Megan & Fong's Wedding

Next time, we're buying non-stop flights!

Our 18 hour layover in Phoenix was pretty killer, and exhausting, but well worth the time we spent in Mexico.  I don't have too much to compare it to because I've only ever stayed at one other resort, but Beach Palace was really nice and clean! If you care to read my review on it, click here.

Anyway, my preference when traveling is usually to do things, see things, and experience things that are special to the location I'm in...and although we stayed on the resort the entire time, the trip was still very gratifying! I credit all this to the surprise of the baby sea turtles though. What an amazing thing to have been granted the opportunity to see them being hatched, hold them, and release them into the ocean to start their journey! It's like, the one thing I never knew I needed. I mean, look at how cute they are!

That was definitely a nice little surprise. We did have to sneak away from the wedding for a little bit since they can only be released at night, in case of predators. Fun fact: sea turtles actually imprint on the beach they're released from, so in 15-20 years, the females will return to lay their eggs where they started!

Celebration Time

Anyway, we are so grateful to have taken part in celebrating Megan & Fong's love for each other. Moving out of Arkansas before they got together, I never really had the chance to see their relationship grow or develop. I'd only see glimpses of them here and there, but seeing them together this past weekend solidified just how deep their love is and how magical Megan is to Fong. 
It was great being able to spend time with them to pre-celebrate the celebration!

The Ceremony

Their ceremony was beachside and, though a little open to the public, was beautiful nonetheless! I absolutely love destination weddings. There is always something about them that adds a little extra touch to something so special and intimate. I'd love to renew our vows this way someday!

Reception

Megan's family, her mom's side of the family might I stress...(her aunts specifically) reminded me soooo much of mine. Made me a little homesick. So much spunk, personality, openness, and warmth! I really enjoyed them :) The reception, though inside, was equally as beautiful as the ceremony. I felt like we were inside of a prism the entire time! My emotions were all over the place that evening. The thrill and anticipation of sneaking away, mid-reception, to release some baby turtles; my hangriness; and heat exhaustion all made it very tough for me to contain myself during the father/daughter and mother/son dance. I am daddy's girl, and actually deeply love both of my parents, so it was expected that I would cry watching Megan dance with her dad. What I didn't prepare myself for was how touched I would be watching Fong dance with his mom! I've never seen anything quite like it, it was almost surreal, seeing their love displayed like that on the dance floor. No inhibitions! None! It was a very sweet moment between them that we witnessed. I only wish I had my husband's shoulder to cry on while I watched them.

There was one point during the night where it seemed like everyone was pretty pooped...none of the music that the DJs were playing seemed enticing enough to get people onto the dance floor. We'd done the cupid shuffle and cha cha slide all weekend long and were completed wobbled out! They'd run out of songs to play for us, and just when I thought everyone was about ready to throw in their towels, myself included, something so deep inside was awakened...the familiar sounds and bpms started waking everyone up! One by one, we all gravitated towards the dance floor, driven by our newfound energy, and seriously danced the night away! I felt like I was at a festival again...reenergized by the power only festivals can bestow you. I nodded my head in approval, amazed that the DJ had read us so well and knew just what we needed. I looked over at them and found none other than Megan's sister Elaine at the deck, phone in hand, doing the reception justice. Elaine saved the night.

Everything Else

I wish we had more time at the resort to enjoy all that it had to offer. I'm now kicking myself for not taking advantage of their 24/7 room service! Looking through all of the pictures, I now realize how deep my husband's bond and connection is with his "brophy" guys. Being able to capture him laughing the way he does around them and seeing the tremendous amount of joy in every one of his pictures was very bittersweet! On the one hand, I was able to capture him in his best moments! Who doesn't love to see their husband bursting with pure glee? But on the other, being able to capture these precious moments of him also made me realize that they were all void of me. I think selfishly, I've always known this, denied it with competition, hoping someday to triumph and be everything for him...his Alpha and Omega like he is and has been mine. As great as I think our relationship is, how humbling it is to have God reveal to me just how selfish I've been. I still have so far to go to really love my husband unconditionally, to be truly joyful when he is joyful, to be sad when he is sad....despite how the circumstances are personally affecting me...because that is how he loves me. This past weekend has also been a great reminder that my own everlasting joy and fulfillment can only come from my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and that God alone is the Alpha and Omega. I'm very grateful to know that my husband has a group of guys, who are so earnest and genuine, that he bonds with so deeply....and now I miss my girlfriends back home :( But here are the rest of our pictures from the trip!