Day 7: Leave Paradise :(

We sadly and very tiredly left our room at 4:27am. We stopped by the 24 hour Nespresso shop for one last latte and a breakfast sandwich for the road. We had no troubles getting to the airport or through security for our first flight from Cancun to Montreal. However, even as tired as we were, I don't think either of us will ever forget how incredibly uncomfortable the seats in the Cancun airport were and how that discomfort kept us from resting pre-flight.

We had a 6 hour layover in Montreal, so we did get more poutine... Collin enjoyed it, I was less impressed than our last treat! We were also very tired from 3 and a half hours of sleep and less impressed in general with everything. Oops!

(^^ I always hope to find ham salad sammie’s that taste as good as my mom’s, BUT THEY NEVER DO.)

First Molson, had to document and send to Dad. :)

Our steps for the week!! It's no wonder my feet were hurting! We covered almost 50 miles! Do you see those 26k steps on wedding day?! Yeah, that's a lot of dancing. :) Such a wonderful trip. So grateful for the best of friends and sweet opportunities to celebrate them.

 

Day 6: Wedding Day!!

After breakfast, Hannah asked her close girlfriends to join her for a walk on the beach before she got ready. We walked a ways, found a cabana, and covered her in prayer asking that God continue to bless Hannah and Garrett and to continue to use them to do the same in the lives of those they do life with. We asked that God give Hannah peace as the ceremony got nearer and that she and Garrett could really savor the day with the people that love them the most.

While Hannah met with the wedding planner to go over some last minute details, Collin and I got lunch at the adults only poolside restaurant. It was lovely just to share a meal outside!

Hannah and Garrett asked that no phones or cameras be present for the ceremony and asked that we be fully present. Hannah and Garrett compiled an outline loosely based off the Wedding Ceremony liturgy from Every Moment Holy and Meg filled in the blanks walking us through the best qualities of each Hannah and Garrett and why we all are so in support of their union. She did a wonderful job. Hannah looked gorgeous in the dress she and her mom created together. Carolyn kept telling me how she loved every single minute and hiccup that went in to bringing that dress to life and that she'd waited Hannah's whole life to be able to create that with her. It was so special to get so much quality time to connect with Hannah's family and friends and to celebrate her and Garrett. Everything was so beautiful.

The food at the ceremony was really nice. The thing that stands out the most to me was a roasted cactus! I don't remember many other specifics, but had to mention that before it escapes me.

Love this girl so much. Thrilled to get to celebrate her and Garrett committing to a lifetime of love, support, curiosity, and adventure. I can't wait to see all God has in store for them.

Day 5: Beach Day, QT, Hibachi Grill, and Karaoke (with a LIVE BAND!)

I think this was my favorite day of all the days. We got to spend ample time on the beach. We got to get to know Hannah and Garrett's special people. We had an incredible and entertaining dinner at the Hibachi Grill. And, I managed to have enough drinks to partake in a very large and public rendition of karaoke.

Again, the colors everywhere were so vibrant! I'm not sure what these berries are, but they're beautiful!

I love this woman and was delighted to show up in the same get-up! 

I should have taken more photos of the resort, every inch was SO thought out and gorgeous.

Our chef at the hibachi grill was very talented and fun. After an impressive knife and spatula show, he tossed a bite of broccoli into each and every one of our mouths at the table. It was hilarious. He broke the ice and brought us all together (most everyone already knew each other, but Collin had just met every one and I hadn't met some of them and/or didn't know them well always having been a long-distance bestie.)

Notice the heart on the grill. ^

We love you too, nuevo amigo!

He made us fried rice with perfectly cooked steak, chicken, shrimp, and veggies.

After dinner we enjoyed each other's company with some more mango margaritas (or at least I did!) and chatted a bit before being blown away by the talent of the live karaoke band.

I love you, my sweet!

As the band was setting up, Meg - who performed the ceremony, and I enjoyed reading through the song list and seeing the honest-not-my-mother-tongue spelling mistakes like, John Bon Jobi... I will have to add more when they come to me as I can't find their website. There were some good ones! 

The live band was amazing though. They worked the crowd and were so much fun to sing with.

This girl. :) What a fun group of people you brought together.

 

Day 4: Check-in to Paradisus and meet the Wedding Party!

Another case of scrambled photos, so I'll use the photo to jog my memory... 

At the welcoming meet and greet happy hour, the bartender below gave me a mezcalorita maybe as a mistake, I'm not sure, but when he realized I wasn't drinking it, he kindly offered to make me something else - he wouldn't tell me a name for it, just said to find him for another one and that he doesn't work tomorrow. It had red berries and fire roasted rosemary and lime - it was lovely!

My favorites. <3

Sometimes I think my love just oozes out in liquids. I love Hannah a lot.

There were so many murals and beautiful pieces of art on our walk from downtown to the resort, we never would have gotten there if we'd stopped for all of them.

My friend, Marta, and I were weird kids and would spend hours walking across town daydreaming about the future. She always wanted to be an interior designer and boy mom: guess what she is today. :) We also had 'dead boyfriends', lol, she loved Kurt Cobain and I loved Jim Morrison... here they are together even though it's not in focus! (It was so humid, I thought the shot was clear!)

Just loved the color of these tiles and all the greenery growing here.

Ah, yes!! We checked out of Soul Beach and walked to our favorite spot, Choux Choux Cafe! We ordered what the other had from our previous visit and loved every minute and every bite.

Collin's 'Goat Bacon' with runny eggs.

My much needed coffee (I realized that might have had a part in my headache our first day!)

Cutie Collin taking it all in.

The line was out into the busy street when we arrived. We decided it was worth it to wait and the line moved fast enough. We can't wait to go back again.

He's the best. <3

Goodbye beautiful space! xo