Canadian HELLO! Online readers Jessica Dury and Washington Loyola met how many couples do, in the office, and while their romantic relationship lasted, their professional one didn't. "It only took about eight months for us to realise it would be better for us to work in separate offices," laughed the bride. Five years into their romance, the couple decided to take a trip down America's West Coast and while Jessica had a feeling that Washington might propose, he still managed to surprise her.
"We took a walk around the famous Union Square Park in San Francisco," said Jessica. "There are four ceramic hearts placed around the park and as we'd already had our picture taken with three of them we decided to get the last one too. There were two men standing near the heart so I asked them to take a picture for us. When I turned to walk back to the heart I saw that Washington was there on one knee. "For the couple it was a memorable moment that was captured on camera and video thanks to those two strangers. "We still keep in touch with them from time to time to say thank you," said the bride.
The bride
A few months after the happy couple got engaged, Jessica started her hunt for the perfect dress. "After searching far and wide online for ideas for the romantic and vintage look I was going for, I came across a photo of a gown I fell in love with, and thankfully found just the person who could make it," said the bride. "A local seamstress, Jane, made the dress based on the magnificent one I found," she Jessica. "She custom made the length of the dress so that I could have bare feet for the ceremony and wear heels for the reception. She also hand stitched the belt for the dress. I'm still in love with it, and am calling all brides who want to have a 'wedding dress' party!"
Jessica wore simple jewellery including a set of pearl earrings that were a gift from her parents. The other pieces were made by a family friend. "Olivia was so patient with me and my constant mind-changing," she said. "In the end I was so happy about how it turned out. I'm waiting for another special event so I can wear it all again. "Jessica and Washington's friends played a big role in their special day, with another friend, Leah, acting as a make-up artist. "We got married on the beach and it was a very hot day," said Jessica. "Leah did a wonderful job of keeping me looking fresh."
The ceremony
"We wanted our feet in the sand and the sun above our heads so we got married on the beautiful island of Jamaica," said the bride.
The couple chose the Grand Bahia resort in Runaway Bay for their wedding, after thinking long and hard and whittling the choice down. "We were pondering a few different islands in the Caribbean," said Jessica. "However we also needed to think about our guests and where everyone was coming from to make sure our friends and family could make it."
A total of 40 guests attended and were treated to the sounds of a steel drum band before and during the ceremony. "I walked down the aisle to Pachebel's Cannon in D, but played by the steel drum band. It was traditional but with a tropical twist," said Jessica. "After we exchanged vows and kissed the band started playing Bob Marley's One Love — it was perfect. "The ceremony was held on the beach, under blue skies with an ocean breeze. "The smell of palm trees and the beach — it was everything we could have asked for and more," said the bride.
The reception
After the outdoor ceremony, the wedding party continued their celebration on the beach but had dinner in a covered restaurant that overlooked the ocean.
In keeping with the couple's vintage romantic theme, Jessica and Washington chose endearing mason jars filled with sand and candles as their centrepieces on the tables.
The couple chose burlap runners to give the venue a rustic vintage feel, and had floral arrangements made up of hydrangeas, daisies and baby's breath.
The warm air blowing off the ocean, the hanging lanterns and "tons of candles" made the reception exactly as the couple had envisioned it would be. "There were many memorable moments," said Jessica. "Hearing my dad read a poem he wrote for me was particularly touching though. I had given him a key ring earlier in the day with the words, 'Today a wife, tomorrow a bride, always your little girl'. He used those same words in my poem. "Two of the bride's closest friends sang a personalised version of Over the Rainbow to the happy couple. Newlywed and in paradise, Jessica and Washington joined their guests as they danced the night away under the stars. "Everything from the moment we woke up to the moment we went to bed was amazing," recalled the bride.