The Clarkes’ love story rooted in faith

For many couples, courtship is about learning about each other before marriage. But, for Nicolette Henry and Daniel Clarke, they knew instantly. And, like most beautiful things, the pair made their first acquaintance in church. “We attend the same church,” Nicolette began, “however, our first conversation started when Daniel sent me a friend request on Facebook on July 30, 2023 at 7:47 p.m.”

Not wasting any time, the two later went on what they described as ‘a shy first date’ at Devon House in St Andrew.

“Our first date was a shy one,” she explained giggling. “We went to Devon House to get ice cream and my favourite cake, carrot cake, then went to Emancipation Park to sit and talk.”

Minutes turned into hours as they discussed their lives, goals, and, most importantly, their love for God.

Though the two felt the pull of their strong connection early on, they decided to abstain from any physical intimacy; even opting to save their first kiss for their wedding day. This, however, did not stop the two from falling deeply in love.

Unsurprisingly, Daniel was the first to utter the three magic words.

Sharing why he could not hold back his emotions, he told Island Wedding, “I love everything about my wife! But what I love most about her is her resilient spirit that is second to none, and her faith. I have watched her push through. I saw her beat the odds and rise above the expectations of men to go after her dreams and goals. Her faith was what drew me to her. She met me as a full-time university student and I wasn’t financially stable enough to date her. Now I am working at one of the biggest corporate organisations and I am taking care of us to the best of my ability. She saw a husband and a man of God in me when I was in a very low place in my life. She deserves every good thing.”

Building on that, Nicolette said, “I just love how my husband loves and serves me. The love my husband gives me erases all my past hurt and traumas. This is a love that cures.”

Resting in that love, it was only months later that Daniel decided he had seen enough and was ready to make Nicolette his bride.

Popping the question in the very place they had first met, Nicolette said, when she arrived at church that morning, she had no idea the turn the day would take.

“My husband proposed to me at the Oil Flow Conference that our church had in October,” she began. “My pastor called me to the altar and told me to close my eyes. I perceived that I was about to receive prayer. However, when he told me to open my eyes I saw Daniel standing in front of me with the mic in his hand. I immediately held my head because I knew what time it was.”

Wasting no time at all, the pair dived into wedding planning. Unlike most brides, Nicolette relished in the challenge of planning the extravagant day.

“I was that bride who planned her own wedding. I decided to challenge myself to the next level because, as an engagement coordinator/events specialist, I’ve executed many projects except a wedding. I planned my wedding with all love and enthusiasm, despite how tiring it became. In the last week before the wedding, I was ready to get it over with but I can now say I’m a wedding planner as well. We were determine to do this because we were about to break a generational curse and it was the right season for us.”

After only eight months together, the two joined hands and hearts on Thursday, March 28 at the Caymanas Golf Club in St Catherines.

Now with the rest of their lives ahead of them, they say they are looking to follow the instructions of the ‘good book’.

“We are looking forward to a lifetime of God’s will being manifested through us; a couple that will impact lives daily. We anticipate the launch of our businesses [and] we are ready for [new] adventures.”

Chuckling, they added, “We are also looking forward to being fruitful and to multiply.”

shanel.lemmie@gleanerjm.com