Divinely orchestrated love for the Allens

Arthur Allen first met Camille Lewis at work. Through stolen glances, shared smiles and brief verbal exchanges, the two, who worked in different departments, grew closer through their shared faith and eventually became a couple.

“I would see her around the compound from time to time,” Arthur shared with Island Wedding, “From the first moment I saw her, I was captivated. There was just something about her that caught my attention.”

Camille initially viewed Arthur as a devoted Christian guy who played gospel music loudly in his car, and shared similar sentiments about their lighthearted banter. “When I bumped into him at work some days, he was always easy to talk to,” she added.

It wasn’t until a mutual friend, who was also a colleague at the time, introduced them that their relationship began to develop into something more.

“When he asked for my number, I didn’t hesitate, which was telling because I hardly give out my number,” she revealed.

As Camille got to know him better, she realised Arthur wasn’t as ‘holier than thou’ as she thought, “He was kind of mischievous, not in a rude way, and I enjoyed chit-chatting with him about deep or light topics.”

The pair went on their first date at Usain Bolt’s Tracks & Records at Marketplace, St Andrew. From that night, Camille remembers seeing Arthur as the marrying type.

“He offered to pick me up, but I refused as I had this thing about not making men know where I lived; so I met him there instead. We had some good food and good laughs. What stood out to me was that this man was the ‘marrying type’; he wasn’t there to lead me on,” she highlighted.

While that could’ve been music to her ears, she wasn’t sure she was ready to be the wife to such a faith-filled man.

After that first date, the two remained friends.

Camille shared, “I refocused on my walk with God, going to church, reading His word and really allowing Him to guide my life. I also prayed for a genuine man of God to be my husband, not just a boyfriend.”

In 2023, she saw Arthur heading to lunch and, as usual, they stopped for a confab. Their conversations soon took on a different meaning for Camille.

“It was like my eyes and ears had suddenly opened. I was more interested and intrigued by his thoughts. We began going for evening walks after work. And we were both single, so we decided to take the friendship [to] a deeper level and pursue a relationship,” she added.

Arthur was grateful for that mutual decision: “That initial attraction and ‘like’ gradually turned into something much deeper. The more I learned about her as a person, the more I fell in love with her ... I had been trying to date her for a while. Maybe she was playing hard to get. But eventually I got my chance. And I’m certainly glad I didn’t give up.”

Humble, amusing, kind, genuine and God-fearing, Arthur has helped Camille strengthen her faith while encouraging her to be courageous and diligent in planning for the future.

“I’m an over-thinker and over-planner, and he is more solutions-oriented and easygoing. So he balances me out, promising that things will work out according to God’s plan,” she said, adding that he is supportive and helpful, “…even if he has no clue about what to do. He is reliable. He listens without judging me, and because of him, I am learning to give the benefit of the doubt and to be patient.”

Arthur remains captivated by Camille’s beauty and the kindness, humility, virtue and selflessness she embodies. He believes, however, that her true beauty lies in her heart and character.

“She has strong values and carries herself with grace and integrity. She is always willing to put others before herself and give of herself without expecting anything in return.”

Arthur says Camille’s love has made him a better man, helping him become more considerate, patient and intentional in how he cares for others.

“She has made me a better man. She has taught me to think more about others, and has helped me become more considerate, patient and intentional in the way I love and care for people.”

NEW CHAPTER

After two years of dating, Arthur invited Camille to walk into a new chapter with a proposal during the week of his birthday. He asked a friend to tell her they were planning a surprise birthday celebration for him, so Camille arrived thinking the occasion was all about Arthur. Little did she know, she would arrive as his girlfriend and leave as his fiancée.

“We decorated the venue with a circular arch, lights on the floor, balloons around the arch and flowers to welcome her. When the moment came, I got down on one knee and told her what she meant to me, how much I loved and appreciated her, and then I asked her to be my wife,” Arthur explained.

Although she went along with the plan, Camille admitted she suspected something was afoot, “Then I saw Arthur standing there with a bunch of roses, a ‘Will you marry me?’ sign, and heard Jason Durolo’s song of the same name ( Marry Me) playing in the background. I started crying when he got down on his knees and proposed. I said ‘Yes’. I saw our close friends and family, and I thought it was so sweet that he intentionally made the proposal special by inviting them.”

For their wedding, the couple received guidance and assistance from Cher’s Bridal Services. Camille was grateful to her mother and cousins, who helped create the bouquets, souvenirs, welcome sign and wedding programmes.

On August 8, in hues of burnt orange, blush and gold, Arthur and Camille joined hands and hearts in holy matrimony at Hibiscus Lodge on Main Street in Ocho Rios, St Ann. The Caribbean Sea glistened in the distance as the couple exchanged vows.

“The best moment was the reading of our personalised vows to each other; I promised myself not to cry, but I did while reading mine,” the beautiful bride recalled, adding, “I also loved when we each did toasts to our mothers, Mrs Patricia Lewis and Ms Jennifer Lodge. It was a teary moment for all, reflecting on their love and support given to us as their children and as a couple.”

For the dashing groom, the wedding day surpassed his expectations: “There were many special moments throughout the day, but the best moment for me was when the pastor officially announced us as husband and wife. Hearing those words and knowing we had finally reached here after everything we had been through together was incredibly special.”

The newly-weds shared their first dance as a couple to I’ll Give My Best to You by Gwen Guthrie and George Benson.

“We had been practising the routine, and I was wondering if we would nail it. However, after a few moves, I let go and just followed his lead. It was fun. We heard some ‘oohs’ and claps from our loved ones. But it felt like we were in our own world,” Mrs Allen admitted.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com