Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The azure Caribbean Sea lay as a silent witness, a lily pond beckoned nearby, while purple and white dendrobium orchids, hanging crystals and roses played skilfully with the senses, creating a magical backdrop fit for royalty.

This was the scene as Western St Andrew Member of Parliament Anthony Hylton slipped a diamond ring on to the finger of his Ethiopian bride, aeronautical engineer, Yodit Getachew, during an enriching and beautiful ceremony at the lily pond gazebo at the elegant Half Moon in Montego Bay on Saturday, February 7, solemnising their union.

Not even the clouds that gathered in the Second City, or the winds that howled for four nights last week could have imagined that Saturday would have brought such incredible tranquility. "What a great day to get married," declared the former foreign affairs minister, as he spoke of a day that will live with him forever.

Symbolic

During his speech, he described the day as "symbolic", comparing his blessings to the ones received by the West Indies at the close of play on Saturday.

"Yodit is my every dream and more, I took a chance and came up with spades," he said in tribute to his bride, while in the same breath thanking the light of his life, his mother, Lillian Binns for teaching him how to - and how not to - treat a lady.

The Hyltons' magical day was complemented by the most spectacular decorations by Montego Bay's wedding designer, Paulette Henry of Blooming Designs, while Selena Wong did the fabulous three-tier wedding cake.

The reception area at the historical Sugar Mill restaurant was transformed into a sea of orchids, each pathway lined with hundreds of luminaries.

White tablecloths with purple overlay, white chair covers with purple ties, adorned with tall crystal vases lit with led lights creating a glow on the table complemented the ambience already washed with lights.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com

LEFT: The groom, Anthony Hylton (centre), is surrounded by his groomsmen (from left) Lloyd Tomlinson, Tewodros Getachew, Darien Green and Gary McNeil.
RIGHT: (From left) Maid of honour, Elsa Asfaw; Betelehem Getachew Tadesse; Belaynesh Ali and Rahel Getachew Days.