Pierre sends a direct message to Shannell’s heart

Imagine meeting your soulmate from the same community, but only having your first real interaction while you were away on a trip off the island. That was just the beginning of the beautiful love story between Shannell Bailey and Pierre Henry. In 2016, a familiar face sent her a direct message on Facebook filled with compliments and jokes, sparking an engaging conversation. They didn’t start dating until six years later, a journey that led them to become one in holy matrimony.

“My first thought of him was, ‘Wow! He’s fine! And he’s intelligent!’ I loved the fact that he was so aware and knowledgeable about any and everything. Did I mention how fine he was?” Shannell told Island Wedding, laughing.

Over time, her feelings for Pierre deepened. When she had the chance to truly know him, Shannell’s love grew even stronger, flaws and all.

“For our first date, we went to this cute little spot in Portmore Pines Plaza by the name of Plushh. It was a very cosy lounge. We had a few drinks, a meal and a great time. I went back home a very happy girl,” she recounted.

For Pierre, he always thought Shannell was very beautiful. “She always had a very bright and fun personality which really drew me to her. It wasn’t until later [on] into our relationship that I realised how nurturing and caring she was and that really resonated with me,” he revealed.

It wasn’t long before he sat down with his new flame to talk about starting a relationship, “I decided we needed to have a sit down so that we could discuss our future and from that day made it official to commit ourselves exclusively.”

Shannell chimed in, “He asked me to be his girlfriend on January 6, 2022. We spoke about expectations, future goals and overall decisions to be made as a couple.”

Noting that it would be impossible to describe Pierre in just five words, she can’t help but marvel at how handsome, intelligent, loyal, driven and ambitious her beloved is.

“A lot of my self-growth I owe to my husband. I’ve doubted myself and my potential, especially in my career and he’s always been there encouraging me to go out and give it my best, and if I fall he’ll be there to pick me up. That has helped me in so many ways to become the person I am today,” she shared.

The best thing he has ever given her was peace of mind, “As a result, I was able to focus on what mattered – building our relationship and improving my personal and professional life.”

Nurturing by nature, Pierre has been captivated by how fun, loving, and considerate his twin flame is, “She is always willing to take care of her loved ones and fills everyone’s cup. The true life of the party, once you get her out of her shell, she will make the whole room feel full and vibrant. You will never feel short of love in her presence. She can be stubborn, but channelling that strong-minded nature correctly is wonderful to see.”

When it comes to supporting his dreams, Shannell shows it in both words and actions, “She knew my love language was acts of service long before I even knew it for myself. She has helped to keep me accountable to my goals and to feed love into me when I’ve felt very low, reminding me of the man she fell in love with. All of these attributes allowed me to be the best man I could be.”

‘PUT A RING ON IT’

After dating for a year and a half, Pierre decided to ask the love of his life to be his lawfully wedded wife in June of 2024. “As outgoing as I am, I could not pop the question in front of an audience. So, as she was leaving the dressing room to get to our dinner reservation, I met her outside the door on one knee with a ring in hand. I proposed then and there. But, honestly I don’t know if she heard what I was saying ‘cause she literally ran away. I went for her and she told me yes, putting the ring on her finger. We later had a beautiful candlelight dinner with roses, which she loved very much,” Pierre explained.

After they went out for dinner, Shannell confessed that she had to ask him what he said while he was on his knees, “But my baby did great, candle light, roses and a beautiful diamond ring.”

Enlisting the help of loved ones, the bride-to-be shared that her stunning wedding would not have been possible without the expertise of wedding planner and decorator, Tasha Tulloch, founder of Tashi’s Signature Kreation.

“Because of Tasha, there was no process for us. She literally did everything! She got specifics from us but everything else was all her and it was everything we could dream of – elegant, classy and fun! That beautiful ocean view on our wedding day was amazing,” Shannell said.

She said yes to a gorgeous ball gown from Unions Bridal Boutique, the first and only stop where she found her dream dress and booked it on the spot.

On Saturday, April 26, specially invited guests gathered at The Hibiscus Lodge in Ocho Rios, St Ann, to witness Pierre and Shannell become Mr and Mrs Henry. From the colour scheme to the floral arrangements, it was everything they had dreamed of.

“The highlight of our wedding for me was how happy and emotional all our friends and family were. Some persons I’ve never seen cry before brought the water works. It made my heart so light to see all the genuine reactions that everyone had as a result of us showcasing our love,” the beautiful bride pointed out.

She also made special mention of her husband’s surprise garter removal dance at the reception as one of her favourite moments of the night.

For the groom, his most memorable moment came during the signing of the marriage certificate, “Everything felt like a rush of emotions. Our trials and victories all culminated into that one final moment and that’s why it really stood out to me.”

The newly-weds shared their first dance as husband and wife to So Amazing by Luther Vandross and it was all the bride could hope for, and more. “When I walked over to him and he held on to me and put his hands around my waist to embrace me for that first dance, I didn’t want the song to end. It felt as if Luther was singing to us right then and there,” Mrs Henry reminisced.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com