wedding, for which Leona wore a sheer
lace ruffled dress by Jonathan Simkhai.
For the wedding, Dennis made his
way to the chapel in a custom handmade
black suit by Italian label Isaia,
accompanied by his mother Karin and
the cheers of the guests.
After a selection of Leona’s favourite
classical pieces were played by a string
ensemble, the bride entered to Ave
Maria, on the arm of her father Joe.
“The doors opened and I saw this
gorgeous angel walk in,” says Dennis.
“She looked exactly as I’d pictured. She
looked beautiful, gorgeous, understated- as she always is.”
Leona’s gown was “literally the first
dress I tried”, she says. “It’s all handmade
with so much love and it’s very light.”
The ceremony, which was conducted
by the singer’s aunt Laurette Josiah, was
a mix of traditional vows and heartfelt
words written by the couple.PROMISES OF LOVE
With tears in her eyes, Leona told her
groom: “You love without expectations,
you give without taking. You are my rock
without wanting anything in return.
“I told you years ago that before I met
you, I dreamt you. My love, you are my
dream come to life.”
She added: “May we continue to leap
into oceans in the safety of our love.”
Equally emotional, Dennis said:
“Being with you has been my greatest
treasure; being surrounded by you my
greatest inspiration.”
There was also laughter when
Laurette’s service featured a message
about weathering storms together.
“Everyone was laughing and clappingbecause literally that’s what we were
doing,” says Leona.
“It was so symbolic. When you pull
together, you can make anything
happen. Whatever the situation, we’re
going to be there together and that’s
what marriage is about.”
Following a performance from
Jermain, who sang the Donny Hathaway
hit For All We Know, the white gold and
diamond wedding bands were passed
among the guests in a “ring warming”
before they were exchanged.
Then, to cheering and clapping, the
couple were pronounced husband and
wife and Jermain brought the house
down with a rendition of Stevie Wonder’s
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,
accompanied by Leona’s musical
director, Alex Montaque.
Leona’s good friend Simons
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