On November 17, 2006 at our best friends wedding our paths crossed for the first time. He was the photographer and I the Best Woman. Over a couple of days we got to hang out with each other casually with a bunch of friends. We communicated occasionally over a one month period and on December 26, 2006 Dwayne flew to Jamaica for the Christmas holidays. Even at this point we never thought or even imagined that this would change our lives forever.

Christmas went by quickly and over the period we found a serious connection between us. We could not quite explain the attraction but we knew and felt it – the prince on his horse would rescue the princess. We had been through several relationships that did not quite work and at this point in our lives were not looking for any commitments at the time. What was coincidental was that both of us had said to our best friends in separate conversations, that the next time we fell in love, we did not want to do the typical thing and just fall into a relationship but instead we wanted to choose to be in the relationship. We were so amazed to find out that each other felt the same way. At the end of the holidays we were inseparable, our love just felt so right. Not forced or planned, just natural and definitely meant to be.

On February 3, 2007 we got engaged officially and the heavens were happy. We did not require any approval from our family and friends, but they all did. Many said our love and respect for each other was evident to them the moment they spent time with us. We knew the road we had chosen would be hard but we were not going to give up each other, our love or our future. The problem was “Dwayne lives in Florida” and “Natalie lives in Jamaica”, a challenge that we found was not only an obstacle but a mountain. Over the next couple of months however our passports would tell our tale – they got stamped at least twice monthly. Both of us visiting each other when we could.

Our love blossomed into something truly amazing and while many might have questioned how quickly it happened, the strength and foundation of our relationship is a true testimony to the power of love. Let us be the first to acknowledge that it is not “a walk in the park” but we take comfort in the fact that all relationships encounter various obstacles but you have to be willing to communicate with each other to get through both the small and big stuff that will come at you.

Each day we place God in charge of all that we do and ensure we deposit daily into our love account. As we look forward to our wedding and to spending the rest of our lives together it is our hope and prayer that you all will find the love we found in each other!

We leave this quote for you

‘Even greater than faith and hope is the ability and willingness to cultivate love.
How do we cultivate love?
We can let go of impulses to judge others.
We can refuse to feel good about the mistakes or sufferings of anyone.
We can live the lessons of kindness…
We can choose love whenever and wherever we are by simply by making that choice’

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin