Minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Industry, Dr. Kenneth Wykeham McNeill and the smashingly lovely Sheila Benjamin-Fernandez were married at St. Andrew Parish Church in Half-Way Tree last Saturday afternoon. It was a simply beautiful wedding ceremony executed in the time honoured tradition of weddings of yesteryear.
And when the couple emerged later as Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Wykeham McNeill they looked a picture of radiance and beauty, their appearance so etched itself in the minds of guests it will long be remembered.
Dears, for months theirs has been the most talked about wedding and little wonder here as he is a handsome second generation political personality ( and son of the late Dr. Kenneth McNeill of the People's National Party). And she is the shy and almost retiring, but beautiful artist and group marketing and promotional director of the Guardsman Group, and only sister of security power broker, Kenny Benjamin.
Well my daahlings, the St. Andrew Parish Church, took quite some getting to, for the near mid-afternoon wedding
ceremony as traffic was at its very peak in the heart of the city. Surprisingly, however, no one was late.
the centre of all things
And at the appointed hour of half-past four, the church became the centre of all things fabulous and powerful as friends and family gathered for the
nuptials.
And so it was, with the groom and his party awaiting the arrival of his betrothed, minutes later a classic 1952 vintage Mercedes Benz pulled up to the walkway of the church its nattily uniformed chauffeur cap, white glove and all emerging from behind the wheels of the pristine automobile to get the door for its very important passenger.
a vision of loveliness
And then there she was a vision of loveliness sporting a couture creation by celebrated Cuban American designer Victoria Lopez Castro emerging with a toss of the head and straightening her shoulders regal, elegant and oh so grand. She was easily one of the best dressed brides this scribe had ever set eyes upon and then some!
We are talking sensational here, and nothing but, and for my word, how! My dears, designer Victoria Lopez Castro knows her work ,and for the bride she was at her fabulous best, in creating an absolutely lovely forming-fitting gown of beaded Chantilly lace combined with peau de soie silk, ending in bustles and waist-length veil of fine tulle, all the shade of deep champagne and looking flawlessly fab with a posy of red roses completing the ensemble.
She made her way down the aisle on the arm of her brother, Kenny Benjamin, to join her wedding party. The picture was made complete by the bridal party of maid-of-honour, Laurel deMercado; chief bridesmaid Brooke Benjamin and assistant, Ashleigh Fernandez in claret coloured silk chiffon gowns with ivory rose posies. Bestman Dr. Andre Foote, main groomsman was Dr. Dwight Salmon and junior groom, Jordan McNeill all completing the bridal party.
The ceremony was conducted by Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Thompson and Rev. Father Robert McLean, following the reading of select scriptures by Ronald Benjamin, Dr. Peter Phillips and Fiona Rerrie respectively. There was the absolutely awesome duet by Kevin Williams and Maria Myrie in faultless form as they sang All I Ask Of You before the couple emerged from the signing of the register. There were waves of congratulatory hugs and kisses, before rushing off to Stony Hill for the celebrations.
the front lawn
The reception got under way ahead of schedule as guests arrived early. The front lawns of the residence were done up to a fabulous Arabian theme luxurious, but very relaxed, plush, but not overstated, and accessed by chauffeured golf carts that transported guests from the designated parking area to the party area via a beautiful driveway
Dears, we are talking a VIP marquee here with Afghan and Persian rugs, with a pair of love seats and Queen Anne wing chairs and lanterns; a mega-size Champagne and wine bar; two other party-size bars offering premium libation; a number of food kiosks a fare of a mix of traditional Jamaican dishes, select Indian dishes and Cosmo tasters station, plus the fountain of youth (the chocolate fountain with lemon-sized grapes, apple slices, all for the dipping and feasting); a stage and dance floor and café style seating plus premium profiling spaces thanks to the creativity of Michelle Lee and her team.
Mr. Benjamin's Stony Hill estate home never looked better, fabulously done up as it was, and ablaze with the political potentates, some of snob society's finest, and naturally the hot and fabulous. My daahlings, definitely the way to celebrate the uniting of two families and the love that brought it all together!
The lawns, however, were not stiletto friendly when the heavens opened up midway through the official part of the proceedings to bestow blessings upon the
proceedings. It was, however, a joyous occasion and between the witticisms of the groom, the speeches and comments by
various family members and friends, the music of Dwight Richards and Friends; along with Andrew Henry's Renegade Disco, it was a fabulous outing. Some guests danced into the early hours of Sunday morning!
a family affair
And it was most definitely a family affair with among those being: the bride's mother, Mrs. Doris Benjamin; her sons, Ronald and Alan Benjamin; his wife, Patricia and their daughter, Hanna-Nicole Benjamin; the fabulous Suzie Benjamin and her children, Nicholas and Brooke Benjamin; Aloima Suarez and son, Brandon Benjamin; family friends, Mrs. Pravina Bhutta and Mrs. Nirmala Mistry, also jetting in for the big event.
The groom's mom, Mrs. Valerie McNeil, headed the list of family members in attendance with aunts, Sylvia McNeill and Joyce Wright; uncle Laurie and Barbara Sharpe, also out as were siblings and cousins, Dr. Roger McNeill, wife, Monica and their children, Rachel and Robin, and Dr. Wayne McNeill, Dr. David and Olive McNeill and their daughters, Gabrielle and Jade McNeill; the lovely Fiona McNeill-Rerrie; Robert and Anthea Gore; Michael Sharpe and Betty Zaidie; Jeffery Dujon and wife, Sherida Sharpe-Dujon; Jason and Jackie Sharpe; Richard and Janet Sharpe and the lovely Trudy Vaz.
the guests
Among the other notables, were Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke; Prime Minister P.J. Patterson; Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips and wife Sandra Minott-Philips; Transport Minister Robert Pickersgill; Development Minister Dr. Paul Robertson; Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke; Education Minister Maxine Henry-Wilson and husband Gladstone Wilson; State Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson; State Minister Dr. Carl Rhodd; Opposition MP 'Babsy' Grange; David Coore and wife Maria; Canadian High Commissioner HE Claudio and wife Louise Valle; Mrs. Charmaine Thompson; Monsignor Father Richard Albert; Ambassador Derrick Heaven; O.K. and Angela Melhado; Dr. John and Paddy Masterton; Lascelles Chin and wife, Dr. Eileen Gonzales-Chin; Robert MacMillan; Joe Matalon and companion Bernadette McKinley-Morin; Dr. Dhiru Tanna; Stafford deMercado; Mrs. Fay Harrison; Basil Lue and wife Dr. Eve Palomino-Lue, (who created the wedding cake); Godfrey Dyer; Xavier and Roma Chin; Audrey Markes-Dunstan; Ron Brown and wife Valerie Juggan-Brown; DT Brown and wife; Steve and Betty Ashley; Lance Johnson; Hubert Chin and wife, Jean Lowrie-Chin; the charming Dawn Young; Robert and Eleanor Miller; Harold Brady; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Russell; Patrick Brady and companion Suzette ChinLoy; Charles and Brunetta Matthews; Frank Roshouvel; Janet Farrow; Rupert Bent and wife, Cindy Breakspeare; Fred Dumetz and wife, Sonja Sutherland-Dumetz; Joseph and Della Manley; Howard and Linda Mitchell; Dr. Andre and Gina Foote; Jonathan and Paula Surtees; William and Sandra Tavares-Finson; Anoop and Bina Chandiram; Tarun and Catherine Handa; Howard McIntosh; Tariq and Samena Malik; Toni Parke-Moodie-Panton; Keith Collister and companion the fabulously lovely Carol Pessoa; Cosmo Brown; Marlon Burke; Audrey Miller; brothers Chris and Peter Green.
The couple jetted off to an unknown destination for a week of rest with the honeymoon to follow.
