Heaven-Bent on marrying each other

Weeks leading up to their nuptials, Alan Bent and Vanessa Wadsworth would jokingly talk about a rainy day actually being good luck for their wedding ceremony, which was originally planned to be an outdoor affair. As luck would have it, the date of their ‘I dos’ was greeted with torrential rain, which the pastor identified as God’s way of blessing the marriage, shared Alan Bent, who was unbothered by the weather as nothing could dampen his spirits for what would be the first day of the rest of his life.

“It was fate; while quite wet, it added to the atmosphere making it a very beautiful day,” he said. “Don’t feel as though you have to put life on hold due to the weather, or even a pandemic. My advice to any couple considering marriage is, if you and that special person know you are ready to take the next step, get married and start that journey towards building a life together. My only regret is that I did not meet Vanessa sooner in life.”

Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, to Jamaican parents, it was destiny that he would meet his match and she would be Jamaica-born and bred. So, from their very first meeting in 2018 in South Tampa, Alan was hell-bent, or better yet, heaven-bent, on making Vanessa his wife. The two dated for two months before becoming a couple and Alan would propose two years later.

WIFE CHARACTERISTICS

“She has all of the feminine characteristics that a man seeks for in a wife. She is spiritual, empathetic, supporting, trustworthy, nurturing, and devoted. She makes me a better person by holding me accountable and keeping me honest about situations and hurdles that I face. Most importantly, Vanessa always reminds me to never forget to put God first in all things that I do,” Alan told Island Wedding.

It was important that their wedding ceremony inspired heavenly bliss, and the Bella Collina in Montverde, a small town within the Sunshine State fit the profile. They wanted a simple but elegant aesthetic and chose white and hunter green for their colour scheme that made them feel one with nature.

And, in true Jamaican spirit, the entertainment aspect had to be high-energy, surprising guests with the confetti drop, LED robot and butterfly dancing to the sounds of a live steel band and a fun photo booth to capture guests having a great time.

“My favourite part of the wedding was definitely the reception but Vanessa’s vows are words I will never forget. More than the specific language of the vow, it is the tone itself that I will always remember. I could sense that my then wife-to-be, truly poured her heart and soul into the words,” Alan shared.

For Vanessa, time stood still. “We shared our handwritten vows, and even before, there were a few moments together pre-ceremony, a sort of first look, where we relished in the joys of our past, the thrill of our now and the excitement of our future,” she said.

Even while wearing a Lazaro wedding gown of white, opulent lace, decadent silk and shimmering Swarovski crystals, Vanessa could not believe she was about to be Mrs Bent, although “Alan was [her] person from the beginning”.

“It honestly didn’t hit me until we checked into our hotel for our mini moon and they identified us as Mr and Mrs Bent,” she shared.

Reflecting on their first date, Vanessa said, “It was great conversation, excellent food and a lot of laughs … the best way to possibly describe that time at Café Tu Tu Tango would be, ‘hanging out with your best friend doing the simplest of nothings but it having the best of times’. We exchanged interesting stories about our early childhood and upbringing. I believe this experience really jump-started our relationship. The transition from girlfriend to wife hardly seems different, just feels right.”

Despite the pandemic causing a few hiccups, including the absence of both the bride’s childhood best friend, who could not travel from China, invited guests who returned positive COVID-19 tests, Vanessa’s vision board on Pinterest came to life.

stephanie.lyew@gleanerjm.com