Wedding Day: Friday, May 27, 2005

MFP and I arose at 5:45 a.m. and went to breakfast. I had a hair appointment at 8:00. After brushing my teeth and washing my hair, I went to the beauty parlor in the resort and the same woman who did my nails blow-dried my hair and put it up in a very pretty way (wish I could upload a pic). She then did my makeup. While she was doing this, my parents arrived from their other Sandals resort where they were staying, and visited with me shortly (Oh! Who is that blushing bride!" my mother said).

The beautician fitted my veil on my head and I went back to the room, where MFP was in his dress shirt, tie, and pants. I know it's bad luck, supposedly, for the bride to see the groom before the wedding, but I'm not superstitious. He exited and went to the wedding office. My mother helped me into my dress and I put on my "special" earrings, which I wear a lot to church anyway but are my favorites (little drop-down mother of pearl things, 3 on each earring) and a special necklace which was a pearl on a gold chain. I talked with my mother while we waited for a wedding coordinator to come get me. I thought briefly of a touching commercial I once saw for Nabisco Cream of Wheat which featured a woman on her wedding day. I shoved it out of my head so that I would not cry. I was not nervous at all.

The wedding coordinator finally came and gave me my white-orchid-and-green-ivy bouquet and my mother and I followed her to the ceremony site, the beach. My father was at his position, and on cue he took my arm and we walked to the tune of Canon in D to the flowered arch where the Jamaican minister, whom I had not a chance to meet before, and MFP were waiting. MFP was wearing a boutonniere which matched my bouquet. The minister began the ceremony, which was Christian (excellent) despite not being in a church. He quoted from the Bible several times. MFP had been planning to write our own vows, but this turned out not to be necessary, since all we had to do was respond "I do."

I thought that my mother would cry, but she was busy running around taking pictures. The rings were exchanged and MFP and I were pronounced man and wife. The ceremony took about 15 minutes, and then we followed the wedding coordinator to the reception area, the Rialto. A table was set up for the two of us and my parents. MFP and I performed our first dance to...(drum roll please)

"Amazed" by Lonestar.

We took in a nice strawberry cheesecake, a glass of champagne each, and some hors d'oevres. Unfortunately, by this time I was feeling sick. The heat plus cheesecake plus champagne was not a good combination. I was ready to pass out during the toast. After the mini-reception we posed for a photo shoot, during which I heard an ominous sound coming from my dress. It sounded like RRRRRIP! but I didn't see anything.

We went back to the room, where I almost passed out. My mom helped me out of the dress and MFP and I took a nap. Around noon we went to lunch, then changed and spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach, going in the water and swimming and, uh, going to third base in the water, and laying out on the beach. MFP was in a much better mood. :)

In the evening, we showered and changed and went to the Internationale restaurant at the resort, where my parents were waiting. We had dinner with them and the conversation between MFP and them was really natural and flowing, which made me very happy. After dinner, we said goodbye to my parents and went back to the room and...use your imagination.

All in all, a wonderful wedding day. The only thing I would have changed about the wedding would be to have all of my friends and family on the beach witnessing it.