Chauntelle and Bradley meet in the ‘Gordon’ of holy matrimony

For Chauntelle Brown, it was all business when she was referred to a contact by one of her clients. The financial advisor at Sagicor Life Jamaica received a bit of a runaround from Bradley Gordon in 2018, who kept rescheduling before eventually granting her an audience one evening for a discussion. Who could have imagined that five years later, they would meet in the ‘Gordon’ of holy matrimony?

Bradley, who is currently the senior damage assessor at MSC McKay Limited’s Portmore Branch, recalls his first encounter with Chauntelle while working as a motor vehicle valuator at the company’s head office in Kingston.

“She got a reference to speak to persons at my office as she is an insurance agent, and let’s say she left the best for last,” he told Island Wedding. Initially, he didn’t believe she had any interest in him since she was all about doing her job. But after that conversation, he knew there was more to the beauty that met his eyes.

Although she found him to be too quiet and conceited at first, the pair went on an official first date the following year. And it was there that everything changed for the better. “We went for drinks at The Pub Bar and Grill in August 2019. It was a great night as this was our first time really getting to know each other.”

From there, they began spending more quality time together and decided it was time to step into a relationship. “It honestly made no sense to deny that she was the one I wanted to be with,” Bradley added.

Noting that he is introverted and self-aware, Chauntelle continues to admire how caring, passionate, and adventurous her beloved is. “He’s ‘the calm’ in this relationship. He has significantly helped my temper, my confidence and drive. He is a constant reminder of how much more I am capable of,” she said, adding, “I realised he was the one when all the things my “little girl self” wanted began coming through. He became my safe space, provider, a cheerleader, and a best friend.”

For Bradley, he is truly impressed by how ambitious, religious, focused, and jovial Chauntelle is. “Since being an official couple, I have learnt patience, dedication and how to be financially wise. She has taught me how to think outside the box and has shown me that there is an entirely different world out there than the one I’m used to,” he shared, noting, “she has shown compassion and strength, which has enabled the relationship to flourish.”

He was convinced that she was the one for him when she accepted his hobby: drag racing. Referring to the sport as his career, Chauntelle shows unwavering support: “She is always prepared to get dirty or greasy, just to spend any time she can with me.”

Games day

Travelling and hotel hopping together, the pair dated for over four years before Bradley asked his twin flame to be his wife with a planned games day.

“We would always host or attend games night with our friends, and she loves that type of setting as she is competitive. I then thought to myself, ‘How could I get everyone there to show up and not give it away?’ I then remembered there was a games day coming up. Who better to plan it than the bride-to-be as she would invite who she wanted to be there as she would be comfortable and happy with them sharing the experience,” he shared.

Choosing Hope Gardens as the venue, the hosts and specially invited guests played a few games leading up to the big moment. “When the time came, we began playing a blindfold game. As her turn approached, the persons who knew started assembling to get the balloons in order and get everyone in position. After she started playing, we convinced her that she had won. She then removed the blindfold to see me on one knee. The waterworks then started shortly after, then a big ‘Of course’,” he said.

As a sucker for details and planning, she took the wedding as an opportunity to put her passion into practice.

“My decorator was IzMa Designs, and this was one of the best decisions I made for my wedding. The company also provided floral services, taking every request and making it a dream come true. It was absolutely perfect,” she said.

On August 4, Bradley and Chauntelle became Mr and Mrs Gordon with a garden-themed wedding at Boone Hall Oasis in St Andrew. The enchanting ceremony was followed by a cocktail reception.

The groom revealed that the wedding was everything he and his bride had envisioned. “The attendees were joyful, the décor was exquisite, and we even got a shower of blessing while waiting for the bride.”

Seeing the rain stop shortly after she arrived at the venue and watching the sun hit the yellow flowers was all the confirmation this beautiful bride needed to have a wonderful day.

Watching her groom dance down the aisle came as a pleasant surprise to her. “I knew he was happy to see our wedding day, and that made my heart smile.”

The newly-weds did an official first dance as husband and wife to Justin Timberlake’s Mirrors. “We did a short, intimate waltz as we smiled and gave our inside jokes. At that moment, it felt like no one else in the garden was present,” Mrs Gordon reflected.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com