Second chance leads to lasting romance for Giovanni and Kevonnie

Meeting Kevonnie Whyte for the first time in the eighth grade at Ardenne High School, Giovanni Hosang had no idea he was already connecting with his future wife. After forming a unique friendship, life took them in different directions, but fate decided to bridge the gap. The two reunited at Camp Hope in Canada, and four years later, this second chance led to a lasting romance. Giovanni surprised Kevonnie with an unexpected gift for her 27th birthday: a beautiful wedding proposal.

“From reconnecting at Camp Hope to all the conversations and shared experiences and connections at various cross-campus events and visits, it became clear she was the one to be my empress and my queen,” Giovanni told Island Wedding.

After leaving Ardenne in sixth form, Kevonnie enrolled at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver back in 2013, while Giovanni went to The University of the West Indies, Mona campus.

“As fate would have it, Gio messaged me in 2016, saying that he just moved to Vancouver with his family and that we should catch up; so we reconnected then,” Kevonnie revealed.

Giovanni, who was scheduled to attend Simon Fraser University (SFU), recalled how happy he was that Kevonnie had invited him to the church camp, “She gave me a little side hug, and I thought, ‘Wait, how come she’s so friendly but so guarded?’ In my estimation, it felt like Kevz was trying to send a signal that this is a platonic visit and I shouldn’t think otherwise. I wasn’t really thinking differently, he said with a laugh, adding, “But as the day went on, she warmed up to me, and I knew there was something special about her.”

They would go on to develop a close friendship over the course of that first year. “We had a lot of long conversations and were able to get to know each other on a very deep level. I got to see him as someone who was extremely caring, intensely curious, very forward-thinking and progressive – which were the characteristics that drew me to him,” Kevonnie said.

From there, the pair began to notice a shift in feelings and decided to take a leap of faith, going from platonic to romantic. “Kevz went on a study exchange programme in Australia and after she returned, we couldn’t ignore how close we’d gotten at various black student community events at our various campuses, so we decided to take that step,” Giovanni explained.

His persistence, energy, caring nature, and intelligence played its parts in winning over Kevonnie’s heart. “Gio is such an inspiring and wonderful partner. He constantly encourages me to dig deeper into the parts of myself where I can be more caring, kind, and patient. He elevates how I express love and give attention, as well as consideration; not just to him, but to others as well.”

His enthusiasm for gaining knowledge has motivated her to explore and learn alongside him. “He has helped me embrace that mindset of curiosity and discovery, and that’s something I truly value. His awareness of social and political issues has been another profound influence. His focus, ambition and forward-thinking approach to his career and financial planning have pushed me to sharpen my own skills and planning strategies, motivating me to level up in ways that I might not have pursued on my own.”

And, she loves how intentional and thoughtful he is about their relationship. “He consistently shows up for me and for us, prioritising our long-term goals and partnership over himself. He demonstrates unconditional love, making me feel completely accepted at all times, which is something I’m deeply grateful for.”

Giovanni finds his beloved to be genuine, driven, family-oriented, loving and caring. “She has a genuine heart, treats everyone with kindness and is always thinking of what we need to do for others.”

Just as focused by nature, her determination to achieve her goals inspires him each and every day, as she takes the time to learn and grow. “Always willing to communicate, she is committed to catching each other’s bids and has a ‘commitment to reconnect’, especially if we ever feel disconnected. We try to just stay aligned with each other, our goals and our commitments.”

On another personal note, Kevonnie has helped Giovanni to become patient and reflective in how he approaches life. “She constantly challenges me to communicate my feelings better, even when I may want to shut down, or even ask myself more ‘whys’ when I want to jump into the ‘how-tos’.”

‘10-OUT-OF-10’ PROPOSAL

After reaching the epiphany that they belong together, Giovanni, with the help of her friends, planned a beautiful dinner, photo shoot and private proposal on her 27th birthday.

Compiling a list of video messages from her friends and family, Giovanni’s sweet sentiments were saved for last. “For my segment, I was sitting in a car, saying, ‘You know what? I have something to tell you and I want to share [it] with you in person. So instead of telling you in a video, let me come tell you right now.’ I burst into the room right after the video.”

With flowers in hand, he escorted his queen to a stunning spot at the back of the Airbnb, “And after giving my speech, I asked her to be my lifelong partner and my wife.” Kevonnie, who said yes to her soulmate, gave his proposal a 10 out of 10.

The engaged couple went ahead and planned not one, but two weddings. Giovanni gave more details on that decision: “We actually had two ceremonies. The first one was a small and intimate celebration in Vancouver on January 1, 2023. Then, we were able to live together and fully plan the bigger, official wedding in Jamaica. We really wanted it to reflect our personalities: fun, exciting, and full of joy! It wasn’t just about celebrating us, but celebrating everyone who came; friends, family, and community.”

For the local nuptials, the married couple enlisted Brittny Malcolm and Lazarus Incorporated, as well as Cattleya Decor for the planning, decor and design elements.

On November 1, 2024, Giovanni and Kevonnie exchanged vows once more in an enchanting ceremony at Andrews Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church in St Andrew. Following the ceremony, the newly-weds celebrated their union with a reception at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, hosted by master of ceremonies Ity Ellis.

“The wedding was absolutely amazing,” the married couple reflected. Mr and Mr Hosang graced the floor for their official first dance as newly-weds to the cover of Like I’m Gonna Lose You by Fifth Harmony. “The song perfectly captured the essence of our relationship and the commitment we share,” the bride said.

The groom added, “The first dance was surreal. It felt like it was just the two of us. Looking into her eyes, I felt incredibly lucky to be her husband and have her as my wife.”

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com