Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
The ceremony
I stood on the beach, hesitating long enough to take it all in for a moment. I could see Tim standing in the arch waiting for me. I had been carrying a walkie talkie, Bart had the other one and was at the ready for me to give him the signal to start the music. We had chosen I'll Stand By You, by the Pretenders, as it had particular meaning to us. We had been through so much, and here we were, still together.I keyed the mic and said, Cue Music. Bart started the music, but, I think he thought I couldn't hear it, and came over the walkie talkie saying , Teri the music started. I nodded to him, but, waited until the point in the song that I had decided to begin the walk. Using the walkies made me want to say something like, the package is moving, or the eagle has landed.
As I started walking, Mirko was running all around getting pictures of me at all different angles. People on the beach that had been just sitting in the sun realized as I walked that they were watching a wedding taking place right in front of them. I'm sure as the arch was being set up they were anticipating a wedding, but, probably did not think for a minute the bride would walk right in front of them. They started clapping, cheering and shouting congratulations. Then they started standing up as I passed. It was so exciting, and so much fun. I wasn't really expecting to have so many people on the beach, I thought they'd all be heading out for dinner by 5 oclock, but, no, they were all over the beach still. Probably because it was such a gorgeous day. Even the fishermen were cheering as I passed. After a couple of whistles and cat calls I couldn't help it, I just started laughing. Such an amazing experience. I guess it was like, for just one day, we belonged to all of them, and they were guests at our wedding.
When I reached the arch Tim was beaming at me. I glanced over and saw Isable from CEA all dressed in a fancy frock with a big hat. Very British. How sweet of her to come.
Tim said his vows first, he chose some of the lyrics from Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes for his theme. He had spent days practicing what he was going to say, and recited it all from memory and even got down on one knee and put my new wedding ring on my finger. Then it was my turn. I am a bit more formal and decided to use a quote from one of our church leaders about love, and then read the vows I had been working on for months now. Then we kissed, of course. Strangely, we felt like we had just gotten married for the first time. As we exited the arch we saw the lady from the Chomak. She had missed most of the ceremony, and said she had planned to come right at 5 but she had gotten busy. When Nora walked into her store and said something about having just done the hair for a bride it jogged her memory and she dashed over as fast as she could. Again, so sweet that she would want to come. For an entire day we felt like we belonged to Akumal, like everyone there was family or friend.
Getting Ready
As we walked up the beach to HAC, we could see the
preparations for our ceremony going on,. Rocio was there, overseeing the
set up of the arch. The coral fabric I requested looked perfect, and it
was so surreal to see it all going on knowing it was for us.
The cabana next to Lol Ha was surrounded by yellow caution tape, and it was entirely covered with white draping, hiding whatever was inside from view. I wasn't sure that was for us, and figured it wasn't. We walked back to room 132 in the bungalows in back of the main hotel. Rocio arrived a few minutes later with Nora to do my hair and makeup. We sent Tim out to check on the sound system and to see if there was anything else that needed addressing. After he came back, he dressed for the ceremony, and we women sent him out so that I could get ready without him seeing the dress, which had been a carefully guarded secret for about six months now.
He went out to the beach to watch for the photographer from Blue Lens Caribe, to discuss what we wanted in the way of video and pictures. The night before we had walked the property and beach to decide how I was to walk, timed it to the music, and then decided on a path for me to take to get to the point further down the beach without being seen. We found a pathway that ran alongside the HAC pool, that had a hedgerow leading to Buddha Gardens Spa. Beyond the spa was a grove of palm and coconut trees. It was like a forest, and so beautiful. So, when Mirko from Blue Lens arrived, Tim walked him to the path, showed him how he wanted it recorded, and then brought him into meet with me.
All the activity was so much fun, and felt weird for me to be called the bride. Strangely enough, we both felt nervous, as if we were really getting married for the first time. You would think after 28 years together the excitement wouldn't be the same, but, in an odd way we were more excited and nervous than the first time. Our first wedding day was very different. It was Friday the 13th, so, that was bad for a start. We had planned to be married on the 14th, but, our plans fell through, and we were pushed to the 13th. We were so poor, I bought a $75 dress in the mall, and gave up on the dream dress I had always expected I would have when I got married. We had no photographer, he backed out at the last minute, teaches me never to hire family for an important occasion. Our wedding pictures consisted of some snapshots on an old instamatic camera, remember those? My flowers were silk, it was all I could afford, and the florist that made them did a poor job, nothing like what I had picked out of the catalog. Still, all in all, it was the best we could do, and in the end we were married either way. This time everything was what we wanted, the dress, the flowers, and a real photographer. Finally, we could have a formal portrait to hang on our wall.
Tim had gone down to the beach to wait for the ceremony to begin. Rocio came in with my bouquet and I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. This was really my bouquet. Then she and Nora helped me into my dress, complete with the lacing that took the longest to get just right. We were being called for, and I didn't even take a second to look in the mirror. Kind of wish I had, but, ah well, I determined long before that I would just let go and not fuss over things. My hair and makeup were in Nora's hands, and I trusted that she had done a good job of it. After all, Im 51 years old, what did I really expect? I was not going to look 24 again, so, I let it go.
As I came out the door the photographer, his assistant and the videographer were waiting. They immediately started taking pictures and video, and giving me instructions, turn this way, walk forward, it was so much fun.
We made our way to the hedgerow, and stopped a few times for poses. Tim was watching for me to appear at the spot on the beach that Mirko called the corner. There is a large log imbedded in the sand. We had timed the music to know where I should begin my walk to end when the music ends. Bart must have sensed how nervous he was, and said, don't worry, she'll show up. We love Bart. Then, as I walked through the palm grove, Tim spotted me. He said I looked like an angel floating through the trees. I kind of felt like that, too. As I approached the opening to the beach, Mirko asked where I was going to be stopping, and I said, right at that log where that group of people are sitting. He looked concerned about them being in the shot, and I said, don't worry, as soon as they see me coming, they'll move. I guess he didn't trust that, and just walked up to them, said something, and they collectively looked my way as I walked out of the grove. They stood up with a start and quickly moved out of the way. It was kind of funny.
The cabana next to Lol Ha was surrounded by yellow caution tape, and it was entirely covered with white draping, hiding whatever was inside from view. I wasn't sure that was for us, and figured it wasn't. We walked back to room 132 in the bungalows in back of the main hotel. Rocio arrived a few minutes later with Nora to do my hair and makeup. We sent Tim out to check on the sound system and to see if there was anything else that needed addressing. After he came back, he dressed for the ceremony, and we women sent him out so that I could get ready without him seeing the dress, which had been a carefully guarded secret for about six months now.
He went out to the beach to watch for the photographer from Blue Lens Caribe, to discuss what we wanted in the way of video and pictures. The night before we had walked the property and beach to decide how I was to walk, timed it to the music, and then decided on a path for me to take to get to the point further down the beach without being seen. We found a pathway that ran alongside the HAC pool, that had a hedgerow leading to Buddha Gardens Spa. Beyond the spa was a grove of palm and coconut trees. It was like a forest, and so beautiful. So, when Mirko from Blue Lens arrived, Tim walked him to the path, showed him how he wanted it recorded, and then brought him into meet with me.
All the activity was so much fun, and felt weird for me to be called the bride. Strangely enough, we both felt nervous, as if we were really getting married for the first time. You would think after 28 years together the excitement wouldn't be the same, but, in an odd way we were more excited and nervous than the first time. Our first wedding day was very different. It was Friday the 13th, so, that was bad for a start. We had planned to be married on the 14th, but, our plans fell through, and we were pushed to the 13th. We were so poor, I bought a $75 dress in the mall, and gave up on the dream dress I had always expected I would have when I got married. We had no photographer, he backed out at the last minute, teaches me never to hire family for an important occasion. Our wedding pictures consisted of some snapshots on an old instamatic camera, remember those? My flowers were silk, it was all I could afford, and the florist that made them did a poor job, nothing like what I had picked out of the catalog. Still, all in all, it was the best we could do, and in the end we were married either way. This time everything was what we wanted, the dress, the flowers, and a real photographer. Finally, we could have a formal portrait to hang on our wall.
Tim had gone down to the beach to wait for the ceremony to begin. Rocio came in with my bouquet and I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. This was really my bouquet. Then she and Nora helped me into my dress, complete with the lacing that took the longest to get just right. We were being called for, and I didn't even take a second to look in the mirror. Kind of wish I had, but, ah well, I determined long before that I would just let go and not fuss over things. My hair and makeup were in Nora's hands, and I trusted that she had done a good job of it. After all, Im 51 years old, what did I really expect? I was not going to look 24 again, so, I let it go.
As I came out the door the photographer, his assistant and the videographer were waiting. They immediately started taking pictures and video, and giving me instructions, turn this way, walk forward, it was so much fun.
We made our way to the hedgerow, and stopped a few times for poses. Tim was watching for me to appear at the spot on the beach that Mirko called the corner. There is a large log imbedded in the sand. We had timed the music to know where I should begin my walk to end when the music ends. Bart must have sensed how nervous he was, and said, don't worry, she'll show up. We love Bart. Then, as I walked through the palm grove, Tim spotted me. He said I looked like an angel floating through the trees. I kind of felt like that, too. As I approached the opening to the beach, Mirko asked where I was going to be stopping, and I said, right at that log where that group of people are sitting. He looked concerned about them being in the shot, and I said, don't worry, as soon as they see me coming, they'll move. I guess he didn't trust that, and just walked up to them, said something, and they collectively looked my way as I walked out of the grove. They stood up with a start and quickly moved out of the way. It was kind of funny.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Our wedding night dinner
After we said goodbye to our photographer, Mirko, and gathered my veil and what was left of my bouquet, we headed back to our room at HAC to shower off as much of the sand and salt water as we could and change into our dinner clothes. That was no small feat, but, we managed to get most of the sand off the dress. We also rinsed what we could out of my gown, but, it had so many little pieces of seaweed, twigs, and pieces of shells, there was no way it was all coming out right then. I was just glad no little sea critters came dashing out as we rinsed it.
I put on the sari I had gotten for our wedding night. It really wasn't a traditional color, as Indian wedding saris are usually bright colors, like red. I chose an ivory color sari with gold, and red trim with sparkling details.
As we walked back to the beach, the sun was setting, and the moon was beginning to peek out. The Lol Ha restaurant crew had set up a cabana for us, raised up off the beach and draped with white fabric. It opened at the front. As we approached, there was a waiter standing by to escort us. He gave his name but said in English it means Seven Eleven.
When he led us around to the front, we were so impressed. There were tiki torches lit, and torches in the sand, on either side of a bamboo runner leading to the steps into the cabana. The table was laid with white linen, flowers, candles, and gorgeous table settings.
We kind of felt like royalty having our own private cabana and a private waiter. the manager, Victor, came out to greet us, which just added to that feeling of being VIP's. We're very much not used to special treatment, but, it was so fun, we could really get used to this.
Our cake was displayed on the table next to us, with the flowers from the arch hanging on the wall, and arranged on both tables. Everything was perfect.
The view from inside the cabana was beautiful. The boats on the water, the moon coming up, shining so brightly it sparkled on the water even before it was very dark out. Now and then people would walk past, notice us up there, stop, and take a picture. At first I thought the flashes were lightning, but, no, we were just a spectacle again.
As the sun went down, and it was really dark, the moon was dazzling. For a night that was predicted to be stormy or at least cloudy, it was full of stars, and the moon not even full, lit up the water and the beach as if it were. The torches and candles just added that magical touch.
The menu has completely changed at Lol Ha, due to a new Chef who revamped everything. Apparently the menu hadn't changed for ten years. We ordered the Shrimp Diablo, oooo so good. Want to go back for that next trip. Tim had fish, I had scallops, also very good. For dessert we opted for coconut ice cream to go with our red velvet wedding cake. While we waited for the ice cream to arrive, Rocio stopped in to check on us, drop off a couple things she was hanging onto for us, and say congratulations. She's so sweet. Just love her.
Then it was time to cut the cake.
I put on the sari I had gotten for our wedding night. It really wasn't a traditional color, as Indian wedding saris are usually bright colors, like red. I chose an ivory color sari with gold, and red trim with sparkling details.
As we walked back to the beach, the sun was setting, and the moon was beginning to peek out. The Lol Ha restaurant crew had set up a cabana for us, raised up off the beach and draped with white fabric. It opened at the front. As we approached, there was a waiter standing by to escort us. He gave his name but said in English it means Seven Eleven.
When he led us around to the front, we were so impressed. There were tiki torches lit, and torches in the sand, on either side of a bamboo runner leading to the steps into the cabana. The table was laid with white linen, flowers, candles, and gorgeous table settings.
We kind of felt like royalty having our own private cabana and a private waiter. the manager, Victor, came out to greet us, which just added to that feeling of being VIP's. We're very much not used to special treatment, but, it was so fun, we could really get used to this.
Our cake was displayed on the table next to us, with the flowers from the arch hanging on the wall, and arranged on both tables. Everything was perfect.
The view from inside the cabana was beautiful. The boats on the water, the moon coming up, shining so brightly it sparkled on the water even before it was very dark out. Now and then people would walk past, notice us up there, stop, and take a picture. At first I thought the flashes were lightning, but, no, we were just a spectacle again.
As the sun went down, and it was really dark, the moon was dazzling. For a night that was predicted to be stormy or at least cloudy, it was full of stars, and the moon not even full, lit up the water and the beach as if it were. The torches and candles just added that magical touch.The menu has completely changed at Lol Ha, due to a new Chef who revamped everything. Apparently the menu hadn't changed for ten years. We ordered the Shrimp Diablo, oooo so good. Want to go back for that next trip. Tim had fish, I had scallops, also very good. For dessert we opted for coconut ice cream to go with our red velvet wedding cake. While we waited for the ice cream to arrive, Rocio stopped in to check on us, drop off a couple things she was hanging onto for us, and say congratulations. She's so sweet. Just love her.
Then it was time to cut the cake.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
pictures
Tim and I were captured on the Locogringo Webcam the day before the wedding. That's us over by the water. We had just been to the silver shop in town shopping for the earrings and bracelet I will wear in the ceremony.
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