Michele Smith & Glaister Knight
Edward King House
July 23, 2010
Published in Newport Life Magazine November/December 2010
For Newporters Michele “Chelley” Smith and Glaister “Mark” Knight, persistence pays off. After years of being “just friends,” Mark finally convinced Chelley to have dinner with him. “We have been inseparable ever since,” she says. “Mark says from the first day he saw me, he knew he would make me his wife.”
And so he did. A cold winter night two years ago saw the Jamaican native and Clarke Cooke House sous chef on bended knee asking for the local singer’s hand. “He was humble and didn’t promise me the world, but he said he would love me forever,” remembers Chelley.
As a hometown girl, daughter of James and Rosalind Green, it made sense for Chelley to marry here. She and Mark settled on the Edward King House on Spring Street because, “I have always been fascinated with the building, and I have a lot of memories in that area,” she says. “I wanted something different and special, and I knew there was no other place that would do. It was exactly where I wanted to celebrate with family and friends.”
The Italian villa’s antique furniture, beautiful china and pristine grounds provided all the décor needed. After the couple shared their vows on the ornate mahogany staircase, the 75 guests enjoyed Jamaican jerk pork prepared by the groom, complemented by sushi from the Clarke Cooke House’s Japanese chefs, plus tasty bites such as shrimp, scallop and spinach empanadas, mini crab cakes and chicken satay skewers by Blue Rocks Catering.
The lyrical families wasted no time singing their hearts out on this festive day. “My mother was asked to sing, and she belted out ‘Summertime’ accompanied by the piano player,” Chelley says. “Then I joined in and my bass player captured the entire moment on video.” As guests relaxed on the terrace and in the gardens at sunset, the new Mr. & Mrs. Knight relished in their newly-wedded bliss, and started planning their Jamaican honeymoon this coming spring. They live in Newport.
DETAILS:
Bridal Gown: David’s Bridal, Dartmouth, MA
Suits: Men’s Wearhouse, Warwick
Rings & Flowers: Navy Exchange, Newport
Hair, Make-up & Nails: Ki-Ra Salon, Newport
Caterer: Clarke Cooke House & Blue Rocks Catering, Newport
Officiant: Peter Regan, J.O.P., Newport
Photographer: Peter Mellekas, Newport
Wedding Night Stay: 41°North, Newport
