Rochelle and Troy Manahan found love in loss

On February 26, 2011, Troy Manahan was mourning the passing of his granduncle when he encountered Rochelle Bryan, a divine beauty who provided both enchantment and comfort during the funeral. Their bond deepened over time, eventually leading them to matrimony.

While at the service, Rochelle remembered Troy’s frequent stares. “She had on this beautiful dark-grey dress, and she let her hair down. I couldn’t stop staring at her,” Troy told Island Wedding, adding, “Right then and there, I knew I had found the love of my life. Her smile captured my heart from then until now.”

Smitten as he may be, Rochelle found his attention neither unsettling nor enticing as her primary concern was supporting her childhood friend, who was also mourning the loss of her dear granduncle.

There was no mistaking the frequent glances directed her way from the man she described as a handsome stranger. “Not only did I notice that he was staring me down, my friend Shanay saw as well,” she revealed.

Captivated by her appearance, he continued the stare-down throughout the service and carried it over to the burial site.

So intrigued was he that he had already approached her ‘sister from another mister,’ who happened to be his cousin, to inquire about the mystery friend in attendance. “My cousin Shanay, who is Rochelle’s childhood best friend, had put in a few words for me.”

Rochelle explained that another one of Troy’s cousins, who goes by the name of Dalwayne, intervened on his behalf.

“He said to me, ‘My cousin wants to have a word with you.’ And my response was,”Suh your cousin can’t talk?” When we finally arrived where the gathering was, I saw Shanay and Troy talking and laughing, I then said to myself, “I can bet he was inquiring about me’. Shortly after, Shanay came over to me to deliver his love-at-first-sight messages. She then introduced us to each other.

After exchanging numbers, the two haven’t stopped talking to each other since. Four months later, they became a couple. “I am happy that I attended that funeral because I was able to meet my beautiful wife, Rochelle Manahan,” he added.

Rochelle also echoed similarly sentiments, “I never wanted to go to the funeral because I don’t like sad moments. I literally hate funerals, but God led me there for a reason indeed. I don’t regret going because I met my future husband, who is also the father of my two beautiful kids Troy Junior and Tasani Manahan.”

Intelligent, hard working, talented, dependable, and very humble, Rochelle revealed that her husband is one of the most kind-hearted, humble human beings on Earth, “Because of him and our little family, I feel like every single day of my life is perfect. He’s a family man who always ensures we are okay. One of the best qualities of a husband is a compassionate man who will empathise with your feelings and always make you feel loved and appreciated.”

Describing her as beautiful, faithful, patient, independent, affectionate, and irreplaceable, Troy admired Rochelle’s ambition and noted her strong leadership skills. “She is very caring, loving, always going out of her way for everyone, encouraging, kind, and loyal. She always helps me with making the best decisions. My beauty with brains, I wouldn’t trade my wife for any other woman in this world. God knows that I wanted a real one by my side and I thank Him every day for my beautiful wife.”

SHE SAID YES!

After courting for nine years, Troy proposed to Rochelle on April 16, 2021, at Hotel Riu Ocho Rios. Still celebrating her 27th birthday from the day before, she went to dinner in high spirits, unaware that the birthday cake would also come with a ring.

“When it was time to cut the cake, she went in and saw a stunning silver ring. She placed her hand over her mouth, with her beautiful dreamy eyes wide open staring at her ring and suddenly, she began to cry. I wiped her face and asked her to be my wife, and without a doubt, I knew the answer would be yes. I wiped off the icing off the ring and placed it on her left hand. My wife deserves the world and as they always say, nothing beats God’s timing,” Troy shared.

Rochelle planned the nuptials alongside her sister Muesha, who she says helped alleviate the frustration and stress of the process. As for the wedding dress, the bride said “yes” to a flair with thigh-high slit design from Unions Bridal Boutique.

On April 13, the soulmates joined hands and hearts at City View Hotel in Smokey Vale, St Andrew, to become Mr and Mrs Manahan.

Both the bride and groom revealed that their wedding day was magical. “The best moment for me was when I turned around at the ceremony and saw my beautiful wife in that stunning white dress. Her dad was holding her hand, and I couldn’t wait for him to give her away to me. She marched in to a song that definitely describes her entire appearance, Shane Filan’s Beautiful in White.”

Happy from start to finish, the blushing bride shared that her favourite moment came when she and her husband made that powerful commitment to each other.

Sharing their first dance to Spend my Life with You by Eric Benet featuring Tamia, Rochelle recalled loving the romantic zone she and her husband entered together.

“As we slow-danced while looking into each other’s eyes, smiling and laughing, enjoying our big day, we fell in love with each other all over again,” Mrs Manahan added.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com