Tevin and Shanique ‘Taylor’d’ for lasting love

When Tevin Taylor attended a church district crusade in 2013, while still in high school, he had no idea he would meet his future wife. However, as Shanique Thomas walked among the tents, she caught his eye. That day, they exchanged socials, and over a decade later, they exchanged vows in a beautiful wedding ceremony at Caymanas Golf Club in St Catherine.

“When I first saw her, she immediately caught my attention. She was so bold and she stood out from everyone else, I had to know who she was,” Tevin told Island Wedding.

Although Shanique has been wondering why the young man couldn’t stop staring at her, he was able to convince her to share socials, which kept them connected until college. That became the beginning of a wonderful friendship which blossomed into something even more special.

“Starting off college, I decided that being friends was okay, but I wanted more. We understood each other so well. So much so that she became someone who made my life so much more beautiful. She has changed my perspective on life” he revealed.

Things took a romantic turn during that time for Shanique as well, “When Tevin and I decided to begin dating once I started university, I was about to go to school in another parish. We began texting and calling each other so much that I began falling in love with him.”

Since getting to know him better, Shanique has admired how kind, patient, optimistic, understanding, and adventurous her beloved Tevin is, “He has been an incredible source of support. I can always count on him for safe advice, and he genuinely pushes me to achieve my goals. His encouragement has been invaluable. His belief in me has motivated me to reach my full potential.”

The charmer is by no means afraid to plan picnics and movie dates, “He also makes it a priority to pray with me, reinforcing our spiritual bond. We consistently engage in open conversations about any issues that arise, focusing on ways to improve and strengthen our relationship. His dedication to both our individual growth and our partnership truly makes our bond stronger every day,” she shared.

For Tevin, being in a relationship with Shanique has anchored his drive for success. Not only is she beautiful, but she is also passionate, faithful, nurturing and an ambivert. “Her beauty needs no explanation really,” he said, adding, “She speaks life into me, supporting my dreams and aspirations, she is the soft voice in my corner that keeps me going and she sticks by my side through thick and thin. I have become the man she deserves, because of the woman she has been to me. I feel at peace, heard, cheered for, supported and above all, loved. I was a young man chasing purpose before I met her, but now I am a man who has found my purpose because of her.”

Tevin shared that while experiencing many milestones together, he knew early on she was the one, but his belief was further confirmed in the face of trauma,“There was this [instance] where we met in a minor car accident. I was beyond stressed about the situation. She is normally the frantic one, but in that moment, she was my peace. And she made the entire situation 100 times better. I could not think of anyone else that I would have by my side.”

THE SWEETEST SURPRISE

So on April 9 of last year, Tevin planned a romantic proposal for his soulmate. The mission was disguised as her aunt’s anniversary photograph and picnic. Choosing the ideal location for this fake shoot, Shanique was in for a surprise when she discovered that everything was done just for her .

“I invited all our close friends and families on the day to add to the surprise. She was told the time for the photoshoot would be at 3 p.m., so I went to pick her up at about 2 p.m. We drove around and went to pick up food for the ‘photoshoot while I waited for everyone to confirm that they were on location and everything was in place. Everyone except her aunt and immediate family hid when we arrived. And we took three to four photos to buy into the fake photoshoot. While she was distracted, everyone came up behind her, about 20 persons, and I was on one knee, ring in hand waiting to pop the question.

Shanique, who said ‘Yes!’ to her twin flame, went ahead and planned the nuptials by herself; the family, she said, was instrumental in creating harmony for the wedding day.

On October 17, specially invited guests gathered at Caymanas Golf Club for the matrimonial union of Tevin and Shanique Taylor. Off to a very late start, she was grateful for her guests’ patience. Aside from that hiccup, the wedding was everything that the couple could ever hope for.

“It was a very emotional day. My husband and I cried, and so did some of the guests. Tevin surprised me by having a saxophonist there and that was so amazing because while we were dating, I always told him that when we’re getting married I want to walk up the aisle to someone playing a saxophone. However, while we were planning the wedding it did not seem possible, so it was such a beautiful gesture of love from him,” the beautiful bride shared.

The dapper groom was in awe upon seeing his bride walk up the aisle, “If you asked, the guests would say I cried a lot, and I did shed some tears, because the moment I had been waiting for so long was here. The most beautiful woman, my life partner, the love of my life, was about to be my wife.”

For their first dance as newly-weds, they waltzed to Until I Found You by Steven Sanchez. According to the bride, in that moment, “I felt so in love and at peace knowing that we were finally married.”

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com