Wedding Blog

I just got back from a 5 day trip to Puerto Rico and I have to say that I’m soooo sad to be back. To be honest, although I was excited about the trip, I felt stressed because I didn’t think I should be going on a trip like this when there was so much to be done in terms of wedding planning. But there was no turning back because Mr. Martini and I booked this trip with 15 friends many months ago - way back before we were even engaged. At the time, he was working on finding the ring, while clueless me was just excited to be going away to PR with such a large group of friends. After we got engaged, I started having second thoughts about the spending money we would be forced to spend on the trip, when we could be spending it on much needed vendors and invitations.

Now that I’m back, I can’t help thinking that this trip was probably one of the best things I’ve done all year. I needed the break, and it was the longest vacation I ever took, the first vacation outside the States with friends, and the most fun I’ve ever had in probably my entire life.

When I went to Jamaica last year, it was the first time I’d ever been to a beach that didn’t belong to the coast of NJ. And if you know NJ, you know that our beaches are ghetto. The fried oreos and funnel cake try its best to make up for it, but it’s hard to get too excited about the Jersey Shore. I fell in love with Jamaica and at one point considered a romantic and casual destination wedding. If I could have my way, I would love to renew my vows one day to Mr. Martini on a gorgeous Caribbean beach at sunset.

In Puerto Rico, we stayed at the Rio Mar Beach Wyndham Resort, which is about 45 minutes from San Juan. The resort boasts a golf course, a beach just a few steps from your hotel room, a casino, and an awesome pool. We spent a LOT of time in this pool.

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These are a couple of pictures that I took of the resort. Could it be that they were setting up tables for a wedding???

Among some of the activities, the whole group went ATV riding in the rain forest.

During the two hour ATV tour, we stopped at a river to rest and swim. It was a great opportunity to wash off all the mud from speeding into the puddles on the way up.

Our tour guide used these pieces of clay to paint our faces and arms

The absolute highlight of our trip? Culebra Island. If you ever decide to visit PR, whether it be for a bachelorette party or a honeymoon, I highly, highly recommend at LEAST day trip to Culebra Island. Culebra Island is absolutely breathtaking and is totally worth the trip. I wish I had a few days there instead of just the one day we had to visit it. It was a little hard to get to because of the hour and a half ferry ride that forced me to take dramamine for the very first time, but it was sooooooo worth it. Culebra is known as one of the most beautiful beaches, and I have to admit that after spending a day there, the beaches of our resort just didn’t cut it anymore. The crystal clear waters of Culebra really spoiled me.

Unfortunately, this picture does not do the island justice….

And be sure to bring an underwater camera case so that you can take pictures like these:

snorkling in Culabra

Jumping in the water

Back at the resort the next day, already missing Culebra. But it was the first time in my life I’d ever seen a full rainbow.

Trying to take a picture before the waves pummeled us.

I was shocked to see stray cats sitting under my rented beach chair!

Speaking of stray animals, the funniest thing was that there were dogs everywhere. They were so chill, just laying around in the middle of the street, under cars, and walking around on the sidewalks without a care in the world.

Sigh. I’m back to reality now, and refreshed and ready to tackle the last three months of wedding planning. Have you ever taken a vacation from wedding planning?