Jun 3, 20204 min read

Let Love Prevail | Cristobal & Chardia

Chardia Goulbourne and Cristobal Gomez originally had their wedding date set for May 30th, 2020. Chardia came to us for a consultation right before Valentine’s Day and was a literal breathe of fresh air, as she was so excited about getting married. Her overall demeanor was one of pure joy and happiness. She made us excited for her!

She chose an invitation that was one of our favourites, a beautifully delicate lasercut. Encased in an ivory floral lasercut, the invitation itself was printed in gold ink on a shimmery ivory paper and backed with a fine, gold glitter paper.

The matching reception card looked like a miniature replica of the invitation, gold wording printed on ivory paper, backed with gold glitter paper.

The duo was bound together by a complimentary belly band. The luscious gold glitter paper was wrapped around the invitation, and at the heart of the belly band was the couple’s custom made monogram. The couple’s original wedding date was placed under the monogram.

Chardia received her wedding invitations around the beginning of March and began distributing them. As we all know, the COVID- 19 Pandemic penetrated the Islands of The Bahamas in mid-March, followed by the government shut downs and emergency orders, which were implemented during the third week of March.

Many small businesses, including Template were forced to close their doors and many of our brides, including Chardia were now faced with a startling reality.

Weddings were allowed, but limited to 10 people, which was a major disappointment to many couples who saved their money, planned their weddings, paid their deposits and now would be forced to cancel or postpone their big days.

As March became April and April became May, we kept in contact with our brides via phone calls and WhatsApp. Soon, stores were slowly allowed to open and the staff at Template were able to come back to work. This is when we were contacted by Chardia. She informed us that she and Cristobal decided to push their wedding date up from May 30th, to May 29th because of the weekend curfew and asked us to do her programs.

Her program was a single sided tea length card that complimented the look of her wedding invitation as it was printed on the same paper and similar fonts were used.

A photo of the dashing couple was placed at the bottom of the program, adding a very personalized touch. Unlike the invitations, which were 100 in total, the programs done only totaled 25, so we knew that she had to cut her wedding number down significantly; an unfortunate circumstance is being faced by couples globally.

Chardia planned her wedding thoroughly, and did have a reception planned at Luciano’s, which permanently closed its doors two weeks prior to their original wedding date. Despite the numerous changes that had to be made to their wedding plans, when we spoke to Chardia, she was still as cheerful as ever because she knew she and Cristobal would finally get to be with the ones they love.

Because she ordered a different program and other items for the reception such as table cards and a seating chart, she did have a reasonable balance. With this in mind, we offered to do favour boxes for her, which she thought was a great idea.

Her white favour boxes were filled with white and gold confections and closed with a ribbon wrap and topped with their monogram and their new wedding date.

Finally their day arrived. One day before they expected, Chardia and Cristobal prepared to give themselves to one another forever.

As Chardia readied herself to be Mrs. Gomez and as she walked down the aisle, her mother by her side. At Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church on Shirley Street, Chardia and Cristobal stood before God, Father Anselm Russell and their beloved family and friends, who did adhere to the social distancing protocol, and vowed…

Despite the changes that had to be made, the wedding was special, intimate and romantic. After sealing their lifelong commitment to one another with a kiss, love and happiness filled the air, as they were warmly embraced by their guests with hugs and well wishes. No longer were they persons in a church witnessing two people become one…

These overjoyed newlyweds had their portraits taken by the talented Christina Ysaguirre on a secluded dock overlooking the Nassau Harbour. This was followed by an intimate get together at the groom’s residence on the picturesque Paradise Island.

Life can be full of twists and turns and can send unanticipated curveballs our way. As we make this great expedition through life, we do so with great anticipation and an ongoing expectation that things will indeed change, but will always work out for our good. In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, curfews and lockdowns, many must make choices that they never dreamt they would. Some will postpone their big days and others will follow the same path as Chardia and Cristobal and choose to commit their lives to one another.

The team here at Template wishes to congratulate Chardia and Cristobal on their nuptials! We pray that God’s love will sustain you both as you begin this extraordinary journey through live together. May the choice you have made to get married in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic be a testament of your love for one another and a story that you tell your generations.