The big picture: From like to love to marriage for the Saunders

Chad Saunders was randomly scrolling on Facebook one day when Lysan Macbean’s photo popped up and caught his eye. Intrigued, he offered a compliment. This sparked surprising conversations between the two, which progressed to a face-to-face encounter a month later. This ‘like’ quickly grew to love and after dating a little over a year, the couple took their romance up the aisle and said ‘I do’.

“When he messaged me on Facebook complimenting me about the picture, I said thanks. He then started conversing and asked for my number, but I didn’t respond,” Lysan told Island Wedding.

It wasn’t typical for Lysan to share her contact information with anyone online. But her interest was piqued, so she later returned to the chat and gave him her number. The phone calls provided enough motivation to see each other in person, and Chad revealed that at that moment, he knew then what he knows now.

“It might sound like a fairy tale, but I realised [that] she was the one after meeting her the first time; I just knew,” he confessed. They made their relationship official after that fateful first meeting.

Since getting to know her better, he is fascinated by how loving and caring she is. Admitting that Lysan does have a miserable side, Chad continued to be floored by her ambition and independence.

“She has been my support and has helped me become the man I am today, one who is dedicated and driven. She has even helped me to bring out a calmer version of myself,” he said.

‘Soulmating’ in the way they describe each other, Lysan was also amazed by how loving and caring Chad is. And added that she keeps being impressed by his selfless, companionate and family-oriented traits as well.

“He has been my rock, literally! When we just started dating, my daughter was one year old. She’s now three and Chad has taken full responsibility for her. He hasn’t just loved me, he has also loved and treated her like his own, and that was the icing on the cake for me. He’s so gentle with her. They are inseparable,” she shared.

As a couple, the duo enjoy watching African movies together. “Our relationship is a long-distance one,” Lysan said, adding, “So when we get settled in the evenings, we FaceTime each other, start a movie at the same time so we can watch it together.”

After courting for over a year, Chad couldn’t wait to make Lysan his wife. Recognising that there was no time like the present moment, he popped the question over one of their video calls.

“I don’t live in Jamaica and I wasn’t there at the time. I initially wanted to wait until I got here but I couldn’t. So I popped the question over the phone. There was no ring, no big plans or anything like that. But I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Lysan,” he pointed out.

Although the proposal was a bit different, Lysan happily said yes. “I did all of the wedding planning myself. It got a little overwhelming at times. But with the support of Chad, family members and friends, I pulled it off,” Lysan shared.

As for her look going up the aisle, Lysan said yes to a beautiful mermaid-styled dress from Unions Bridal Boutique. “That was the first boutique I went to and I fell in love with my dress the moment I put it on. I ended up going elsewhere for another fitting, but I just had to go back to Unions Bridal because my heart was set on that one dress.”

On August 6, Chad and Lysand tied the knot in a picturesque wedding ceremony at Fennells Place in Linstead, St Catherine. “It was literally everything I dreamed of, and more. The set-up was beautiful,” the stunning bride highlighted. Her favourite moment was walking up the aisle to meet her handsome groom, who could not wait to say ‘I do’.

“The wedding was really something special. The best part for me was looking into Lysan’s watery eyes and seeing that smile on her face while reading my vows,” the groom added.

At the reception, the newly-weds shared a romantic first dance as husband and wife to First Time by Teeks. “That moment was breathtaking. My heart was full, and all I could do was look at my husband and smile in awe,” Mrs Saunders reflected.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com