Wedding Blog
Once at the airport, we almost immediately ran into the other Vancouverites on our flight to Punta Cana—Mr Breezy’s sister and her husband and kids, and two couples who were friends of Mr Breezy’s parents. We had sixty confirmed guests for our destination wedding in the Dominican Republic but everyone else (except MIL & FIL who left earlier) was flying out of other cities—Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, New York, Miami and Hong Kong, to be exact.
The airport thing went off without a hitch and we were soon en route. Or sort of.
It’s at this point that I have to make a confession. I’m not gonna lie: in my daydream state, I sometimes thought about what it was going to be like to be in the airport and getting on the plane carrying this big ol’ white bag which so obviously carried a wedding dress. I had been anticipating the moment for a year, and with my over-active imagination, of course I was going to dream about it.
I pictured walking through the airport all grinning and glowy-like, catching glimpses out of the corner of my eye of people smiling fondly and maybe even a bit wistfully at us, the Bride and Groom (yes, that’s Bride with a capital B). Some elderly couples would touch our arms and say, “Oh congratulations, you lovely young couple,” and maybe some funny family would pose for a photo. People would ask us when the wedding day was and wish us all the best.
Yeah. Well. It was a dream, all right.
What actually happened was a big pile of nothing. We didn’t get any special attention from the airline employees who checked us in or scanned our boarding passes or showed us our seats, let alone other passengers. In FACT, I don’t know if I’m paranoid or what, but I could swear I felt someone smirk. Okay fine. More than once.
I realize a lot of people don’t understand what a destination wedding is all about. I sort of was half-aware of the fact that some people consider it on a different ‘level’ from a standard wedding, though I don’t really know why. Just because it’s in a non-conventional setting (in our case, a beachy one) doesn’t make it any less meaningful or special or real. But I truly wasn’t prepared for how non-brideish I felt getting on that plane.
The low point was when I was trying to figure out where to put my wedding dress. The flight attendant sort of saw me considering the overhead bin but didn’t make any move to help. I finally went over and asked him if by chance there was a closet to hang it up in. At which, he sorta shrugged and said, “Not really, sorry,” and turned away.
Luckily, I was with Mr Breezy who can make almost any situation into a party. Not to mention the fact I had soooo many fun-loving friends and family that would be joining us on the other end of that flight who would shower us with the love and excitement I was so looking forward to. I mean, you only get married once, right? You want every moment to count.
Before long (well, actually, about 7 hours, but who’s counting?) we looked out the window and saw palm trees and waters so blue they put sapphires to shame. The wheels touched down and our adventure officially began.
Photo by me
Were you also looking forward to the Bride treatment? Are there any DW brides out there who can relate (or not, hopefully?) to my woeful non-bridey airport experience?
Previously:
DW in the DR: Pack It Up, Pack It In
Note: Sorry these first two posts are so boring since they have no photos; I honestly don’t know where my brain was. I usually take oodles of photos of the dumbest things - how could I not have documented our last minute preparations or the journey to our wedding destination?! I chalk it up to stress and nerves.
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Share this post: DW in the DR: Airport Confessions
Yes, and got none! We were married in England, and I bought a huge case at Macy’s and folded up my dress and checked it! I know they say dont do that and the people at Marc Ingrahm would have had a heart attack, but it was fine and I would reccomend it.
My friend had a destination wedding in Mexico last year, and she and her fiance got upgraded to first class for free on both flights down there, dress and all. She said the airline staff were so sweet to her too.
I don’t have that kind of luck, so I’m expecting lots of eye rolling instead! Oh well. Just like you, once I can see the ocean from the plane window, it won’t matter anymore 
We had our reception in a private ballroom at a restaurant. On our way to the room, some of the diners just stared, and the rest ignored us completely. Not really the welcoming I’d been expecting! And afterward, my husband and I walked down the block to our hotel, and again people on the street just stared but didn’t smile or anything. And once at the hotel, I thought maybe they’d give us some complimentary champagne and strawberries or something — anything — robes??? — but we got nothing except a bill. Sheesh, pardon me! :p
No one really cares about other peoples weddings. Sounds harsh, but it’s the truth.
Airlines are very open that they will allow you to carry your dress on, but they generally do not have an area to store it. This was your responsibility to confirm, not the attendant to deal with.
I’m sorry that you created an unrealistic dream for yourself and you felt let down, this has nothing to do with a destination wedding, or other peoples reaction.
We just got back from my sister’s Maui DW, and I can tell you, the airline sure didn’t give them B&G treatment! So many connector flights to theirs were cancelled due to bad winter weather (including theirs) that when they made it to the final leg of the trip, in the nick of time, the attendants told them that to make up for all the cancellations, the airline had overbooked the final flight to Maui, and my sister and her fiance no longer had confirmed seats on their flight! Despite pleading and sobbing in front of all the awaiting passengers, no one gave up their seats until the very last second. They actually watched everyone board the plane, and thankfully some passengers had a change of heart and de-planed, giving up their seats for my sister and her fiance to get on. To an airline, though, you really are just another passenger, unfourtunately 
It sucks, but people smirk about all weddings, all the time. The single ones either think “haha, your life is over” or are jealous. Heck, some of the married ones also think “haha, your life is over,” but all in all, everyone but family and friends is indifferent or worse toward weddings (and why not! I admit I’ve been guilty of an eye-roll or two before becoming engaged). That signature Bride Treatment comes mainly from those who are getting money out of weddings. Like when I worked at a hotel, you better believe I was all smiles and congratulations then!
Your dream has me cracking up!! I would so picture the same thing. And frankly, when I’ve been on flights with brides lugging their gowns over the arm…I’ve stopped to say “Congrats! Have fun!”. Hmm…
Also, I hear ya on DW’s being viewed as less “important” or “serious” than at home weddings. It is frustrating!
@West Coast bride: Thank goodness someone offered up their seats! How nice of them
I had a DW in Austin, TX. Mostly we got odd looks from other passengers, b/c I didn’t want to drape the dress over an arm, and FI couldn’t carry it b/c he could hold his arm up like that (medical issue, long story). So I had to carry it with my arm fully extended, practically walking on my tip-toes to ensure it wouldn’t touch the ground. So people were just looking at me like “Why isn’t her fiance carrying that dress?”
On the plane, they should have allowed you to put it in the first-class closet. It’s super small, but better than the overhead.
We got some B&G attention. Not in the form of upgrades or w/e, but walking a couple of blocks down the street post-reception, a group of people did make a few comments (one guys said “marry me instead!”) But they were drunk, so I’m not sure that counts. 
That view is phenomenal! And your post is hilarious. Incidentally, don’t you hate it when people say “I’m sorry that . . .” only to follow it with a snarky comment?
@West Coast bride: I’m so glad it worked out in the end, but sheesh where are people’s sense of romance and chivalry?
@june: That’s exactly what I think is a bit sad - so many people have forgotten how to be kind. You don’t have to ‘care’ about someone’s wedding to care about the person.
You’re right, it was my responsibility to check with the airline as to storage options for the dress, which I so responsibly did. I was informed there wasn’t storage, but then watched as another bride’s dress got put in the closet which supposedly didn’t exist.
@West Coast bride: Wow, now THAT would be a disaster!
im curious, how was your experience with the airport in Punta Cana? we went on our honeymoon there and found the experience arriving to be MUCH more satisfying then our departure. we ended up running on the tarmac to catch our plane!
Thanks for posting this. I am also a DW bride (Riviera Maya) and it helps to know what to expect. I am really glad it didn’t ruin whole time. So glad your FI kept you smiling.
I had to fly from Calgary to Ottawa for our “mini-destination” wedding … what a shmaz. I made sure to book a window seat in case I wasn’t able to put my dress in the overhead bin and needed to hold it the entire flight.
I didn’t get any “special” treatment or comments from the airline staff, but a ton of people on my flight were very sweet. The people in my seating row, a woman in front of us AND a flight attendant all helped to put my dress in the overhead bin. One woman yelled at the men to lay it FLAT, not FOLDED - and she even stood on her seat to make sure it was perfect. How nice!!
We got a ton of positive attention on our wedding day (when we were dressed) from strangers when we were taking photos, diners at the restaurant even other drivers. I was actually shocked by how excited everyone was, since I’d never think to honk and yell “congratulations!!” at strangers. It was hillarious when we left, because there were so many (drunk) people on the street that they all crowded around and were cheering. Our “getaway” photos all have random people in the background. lol.
But I’m not surprised that the airport wasn’t too cheery. Pretty much everyone is scowling at the airport. …hopefully the party started when you landed!
Out of curiosity - did you have to pay extra to bring your dress on the plane?
@thenewMrsT: There wasn’t much of anything that happened at the Punta Cana airport - we landed, got our bags, found our tour operator booth and got on the shuttle bus to the resort.
@Linzerella: Aw that was so nice of her! Did you fly Westjet?
@Erin: No, I didn’t pay extra to bring the dress on the plane, it counted as one of my carry-ons.
yay! i’m glad to see your recaps! can’t wait to read all about it.
The ppl at the airport were pretty good about my wedding dress. I don’t know about yours but mine was a huge fluffy gown that overwhelmed as I carried it. I felt like I was carrying a huge down comforter the whole time. The guy at security was super nice and told me how to hook it on the container so it wouldn’t get smushed in the machine and then the lady behind even helped me lay it out. And then one of the guys after you walked through the machine said where you getting married at? and I said Negril and he was like “damn! your husbands a baller!” hahaha.
I was one of the paranoid brides and asked about the storage closet as I checked in and then at the gate. I was able to put it in the first class closet for the first flight but for the second flight it was too packed so I had to overhead it but luckily everyone was nice enough to give me my own to put it in. I had these two women in front of me who was like “don’t worry we won’t let anybody put anything in there.”
but really no particular special treatment. I wished for the upgrade but with the airlines these days, your lucky to even get a seat so I knew there was no chance of that happening.
I probably would have dreamed the same thing and I don’t know if I’m just a weird nice person but I totally would have congratulated a couple walking through the airport like yourself and that is not just b/c I’m engaged and would want someone to do the same for me.
I’m glad you had friends on the flight that makes longer flights a lot more fun
I’m sorry that the airline didn’t make you feel brideish.. Those people honestly could care less about who is flying on their plane. Hopefully when you got to the resort, you felt a lot differently. We actually had our honeymoon in Punta Cana (@ the Excellence). How did you like that airport?? I thought it was pretty interesting…… If you write about this in your next post, please tell me if the ride from the airport was as horrifying as ours. We thought we were not going to make it to our hotel in one piece!!
haha I don’t think that daydream was silly at all.
If it was me, I think I would have imagined a personal escort (no, let’s make that a 5 piece motorcade) on one of the airport golf carts and 3 seats on the plane to lay the dress across (first class, of course!).
Mrs. Sea Breeze, I am literally cracking up as I read this. Because though I hadn’t realized it, this is the sort of vague (and yes, perhaps a little silly) expectation I would probably have if it weren’t for your candid and insightful post pointing it out. To be honest, I probably will still expect a little smile, a wink, or a shout-out on my wedding day. You know why? Because it’s a happy occasion, and in my book, people like to celebrate happiness. I know whenever I see a bride in action, I like to give her a little “you go, girl” nudge (figuratively). Perhaps it’s not so weird to think others might feel the same. I’m not a goody two-shoes; lots of people would think the opposite of me. I just think it’s nice to be nice if you can be. Isn’t life just easier for everyone that way?
Just remembered: When we got engaged, we asked a couple to take our photograph. “We just got engaged!” I said. Their response was something akin to “mmmppfff.” It didn’t ruin my day or anything (how could it have!), but I’ll always remember their grinchiness. Why you gotta play dat way?
@Miss HC: My two cents? I don’t think your comment makes you passive-aggressive! Thanks for being diplomatic while supporting Miss Sea Breeze’s self-effacing honesty.
I can’t believe they didn’t let you hang your dress! I had the same idea of a lovely, glowing faced bride with my dress in the airport. Nope. In fact, the security guard told me not to even get married or change my name. She pretty much made me feel like shit. I swear, the next time I see a bride in the airport I will smile and say congrats!!
I’m sorry to hear that! I was afraid to fly with my dress to our out-of-state wedding because I wasn’t sure if they would let me hang it - we also received no special treatment at the airport for our hmoon as well - I hope things turned out better for the rest of the trip! People did smile when we walked through downtown to get to our reception venue. It was a little embarrassing but nice to feel special for a day!
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[...] in the DR: Pack It Up, Pack It In DW in the DR: Airport Confessions DW in the DR: Bienvenidos a Punta Cana DW in the DR: The Guest List Is In the Bag DW in the DR: The [...]
[...] in the DR: Pack It Up, Pack It In DW in the DR: Airport Confessions DW in the DR: Bienvenidos a Punta Cana DW in the DR: The Guest List Is In the Bag DW in the DR: The [...]
[...] in the DR: Pack It Up, Pack It In DW in the DR: Airport Confessions DW in the DR: Bienvenidos a Punta Cana DW in the DR: The Guest List Is In the Bag DW in the DR: The [...]
[...] in the DR: Pack It Up, Pack It In DW in the DR: Airport Confessions DW in the DR: Bienvenidos a Punta Cana DW in the DR: The Guest List Is In the Bag DW in the DR: The [...]
[...] in the DR: Pack It Up, Pack It In DW in the DR: Airport Confessions DW in the DR: Bienvenidos a Punta Cana DW in the DR: The Guest List Is In the Bag DW in the DR: The [...]
[...] in the DR: Pack It Up, Pack It In DW in the DR: Airport Confessions DW in the DR: Bienvenidos a Punta Cana DW in the DR: The Guest List Is In the Bag DW in the DR: The [...]
[...] in the DR: Pack It Up, Pack It In DW in the DR: Airport Confessions DW in the DR: Bienvenidos a Punta Cana DW in the DR: The Guest List Is In the Bag DW in the DR: The [...]
[...] in the DR: Pack It Up, Pack It In DW in the DR: Airport Confessions DW in the DR: Bienvenidos a Punta Cana DW in the DR: The Guest List Is In the Bag DW in the DR: The [...]
[...] in the DR: Pack It Up, Pack It In DW in the DR: Airport Confessions DW in the DR: Bienvenidos a Punta Cana DW in the DR: The Guest List Is In the Bag DW in the DR: The [...]
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Mrs. Sea Breeze, Vancouver/Dominican Republic
Age in 2008 and Occupation: 30, Communications Manager
Fiance's Age in 2008 and Occupation: 29, Experiential Marketing Director
Engagement Date: October 6, 2007
Wedding Date: November, 2008
Blogging Since: July 17, 2008
Venue: Majestic Colonial Resort, Punta Cana
About Me: Planning a destination wedding by the sea should be (oh no she di-in't…) a breeze (…*sigh* yep, she did) but when you've never been to the Caribbean, your powers of imagination are really put to the test. Luckily, I'm 90% resourceful, creative optimist (and kooky, neurotic practicalist-if-that's-a-word for the other ten). Other than writing about our week-long celebration of family, friends, laughter and love, I adore books, shoes and… you guessed it… long walks on the beach.
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