A decade-long romance sparks wedding bells for Sherika and Andre

It is said that love knows no distance. But it has certainly gone the distance for Sherika Gibson and Andre Evans. The lovebirds, who hail from Clarendon, grew up in the same community. Once their hearts found each other in high school, there was no letting go. After a decade of adoration, affection and devotion, Andre asked Sherika to be his wife during the most unforgettable Christmas photo shoot. The two went on to say ‘I do’ at Coral Cay Villas in Tower Isle, St Mary.

“I was taken over by her personality and how down-to-earth and funny she is,” Andre told Island Wedding, noting that he was equally enchanted by her angelic beauty.

After graduating high school and starting sixth form, Sherika and Andre decided to make things official. However, when Sherika went off to college, distance came into play, testing the couple. But it was no match for this unbreakable bond. “He really showed up for me,” she said, adding, “And even though there was a little distance between us with me being away, he made sure that our relationship wasn’t affected,” she shared.

Andre continues to be blown away by Sherika’s intellect and loves how business-minded and caring she is. “She lights up a room when she walks in and keeps everyone laughing. Even though she is a pharmacist, I can’t believe she didn’t study construction and business management. Always looking into different avenues for us to go into and create businesses, she made me into the man that I am today by helping me with my studies and assisting me with realising my full potential. She has also shown me what love is and how to show love.”

Sherika was always impressed by Andre, and she admired him for his strength and support, as well as his hard-working and family-oriented nature, “Passionate about what he does and consistently improving his craft, he has been through a lot and he doesn’t let it deter him from accomplishing his goals. He is my greatest supporter and always encourages me in everything I do. He loves to make me laugh and he is always cheering me up. And he goes above and beyond for his family and makes sure that everyone is happy.”

Helping her to become the person she is today, his hands-on approach has paid off in informing her perspective on life. When he isn’t giving her knowledge on construction, Andre is showering her with love while boosting her confidence.

To rekindle the romance, the couple enjoys travelling. They also appreciate engaging in long chats about life over drinks, discussing how they can improve in some areas and making plans to spend quality time with immediate family. “Our favourite place to hang out is really at our home in the backyard. I’m away so much of the time, it feels good to be at home together relaxing,” Andre said.

While Sherika highlighted that seeing Andre go the extra mile during her collegiate years made her realise that he was the one for her, he confessed that he always knew, “I knew it from day one. But, after I saw the bond she had with my daughter and witnessed just how caring she is, I had to marry her.”

After a decade of courtship, Andre surprised his soulmate with a special engagement, under the guise of a planned holiday photo shoot.

“I was planning with her sister and mom all along about how I could do it. But then I heard Sherika speaking about us doing a photo shoot for Christmas. That was the perfect opportunity. We did the shoot at her sister’s apartment. The final set of photos were taken on the rooftop. So, at the end of the shoot, they positioned her away from me. When she started asking for me, she turned around and saw me on one knee. I asked her to be my wife and she said yes,” Andre explained, reflecting on the emotional moment. It was the most beautiful surprise for Sherika.

As a fiancée, she enlisted the expertise of Franceine Foster, a local wedding concierge, to fulfil all of her nuptial needs, “The process was amazing, hassle-free, and all I had to do was say yes and no.”

For her wedding dress, she said yes to what she describes as the perfect dress from Lena Berisha.

Coral Cay Villas in Tower Isle provided the backdrop for the lovely couple to join hands and hearts in holy matrimony. In the glamour and opulence of paradise, the gorgeous bride walked up the aisle to meet her handsome prince. The specially invited guest were happy to partake in this special moment and bask in their nuptial bliss.

The bride and groom both agreed that the wedding exceeded all of their expectations. “Seeing the background with the coconut trees, flowers and the stage setup really blew me away,” the groom said. At the reception, the picturesque newly-weds shared a magical first dance as husband and wife to For You, by Kenny Lattimore, and Lightning, by Mortimer.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com