From Single to Married in .02 Seconds: Ultimate Wedding Week- The Ceremony!

Here we are in week two of the Ultimate Wedding Week Party. Today is all about the ceremony…or in my case ceremonies!

When we got engaged we made two big decisions right away. The first decision was made after I randomly threw out the fact, the morning after we got engaged, that it would be fun to have a destination wedding. I figured Michael would never go for it because we both come from large families and all of his family was local. To my surprise, he was sold on the idea without me even having to talk it up! After we decided we wanted to get married on the beach someplace, we decided to get married on our 3 year anniversary. I secretly think Michael did that so he would never forget our anniversary…although he claims that wasn’t why...

Surprisingly enough, planning a wedding from another country was not that difficult! My biggest advice is find a local wedding planner that can help with all of the day to day stuff. We used Destination Weddings and ended up being paired with the best wedding coordinators alive. What made it even better is we were given a wedding coordinator in Florida to help deal with the cruise line AND a wedding coordinator in Cozumel to deal with the day of. I am so beyond thankful that I went with this company because I do not think my wedding would have been as flawless if I had gone elsewhere.

I walked down the aisle to the traditional Wedding march with my daddy by my side. We had asked two family members to read Why Marriage by Mari Nichols and part of the Third Letter in Immortal Beloved by Beethoven.

Michael and I chose not to see each other before the wedding (in Cozumel) because I wanted to have the memory of walking toward him for the first time while taking in his reaction. This was a personal decision we made and both of us are happy we did it that way.

We also wrote our own vows that we were able to say to each other in front of our friends and family. Looking back, this was my favorite part. Our ceremony was performed by the local judge and was very standard. This was the main part of our ceremony that made it our ceremony. Being the planner I am, I think I wrote mine out 4 or 5 times before I felt that they said everything I wanted them to say. Every time I watch our wedding video I get emotional hearing the promises we made to each other that day. It really was so special!

Oh, I almost forgot the best part! My dad was waiting for the judge to ask who gave me away because that is what my mom had rehearsed with him. The only problem was they do not do that in Mexico! My poor dad was so in the moment that he waited up there the entire ceremony! He instantly bumped my sister from her place and became my MOH. Looking back on it now I can’t help but laugh because it is classic him!

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the ceremony.

My handsome hubby and our best man!

Our theme was a sand dollar and starfish that overlapped. We used it everywhere...even the boutonnieres!

Here comes the bride...

Waiting to give me away...

Becoming officially official!

Listening to Michael say his vows.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Now presenting for the first time, Mr. & Mrs. Powell!!!

I am sure most of you could tell from my previous posts that the California wedding/reception was more casual and very laidback. We renewed our vows, exactly one month after taking them, for our family and friends. We did this because only one grandparent was able to attend our wedding and we did not want to take that moment away from them.

There were only a few things I truly wanted for our renewal and my MIL took care of the rest. She did a phenomenal job and both Michael and I were blown away with how beautiful it was.

We wanted Michael’s step-dad, Kenny, to be a part of the wedding like our parents were. Even though Kenny came into his life when he was a teenager, he plays a big part in it now. We thought about different ways to include him, but nothing seemed right. Finally I thought about him presiding over the renewal. Michael loved the idea and so did Kenny. Shortly after being asked, he became ordained online and performed the ceremony for us. Even though we were legally married in Cozumel, he wanted to say that he married us. Looking back, this was probably the best decision ever. He was able to make it personal, something that we were not able to truly get in Cozumel because we were married by a stranger, and my dad was FINALLY able to say what he waited over a month to say…he and my mom gave me away.

Check out some of my favorite pictures form our renewal.

We renewed our vows on a Sunday during football season...Scorecenter was checked constantly!

It was very important to me that my uncle walked me down the aisle when we found out about his Cancer. While he was not physically there, he was most certainly there in spirit. I held out my arm while I walked because I knew nothing would stop him from keeping his word. :)