André Parnell described his relationship with his bride, Kimberly McKoy, as a chance encounter that blossomed into a beautiful friendship.

One day while walking on the campus of the University of the West Indies, Mona, where they were both students, André spotted an attractive 'fresher' whom he thought had the most beautiful skin tone.

"I couldn't help it, I just stopped her and told her I liked her complexion," he said.

From that day the two were inseparable but wouldn't become romantically involved until years later.

For three years, Kim and André maintained a friendship. They became part of the same crowd, as they were both majoring in radiology.

"We spent a lot of time hanging out and studying together, but we never really thought about getting involved until after we finished school," Kim told Flair. "We were both coming out of long-term relationships and so we weren't looking for anything more than friendship," she added.

After graduating from university they both got jobs as radiographers, with André later taking a job in Mandeville. The distance, however, could not douse the flame that burned between them and a year later, in December 2008, while walking along Hellshire beach in St Catherine, André popped the question.

"I couldn't believe it when I saw him get down on his knees," Kim recalled. "I just started crying and I can't even remember if I said yes right away because I became so emotional."

They immediately got to work, planning a wedding for the following summer.

On a beautiful, sunny morning in July, Kim and André joined their hearts, souls and families together in a solemn ceremony at Mona Baptist Church in St Andrew.

At 10:45 a.m., the beaming bride walked down the aisle on the arms of her mother, Dion Murphy, in an elegant strapless gown adorned with gold trimmings and embroidery.

They exchanged vows in a formal but cheerful ceremony officiated by Reverend Stephen Jennings, who gave the couple sound advice on love and marriage.

Marlon Benjamin thrilled the guests with several song selections, including N'Sync's This I Promise You.

After the wedding the groom jokingly mentioned that he was so nervous that the only thing he remembered from the ceremony was when the pastor said "You may kiss the bride".

Family and friends got a chance to unwind at the reception which followed at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston where the ballroom was exquisitely decorated in the couple's wedding colours of lime green and gold.

Master of ceremonies Wesley Burger kept guests entertained with his feisty humour.

In his reply the groom vowed to make his bride "the envy of all women" by making her the happiest wife on Earth.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com

Contributed

Newly-weds Mr and Mrs André Parnell.

Contributed

Vivia Morgan and Oral Mitchell solemnised their love when they said 'I do' on July 4, 2009, at Grace and Truth Brethren Assembly in Clarks Town, Mandeville, Manchester. The officiating minister was Kempton Small.