Dance leads to romance for Garth and Rushelle

Although Garth Thompson and Rushelle Whyte worked at the Accountant General’s Department together, they never interacted. That all changed, however, when a mutual friend introduced them, inviting Rushelle to attend Garth’s party in Gordon Town. With the promoter encouraging her to show support, her appearance at the dance led to a new-found friendship, which soon blossomed into a beautiful romance.

Garth found Rushelle to be beautiful and well-mannered, and he was impressed by her command of the English language. After the party, the two began engaging in more frequent conversations, exchanging telephone numbers as a result. “I immediately started to show interest,” he told Island Wedding.

Chiming in, Rushelle noted, “He was cool, and we always had good conversations. He would always visit my desk at work to talk. He would call me before bed, and we would spend what seemed like forever on the phone.”

The topics of discussion ranged from religion and politics to music preferences. “I realised that we shared similar beliefs as it relates to things that are important to me; hence, I decided to pursue her on a serious level,” Garth added.

Rushelle admits that when he asked her to be his girlfriend, she hadn’t officially said yes. But his persistence paid off.

“He never gave up on showing how much I meant to him. Over time, his consistency, kindness, and the way he always made me feel cared for made me see him in a different light. He was someone who truly loved me and wanted to build a future together. Him being so tall definitely gave him an advantage,”’ she said with a double wink.

Explaining just how ambitious, hard-working, dedicated, humble and family-oriented her true love is, came easy to Rushelle. As a constant source of encouragement, he motivates her to pursue her dreams, pushing her to step outside of her comfort zone. From giving thoughtful advice to showing support during challenging times and, of course, celebrating achievements, he continues to be her biggest cheerleader.

“He demonstrates love through his [actions], prioritising quality time, communicating openly, and creating a safe space where we can grow, both as individuals and as a couple. Striving for growth and success, he carries his achievements with grace and remains approachable. His love and devotion to [me], his wife and [our] child are unwavering, always putting [us] first. His dedication to family and his consistent efforts to keep our bond strong are truly inspiring,” she declared.

‘She has motivated me’

While he remains captivated by her beauty, Garth admires Rushelle’s intelligent, witty, stern, loyal and supportive nature. “She has motivated me, especially as it relates to education. I decided to pursue my master’s degree after she completed hers. We also took a couple of courses together while we were working at the same place. When my parents and sister gave her the thumbs up, I knew Rushelle was the one.”

Almost a decade later, he decided to make Rushelle his fiancée. “I did not pop the question the traditional way. We have always been discussing marriage but keep putting it off for various reasons. About two months before the wedding, I told her that I [didn’t] intend for the year to end without us getting married. So, I instructed her to get prepared. At that point, I didn’t even purchase a ring or do any preparation. She asked if I was serious, and I said yes. I presented the ring to her about one week before the wedding,” he shared.

Rushelle found the non-traditional proposal to be perfect for them. “The year 2025 felt like the right time, and so we made the jump. We decided not to waste any more time and made a leap.”

Springing into nuptial action, she planned her own wedding, with family and friends pitching in to assist however they could.

On December 21, 2024, just days before Christmas, Garth and Rushelle became husband and wife at the University Chapel, located at The University of the West Indies, Mona campus, in St Andrew.

The bride recalled the wedding being so beautiful, “and I’m happy and grateful for the way it turned out”. Seeing the joy in her groom’s eyes and hearing the sincerity in his words made the special occasion unforgettable. “I was reminded why I chose him as my life partner, and it made the day even more magical.”

Highlighting that the wedding was fantastic, the groom revealed that it was a dream come true to celebrate their love with family and close friends. “The best part for me was when she entered the church.”

During the reception, held beside the church at the Chapel Gardens, the newly-weds engaged in their first dance as husband and wife to All I’ll Ever Ask by Freddie Jackson. “The moment was really beautiful; even then, we were cracking jokes. I think my husband was a comedian in his past life,” Rushelle reflected.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com