Sancia and Robert Haynes bloom together in love

A connection sparked by attraction marked the beginning for Sancia Johnally and Robert Haynes, who first crossed paths at work. Six months later, their bond had grown so strong that they decided to take a leap of faith and journey through life together. On August 8, surrounded by God and loved ones, they made it official, tying the knot and beginning a new chapter in their happily ever after.

Impressed by his athletic physique, Sancia confessed that initially, she had her reservations. “I initially thought that he was the type of guy that would play around and not be interested in being in a committed relationship,” she explained to Island Wedding.

For Robert, love was more than just what met the eye. Mesmerised by Sancia’s natural beauty, he was equally captivated by her quiet, focused nature and the depth of their conversations.

“From our first set of meaningful conversations, I started to learn more about her and her personality and interests. I realised that we were similar in a lot of ways, and that drew me closer to her,” he said.

The pair found themselves at a beautiful spot in the hills of St Andrew, amid stunning flora and a spring flowing through lush greenery. With good company, the birthday girl enjoyed every moment, and so did Robert.

Their friendship would go on to make a smooth transition into a wonderful relationship.

Once she got to know him better, Sancia was fascinated by how kind, smart, creative, caring and strong her partner in love is.

“Anything that he puts his mind to, he accomplishes it. Finding ways to express his creative passions and figuring out ways to make unique items, he shows love and affection in a thoughtful and meaningful manner. He is genuine, honest, present and very empathetic towards me. No matter the problem, I can depend on him to always figure out an appropriate solution. He is a thinker and a doer,” she said.

His encouragement and support over the years haven’t gone unnoticed for Sancia. In fact, she’s grateful for how actively he’s assisted with her personal aspirations.

“Being in his energy always feels like home. We have quite a few things in common, and I feel like I had known him for a long time. There’s also a certain level of compatibility between us, and our interactions are very organic and easy. We have similar values and outlook on life, so it was only natural that the relationship progressed the way that it did,” she added.

Robert couldn’t help but be captivated by how gorgeous, vibrant, intelligent and strong-willed his beloved is. “She brings colour to my life with her chill yet fun and beautiful personality. We laugh a lot when we are around each other. Reliable, consistent and mature, once her mind is made up about something, there is nothing that can change it.”

He continued, “She takes the time to understand me and my goals or desires, assisting me in figuring out how to achieve them. She is always encouraging me. She makes herself available for us to spend quality time together, have meaningful conversations and create good memories. She creates space for open and honest discussion, especially during challenging moments, which helps me to feel reassured in our relationship,” he revealed.

POPPING THE QUESTION

On a dewy Sunday afternoon, Robert tried his best to persuade his girlfriend to leave the house. She came up with every excuse in the book to stay in. After trying for hours, he finally convinced her to get dressed and head out with him.

With the sun already setting, Robert’s romantic plans to propose in the hills were no longer possible. So he got creative and pulled up at a spot that overlooked the city.

“At the moment of sunset, I said to her, ‘Look what I found’ and presented her with the box containing the ring and proposed to her. She smiled, then hugged and kissed me, and then burst out laughing, because she finally knew what I was up to all day with all my shenanigans and attempts to get her out of the house,” he added.

The engaged couple was fortunate to have friends and family who helped turn their dream of an intimate wedding into a reality. “The process was tedious, especially given that I was doing most of the planning and coordinating. But Robert, family members, friends and vendors helped to bring the concept to life,” Sancia said.

For the grand garden ceremony at Hope Gardens, many stood in awe as the breathtaking bride walked up the aisle to meet her debonair groom.

After exchanging vows, saying ‘I do’, and riding off into the sunset together, the duo continued the celebration with a reception at Christar Villas Hotel.

The couple made special mention of their caterer, who provided mouth-watering delights for their guests.

“Okiem Dallas, owner and operator of Yaady Kitchen 876, and his team did a phenomenal job catering our wedding and we cannot thank them enough. The food was amazing, from the hors d’oeuvres at the cocktail to the main course at the reception. He also baked our wedding cake,” the bride said.

To honour this new beginning, the newly-weds took their first dance as husband and wife to three songs: Perfect by Ed Sheeran, In Case You Didn’t Know by Brett Young, and Good Woman by Romain Virgo. “In that moment, I felt truly happy, grateful and blessed that I was marrying the man that I love and actually like, which is a huge deal in my book,” Mrs Haynes added.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com