Tying the Knot in Jamaica: The Groom Bit Into Her Bouquet in the Middle of The Ceremony!

Bouquet in hand, the bride made her way down the aisle.  Adrenaline high, she hears the sound of her own heartbeat drumming loudly in her ears.  With every eye staring at her and her growing awareness of the intense spotlight on her, she clutches her bouquet even more tightly.

Looking for unusual bridal bouquets, edible bouquets are ones to consider.  Beautiful and functional, they are not only pretty and tasty, their delicious edible state lends itself to easily being incorporated in your ceremony.  Rather than tossing the bouquet, how about eating the bouquet?  Bride and groom eat the bouquet as a part of their own unique unity ceremony.  All the guests eat the bride's and bridesmaids' bouquets in a symbolic act.  Place the bridesmaid bouquets in jars and bowls at the reception as centerpieces or decor.

Juicy fruits coated in milk chocolate and dark chocolate placed with fruits cut in the shape of daisies and hearts - these bouquets and centerpieces may be custom ordered from Essence of Hazel.  Made by Kayla Evans herself, these bouquets are well suited for the bride looking to use a non-floral option, as well as for brides who are looking to escape the cookie cutter mold of floral bouquets.

Essence of Hazel Edible Bouquets offers the option to select from a wide range of fruits including strawberry, blueberry, grape, pineapple, mango, cantaloupe, kiwi and many more.  Fruits may be cut into various shapes such as hearts, daisies, stars, crescent moons and butterflies and you may choose to leave them as is or have them dipped in or drizzled with chocolate.

Fruity Mini-Pancakes

"Banana! Ripe an' ready! Right outside a yuh gate!"

The banana vendor takes to walking through the neighbourhoods near his roadside stall. He does this whenever he receives a large shipment of ripe bananas that are more than the quantity the early morning rush hour traffic consumers would buy. He has found many loyal customers, who pay $120 for 5 large bananas and are happy to have this little piece of the fruit market be brought to them. 

I was about to make scrambled eggs for breakfast when I hear his cry "banana! Ripe an' ready! Right outside a yuh gate! Guinep! Right outside a yuh gate!" Impulsively, I ran outside...he did say guineps after all. It's hot outside so I quickly tell him a bag of bananas and two bags of guineps, pay him and send him on his merry way.

For the Love of Pasta

For a wheat allergic pasta lover in the Kingston Metropolitan Region (KMR), shopping for pasta no longer needs to be an online import-it-yourself affair. Over the past few months, several KMR based supermarkets have been expanding their pasta selection to include pastas from corn, tapioca, rice and other non-wheat sources.

We have been able to find brands like Glutino and Felicia on the shelves at Lee's Food Fair, Hi-Lo Supermarket, Mega Mart, CPJ and Sovereign Supermarket. Shell types, variety of shell types and prices vary by store. These pasta brands are easy to cook and, just like the common wheat based pasta, to cook it, you just add water, salt (optional) and boil it for a few minutes.

They make THOSE in Jamaica?

Roll, roll, roll, push, push, push. Nothing new here, nothing new here, wait...hold on (reverses a step or two), did I just see a label that says wheat free? Ooo a new product!

Tying The Knot in Jamaica: Hey Mr. DJ

"The best wedding I have ever been to!" "Fun!" 

"I want a wedding like that when it's my turn to get married!" 

"Oh gosh, I wish my wedding had been this good!"

Entertainment - that is what makes a wedding enjoyable and fun. A wedding can be beautiful, lovely, gorgeous, romantic, extravagant yet be a real yawn. Guests sit counting the seconds till they are able to leave without being deemed an early exiter. An unforgettable wedding is one that has well timed and placed entertainment. One that turns a cocktail hour, a reception or an after party into a true celebration of a beautiful union. After all the planning, spending and preparing, having a really good time is what makes it even more rewarding and wonderful an experience. It feels good to have guests deem your wedding as one of the best, if not the best, they have attended. Big J Entertainment is ready to provide brides and grooms with amazing service that will add to making your wedding a wonderfully entertaining experience. Big J Entertainment comes highly recommended as the customer service is amazing. The level of professionalism is exceptional. Jason Stewart of Big J Entertainment consistently provides follow-up services that will keep a bride and groom to be assured of his unfaltering commitment to provide them with amazing entertainment.

A few advantages of having musical entertainment

• Music is a powerful form of entertainment; it allows you to set the mood by the tone of your song selection...upbeat, romantic, intimate, cheerful.
• Dedication songs may even be used to replace toasts and lengthy speeches...for many people sitting through all those toasts - toasts to the parents, toasts to the bridesmaids, toasts to the groomsmen, toasts to the cake? - can be a boring affair similar to sitting through a dull lecture.
• Another advantage to dedication songs is that you can minimize the occurrence of unsavoury roast toasts that might set a bad tone for the honeymoon.
• Awesome photographic opportunity to get candid shots of everyone dancing.

Contact Information: 

• Telephone: 876-434-8648, 876-332-0736
• Email: bigjentertainment876@gmail.com
• Facebook
• Instagram: @bigjentertainment
• Twitter

Contract Requirements:

Down payment – For a client to secure an event date, a 50% non-refundable deposit is required. The balance is due 5 days before the event date. For hire on short notice i.e. less than two week notice, they require full payment to secure your event. 

Time period of contact for hire – It is preferable that a client makes contact as early as possible. This is because of their philosophy that “great planning equals great event”.

Locations of operations –  Big J Entertainment provides professional DJ services throughout the 14 parishes of Jamaica. Also, they are able to serve clients in the USA and Canada. 

Summary of wedding package offerings:

• Professional digital sound system set up with top quality equipment.
• Illuminated DJ booth that fits into your décor (clients have the option of choosing the colour  of the lights used).
• Free Cordless Microphone for Master of Ceremony. 
• Customized playlist as per the bride and groom’s request.
• Experienced professional wedding DJ, appropriately attired for a wedding reception.
• Cocktail and dinner music as per request e.g. Instrumentals, classical, souls etc.
• Unlimited email and phone support.
• Event Planning with time lines to prevent errors.
• Up to 3 free face to face consultation meetings and free site inspection.
• Attendance at your rehearsals ensuring all parties involved in executing your wedding are in sync.
• Assistance with song selection for special moments such as: bridal party’s entrance, first dance, bride and father dance etc.
• Unlimited dance music to create the ultimate party experience.
• Party all night as there are no time limits unless otherwise outlined in the contract.

Wheat Free Grocery Finds - Sovereign Supermarket

While we were at Sovereign Centre in Liguanea, St. Andrew, we decided to take a look at the wheat free and gluten free grocery offerings in Sovereign Supermarket. Kudos to the Purchasing Team - there is a variety of wheat free and gluten free products, including several from lines which have certified gluten free facilities. Sovereign Supermarket is yet another place in Jamaica where the wheat free or gluten free consumer may one stop shop with some ease. It is located at Sovereign Centre at 106 Hope Road, Kingston 6, St. Andrew. 

The products shown below are only a very few of the products available. There are many naturally wheat free products as well as wheat free alternative products. 

Wheat Free Grocery Finds - Lee's

Grocery Shopping in St. Andrew

This week we did a grocery run at Lee's Food Fair at Boulevard Super Centre in St. Andrew. Both branches of Lee's Food Fair are good stores for the wheat allergic to visit as there are several wheat free food finds, including both naturally wheat free foods and wheat free alternative foods. Though slowly, they continue to expand their wheat free alternative offerings.

Tying The Knot in Jamaica: Suit Up!

In Jamaica, the typical male wedding attire of choice is a suit or a variation of it. Getting the fit right is critical and something many men only realise when the pictures are released, or even earlier, when the person whose opinion they value sees them and is less than impressed. An ill-fitting suit does wonderful work at highlighting and showcasing body imperfections, whereas a well fitted suit flatters the body and the wearer has a certain dignified air about him or her.

JJ's Tailoring, located in St. Andrew, offers tailoring services for both men and women. Clients may take their own material or choose from the stock in house. Suits are custom made and fitted before completion.

Those Udi's Gluten Free Cookies

Gone wheat free and have the munchies for some yummy cookies? Look no further than Udi's Gluten Free, the brand that is "full of taste and free of gluten". 

Cravings for soft and simply delectable cookies may be answered by snacking on Udi's Gluten Free Soft & Chewy Cookies. The name is very fitting as these cookies are indeed very soft and have a chewy quality to them. The cookies come in a convenient firm and resealable plastic container and are available in the flavours of Oatmeal Raisin, Snicker Doodle, Chocolate Chip and Ginger. These Udi's Gluten Free Soft & Chewy Cookies are all soy and nut free. They contain milk and eggs. 

Toothpaste Matters in the Gluten Free Life

Crest and Aquafresh are two brands of toothpaste found in many stores throughout Jamaica. The good thing to know about these two brands are that they have both indicated that their toothpaste products do not contain gluten. 

Tomato and Cucumber Skin Care

Milk Please, Hold the Dairy

Here a fart, there a fart, everywhere a fart, fart. For so many people, having a glass of cow's milk doesn't go well at all. For some, the flatulence and sudden need for TP is consistent, especially those with lactose intolerance, while for others it's a gamble - will the tummy rumble this time?

Being allergic to milk, lactose intolerant, a non dairy consumer, wary of the effects consuming cow's milk has on you or desirous of variety, milk substitutes are great. There are several grain milks and plant milks.

Soy milk, almond milk, rice milk and hemp milk are milk substitutes found in several supermarkets across Kingston, St. Andrew, Portmore and other towns in Jamaica. Prices tend to range from JM$200 to JM$500 for one quart. These non-dairy beverage are often consumed as they are or used, in the place of cow's milk, in food preparation.

Brownies made using Bob's Red Mill Wheat Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free Brownie Mix and Rice Milk

Tying The Knot In Jamaica: Wedding Song

Down the aisle she walked, to the story of their love.  The song retold the story of how love got them here.  Every line, ever word, every verse was true.  A unique song to reflect their beautiful love story.

Born Kerri-Anne Walker, Kei Dubb grew up in the Caribbean. There she learned the French language and went on to live and study in France for a while before returning to the Caribbean.  Her voice range is 3 1/2 octaves and her singing style is a unique fusion of jazz, soul and reggae. There are singers and then there is Kei Dubb. Kei Dubb, known not only for her beautiful voice, Kei is a vibrant yet relaxed personality - a pint-sized vocal powerhouse who has wowed audiences both in the old world and the new. Her abilities are quite impressive as she is not simply a singer but a songwriter as well. Her bilingual ability lends itself wonderfully to her writing and performances which go back and forth between English and French.  As a talented songwriter, Kei has an ability to speak directly to couples and write love songs that tell their special story as lovers. Working with Kei Dubb on your own love story will make walking down the aisle, the entrance to the reception and that first dance as a married couple much more personal, intimate and special.

Gluten Free and Wheat Free Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day falls on the 2nd Friday in February this year. Love is the theme; chocolate and wine are Queen and King. While most Valentine's Day advertisements target couples and promote the romantic side of love, token and gifts are often given to parents, offspring, relatives, friends, classmates, customers, business partners and even strangers.

From pebbles collected outside to diamond encrusted purses worth millions, there is a Valentine's Day gift for every budget. While giving physical gifts is one manifestation of expressing love, there are other love languages. Love may be expressed by spending quality time, acts of service and so on.  You often find that Valentine's Day gifts  may be a combination of different love languages. Though there's a very wide variety of gifts, it is quite common to find persons completely clueless about what to give, especially on a limited budget or with short notice. 

If your valentine has only recently become a wheat free or gluten free eater and is now down about their limited food choices, giving the gift of delicious food is a very sweet and thoughtful gesture.

There is a variety of food you may give. 

Essence of Hazel

Honey On My Skin

Food good for the body.

Food good for the skin.

Eat up, dab on.

Love the skin you are in.

Honey, when topically applied, most benefits our skin when it is in its raw, organic, unheated state and, as such, the benefits listed below are related to raw, organic, unheated honey.

Beneficial Properties of Honey

• anti-irritant; suitable for sensitive skin
• humectant (absorbs and retain moisture) which is good for maintaining skin's softness, suppleness and elasticity; great for dry skin as retains moisture without drying out
• antibacterial and antimicrobial properties draw out impurities from the skin, reduces redness, calms inflammation and speeds up healing of wounds and infections, including acne.

DIY Honey Skin Care

Good for: persons seeking a more directly natural skin care regimen, especially persons with sensitive skin or contact allergy to soy or wheat (often commonly used but not listed due to non-existent allergen labeling regulation for skin care items).

Bad for: persons with contact allergy to honey.

*It is easier to remove honey masks with warm water

Avocado and Honey Face Mask for soft, glowing skin

• Blend a slice of avocado and 1 tablespoon of honey till texture is creamy, put in fridge for 10 minutes, apply to clean face, leave for an hour, then wash face clean.

Peace of Chocolate

Image source: http://papalanigelato.com/is-chocolate-really-good-for-you/

Image source: http://chaddsfordchiropractor.com/amazing-benefits-of-raw-chocolate/

Image source: http://andifajar.com/benefits-of-chocolate-for-health.html

For most, there is no rival to chocolate among food. It stands in a category by itself, in whichever form it takes; liquid rushing like a flood, against the taste buds of our tongues, powder - intoxicating us with its rich aroma, or solid, a savoury treat. Not everyone loves chocolate, nonetheless, it is one of the most widely loved foods.

As internationally renowned as chocolate is, just over five centuries ago the plant it is made from (cacao) was only present in parts of the Americas and was used by the Mayans, Aztecs and some of the other natives of the Americas to make chocolate beverages, known then by some as "xocolātl". The Europeans who traveled to the Americas brought it back to Europe and added sweeteners such as sugar and milk to the beverage. Chocolate grew in popularity as a beverage and due to recipe experimentation over the centuries, chocolate of various forms came into being (click here to read more on the History of Chocolate). Chocolate is now available worldwide for consumption in many forms.

Pure chocolate itself does not contain wheat or gluten. Based on added ingredients to make certain products or being processed on machinery on which processed wheat and gluten ingredients, a product may not be free from wheat or gluten.  However, a non wheat and/or non-gluten eater need not dismay, there are many safe to consume chocolate brands and products out there.

Image source: http://rishikajain.com/2012/06/22/good-morninghealth-tips-for-the-dayinspirational-pictures/

Image source: http://www.purelifenutrimedics.com/blog/health-benefits-of-chocolate-info-graphic

Tying the Knot in Jamaica: Capturing the Moment

A photograph offers snapshot of a single moment... but that snapshot captures the essence of a moment in time and preserves the visual representation and memory of it. It is a powerful visual holder of a moment and tells a story, though sometimes it may be misleading, of what was taking place in that instant; powerful enough as it gathers information that might have missed the human eye. Throughout time, moments have been captured in various forms; the visual side of moments have been captured in descriptive writing, sketches and paintings. However, the reigning King of capturing a moment is the camera. Unlike a painting, the capturing of a photograph is instant and does not rely on the capturer's memory.

"What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce." 

― Karl Lagerfeld

"A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away." 

― Eudora Welty

"If the photographer is interested in the people in front of his lens, and if he is compassionate, it’s already a lot. The instrument is not the camera but the photographer." – Eve Arnold

Cellphone cameras and digital cameras are numerous and used or available to many persons around the world. Photographs are no longer expensive to take and need no longer be limited to special moments. The age of digital photography has birthed the premise "take a pic anytime, anywhere" and also that the selfie is king. 

Tying the Knot in Jamaica: The Golden Effect

A piece of jewellery

...an artistic expression

...a token, a gift

...a message

...fashion accessory

...an ornament

...an economic investment (wealth storage)

...currency

...a symbol of status

...an indicator of societal affiliation

...a marker of personal status

Jewellery sometimes finds itself being a feature of an event, such as a crowning ceremony, a medal ceremony and, more frequently, a wedding. In many cultures, rings are exchanged by the couple as a part of the ceremony; while some couples, seeking an alternative to the typical, might exchange other items of jewellery such as cuffs, bangles, bracelets, pins, nose rings, necklaces, pendants, lockets and so on. For many, this is a marker of their personal status, and one of the more treasured and sentimental items of jewellery they own.

The wedding ring or the alternative is often not the only item of jewellery worn by the marrying couple, and the couple are usually not the only persons in attendance who are adorned in jewellery. Brides, grooms, bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers and guests usually dress up for weddings and will at times go to great lengths to ensure they look great. Brides and grooms might source new items of jewellery that complement their rings, outfits or colour theme. Likewise, other members of the bridal party might need to get matching pieces or pieces that meet the requirements of their dress code. Guests may want new pieces of jewellery for various reasons. As such, jewellery shopping or finding a jeweller will be on the 'to do' list.

Power Mood Tags - PurpleJade

Tying the Knot in Jamaica - Tiffany Lue-Yen, Photographer

 

The simplicity of taking a photograph often belies the beauty and artistic expression that may be captured in a photograph.

Tying the Knot in Jamaica - Wedding Dresses by Clay

By her dress you shall know her,
The Queen of the Wedding.

For some women, the visual definition of their bridal state is summed up by their wedding dress. It is their identifier, their regal attire, a special dress for a very special day.

Wedding dresses take different shapes and forms, vary by culture and fashion preference. Some dresses are bought new from a store, rented from another, passed down from generation to generation, shared between sisters or made to order by a dressmaker. The acquisition of a wedding dress can be a challenge, and this challenge has forced many women to choose a dress they only tolerate (not love), rent though they didn't want to, travel near and far, among other things. The bride in Jamaica has found her wedding dress creating fairy godmother in Clay. 

Tying the Knot in Jamaica - Wedding Decor Photography

The photographer behind the lens of the camera that took the current Wheat Less in Jamaica profile picture (see above) is Robert L. Henry, a St. Andrew resident who has shot several engagement shoots and weddings across beautiful Jamrock (i.e Jamaica).

Tying the Knot in Jamaica - Make Up by Shelly-Ann Chung

The Caribbean isles are beautiful gems adorning the Caribbean Sea. Jamaica, with its beautiful white sand, lush green landscape and beautiful mountain backdrops, is a preferred location for weddings. The locals appreciate the scenic advantage they have, to the point that many emigrants return to the island to have their weddings here. Jamaica has grown to be a popular destination wedding site, as well. Foreigners are drawn to the island's beauty and laid back feel, not to mention the amazing wedding services available to them. It is quite common for destination weddings to be held in the resort regions of Jamaica. However, what about Kingston or Portmore - two of the most populated and urban areas in Jamaica. What do they have to offer? Plenty and if you want a truly Jamaican wedding, all the better reason to have top notch, truly Jamaican wedding vendors.

The "Tying the Knot in Jamaica" Series will feature several wedding vendors who are primarily based in Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Catherine and also answer the call to work all over the island, the Caribbean and the world as per requests by their clientele.

The first article of the series puts the spotlight on Shelly-Ann Chung.

Make Up Artist Shelly-Ann Chung

Dairy Free and Egg Free Breakfast

Selamat Hari Natal

Joyeux Noël

Feliz Navidad

Buon Natale

Froehliche Weihnachten

Feliz Natal

С Рождеством

Merry Christmas

As discussed in So what's on the Breakfast Menu the holidays are upon us and for many of us that means we will be a house guest or are expecting house guests. A wheat free breakfast is one thing but a dairy free, egg free and wheat free breakfast? Oh honey, it can definitely be done.

So what's on the Breakfast Menu?

"Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la"

It's Christmas! The holidays are upon us and for many of us that means we will be a house guest or are expecting house guests.

As a host, one of your primary concerns is what to feed your guests, especially if (a) they can't or won't eat certain things and (b) you are on a tight budget.

As a guest, you hope there will be enough food that you will enjoy, especially if you are going to an area or country you are unfamiliar with.  If you are on a restricted diet for health reasons (such as diabetes, food allergy and so on), you might be anxious about being both properly and sufficiently facilitated by your host.  If you have a true food allergy, you will be very concerned about if your host will have food items safe for you to consume, as well as foods you will enjoy eating.

The Christmas Class Party

And just like that 2013 is almost over...and with it, the first school term (semester). For some kids and high schoolers this means it's Christmas Class Party time.

With so many children being diagnosed with coeliac (celiac) disease, wheat allergy, gluten sensitivity as well as those voluntarily opting for a gluten free or wheat free diet, sometimes the usual menu has to be scrapped. There are many options available - whether on a shoestring budget or planning for a royal feast.