Rugby makes a play to win Carrol’s heart

When it comes to sports, it’s all about survival of the fittest. But when it comes to matters of the heart, any play is possible. Called to deliver water to Carrol Daley’s home, Rugby Smith was disappointed he couldn’t make the requested time. He promised to provide the service early the following morning, showing up before dawn at 5 a.m. This impressive play saw Rugby winning over Carrol’s heart soon after. And, in a leap of faith, he asked for her hand in marriage less than a month later.

“My husband proposed to me a mere month after we met. Now, I don’t suggest this to everyone; it just so happened to work for us. Sometimes, you just know,” Carrol told Island Wedding, adding, “I will never forget the first moment I saw him. He was bold to show up to my home at 5 a.m., but we needed the water.”

Recalling what a handsome gentleman Rugby was, Carrol appreciated the fact that he was a man of his word.

“I was amazed by how beautiful and delightful she was at 5 a.m. I fell in love with her instantly and I wanted to get to know her more,” Rugby confessed and didn’t hesitate to ask her to be with him, pursuing her until she gave him a chance. “He was so persistent and charming that I decided to give it a shot,” she added.

For their first date, Rugby took Carrol to dinner at her favourite restaurant in Negril, followed by a romantic stroll on the beach. They’ve been enjoying long walks along the seashore ever since.

Amazed by how chivalrous, affectionate, supportive, compassionate and dependable her soulmate is, Carrol explained that Rugby has helped her to be more reflective. With him, she is able to nurture both her strengths and flaws for self-improvement.

“Because of Rugby, I have learned to make compromises, be more tolerant, and I am more willing to make sacrifices,” she said.

Realising that she was the one from the start, Carrol came around once she discovered that he was a praying man.

“He once prayed for me, and that’s when I realised that he was a man of God. I have always prayed for a man who has his own relationship with God. And that prayer was answered,” she highlighted.

Impressed by how smart, articulate, caring, affectionate and trustworthy his twin flame is, Rugby loves that he is able to see himself through another pair of eyes. “I am now more patient because of Carrol,” he said, adding, “I didn’t have any doubt in my mind that I wanted to marry Carrol. I decided to do it at her home where I would receive her mother’s blessing. At that moment, I wanted to give my all to her.”

On the road to ‘I Do’, the bride-to-be explained that she was a bit of a ‘bridezilla’ leading up, but she was grateful for the love and support of her family.

And she was particularly honoured to have her daughter, Suen Ellison, plan the nuptials. “She has her own small business, Papers & Pixels Creative Studio, where she does wedding stationery and other personalised items. But she was able to hold everyone together, have everyone pitch in to help her out and make my ideas unbelievably beautiful on my wedding day.”

On October 20, the couple joined hands and hearts at the Hotel Commingle in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, to become husband and wife. “The wedding was marvellous,” the beautiful bride reflected, adding, “I felt a whirlwind of emotions. It was more than I had hoped for. The best moment was when I made my vows to my husband. I had written a portion he knew nothing about that made the moment extra special.”

The dapper groom, who agreed that the ceremony was beautiful, said his favourite moment came while watching his wife-to-be walk up the aisle to him.

To commemorate their union, the newly-weds shared their first official dance to Always by Atlantic Starr. “I was beyond the moon; I was swept off my feet. And, my husband even paused at moments to remind me how beautiful I am,” Mrs Smith revealed.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com