Happenstance sparks romance for Kelley-Ann and Jason
Published:Tuesday | July 18, 2023 | 12:07 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
Some of the best relationships begin unexpectedly. For Kelley-Ann Grant and Jason Murray, their paths first crossed in college. Back then, their only goal was to graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in information technology. Who knew that in the midst of studies, love would also be on the brain? Almost 15 years later, enveloped in cloud nine and surrounded by standing sparklers, Stephen Sanchez’s Until I Found You set an intimate tone for the couple who shared a beautiful first dance as husband and wife.
“Initially, I thought he was a caring and respectful individual who cares for people,” Kelley-Ann told Island Wedding.
As time grew, so did her admiration, which she could only describe as LOVE. “Jason is loyal, open-hearted, virtuous and encouraging. He is always there through the highs and lows, and stays by your side regardless of the circumstances. He’s willing to support me in any life decision, remaining honest while encouraging me to go harder, do better and never give up,” she said.
One of the most compassionate, generous, and honest people she knows, Kelly-Ann says he goes above and beyond for others; a trait she continues to adore.
“Jason’s love and support through our relationship has motivated me to be a better person. He is not one who talks about his feelings, but he would plan dates, no matter how small it was, for us to reconnect,” she highlighted.
Kelley-Ann, he says, has always been a beauty. Though she is shy and reserved by nature, her radiance has consistently illuminated his world.
“She is always putting others before herself, even if it means giving away her last or having to do without. With big dreams in sight, she continues to take strides to achieve them, and this is truly inspiring. Kelley-Ann loves her family dearly, and has become so ingrained in mine that they ask for her before my well-being, should I visit them without her,” he shares with a hearty laugh.
He continues, “A lover of life and all it has to offer, she truly enjoys being alive and she’s always looking forward to what’s next, no matter how small. She celebrates all occasions, milestones and victories. And Kelley-Ann is a ‘roadrunner’; she’s always down for a trip. It doesn’t matter where, or what time. She’ll always say yes, as long as food will be there.”
Creating a safe space to be him was paramount, and he found it very refreshing to be loved and to feel loved. “She always ensures that we make time for each other, no matter how small. Whether it’s a supermarket run together, an at-home movie night, an ice cream or icicle date, or just unwinding over dinner and catching up on the day’s happenings.”
Although they live together, she still checks in with him throughout the days and makes it quite easy to speak on just about anything at any time. “If there’s an issue, she is all about fixing it now. There is a constant reassurance from her that I have come to appreciate. And she has helped me to be a much better person.”
Deciding to embark on a relationship four years following their first encounter, the pair would go on to court over a decade before ringing those wedding bells.
“I knew that he was the one for a long time. Over the years, we have been there for each other, celebrating wins and providing comfort during downtimes. Knowing that my family welcomed Jason with open arms was also clear to me that he has always been the one. But the icing on the cake was being blessed with our son Zayne. Seeing the fatherly love that Jason has portrayed is more than words can explain. I was waiting until he was ready,” Kelley-Ann shared.
Jason was excited to ask Kelley-Ann, the love of his life, to be his wife, but the proposal didn’t go according to plan.
“The original idea was to pop the question during a romantic moment while dining at a restaurant in Ocho Rios. The morning of the day, I had to run to Westmoreland to visit some relatives. Kelley took her sweet time to get ready, which made us late in returning in the evening to our Airbnb. On our arrival, the restaurant was closed,” he explained.
Knowing her beloved to a tee, Kelley-Ann could sense how upset Jason was. “I felt guilty for making us miss dinner at the restaurant.” So, she decided to make it up to him using her culinary skills and his credit card.
“Dinner turned out to be great; quite delicious, actually. So much so that I bent the knee and popped the question while she was washing the dishes. It’s now a running joke between us how she cooked her own proposal meal. But it was an intimate and memorable moment,” Jason recounted.
Sharing that their marriage, much like their love, would be a two-way street, Kelley-Ann insisted that the wedding would not only be for the bride. So the groom-to-be joined in on the nuptial planning and together, the engaged duo enjoyed every minute of the planning process.
“Because of my project management skills, the process was not as stressful. It was fun and exciting to share each other’s ideas and to see the outcome. It made me realise even more that we work well as a team,” said Kelley-Ann.
On June 10, before God and specially invited guests, Jason and Kelley-Ann joined in holy matrimony to become Mr and Mrs Murray. The beautiful bride walked down the aisle during the picturesque ceremony at Tropical Elegance in Kingston to meet her dashing groom. Overcome with emotions, he couldn’t hold his tears after seeing his gorgeous always and forever before him.
The reception, held at the same venue, brought an even greater festive mood. The newly-weds couldn’t be more pleased with their wedding, adding that it surpassed all expectations.
“This wedding made me realise how in sync Kelley-Ann and I are, from the planning phase straight through to execution. The highlight was seeing all my friends and family members who came to support us,” the groom said.
As for the bride, “My favourite moment was when the minister declared us husband and wife.”