WEDDING traditions and customs  vary greatly among cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries and  social classes, but most persons agree that what is considered  a  ‘good marriage’  is built on a strong foundation of mutual respect,  trust, communication,  and shared goals. And so this year’s Wedding Expo is touted to be like none other.

Hosted for several years now at the Duke Lodge in Kingston, this year’s Wedding Expo will feature a real wedding for a deserving couple, one with a proven record of building a solid foundation while being engaged.
Shortlisted from a batch of 15, on Sunday last, four couples  boasting more than 25 years of anniversaries together, went on the adventure of a lifetime at the Arrowpoint Nature  Resort on the Aratack Amerindian Reservation, all under  the  discerning eyes of  a legion of judges.
As part of the elimination process, the four couples were presented with a day of togetherness in nature, the perfect test.

Alligator Alley
Judged every step of the way and with cameras to record each moment in time, the couples departed Georgetown at the crack of dawn and with the first rays of the Sunday sun, left the Roraima Marina at Timehri, skipped across the Demerara River and then skimmed 14 miles along the serene, ever-winding Kamuni Creek, by speedboat to the ArrowPoint Resort.
With emotions now palpable, the couples were presented to each other and the Wedding Expo pioneer, Captain Gerry Gouveia, spoke of the initiative.
Married himself for many years, the experienced Captain Gouveia sought to impress on the young couples the true meaning of the successful marriage built on team work.
From the word go, all agreed that each of the couples readily deserved to have a picture-perfect wedding in their honour, a reward for  their dedication to each other.
Each with an interesting beginning, the couples related their experiences together before setting out on a nature walk into the  Guyana rainforest, destined for ‘Alligator Alley’.
Gouveia said that in nature the ability to trust and depend on your companion could mean the difference between life and death, as is the case in any good marriage.
A kayak ride in a creek the width of a narrow trail, with only your spouse at your side and with a paddle in hand can prove to be a daunting task.
“I have seen daughters literally curse their mothers,” one of the guides explained, as they kept watch from a safe distance while the judges kept tabs on every blooper along the way.

Scenes from the Arrowpoint couples retreat last Sunday where the couples were judged for this year’s Wedding Expo.

“It will test your nerves…it will test your relationship to the brink,” the Arrowpoint  guide told this reporter, as the couples with tired arms but yet smiling  navigated their way along Alligator Alley, which seemingly spells danger at every turn.
Ten years of togetherness proved to be an inseparable connection as one couple struggled to complete the course, crashing into each protruding bank of Alligator Alley but better late than never arrived back at the resort in time for lunch.
Undertaken in a reality show type atmosphere, the judges again peered.

Such a darling
Each  was a gentleman in his own respect but only one allowed his spouse to sit and wait as he served her, and with a “you’re such a darling look” on her face they sat, said grace and had a quiet meal by themselves.
Another young lady decided that the romantic thing to do after her fiancé brought the meal was to feed him a few bites by hand.
Seemingly without a minute to spare it was off to the next round, where the spouses would trek through the jungle on ‘mountain bikes’;  not the regular test but one that proved quite fulfilling.  Each returned with even broader smiles.
The ultimate test of trust comes at a time when one would make the proverbial leap of fate but in this case it was a leap into the dark, eerie Guyana black water.

Meet the couples
Rudolph Davis, a confident 29- year-old, Albouystown resident has been together with his fiancée Oshanie Waithe, for over 10 years, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing.  Any fair assessment by the judges would have to recognise that Davis scored big from the start.
At the beginning of the day as the couples introduced themselves, a hesitant Davis blurted out, “She told me she has AIDS.”
As scary as it sounds, the young man quickly reminded his spouse that if that was the case he has made his choice and will not trade her for anyone else.
Waithe confirmed this story with a huge grin from ear to ear and said, “I was nervous, that’s why I said that.”
Both attending school in Georgetown, the two met while they had been employed at the Discount Store.
She looked like an old lady the first day of work, joked Davis, as she had on a long dress but the jeans the following day changed everything.
Waithe herself admits that after that day “everybody (the men in the store) was going crazy.”
Not sure about relationships at that time, she says she decided to ‘test the water’ and 10 years later the couple would like nothing better than to get married.
Captain Gouveia had explained that one of the criteria for a couple’s eligibility would be the inability to fund the wedding of their choice and Davis, a taxi driver at present, says it would be wonderful if he and his wife were chosen “ If only to show Guyana that good things can come out of Albouystown,” a depressed community in Georgetown.
Separated for six months, the couple readily said that forgiveness and an open line of communication is key to any successful relationship.
The separation proved to be a blessing in disguise as they agree that it did help them to realise how much they mean to each other and the importance of taking the relationship to the next step and doing it right in the eyes of God.

That slap
Ramona Ragnauth, a 21-year-old receptionist and 23-year-old Balkaran Singh, are the youngest of the couples but they have  a solid five-year relationship that has been tested by distance.
Singh lives in Essequibo, while Ramona lives in Georgetown and through a twist of fate the two met, ironically at a wedding reception.
Both camera shy but inseparable at times, the two recalled their first meeting where she ‘slapped him’.
It was a slap delivered on behalf of another person, she explained.
Balkaran had returned a call to a relative of hers, but a male counterpart didn’t take too kindly to the  voice of a male on the other end of the telephone line and seconded Ragnauth to do a bit off spying while visiting the wedding.
“I met him and he was nice,” said Ragnauth and forgot all about delivering the slap until a few days later.
“I don’t even remember what he told me, but I knew I had been asked to give him a slap and so I did.”
The two have been inseparable ever since.
Win or lose in the competition, this couple intends to get married this year but agreed that having it at the Wedding Expo would mean so much more.
Seeing each other once every other week, the two concede that it takes a whole lot of trust and understanding for a long-distance relationship to work.
“The first thing you have to have is understanding…once there is understanding and trust everything falls into place.”
Balkaran says that even though he would have had many girlfriends while still attending the technical institute, from the time he fell in love with Ramona he has had eyes for no other.
“I love her,” he said with a gleam in his eyes, “I have never had a second girl, this is the one… she is a loving and faithful person.”

Communication and Understanding
The third couple hoping that they will be chosen to be featured at this year’s Wedding Expo have between them 10 years under their belts already.
Jacqueline Williams, 34 years old and her fiancé of 10 years, Lawrence Ferrier, say that their experiences together over the years have  demonstrated convincingly that marriage is the route to go.
“We have proven that we love each other,” said Williams, who  also pointed out that the ArrowPoint challenge has reinforced that “We must always do things together.”
She says that one individual in the relationship cannot “Jump ahead and do things without involving each other.”
She explained that there are times when Ferrier may want to move at a particular pace, while she may want to  accelerate things and she noted  the need for compromise.
“If he is slow and I want to go to a fast pace, I have to come down and let us do it as a team,” she bluntly stated
With a big, broad smile reflecting  sincerity, Ferrier said, “The first time I saw her I knew that she is the one for me…her personality.”
Over the years Ferrier said this love has grown even more, “She does all the little things that make me feel happy and I am glad for that.”
Communication, love and understanding are the ultimate glue that has kept this couple together over the years.
They said:  “We had already planned to get married this  June and this competition came up as the perfect occasion.”
“We have proven that we love each other…we deserve it” they said with one voice, referring  to being the featured wedding at this year’s Wedding Expo.”

Playboy turned faithful
The final couple shortlisted and screened for the 2013 Wedding Expo is Parvati Devi Jhodan and her fiancé Kwesi Coggins, both 25 years old.
They insist that despite the fact that they have been together for just over two years, it has been thoroughly tested, more than most.
The couple said they applied to take part in the competition particularly  because it would serve to remove one of the greatest burdens on any couple looking to get married, the ‘bill’.
Fondly known as Felicia, she said that it would be a dream come true to have the Roraima Group undertake the wedding, as it would take a heavy load off them and their parents in paying for the wedding.
“We want to help both our parents financially and we don’t have enough money to do our wedding.”
They met at his workplace sports club and according to Felicia, while she did have a crush on him, she was hesitant as he was  perceived as a ‘playboy’.
This quickly changed and as they got to know each other –  she says ‘like’ quickly grew to ‘love’.
Despite having the shortest relationship of the four couples, it was an impressive marriage proposal to say the least.
Felicia has a son from a previous relationship and on Mothers’ Day last, Kwesi proposed.  What made it even more special according to Felicia, “…he did it in front of my son.”
She says that it was already a special day for her given that she has a young son and “Kwesi made it into an even happier one for me.”
Kwesi said that one of the many lovely memories he has of his time together with his wife-to-be and which instills in him confidence that she is the one, revolves around the way she took care of him while he was  injured in an accident.
Still visibly scarred on his fingers as a result of a misplaced chainsaw blade, “She took care of me every single night and day.”
“We trust and understand each other…we know everything about each other and the past is the past,” he declared.
The fate of the couples now rest in the hands of the Wedding Expo Committee and the announcement will be made at a dinner to be held at  Duke Lodge on March 6 and the Wedding Day a month later.
Members of the public will be invited to participate in the decision-making process via text messages.