From ‘fresh face’ to lifelong love

Circa 2012, Chadrick Cooke’s company was conducting a motivational exercise when he saw a fresh face gracing another team. Entranced by her radiant beauty, the newcomer introduced herself to everyone as Meisha Reid. Taking a moment to admire her beauty, Chadrick made it his mission to strike up a conversation, charming his way to her heart and later changing her name to Mrs Reid-Cooke.

“I thought she must be an angel at this present moment. So I had to swallow my shyness and make a move,” he told Island Wedding.

This chess game included an opening play, inclusive of a few comparisons; the middle game of ideas, thoughts, and feelings, which led to the end game and Chadrick achieving checkmate with a kiss while he accompanied her to the bus stop. He knew then and there that she was the one.

Meisha, who recalled being greeted by the biggest smile on the first day, initially found Chadrick to be handsome, funny, and charming. They would go on their first date in December of that year, making their relationship official in the winter season.

“Chadrick is loving, caring, hard working, determined, and supportive. Whenever I’ve needed someone to talk to, he was always there giving the best advice. And in those moments where I feel like I can’t go on any longer, he always assures me that I can and I will. He always comes to my rescue whenever I need him. He’s my knight in shining armour,” she revealed.

Describing the love of his life as determined, Chadrick has also admired Meisha’s dedication and spontaneity, highlighting that this vision of elegance holds a special place in his heart.

“With a mindset to go for what she sets out to do, she sets a high standard for work and goes the extra mile to see that that job or task is completed. As his constant source of motivation, she has helped me to be a better person. She’s exciting, and I couldn’t help but be drawn to her desires, character, worth, and even her flaws. She sparks with a glow that enlightens my soul,” he added.

After dating on and off for almost a decade, Chadrick asked Meisha to be his wife during her birthday dinner at the Marina Palms with family and friends.

As the complimentary dessert arrived, staff members and loved ones gathered to celebrate the occasion by singing happy birthday to the queen of Chadrick’s life. “After a few bites, I took up a piece of the cake where the ring was disguised and fed it to her. When she took her second or third bite, she felt something on her tongue,” he highlighted. That something was her engagement ring.

“It was a huge surprise after I was eating a slice of cake and bit on something hard,” Meisha explained, adding, “I quickly removed it from my mouth to show him that something was in my cake, and that’s when I realised it was an engagement ring.”

Chadrick then went down on one knee and popped the question, to which Meisha said yes.

With planning assistance from her mother and her sister, she was happy to have her family and friends on board to make her nuptial dreams a reality. The process was a tedious one, especially as time drew closer to the wedding date, but they conquered all of the challenges.

As for her wedding dress, she said yes to an off-the-shoulder mermaid cut ruffled dress, inclusive of a sweetheart neckline, from Unions Bridal Boutique.

On December 21, 2023, Meisha and Chadrick joined hands and hearts to become husband and wife at the Negril Hill Golf Club. The stunning bride said her wedding exceeded expectations, and the dapper groom chimed in by noting that they received many compliments on the lovely décor and breathtaking scenery from specially invited guests.

With the official dance as husband and wife taking place at the start of the reception, they made a festive entrance as newly-weds, dancing into this new chapter to their favourite song, Stay with You by Tarrus Riley.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com