With love, Andrew and Latania shine as Mr and Mrs Binns

It was certainly a ‘Good Friday’ for Latania Hewitt and Andrew Binns, who met by chance on the namesake Easter holiday last year. Less than a year later, they walked the path they were both destined to take the moment they met each other: love and marriage.

It took quite a great deal of convincing to get Andrew to leave the house in order to clear his mind of all the stress he was enduring. But his best friend knew that his job title called for situations such as these. So determined was he that he incentivised the event by becoming a matchmaker. He invited a ‘nice lady’ for his best friend to meet. That mystery woman turned out to be Latania.

He was happy that he went out because, to his surprise, everything changed when he met the love of his life that night. “I was like ‘Wow! She is pretty, sexy and adorable’. It was like love at first sight,” he told Island Wedding.

Latania, who was also a bit hesitant in socialising because she was going through an ordeal similar to that of her soon-to-be beloved, was equally excited to make his acquaintance. “He seemed cool, sad but jovial, and looked like he needed love,” she said, not knowing that she would be the one to rekindle his fire for passion and desire.

A few weeks into getting to know her, Andrew knew he needed her in his life. But Latania required more. “She told me she was giving me three months to decide if this is what I really wanted,” he revealed.

The first date stayed within the theme of adventure, with the pair exploring Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios, St Ann. The occasion, for Latania, was wild and spectacular. Andrew took the journey as the right opportunity to declare his serious intentions for her and her heart. She has been basking in the bliss of his company ever since.

“We balance each other’s lives in many ways. He is cool as a cucumber; most things don’t bother him. He loves to see others happy, to a point of self-sacrifice,” she said, adding, When I get a little too impatient with myself and life, he shows me just how much he cares.”

Andrew, who was married before, said he had felt “hopeless” when his wife passed away. “Then Latania came into my life, made a difference, and brought out the best in me. She constantly pushes me to challenge myself and be a better person. I admire the zeal she has for success. I thought I knew love, but every day she showed me that there is more to offer, to give and get in a relationship,” he shared.

Four to five months into the relationship, Andrew asked Latania to be his wife. “The proposal, in my eyes, was fast and stunning,” she reflected.

The soon-to-be bride and groom enlisted the nuptial expertise of wedding planning Shevanise Lee to steer their love ship all the way to ‘I do’. From the time to the financial demands, the process was overwhelming for the couple.

Latania was hoping to have better luck with the wedding dress selection. But she was shocked by the difficulty the act presented.

“I went to about five bridal boutiques,” she lamented, unable to find her match. It was the man she was about to marry who introduced her to Union Bridal Boutique, which exceeded her expectations.

On February 6, Andrew and Latania were joined in holy matrimony at the Hibiscus Lodge Hotel in Ocho Rios, St Ann, to become Mr and Mrs Binns. The bride was absolutely stunning in an exquisite white mermaid-cut dress, inclusive of ruffles and lace details.

“The wedding was all that I hoped for and more. It was breathtaking. I was amazed with how beautiful everything was,” Mr Binns said. His wife shared a similar sentiment, noting, “It was fun and unforgettable. It was one of the best and most anxious moments of my life. I was nervous even doing my own make-up application, but thank God, it turned out to be astonishing.”

To commemorate the grand occasion, the newly-weds engaged in their first official dance as husband and wife to Bryan Adams’ Heaven.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com