College sweethearts tie the knot

Dubbing themselves “college sweethearts at its finest”, the love story of Abbigayle Rambaran and David Williams all began seven years ago with an ‘eye’ emoji. Like most modern-day romances, the pair first became acquainted through a text when Abbigayle, who had recently migrated to South Florida from Jamaica, was on the hunt for a night out. Following the suggestion of a friend, Abbigayle got acquainted with fellow ‘yaadie’ David.

Many hours later and many drinks shared between them, Abbigayle said, “David and I somehow found ourselves dancing the night away together in the apartment kitchen. As Ding Dong’s Lowe Mi blasted through the party, I remember having a ladle in hand mixing ‘jungle juice’ and bonding with David.”

Confessing, David said once he laid eyes on her his objective was clear.

Wasting no time at all, the pair went on their first date days later to Chili’s Grill & Bar, a restaurant near the college they both attended.

“Everything just felt right being around him. It was easy and effortless. We bonded over how similar we think, our aspirations and ambition, how we view love, and how we want to be loved. We never felt like we needed to hide any part of ourselves for a ‘first’ date. It set the tone so much for the rest of our relationship,” she told Island Wedding.

Acting as each other’s home away from home, the pair began to spend every moment they had, away from their hectic engineering and nursing studies, together. Soon after, David said the three little words Abbigayle was dying to hear.

“David said ‘I love you’ first. Even though I knew I loved him, but didn’t want to say it in case there was any inkling he didn’t feel the same,” she laughed, reminiscing.

Thinking back to the magical moment, David explained, “I knew I was in love because I found myself wanting to spend more and more time with Abbie. I felt she understood me for me, and was able to provide me with the rock of support I needed.”

He continued, “Moving to the United States for school can be a very lonely and intimidating thing. Having Abbie in my life truly helped me navigate the challenges of college and transitioning into the work world. I’m truly glad I met her, and I will love her more every day.”

Gushing similarly, Abbigayle said, “I knew I was in love because he believed in me more than I did myself, and cared so much about my well-being. He found solutions while I would have meltdowns about inconveniences. I feel like I could turn my brain off, because he took care of everything without question. I never had to ‘second-think’ his actions or words. He loves me out loud, he shows he listens, and tries every day to show up and show out for me. He was the person I needed for balance to even out my empathetic nature with his logic and pragmatism.”

After years together, in November 2022 David decided to make their union legal. Planning a private proposal at a friend’s house, Abbigayle says though she could see her then boyfriend was nervous, she never expected a proposal.

“I was told to get ready for dinner with friends, and at that time I had an inkling something was up, because he has never helped me fix my hair or get ready overall. It seemed like we had somewhere to be. He told me he needed to pick up our friends, which didn’t make sense, as we were passing our destination. But he had all the answers lined up for any question I could have asked, to not give away the surprise. I suspected nothing!”

She went on, “Confused as I was, I walked outside the patio doors to be greeted with a rose bouquet, a large lit-up ‘marry me’ sign, candles, a heart made from rose petals, and Hailey Reinhart’s rendition of Can’t Help Falling in Love. Of course, I said yes. I don’t even remember what he said, because I knew my answer before he asked.”

The pair got married on January 5, 2024, at the Rose Hall Great House in Montego Bay.

“We wanted to have our wedding in Jamaica, because Jamaica is our true home. Family and friends are so important to us, and we wanted our wedding to be accessible for our guests. We also believe in supporting Jamaican businesses and opted to have our wedding in Jamaica for that reason as well,” he explained.

Now, with the rest of their lives ahead of them, the husband and wife duo says they are most excited for the adventures ahead.

“We have lived a nomadic lifestyle for the past two years, so more than anything we are excited to settle in to our new place in Miami, making it a home and embark on even more adventures and trips together, especially those with our fur babies,” they said.

shanel.lemmie@gleanerjm.com