March 18th, Grenada
The boat docked at 7am in Grenada and we were departing at 9 for the wedding destination.
We got in buses and arrived in a Caribbean PARADISE. The service would be right off the water, so all you could see and feel was crystal blue water mixed with the tranquility of the event.
Jeff looked handsome in a beige suit and white shirt and was an amazing host.
All the women were given a flower to put in our hair, and all guests were given a necklace that was made of spices... I kept putting mine up to my nose because the cloves smelled divine... An hour later our bride arrived. Everyone got their drinks and sat down, anxiously awaiting the nuptials of those who we traveled so far for. Suddenly the steelpan band started playing Here Comes the Bride. Chauntelle, sister of the bride, gracefully walked towards the Priestess - and then all were graced with the beautiful bride, Heidi. In a simple cream dress, she was absolutely radiant.
Jeffrey saw her and started to bawl like a small child, which SUCCESSFULLY brought down the entire house. Not one dry eye to be seen. The ceremony was quick yet beautiful. They shared a sand ceremony which I've never seen. There are two colors of sand, each of which signifies something different.
One is happiness, one is love. After the Best Man and the Matron of Honor pour some sand together, the Bride and Groom do the same. The visual aspect of the experience was incredible, what with the flowers, the sand, the couple, the water... just gorgeous.
The group moved in and pictures were taken while appetizers were served. We finally headed in and as we waited for the food, toasts were made. Now, I hope that you who read this have had the experience of knowing couples who are honestly meant to be, and I don't say this lightly. It's a momentous experience to be in the presence of two people who love anything, everything, and each other completely. I've had a few of those weddings that I've attended, and this would absolutely be one of them. My friend, Jeff, the best man, gave a sweet toast that spoke volumes about the couple.
Chauntelle, the sister, gave a heartfelt speech that brought tears to many...
I think she spoke to many little sisters in her speech! A few more toasts, and then... the groom... he toasted. Suddenly, in the middle of this toast, this large huggable man is a puddle AGAIN, speaking of his new wife and the goodness she embodies.
He started to choke up - and I'm not taking a little, I'm talking a lot... and his emotions just pelted everyone in the crowd, men and women alike. NO ONE had dry eyes at this point. As it was, it was a very intimate gathering of people... to see this raw emotion, it was absolute joy and I was so honored to be a part of it.
Lunch was fabulous on the island, followed by some dancing and then a too quick departure back to the ship. The buses brought us all back to reality and so we all put on our suits and went out poolside... I quietly recapped the day in my notebook and watched my oh so entertaining friends for a while.
After dinner, a handful of us decided to check out the nightclub on board. After sending the inebriated bride to bed, we headed out to people watch and do some dancing. We made it a relatively early night, leaving about 1am and headed back to our rooms.
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