by Laura Clements

Created on: June 12, 2008   Last Updated: November 07, 2008

The front wheels of our Air Jamaica plane had touched down on the runway in Montego Bay, I breathed a sigh of relief, I hate to fly. We were on board with our sixteen groomsmen and bridesmaids, we were getting married in seventy-two hours. My wedding dress in hand we walked down the terminal towards the hot Jamaican sun. I just wanted to get to the resort, have a nice cold beer, and do nothing for the next three days.

We got to the hotel, checked in, got all of our guests together, and met at the lobby bar. I remember thinking, what in the world is Red Stripe? I am a Bass Ale or Corona fan. I had to try it though. I have to say at first taste it was pretty smooth. Maybe, a little too smooth. We all ordered Red Stripe, "when in Rome, do as the Roman's do. When in Jamaica, drink Red Stripe." A few beers later we had to call it a night. I had pretty much stayed sober for the next sixty something hours.

On the day of my wedding, me in my gown, everyone on the beach for the ceremony, I started to walk out of the resort when they told me to rush back inside. I looked up...nothing but dark sky. The whole time we were there we had nothing but sun now on my wedding day, it was going to rain. I walked back to the familiar lobby bar, my husband was ban to his side of the resort so he could not see me in my wedding dress.

I ordered a Red Stripe, then a few more. I looked down at the bottle, the dark glass, I remember it all vividly. "Why on my wedding day, please God, let the sun come out." I said to my beer, yes I was actually talking to my beer at this point, luckly I do not think anyone heard me, and if they did they probably felt my pain.

I took a sip of the beer, and as if it was some sort of potion, then ran stopped, and then sun was shinning! "Irie, no problem, mon!" I was so excited. My coordinator came in, said then ceremony was on. I was able to walk (possibly stumble) down the beach with my dad on my arm, just like I had always dreamed. I think my husband had a few Red Stripe's himself. To this day when I think of my wedding, I think of that bottle of Red Stripe, it is my potion, my love potion.

On our anniversary we always find a liqour store that carries Red Stripe, we buy a six pack, sit on our back deck, and laugh. We laugh, because it is actually one of the most memoriable weddings any of my friends have ever been to.

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