Gavin and Kaye Palmer are ‘shore’ about love

For Gavin Palmer and Kaye Ricketts, love began by the sea. The two first met during a presentation at Beaches Negril in 2019. What started as a simple introduction would go on to stir waves neither of them saw coming – carrying them all the way to the shore of happily ever after.

“We met while working for Sandals Resort International in 2019. At the time, I was the environment health and safety manager at Beaches Negril Resort, while he was the group risk control officer at Sandals’ corporate office. He came to do a presentation to the managers there on incident reporting procedures,” Kaye told Island Wedding.

As the official facilitator, she spoke with him a few hours before they met in person, and was already impressed with the handsome stranger, “I initially thought his voice sounded very mature, and based on his WhatsApp display picture he was a young man; a handsome young man. Once we met, I thought he was a kind soul, a genuine person. That view hasn’t changed to this date,” she said.

Gavin noticed almost immediately what an ambitious, beautiful and powerful young woman Kaye is. He also admired her strong self of humility and self respect, which has remained the same.

“We went on our first date to Patsy’s [Coffeeshop] in Negril. It was amazing, we spoke endlessly and got comfortable really quickly,” he revealed. Although she was nervous at first, Kaye was grateful that Gavin broke the ice quickly, “Having dessert by the seaside, I didn’t know what to expect. But once he took a bite of my ice cream, it started to feel more comfortable.”

The pair decided to become official in March of 2020 and have been together ever since.

From the start, Kaye admired Gavin’s good looks, but as she got to know him better, she couldn’t help but be drawn to his loving, kind-hearted, dependable, and adventurous nature. As her biggest supporter, he continually encourages her to step outside her comfort zone and believe in herself.

“His confidence in me has helped me grow emotionally and professionally, making me more resilient and self-assured. His unwavering love, patience, and effort never goes unnoticed. He is always listening with intention, communicating openly, and prioritising our bond.”

While in Negril, she learned a great deal from her partner, especially when it came to improving on skills in the kitchen, “He taught me some great cooking skills. And those moments in the kitchen were more than just about food; they were about laughter, teamwork, and creating memories that deepened our connection. His consistency, loyalty, and ability to bring joy into our lives make our relationship not just strong, but deeply fulfilling.”

Embracing their adventurous sides, the couple considers Portland’s natural beauty their favourite getaway. According to Kaye, whether they’re exploring the outdoors, capturing memories through photo shoots, or simply enjoying movie nights at home, every moment together feels special and meaningful.

For Gavin, that loving nature was certainly mutual, and he also appreciated how genuine and supportive she is as well, “I love how dedicated she is to the people she loves. I often believe that she believes in me more than even myself. She wholeheartedly supports and speaks life into each area of venture. When I realised it was a core responsibility of mine to see her happy and fulfilled, I knew she was the one.”

INTIMATE PROPOSAL

Almost two years after meeting, he decided to charter a new course, one that navigated with the tide of forever. Gavin shared, “I initially intended to propose while we dined at Travellers Beach Resort in Negril. However, the proposal took the form of an emotional conversation at our home in Montego Bay. It felt like the right moment then, so the ‘grand’ proposal got cancelled and a more intimate plan went into play. I was delighted when she said yes.”

Kaye, who recalled that Sunday evening like it was yesterday, said she wouldn’t have had it any other way, “The proposal was private, intimate, and free of distractions. Just a beautiful moment shared between the two of us.”

Choosing a serene garden setting with a view of the sea, Kaye brought her effortlessly elegant wedding vision to life – with a little help from Amazon. On February 22, beneath open sunny skies at Villa Viento in Tower Isle, St Mary, the beautiful bride and her dashing groom exchanged heartfelt ‘I dos’.

“The wedding was a beautiful, intimate garden ceremony with everyone we wanted there. It was a perfect day filled with love, well wishes, and plenty of laughter. The most special moment for me was when we exchanged our vows and signed the certificate. It truly felt like the beginning of forever, surrounded by all the people who mattered most,” the bride highlighted.

The groom admitted that the wedding was perfect in his eyes, adding, “All aligned as it should and we had an amazing time. God definitely saw it through and the memories were captured beautifully.”

For their first dance, the newly-weds swayed to Luther Vandross’ So Amazing. “Neither of us could really dance, but it didn’t matter. Whatever moves we made, it felt smooth, like we were gliding on clouds. And in that moment, everything else faded away. It was pure magic,” Mrs Palmer recounted.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com