Nirmada and her husband, Dr Gairy Hall, wait patiently for the wedding ceremony to begin. - Colin Hamilton/freelance photographer

In an intimate ceremony, witnessed by family and friends, and 'anchored by faith', Joan Thomas and Albert Edwards said their vows at St Jude's Anglican Church in Stony Hill, St Andrew.

On the warm, summer morning of June 6, the modest chapel housed the guests who anxiously awaited the couple.

When Edwards, the chief parliamentary counsel, arrived with his best man in tow, he greeted those on the outside and took his appointed seat in a front pew. There he waited; he offered a kind greeting to guests who passed by, but for the most part he sat quietly, occasionally tapping his left hand against his knee. His wait was not long.

African-inspired designs

Dressed in African-inspired designs, the bridesmaids, Maureen Theoc and Jhenelle McIntosh, and the matron of honour, Claudia Hunter, signalled the arrival of the bride.

Thomas, the deputy high commissioner for Jamaica at London, beamed as she emerged on her father's arm in a traditional white wedding gown.

She proceeded down an aisle decorated with undulating burnt orange-patterned sheer with flecks of gold, her carpeted path paved with rose petals.

Tears of joys

Proud love. Crafton Miller proudly stands beside his wife, Juliet; both were at the wedding reception of Joan Thomas and Albert Edwards.

Paula Llewellyn, director public prosecutions, was one guest who shed a tear upon the bride's arrival.

The couple soon exchanged purposeful vows.

"I take you, Joan Elaine Thomas to be my wife," the groom said, pausing before he said "my wife".

The sermon was officiated by the Reverend Leslie Hoo Sang and the Reverend Canon Dr C. Vivian Cohen.

In a prayerful sermon the couple's theme 'anchored by faith' was brought out.

"They have dropped their anchor in the solid rock of Christ," said Reverend Father Leslie Hoo Sang making reference to their faith in God.

The couple requested the entire congregation be their witnesses and the marriage certificate was presented to them before the entire congregation.

After their first kiss as husband and wife, they exited the church dancing to an up-tempo musical selection of drums and the violin.

The reception followed at Boon Hall Oasis. The wedding planner was Lorraine Ross-Clunie and her excellent team at Elegant Weddings.

Guests

Ruth Brown, an usher at the wedding ceremony, travelled from overseas to see the couple get married.

Guests included wife of Jamaican High Commissioner to London Joline Whiteman; Justice Minister Senator Dorothy Lighbourne; DPP Paula Llewellyn; parents of the bride, Sybil Hendriks and Cameron Thomas; parents of the groom, Justice Alvin and Castel Edwards; bestman, Richard Edwards; groomsmen, Richard Brown and Mathieu Vaughan; Dana Theoc; Jordan Theoc; Byron Ward; Desereine Taylor; Fred Anderson, Kathleen and Linval Rennie; Faith Graham, Ruth Brown; Molly McIntosh; Dahlia McDaniel; Winnie Smith; Captain John Richards, several members of the legal profession and more.

Elegant Weddings stuck to the burnt-orange-and-sage theme throughout.

Dahlia McDaniel (left) and Winnie Smith were all smiles for the camera. The two were guests at the wedding of Joan Thomas and Albert Edwards.

Experienced love. Phillip and Betty Nash await the arrival of the newlyweds at their reception at Boon Hall Oasis.

Groomsmen Richard Brown (front) and Mathieu Vaughan.

Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, minister of justice, chats with Byron Ward, legal council for Jamaica National, at the wedding reception for Joan Thomas and Albert Edwards, held at Boon Hall Oasis.

Wedding of Joan Thomas, deputy high commissioner for Jamaica at London, and Albert Edwards, chief parliamentary counsel. The ceremony was held at St Jude's Anglican Church, Stony Hill, St Andrew, on June 6. Reception, Boon Hall Oasis.

Beautiful bows in the theme colours dominated the three-tier cake.