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Published: January 4th 2009
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A little piece of Heaven
Married at sunset overlooking the ocean, in Grand Cayman...love the Groom too :-) March 8, 2008 Grand Old House, Georgetown Grand Cayman. After many months of planning and preparing we had the most beautiful wedding I could have ever dreamed of. Our closest friends and family were able to be there with us making it perfect.
My day started out in a room at the Westin sleeping next to Kel, Liz and Sara. Larry had stayed out for his bachelor party the night before and was of course sleeping alone at a different hotel. My first stop of the morning was to Mom and Dad's villa at The Villas of the Galleon. Kristi, Jake, Mom, Dad and I went for a stroll on the beach before the craziness began. And though it left my hands a little swollen from the heat (to the dismay of the gal who did my manicure) it was nice to start the day out with them.
Larry can't remember what he did before he had to get ready, but if I remember correctly I think he hung out with various friends and family at Villas of the Galleon.
My hour at the Westin Spa freshening up my fingers and toes had me in an even better
frame of mind. The girls joined me shortly after to start the primping process. Somewhere in there my wedding coordinator called with a minor crisis about the legality of the marriage saying that since Larry and I both had the last name George (I had legally changed my name through the Clackamas County Courts before leaving home so that my passport would read Jessica George for the trip) how could we not be married and oh, maybe they wouldn't be able to perform the ceremony!? She tells me three hours before the wedding!? Someone almost died right then and it wasn't going to be me...
Needless to say we were getting married regardless of their little issue and thankfully they agreed.
Anyway, the primping went on as scheduled. A stylist came to the room to do my hair which was lovely and far less stressful than me either trying to do it myself or traveling to get it done in the heat. Before I knew it the photographer was there to take pictures of the girls and I getting ready and then we headed downstairs for the "big reveal."
I know the bride and groom aren't supposed
to see eachother before you walk down the aisle, but that just didn't work for us. There were too many groups to take pictures with and rounding everyone up after the ceremony wasn't going to happen. So we fabricated our "first look" in a breezeway at the Westin. It was worth it. Far more private with just Larry, me and the photographer before we drove to Dart Park to join the rest of party.
Holy Cow it was hot!! We'd enjoyed mild weather earlier in the week, but Saturday was hot and still. We'd find out later that it was really the calm before the storm.
Everyone was a good sport thankfully and smiled very pretty in all of our beautiful pictures. I think I was probably the most frazzled. One of the problems with doing the wedding in Grand Cayman is you really don't know the vendors (photographer and coordinator) before you get there. Needless to say they didn't know our family and friends or what pictures we'd want. SO - I had to go a little Bridezilla on everyone barking out orders for the next group to be pictured. Sorry everyone - it had to be
done.
From the park we drove next door to the Grand Old House. The Grand Old House used to be a working plantation on the island established in 1908. I don't know when it was turned into a restaurant, but they are a landmark on the island to tourists and locals alike. The white wood, gazebo and palms really made you feel like you were in the Caribbean. The ceremony was set up on the deck which is built on the rocks at the waters edge. From the deck you can look straight down into the water. I'm biased, but it was a truly beautiful place.
Those friends and family not in the bridal party were seated while a violinist played a variety of classical tunes. Larry, Rob, our parents and grandparents then the bridal party all marched down the aisle to Pachelbels Canon in D. Then it was my turn. Dad led me down the aisle past our friends and family to an awaiting Larry.
(On a sidenote I was proud of both me and Dad for keeping it together. I mean seriously we'd both been expecting a breadown at this moment since 'Father of the
Bride' came out when I was eight years old and tears starting rolling in the movie theatre. Thanks Sis, for getting married first and showing us how its done :-))
Though Larry and I had read our vows before the ceremony they took on a new meaning as we stood there in front of friends and family.
"I Larry/Jessica take you Jessica/Larry from this day forward as my wife/husband, partner and best friend. I promise to take you to my heart - as you are and as you will be. I promise to walk by your side forever. To grow together with you and to be more in love with you than I am today. I promise to support your dreams and to be there for you for the rest of my life."
It still makes me tear up.
Whew. Anyway, rings were exchanged, I do's said, marriage certificate signed, first kiss as husband and wife and then were headed back down the aisle. We were able to steal a moment inside the air conditioned wine room inside the GOH before driving to a beach just down the road for our couples pictures.
The storm
mentioned earlier was still building over the ocean which made for a perfect sunset. Truly beautiful clouds and colors. We were right down the street from the GOH so we could hear our steel pan drummers entertaining the guests during the cocktail hour. It was a perfect time to enjoy the moment with eachother, but still be excited about the party waiting for us.
Dinner began not long after our return where we were treated to a fabulous meal. Thanks Dad! Great food, good wine, perfect company and the tent we were partying under was transformed... The flowers were unbelievable, and everything from the tablecloths to the ceiling lights, table favors to the wedding cake were exactly as I wanted them. You've got to love it when a plan comes together!!
Kristi and Rob gave two heartfelt beautiful toasts, followed by another great speech from Dad. Tim, Liz, Kel and Sara all got up to say a few words too. Larry and I danced our first song to "You" by Rascal Flatts, Dad and I danced to "I loved her first" by Heartland and Larry and Kathy danced to "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong.
We
danced it all. A little salsa, a little electric slide and a little of everything else. That is until the storm arrived. It didn't come in showers of wind or rain. The waves just started getting bigger and bigger. So big that they started spalshing up to the railing of the deck. Then splashing over the rail onto the deck. Pretty soon we were getting flooded.
Oh we kept the party going for a while moving the dance floor from the deck to the gazebo, but that was short lived. When the GOH staff started frantically ripping the railings off the deck in an effort to save them from the increasing waves we knew it was time to go. Not to mention that the electrical wires were on the ground...in the water...where we were dancing...time to go!
It worked out perfectly. We got to enjoy the party, the beautiful sunset and the warm evening and then a memorable finale. The next day we went back to GOH to check out the damage and it was bad. I'm so grateful that the storm happened when it did. If it had come a day earlier we would have had no
deck to stand on. If it had happened a few hours earlier we wouldn't have had a venue where we could be married!
I couldn't imagine a more beautiful wedding to fit both me and Larry. Since its only going to happen once I'm thrilled that our wedding day was so absolutely perfect.
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