Something Old and Something New

It's now November 13th, and I've been married for 22 days. Every day since we've said our vows I think about that moment I said "I do", staring into my husbands eyes. Well, it was more like squinting into his eyes because the hot Mexican sun was staring into mine. I didn't think I'd be so emotional that day, the moment my father walked into my bridal room the tears began to well up behind my perfectly manicured eye lids.

I arrived in Puerto Morelos, Mexico 2 days before the wedding. My fiance was supposed to have arrived with me, but had to push his flight back a day due to training for work. So the night before our departure I packed two large suitcases for us both and had everything ready to go by 3am. My ride was coming at 5 to take me to the airport, so with only an hour nap I tied up all my loose ends and spent some time with my dogs before saying farewell. Maneuvering through the airport with the luggage and my dress was quite comical, and even more so seeing the airport staff watching me struggle without offering to help. By 7am I was in the air and headed for my wedding destination.

Along my travels I met another bride. We recognized each other by our wedding dresses we carried around with us like trophies. With no one to share my excitement with, a dead cell phone, and the nervousness of traveling alone, I welcomed her attention and asked all the questions a bride would want to be asked. Once we arrived in Cancun, I lost my bride friend in the airport and was once again alone. A nice couple helped me with my bags through customs, though we split ways once my bags had to be searched.

Finally outside and in the warm sun, I was pleasantly greeted by my driver taking me to the hotel. Within 30 minutes I arrived at Azul beach hotel, which I quickly labeled as paradise.

I arrived at 1pm and had 2 hours before my room was ready. The staff at Azul Beach was incredible. They were sweet, helpful, and treated me like a queen. I was escorted to lunch on the main restaurants terrace. The calm breeze coming off the water, the mild 82 degree temperature, the gourmet cuisine and the bottomless champagne calmed me and assured me I was in fact in paradise. It was more prefect than I could have ever imagined. I filled the rest of my day with assembling my guests welcome bags, making bracelets with the activities staff, sipping on tropical cocktails, and spending time with 2 friends who arrived just hours after me and a day earlier than the rest of the guests. The day was long and perfect.

The next morning I awoke anxious for my friends, family, and groom to arrive. My 2 hour workout session in the hotel's gym was followed by yoga on the pier. By that time it was only noon and I had butterflies in my stomach. I can't remember the last time I was so excited. Around 2pm our 15 remaining guests began trickling in by the van-full, and I was all smiles for the remainder of the day. We shared hugs, kisses, and stories by the pool. And at 8pm we attended our "Welcome Cocktail Hour" at the Agavero Tequila Lounge. Our cocktail "hour" ended around 2am with my soon-to-be husband retiring in his Best Man's room, and my sisters joining me in mine. Although many things about our wedding were going to be nontraditional, this tradition we kept, and it made our parents happy.

With a group of 19, breakfast the following morning lasted about 2 hours with a handful showing up and exiting at any given time. We were all on vacation and no one had a schedule. Our goal was for this trip to be relaxing and special, with no pressure or obligations. The only thing everyone needed to be on time for was later that day, at 4pm on the beach.

I was surprisingly calm the entire day before the wedding. Even with the small issues that every bride faces, I laughed it off, put a smile on my face and thought about the end result of the day. I reveled in each and every moment of getting ready with my mother, sisters, and best friend.

At 3:30 we were putting the final touches on wedding day attire. I wore my grandmothers diamond earrings (borrowed), my mothers blue topaz bracelet (blue) and my great grandmothers hair pin (old) with my gorgeous strapless Nicole Miller dress (new). The next knock on the door was my father, which is when the emotions started to hit me like a ton of bricks.

Here stood my father, grinning from ear to ear in excitement. When he told me I looked beautiful I almost started to cry, but quickly stopped myself in order to keep my make-up in tact. He was always the man I most admired, the most important man in my life. I respected him, adored him, took his advice, and looked to him for comfort. He was about to give me away to a new man. And although I knew our relationship wouldn't change, and both men would be important in equal, yet separate ways, I couldn't help but get emotional. It was really happening. The day I'd been planning for a year and a half was finally here. And spending those few moments with my dad before walking down the aisle made it more real to me.

And so we walked. After my two sisters were escorted down the aisle by our Best Man, my father walked with me. It felt like a long walk. Down the wooden aisle runner covered in rose petals, through the white covered chairs with green sheers filled with people I love, past my fiance's younger brother playing an acoustic guitar, toward the man I was planning to spend my life with. He kissed me before handing me off . I turned to my older sister and best friend, handing her my tropical bouquet, then turned back to look my fiance in the eyes for the last time before he became my husband.

Nothing about getting married made me nervous. I was already fully committed to spending the rest of my life with this man, my best friend, lover and soul mate. I'd dreamed about this day for years, but never anticipated the amount of joy I would feel. As we looked at each other I smiled uncontrollably because I knew this was the best decision I had ever made.

We held hands, exchanged vows, and made sincere promises to each other. To honor and obey, through sickness and health, for better or for worse, until death do us part. We participated in a sand ceremony. We each had a jar with sand, mine blue, his tan, symbolizing our old separate lives. We combined our sand in a new jar, leaving behind our old lives and starting a new life together while Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" played in the back ground. We exchanged rings, said a prayer with the minister, and kissed as husband and wife. The backdrop of the sea, the small yet familiar crowd looking on, and the gorgeous Mexican afternoon will live forever in my memory. We toasted champagne right there on the beach, Bob Marley in the back ground:

I wanna love you and treat you right; I wanna love you every day and every night:We'll be together with a roof right over our heads; We'll share the shelter of my single bed; We'll share the same room, yeah! - for Jah provide the bread. Is this love - is this love - is this love - Is this love that I'm feelin'? Is this love - is this love - is this love -Is this love that I'm feelin'?

The day was incredible. Photos, a dinner reception, delicious vanilla wedding cake and pure love filled our evening. I was able to squeeze in a much needed hour nap between dinner and our party at the outside bar. All the the excitement of the day exhausted me, but I didn't want it to end. I napped in my wedding gown without disrupting my hair or makeup.

We spent 4 days with family and friends at Azul Beach Hotel. Those days were filled with love and support, celebration and relaxation. I wouldn't have changed anything about our wedding experience and feel truly blessed for having been able to share it with those who attended. Although not everyone dear to us was able to make it, we skyped the ceremony so loved ones back in the states could share in our special day.

Our wedding was perfect.