| | Getting Married and Honeymooning...
On the evening of December 7th, 2008, we slipped away to the airport. Luggage in hand and a giddy secret amongst us, we flew to LAX to catch our flight to the Cook Islands. We were getting married.
We arrived on the island of Rarotonga on the morning of the 8th and headed to The Rarotonga Beach Resort and Spa, our home for the next 7 nights. It was easy for us to relax the next few days as we drove around the island, snorkeled in the lagoon, and prepared for our wedding on December 12th.
It rained off and on while we were there, but we remained optimistic. We ate at different restaurants along the island and enjoyed the company of just being with each other.
On the morning of the 12th, the skies were beautiful and we lounged about until we got ready around noon. Reggie still had not seen Teri's wedding dress, so he got dressed in a separate room before the ceremony. As Teri walked down Aro'a Beach, with a ukelele player singing alongside her, Reggie saw her for the first time in her dress. We were both crying as we got closer and the day could not have been more beautiful.
We exchanged our own vows that afternoon and the whole ceremony was beyond surreal. We planted a baby coconut tree after we signed the marriage registry book. It was better than we could have ever imagined and very magical. We couldn't have asked for anything different. We enjoyed a candlelit dinner on the beach later that evening.
On the following Monday, we flew to Aitutaki to officially begin our honeymoon. We stayed in an overwater bungalow at The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa. It really is as beautiful as the pictures and the colors are just so amazing. It's a very romantic spot and we couldn't have been happier with our honeymoon choice.
On the 20th, we packed our bags and flew back home...sad that our little vacation was over, but even happier that we were finally married and had such a fabulous time in the Cook Islands.
Next on our agenda was finalizing the details of our wedding banquet at The Empress of China in San Francisco on February 28th. Invitations had been sent and RSVPs were coming in.
That day started with family pictures at the restaurant and a tea ceremony for the family. Doors opened and we greeted our guests in our first of three outfits. We then changed into our second outfit (Chinese dress and Filipino barong) for our grand entrance. We had a lion dance before dinner officiallly started. We managed to change into our final outfits (white wedding dress and white/black tuxedo) for dancing and photobooth pictures. It was over too soon and we had a great time. Wonderful friends and family filled the room to capacity and we just had a ball.
We left the following day for Tahoe to squeeze in some snowboarding before heading back to Vegas with our Element filled with presents and suitcases. I guess you can call it a mini 2nd honeymoon. (Any trip during your first year of marriage should be considered a honeymoon!)
Back in Vegas, we are concentrating on getting our backyard done after 2 years of living here. We finally have landscape happening, with a garden in the works along with a barbecue set.
And yes, we have another honeymoon planned in May - cruising in the Caribbean!
Pictures!
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| | Posted 3/12/2009 3:38 PM - 6 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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