Philipp and Tanisa unite in fairy-tale wedding

WESTERN BUREAU:

Love blossomed even in the midst of a global pandemic for Philipp Hofer and Tanisa Samuel. Locked down together due to COVID-19, they found themselves spending months cooking, laughing, and falling in love all over again.

Philipp knew that he was going to marry Tanisa the moment he met her 12 years ago. Her positive energy and warm aura drew him in, making him feel comfortable and safe.

Finally, after months of being together in lockdown, Philipp couldn’t wait any longer and proposed to the love of his life in July 2020, and began eagerly planning their future together.

Their wedding day was a sight to behold, with the couple literally jumping for joy as they were declared husband and wife by the Reverend Conrad Thomas. It was a day filled with love, laughter, and pure joy, witnessed by the people who cared about them most.

But the two will tell you that their love story began long before their wedding day. Standing side by side at a birthday party, Tanisa felt an inextricable feeling of comfort, home, and peace. From that moment on, the two were drawn to each other like magnets, unable to stay apart for long.

Their love has weathered the test of time, proving that destiny brought them together. Even when they spent time apart, they knew deep down that they could not live without each other. On April 15, 2023, the couple exchanged vows in a fairy-tale setting created by Tai Flora Luxe on the lawns of the White Witch Golf Club in Rose Hall, St James, overlooking the rolling hills and the stunning blues of the Caribbean Sea.

Tanisa was stunning in a classic ivory taffeta off-the shoulder corset bodice ball gown, with gloves and a grand train. The train itself weighed over 10 pounds. The dress had a left-side split that showed the leg from mid-thigh and made it easy to walk down the aisle.

Did we say aisle? Tai Flora outdid themselves creating a mirrored walkway lined with white hydrangeas, white phalaenopsis orchids, and white roses in sync with the dress, which transformed into an ankle length corset dress, which was removed for dancing at the reception.

To say the European designer Lia Stublla’s wedding dress looked like it was painted on Tanisa’s body would be an understatement. She was not only one of the most stunning brides on the day, but was also relaxed.

“We really had a great time. The moment at the altar was so beautiful,” she gushed. “We both decided to relax and enjoy the day,” she added, revelling in the revelation that she and her husband were indeed soulmates.

“It is undeniable that we were destined to be together,” the sales manager at Unlimited Vacation Club told Island Wedding.

When Philipp spoke of his wife, he warned that his speech would be like a mini-skirt, long enough to cover the essentials, but short enough to hold everybody’s attention. “Eleven years ago we had our first vodka on the rocks at the Ritz Carlton lobby bar while Minister Bartlett did his notorious long speeches. Little did I know that that very moment would lead us all the way to today, here to our wedding.”

He admitted that the words had not yet been invented that were large enough or true enough to express his wife’s beautiful heart and amazing soul. “You have certainly made a big impact on my life, and I am forever grateful for that. I feel blessed that I have been worth your time, and I will make sure I can be amazing the husband you deserve,” he declared to his wife.

Philipp’s sons, Liam and Daniel, sat attentively listening to their dad, while Tanisa’s daughter, Arielle Meany, smiled in agreement.

Philipp’s groomsmen were led by his best friend, Sonya Nalkiran, who donned a Mark Anthony designed bespoke suits along with the rest of the crew, while the groom wore a basil green suit, also by Mark Anthony.

The bridesmaids wore cadmium green, fitting beautifully with the lush greenery that defines the White Witch Golf Course, among the crème de la crème in championship facilities in the country.

When it came to the time for speeches, Tanisa’s friends described her as passionate about fitness. “Singlehandedly, Tanisa is one of the most determined persons I know. When she decides on what she wants, nothing can stop her,” said her friend of 10 years, Allison Callam.

Tanisa is relentless in her pursuits even when the odds are stacked against her, and this confirmation was given by her father, Grenadian-born author Brian Samuel, who spoke lovingly of childhood days.

In attendance were the bride’s mom, Paula-Ann Lee-Smith, and the groom’s parents Brigitta and Erik Hofer, several relatives, and friends.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com