Laughter and love unite Drs Danielle and Arillon Chrysostom
Published:Tuesday | February 1, 2022 | 12:06 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
Laughter was certainly the best medicine for Drs Danielle Levy and Arillon Chrysostom, who first met in 2013 while on duty at the Cornwall Regional Hospital. The medical practitioners took their love all the way to ‘I Do’, tying the knot six years later in cool December.
INTERN MEETS MED STUDENT
A third-year medical student at the time, Danielle’s first impression of Arillon was that he was jovial. The then intern would often be seen laughing with his friend, and she was both curious and intrigued. “I’d always look at the two of them and wonder what could be so funny to have them laughing all the time,” she told Island Wedding. Arillon could recall Danielle being the girl with the warmest smile who exchanged waves with him from time to time.
Their paths crossed more frequently, and before they knew it, the duo went on their first date.
Danielle admitted that nerves crept in because she was about to meet with his friend from Trinidad as well. But it went so well that they began enjoying each other’s company on several more outings. “After a few months of dating, and after admitting to myself that I really liked spending time with her, we decided to go into a relationship,” Arillon said. The pair became official on July 25, 2015.
Sharing a similar sense of humour, Danielle is amazed by her beloved’s caring nature, “He’s the friend that everyone goes to for everything. He takes his time to listen, process, and give meaningful advice.” She added that he was wise beyond his years – this she attributes to his Christian background – a talker, and she made special mention of him being sexy.
Noting that she isn’t the biggest communicator, she often had so much on her mind and didn’t share it. Arillon has taught her to do just the opposite. “He has taught me that it’s okay to stand up for yourself, to voice if you’re not comfortable in a particular environment and showed how to stand strong with decisions you’ve made.” She knew he was the one the moment he went the distance to support her when she least expected it. She explained further.
“On a rotation for medical school that took me to St Ann, I didn’t have a vehicle at the time, so getting around and getting food was difficult. One night, we were on the phone, and I told him I was hungry and that I was going to walk to find somewhere to get food. He told me he didn’t think it was safe and that maybe I should just try to go to sleep and get something in the morning,” she said.”An hour and a half later, I heard a knock on the room door. There stood Ari, food in hand and a big bright smile on his face.”
Arillon described his soulmate as kind, gentle, patient, vibrant, and unassuming, “She has a big heart and treats everyone with care and respect. She gives really good hugs and rubs and has a soothing aura. Her high tolerance for a lot of things continues to astound. She often appears unphased and calm. If you have heard her laugh, you know her radiance. But she isn’t always predictable. She can be impulsive when she’s ready.”
Giving of herself wholeheartedly while exercising patience and commitment when it comes to his growth, through Danielle, he has a greater understanding of himself and her. “She has caused me to challenge my perspective on certain topics and consider that not everyone will see things the way I do. Realising that I had become a better version of myself by being with her, I knew she was the one for me.”
After five years of being a couple, Dr Chrysostom decided to prescribe something stronger for his relationship. So he upgraded his love from girlfriend to wife.
PORTLAND PROPOSAL
The good doctor chose the enchanting Trident Hotel to pop the question. He visited the property with Danielle’s cousin, who stood on the big day as her maid of honour, and took a tour, setting in place a ‘Plan A’ and ‘Plan B’, in case it rained, as it famously does in the parish.
He made special arrangements for the photographer to appear from the bushes to capture the priceless moment, followed by a sunset engagement shoot. And he left no stone unturned. Because he didn’t want his darling to suspect a thing, he gifted her a dress for the occasion since he had not given her any indication of what to pack.
“The following Friday, Danielle and I made the trip to Trident, and Danielle had no idea where we were going. Even on arrival, she had no idea since Trident’s entrance gate is inconspicuous. It was only after we drove in she realised where we were, and she was blown away. It was then I felt an adrenaline rush as I realised I had her just where I wanted her,” he revealed with excitement.
Arillon was so cool, calm, and collected about everything that she didn’t realise what exactly was happening until he was down on bended knee, ring in his hand. “I know this because I was down there for almost 10 minutes waiting for an answer! Well, it felt like it anyway.”
Danielle, who loves surprises and who isn’t a fan of loud proposals, was happy that her fiancé kept the proposal private and intimate, “He ticked all the boxes. I was definitely surprised. The location was amazing, and more importantly, it was just him and I.”
The engaged couple went with I Do Islands to bring the nuptial dreams to a matrimonial reality. Usually a planner, the bride-to-be wanted no worries come wedding day. Meeting Kimberly Wong was fate. Danielle and her cousin visited Bliss Bridal to look at wedding dresses. An hour and four dresses later, she found the one for her, noting its pockets and low back as the wow factor. Three months before the wedding, she chose to add a reception dress to the fashion line-up. Her search online came up successful, and when it arrived, it was a perfect fit.
DOUBLE CEREMONY
The wedding was initially scheduled for last year on their anniversary, July 25, but Jamaica wasn’t accepting flights for Trinidad and Tobago, and the island’s borders were closed. “There was no way we were going to have the wedding without Ari’s family being there,” Danielle said. So the two had a very intimate civil ceremony in July, exchanged vows, and signed the marriage register.
On December 12, Danielle and Arillon celebrated their love among close friends and family at Villa Vista, Caymanas Estate. Vows were recited once again, as they shared their love and devotion to each other with specially invited guests. They also engaged in a traditional tree-planting ceremony, accompanied by the song The Blessing, sung by Trinelle Robinson. The two experiences were the highlights for the bride.
Having a live band to feed her husband’s love for music was the icing on the cake. While for Arillon, his best moment was seeing Danielle for the first time in her wedding dress. “The build-up to seeing her for the first time as a bride was exciting and special. She looked stunning.”