A vow to serve, protect, and love

From duty to devotion, police constables Kamilah Gordon-Ricketts and Rajiv Ricketts have taken the oath to protect and serve – not just the nation, but each other. Hailing from Clarendon and St Catherine, respectively, their relationship began while Kamilah was undergoing rigorous training at the National Police College of Jamaica, where Rajiv was part of the team leading the programme. What started as casual conversations on social media soon led to their first in-person interaction outside of training. Their first meaningful exchange happened during a gathering on the training grounds, fondly called a lyme by officers.

Amid the rhythms of music and the easy laughter of fellow recruits, Rajiv first laid eyes on Kamilah – a moment neither of them knew would one day lead to their wedding day.

“I had always noticed her before on campus,” Rajiv told Island Wedding, adding, “Pretty girl, smart, and just carried herself really well. I never really spoke to her much before that but, at the party, I danced with her and, in that moment, I felt something, an instant connection.”

From that night, casual greetings turned into deep conversations.

“He was always so jovial – sometimes annoyingly so,” she said with a warm smile. “But he was kind, he listened, and he made me feel safe.” After she graduated from training, the two went on their first official date to the movies.

“It felt surreal,” said Kamilah. “It was the first time we were seeing each other outside the police context. That’s when it became real for me.”

What followed was a slow and steady courtship. They discovered shared values: a love for worshipping together, unwinding with films, and spirited game nights. Through it all, they remained anchored in their convictions.

“Friends and family motivated us, but we made the decision early on [that] this relationship would be built by us,” said Rajiv.

One year and 10 months later, the couple was preparing for the next chapter of their lives. A baby was on the way and their excitement was already overflowing when Rajiv decided to add another surprise to their gender reveal and baby shower. On April 14 last year, just as they popped the cannons revealing their baby boy’s gender, the sweet notes of Ed Sheeran’s Perfect began to play. But it wasn’t from a speaker, it came from a live saxophonist.

“I heard my favourite song, so I paused. Then I saw Rajiv getting down on one knee. I was completely surprised, and I said yes. It was like a dream come true,” Kamilah explained.

WEDDING DAY

Their wedding took place a year later, on April 6, at City View Hotel – an elegant venue perched above the city and made even more picturesque by the ceremony’s theme. The couple chose emerald green and gold, colours symbolising royalty and renewal.

The beautiful bride was escorted up the aisle to the soulful strains of Teeks’ First Time by both her parents, Devon Gordon and Marlyn McKenzie-Gordon, wearing a stunning Cinderella-style gown by SweetestWeddingsJA. The full skirt, delicate pearls, and airy silhouette gave the look a storybook finish, complete with a traditional veil and floral bouquet sourced online.

Awaiting her at the altar was her dashing groom, dressed in a custom white and emerald three-piece suit with gold embellishments. Kamilah recalls the moment she first locked eyes with Rajiv at the altar, “I was excited but nervous. I just looked at him and said, ‘God did.’ This is what we talked about, prayed about – it was finally here.”

The couple exchanged handwritten vows, an emotional highlight of the day that moved many in attendance. “We wanted it to be personal,” Rajiv said. “Not just promises, but a reflection of our journey, everything we’ve overcome, and everything we’re stepping into.”

Following the ceremony, Kamilah changed into her second gown – a stunning gold and emerald creation by Neeks Designs – and joined the reception, also at City View Hotel. Guests enjoyed a seamless evening hosted by master of ceremonies Othneil Grant. Live performances from a saxophonist and vocalists provided a rich soundtrack to the celebrations, including the couple’s first dance to Beyoncé and Stevie Wonder’s duet So Amazing.

The four-tier wedding cake was baked with love by Rajiv’s mother, Norah Sinclair, and later cut by the newly-weds in a sweet and celebratory moment. Speeches from the maid of honour and best man added warmth and humour and, as the night went on, laughter flowed, glasses clinked, and two hearts that met by chance in uniform stood hand-in-hand, surrounded by family and friends.

nyoka.manning@gleanerjm.com