Wedding Blog

Once all the portraits and family photos were done, our guests started trailing on out of the lobby and down the walkway to the Gazebo to take their seats. The late afternoon sun was shining down and I imagine them sitting there, chatting away, listening to the pre-wedding soundtrack that I had spent hours agonizing over.

I can’t seem to locate the list and the only two songs I can remember at the moment are ‘I’m Yours’ by Jason Mraz and ‘Better Together’ by Jack Johnson but I swear, there were many more and they were AWESOME.

However, there was one little problem. That music I had painstakingly chosen and programmed on an iPod oh-so-carefully? And the entire sound system in the Gazebo? Well, they both required… electricity.

And oops! Wouldn’t you know - at 4:30PM, just when our ceremony was supposed to start, the resort had a blackout.

Yep.

I’ll never know which - if any - of the songs they heard, since this whole time, I was hanging out in my secret hiding spot: the ladies’ washroom by the reception.

I didn’t feel like being gawked at by random resort guests so I sat in the washroom by myself for a while. Hmmm… QUITE a while, actually. But I didn’t mind. It gave me what had been craving all day - a moment to sit and think about what was happening and let it all soak in.

While waiting, I even met two lovely ladies from the same tiny town in Alberta that my parents’ ranch was next door to. I mean seriously, what a small world! (As you can see, the lady on the left couldn’t get over the shock of it.)

Miss P finally delivered the news to me about the blackout and while I don’t look overly impressed in this picture, I actually wasn’t too concerned. What-ev-ah. I mean, there wasn’t much I could do, right? Guess I’ll just sip my champagne and wait it out.

Finally, after about a half-hour delay, Miss P and my bridesmaid SIL rushed in and said that the power was back on and the music was playing again and everyone was waiting for us! So we finally made our way down and took our places.

As the wedding party started to walk, Waiting For My Real Life to Begin began to play. (At least that part of our musical plan worked.)

SIL and Mattie:

Miss P and JW:

MOH Pepperpot and Best Man RL:

When it came to who we’d walk down with, Mr Breezy and I decided to buck the trend and walk with both our parents. Both our moms and dads were equally loved and we couldn’t imagine leaving one out.

Aw, Mr Breezy and his parents look so dapper and happy. And look - Mr Breezy doesn’t look like a flight risk at all! Amazing. Then again, maybe that’s why they’re holding onto him so tightly?

Our flower girl Ella and ring bearer Mr G were kinda little so their moms walked down with them.

Mr G’s carrying our rings in a shell filled with sand. (Don’t worry, there’s a ribbon tied to the rings just in case little feet tripped over themselves.)

As I stood at the top of the walkway and waited for our wedding party to reach the Gazebo, I took a deep breath.

This was it.

Mama Breezy was quiet, controlling her emotions, while Daddy Sea Breeze and I calmed ourselves down by chuckling.

And then, it was time to go!

(Well, by not having our ceremony on the beach we dodged the old-men-in-Speedos bullet, but we still got one hairy-chest.)

As we neared the Gazebo, I could hear groomsman Mattie singing. Did I mention he’s an opera singer? As I approached my groom, I was serenaded to the tune of Ombra Mai Fu from Xerxes, an opera by Handel. It was incredibly lovely.

I love this picture - can you tell I’m my mother’s daughter?

Pic by our friend Kuba

My Twitter friends may recognize this one… yet another one by our friend Kuba.

As we approached the Gazebo, I took a long look around. It’s a memory I will not soon forget - the sight of all our dear friends and family smiling so hard they looked fit to burst.

And of course, there was Mr Breezy.

As soon as I saw him, I started grinning from ear to ear. It looks like I couldn’t get away from Daddy Sea Breezy fast enough, huh? C’mon Dad, pick up the pace! My man’s a-waitin’.

The passing of the bride.

Oh you thought you’d get away with a quick handshake, didya? Sorry son, you’re Polish now too so c’mon, pucker up.

Or wait, was he whispering something in his ear at the very last moment?? Whatever it was, it worked.

Photo by Kuba.

The flowers on the ceremony table. Awesome, more white roses! (But I was so blissed out at this point that I didn’t even notice them.)

Thank you Daddy. (Wait, is that the elusive Photophil caught on camera?!)

Photo by Kuba.

Thank you, Mama Sea Breeze. Aw, please don’t cry… we’re just getting started.

Okay everyone, let’s get this show on the road.

Unless otherwise noted, photos by Photophil Steingard and his sidekick, Michael Steingard.

DW 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 OOTs in Action
DW in the DR: Planning the Reception
DW in the DR: Planning the Flowers & Cake
DW in the DR: Planning the Ceremony
DW in the DR: Planning the Photography
DW in the DR: Stag and Showerette
DW in the DR: The Meltdown
DW in the DR: Final Touches
DW in the DR: The Guys Get Groomed
DW in the DR: The Girls Get Gorgeous
DW in the DR: We MacGyver the Flowers
DW in the DR: I Finally Get to Wear the DWess
DW in the DR: Girls Gone Wild
DW in the DR: The Reveal and Portraits
DW in the DR: We Are Family