Becoming the Bedassies

Glenmuir High School graduate Davida-Mae Chambers was among the new female students starting sixth form at St George’s College when she first saw Nicholai Bedassie. The two had previously been Facebook friends but were finally interacting in person. They not only shared classes, both hailed from Spanish Town in St Catherine, often travelling home together. What began as a friendship one September took a romantic turn the following summer, eventually leading to the pair sharing the same last name a decade later.

“I remember that first year of sixth form in that first month of school. I heard his birthday was at the end of September. I went up to him, said ‘Happy Birthday’, and we maintained a friendship until the following summer, when he asked me to be his girlfriend. We’ve been together ever since,” Davida-Mae told Island Wedding.

Nicholai, who was initially drawn to her bubbly energy, recalled just how pretty she looked. As time grew on, so, too, did her beauty, which complemented her caring, loving and passionate side. He was also fascinated by how innately creative she was as well.

“From then, Davida has had a really bright smile that is just infectious by nature. Family-oriented, she believes in friendships and curating bonding moments. She’s persistent and consistently caring; always involved in the process and pushing me to be better. She has been very much interested in me, my wishes and my goals since day one and willingly helped me on this journey,” he explained.

The lawyer knew from the moment they connected that his marketing genius was the one for him, “Our lives were inextricably interwoven. She has always trusted me and believed in me. She’s the only person I wanted to do life with. We just needed time to grow as individuals, as well as with each other.”

Physically, Nicholai ticked all the boxes – tall, dark and handsome. But beyond those catalogue-worthy traits, he also had his head in the books while being street-smart. “What more could a girl ask for,” she said, adding, “From high school until now, he has always been observant, attentive, and in tune with me.”

His generous, jovial, and caring nature, together with his protective and transparent qualities, proved to be the perfect match for Davida-Mae. “He has always had my back and supported me in every single way, whether personally or professionally. He pushes me when I’m not pushing myself. He’s encouraging, gives great advice, and he makes room for trust and forgiveness,” she shared.

What started out as movie and fast-food dates as teens soon blossomed to getaway drives to the beach and spending time with family. Most recently, the couple began engaging in a bit of travelling. And it was on a trip to Colombia that Nicholai asked the love of his life to be his lawfully wedded wife.

“She had a work trip in Colombia and then was sent to go on vacation for a couple days after, so she had asked me to join her. We have a friend that lived in Colombia and he and I were looking at spaces where I could go over there. It was a spot on top of the building, with a great night city view. That friend assisted me in having her be distracted while I did a whole set-up with flowers and letters,” he revealed.

Davida-Mae recalled the trip as particularly significant, as it was their first official vacation and “baecation” overseas. “I never thought this was the moment, but he was thoughtful. He picked a song, he got rose petals, he found a location, he got ‘Will you marry me?’ printed, and someone to distract me,” she added, laughing. Just four months from celebrating their 10th year as a couple, she said yes to the next chapter with her soulmate.

Newly engaged, the duo opted to plan their own wedding, alongside family and friends, with the future wife spearheading operation ‘Becoming Bedassie’. “The process allowed for a great time to bond more with my sisters and my friends, who went above and beyond as my bride squad. They pitched in so many moments that I didn’t even ask for or considered. They definitely made me feel loved. But the process is not for the weak, a wedding planner is more ideal than you think, even for the simplest of weddings.”

She noted that it was important that her husband weighed in on the details as well. And she was happy to receive his input as support.

When it came to her nuptial apparel, Davida-Mae didn’t have her heart set on a specific design. She simply tried on a few dresses until she found the perfect one at Bliss Bridal Boutique.

On April 6, the glowing bride walked down the aisle of Immaculate Conception Church to meet her dashing groom. The couple fondly reflected on their high school romance, which blossomed over a decade, as they exchanged vows, promising to always love and support each other. The reception took a more festive approach in the cool hills of Stony Hill, in a backyard belonging to Ingrid Peralto.

The handsome groom was thrilled to see their vision come to life, especially at the reception. Surrounded by loved ones, the newly-weds celebrated their unconditional love in holy matrimony with joy and laughter. For the beautiful bride, the wedding was intimate and heartfelt, truly symbolising their union. “The best moment for me was during the ring exchange. I remember even getting emotional. It was a turning point, that we accomplished another journey and took on the next step as husband and wife,” Mrs Bedassie said.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com