Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

And so it is, that after an outing to one of Kingston's hottest spots - Lime Cay - and an introduction by a mutual friend just under four years ago, Alex Dropinski, a diplomatic official with the European Delegation here in Jamaica and Dr Saphire Longmore, a medical practitioner and former Miss Jamaica Universe, started becoming a hot couple on the social scene.

But it wasn't until they took a European vacation and attended the wedding of a friend of the beau in France, did their friends here and abroad start thinking that this was not just a passing fancy but a very serious romance!

Tied the knot

To cement their romance two Saturdays ago, the fab couple tied the marital knot at the University Chapel of the West Indies in Mona, in a relatively small ceremony, officiated by Reverend Father Peter Espeut, and witnessed by family and immediate friends.

The invitations exhorted guests to be in attendance at 10 a.m. for the commencement of the ceremony. The groom, nattily dressed and beaming, dutifully stood at the altar awaiting the arrival of his bride; as Michael 'Ibo' Cooper, entertained beautifully on piano.

Some 40 anxious minutes later, the bride made her appearance, driven in what is simply one of the hottest luxury imports of the moment - the Audi Q7. Looking flawlessly fabulous, there were precious few who remembered that she was just more than a tad late. And, as she made her way down the aisle, one hand resting on the arm of her beaming father Chapman Longmore.

And, when she arrived by the groom's side, he looked at her lovingly and was so overcome by the moment, his eyes brimmed with tears and he clearly lost the valiant fight to stem the flow as they spilled over on his cheeks and made the moment heart-tugging!

It was a marvellous ceremony, strong on substance, style and symbolism and devoid of any grandstanding. Rev Espeut guided all through a seemingly effortless ceremony that saw a tribute to the bride's mother, who passed away a few years earlier, with the lighting of a candle. This was followed by poetry reading, a verse she penned in celebration of her daughter.

Hugs and kisses

Following on the homily, marriage ceremony, the pronouncements of man and wife, the first kiss and signing of the register, it was a beaming couple who emerged from the Mona Chapel under a shower of rice, rose-petals and orchid blooms to the cheers, hugs and kisses of those gathered.

The reception followed at the Stony Hill residence of Kenny Benjamin with his legendary gardens in full bloom and his entertainment cathedral done to reflect the occasion.

With the walkway leading to the reception area marvellously done with a kind of mini-board detailing the couple's journey of love with some fabulous photographs, it all made for a fab vibe. So, with those expected gathered and cocktails flowing, lunch was served sometime around mid-afternoon, and shortly thereafter the MC, the lovely Saffrey Brown, guided guests through a most wonderfully exhilarating reception, that was a celebration of life, love, family, friends and hope.

'Dancing Queen'

And, speaking of special, have y'all ever been to a wedding where the bride and groom opened the dance floor to Abba's Dancing Queen? The couple led their guests into what was truly a fabulous groove that saw whole families off their feet and dancing up a fab glow!

Guests included the bride's father, Chapman Longmore and Flexi Muirhead; her brother Dr Chapman Longmore Jr and his companion Bridgette Welds; father of the groom, Jean Dropinski and mother, Antonina Plate; his brother and best man, Dr Jean-Pierre Dropinski and companion Nicoletta Foti, and their son Vladimir Dropinski all in from Belgium; Prime Minister Bruce Golding; Professor Dr Denise Eldemire Shearer and her brother Barney Eldemire; Head of the European Union Delegation Ambas-sador Marco and Fiela Mazzocchi Alemanni; Belgian Ambassador Frederic and Lydie Meurice; Charles Hanna; Professor Dr Freddie and Hilary Hickling; Kingsley Cooper and his companion Romae Gordon; Capt Rupert Bent and wife Cindy Breakspeare.

Also present were Drs Guyan and Suzanne Arscott; Dr Wendel Abel and author Eulalee Thompson; Steve and Betty Ashley; Harold Brady; Patrick Wong and wife Peta-Gaye MacMillan Wong; Al Niazi; Rajiv Bakshi and companion Dorothea Gordon-Smith; Alva and Olive Belnavis; Dahlia Timoll and daughter Maxine Timoll; Orville and Genevieve Danville; Diane Anderson; Dr Michael McDonald and wife, maid of honour Dr Kala Davis; Ricardo and Azra Mallett and Tamara Campbell.