The Wedding - Part 1

My sister fixing my dress right before heading out!

When you have a destination wedding, the wedding day doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s the culmination of days of arrival, settling in, conversations, and shared moments. By the time the actual wedding day arrives, you’re already in it.

A couple of days before the wedding, it’s customary to meet in person with your vendors. This is when timelines are reviewed, questions are answered, and final details are confirmed.

In my case, this is also when I upgraded my décor budget by $3,000.

There was a lighting upgrade I needed to have. I had been trying to convince Mike that the investment was worth it, and two days before the wedding—during our walkthrough—we upgraded. Best budget investment ever. It 100% created the vibe I was going for… more on this in Part 2.

The rehearsal dinner came next, and we intentionally kept it small—just immediate family and the bridal party. We wanted our guests to enjoy their day and truly feel like they were on vacation.

That night, Mike and I made a decision that felt very aligned with who we are.

We didn’t sleep apart the night before.

We chose to live by our own standards, not tradition for the sake of tradition. I loved it. I didn’t feel lonely. I wasn’t anxious. I woke up next to him, kissed him, and said, “It’s our wedding day!”

The morning of the wedding, we had a quiet breakfast together on the beach. I wore a casual white dress. We had coffee. We talked. We just were. Everyone kept telling us how calm we looked—and we truly were. Looking back, I believe a big part of that calm came from not spending the night apart.

After breakfast, it was time to separate. Mike went to get ready with the guys, and I headed back to my room for hair and makeup.

And this is where I want to share something very real.

There was a window—just a couple of hours—after he left and before my bridal party and the hair and makeup team arrived, where I felt a little lonely. I was alone in a big room, unsure of what to do with myself. It passed quickly, but it’s something I always tell brides now: schedule your best friend, sister, or someone grounding to arrive a little earlier. That quiet space can sneak up on you.

Once hair and makeup started, everything flowed again.

My friend Narda, a professional stylist, did my make up that day!

Which brings me to something I care deeply about: photography.

Most of my clients initially dread it. I always tell couples this: these images last forever. You will frame them. Hang them in your home. Include them in thank-you notes. Show them to your children. Long after the flowers are gone and the music fades, this is what remains.

Take your time with your photos. Relax into them. Enjoy them.

My clients receive a very extensive photo list. They can eliminate what they don’t want, add what they do, and customize it completely. That means their photographer has a very clear directive, and there’s very little room for disappointment when it comes to such an important investment.

One reason I love engagement photo shoots at the destination is because they break the ice with your photographer early. By the time the wedding comes around, there’s already comfort and trust. You’re not performing—you’re just being yourselves.

Ready to go!

Now, let’s talk about walking down the aisle.

Because we didn’t sleep apart the night before, it was very important to me that Mike didn’t see me until the church. I know many couples choose to do a first look, and I understand why. I’ve seen it many times with my clients—but I will almost always advise letting the first look happen at the aisle.

There is something you simply cannot replicate if you do a first look. You will never get that teary-eyed groom waiting at the altar, seeing his bride for the very first time.

I wanted that moment. And I had it. I’ll add the photo of him standing there, emotional, waiting for me—it still gets me every time.

When it comes to walking down the aisle, choose your processional music intentionally—especially your song.

For me, it was Ave Maria, sung by an opera singer. There’s a crescendo in that piece, and I didn’t want to walk as soon as the song started. I knew exactly when I wanted to enter.

I’ve guided clients through this many times. Alexis, for example, chose Wrecking Ball, performed by a string quartet. I told her to wait for the exact part of the song that created the emotional impact she wanted.

Pause. Wait. Let the music build.

My dad, bless him, wanted to start walking the second the song began. I stopped him. “Wait. Not yet.”

And once you start walking—slow down.

Look at your guests. Look at the flowers. Lock eyes with him. Take it all in. Breathe it in. Because if you rush, you will forget it—and you don’t get to do it again.

One last PSA before we close this part.

If you’re exchanging personal vows and one of you is more emotional than the other, let the crier go first.

I didn’t. I let Mike go first—and I was crying before I ever started speaking. I could barely talk.

What I didn’t know (and why it hit me so hard) is that Mike had written his vows in Spanish. At the time, he didn’t speak Spanish very well. Hearing him promise his life to me in my language was overwhelming in the most beautiful way.

We had planned for the ceremony to be bilingual, but that moment was a surprise—and one I’ll never forget.

This is where I’ll pause the story.

Next, I’ll continue with Wedding – Part 2, where I’ll talk about the formal photos, reception energy, the flow of the evening, the speeches, the sweetheart table, and everything we personalized for our reception—done once, made for us, never replicated.

Stay tuned.