Love Finds A Way

In an intimate ceremony held Saturday, April 4, 2020, Kellee Blades, a Rights & Clearances manager for CBS Sports, and Marc Williams, an account executive at The Positive Community, became husband and wife. After two years of planning a destination wedding in Barbados, West Indies, the couple had confirmed 103 guests excited to attend. Unfortunately, in mid-March they had to cancel the festivities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But love conquers all, so they decided to keep their original wedding date.

After getting approval from Mayor Adrian Mapp of Plainfield, New Jersey for 10 people along with strict instructions for social distancing, the plans for a scaled back “Operation MK Wedding” went into action. It was truly a labor of love and ingenuity as the couple, along with a handful of friends and relatives, set out to make their day equally as special as originally planned.

While the wedding had been planned down to the very last detail in Barbados, a wedding in New Jersey during a statewide lockdown was going to be a challenge. No bakery, no problem! Kim Hood, a close family friend, tapped into the original venue’s island vibes and made a delicious, coconut wedding cake. Another friend, Mary Whitner, provided a heart made of red rose petals for the couple to stand in during the backyard ceremony; and the bride’s mother, SandraRice, lovingly made her daughter’s bouquet. Reverend Greg Davis of Fountain Baptist Church in Summit, New Jersey officiated.

In addition to the small group present in person, more than 70 virtual guests attended via ZOOM. While it wasn’t the wedding day they planned, it was an intimate and unforgettable experience, which included special guest Kenny Latimore, who sang “For You” as a gift to Kellee and Marc on their special day. It was a day filled with joy and a reminder that love conquers all.