Journey Of A Thousand Miles: A Gift For Mr. Meerkat

As our guests arrived at Al Cielo for the ceremony, they were greated with a fresh towel.

Del Sol Photography

And a cool drink, fresh lemonade with mint. Which was fantastic I might add.

Del Sol Photography

Del Sol Photography

Since the second van full of us girls was about 10 minutes behind everyone else, there was some time for them to relax for a few minutes, enjoy their drinks and take the beautiful area in.

Del Sol Photography

Del Sol Photography

Our officiant, Roberto, took the opportunity to make a few last minute notes into our ceremony.

Del Sol Photography

Back in the hotel room, I gave Sister-In-Law Meerkat explicit instructions to make sure Mr. Meerkat received the present I got him before the ceremony. So as soon as Sister-In-Law Meerkat stepped out of the van, she headed straight to Mr. Meerkat with the gift. 

Of course, first he had to opened my "I am not a romantic type girl but I want you to know I love you" card.

Del Sol Photography

Del Sol Photography

Then Mr. Meerkat went straight for the box. I think he knew what it was before he opened it because he had been wanting one so badly.

Del Sol Photography

Del Sol Photography

Del Sol Photography

Del Sol Photography

Yes I got him the pocket watch that opens on the front and back that he had been drooling over at the jewelry store.

Mr. Meerkat's cousin, Ked, even recorded the whole thing on video.

I think my favorite part of the video is what Mr. Meerkat keeps repeating:

I saw [the pocket watch] in the jewelry store and [Mrs. Meerkat] kept telling me it was ridiculous and I couldn't get it.

Well, yea I had to! Otherwise he would have bought it right then to go with his suit. I had been planning to buy him a pocket watch the whole time and there was no way I was going to let him ruin my surprise by buying it himself.

After Ked got done videoing, everyone ventured over to get a peak at Mr. Meerkat's new watch.

Del Sol Photography

I love how focused he is on making sure the time was set correctly. :P

Up Next: A Beach Processional

• We Arrive In Mexico
• Out Of Town Bags
• Fun In Mexico
• Our Best Man Goes Missing
• A Dress Fiasco and Rehearsal Dinner
• Our Fairy Godmothers (aka Getting Ready)
• Time To Put The Dress On
• The Guys Get Ready
• The Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue I Didn't Plan
• Just A Few Pictures With My Girls
• Get Me To The Beach

Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Get Me To The Beach

While us girls were getting some pictures taken, the guys were over at the White Sands lobby with our guests waiting for the vans to arrive to take them to Al Cielo. 

Del Sol Photography

They spent a bit of time talking and joking as is the way with our families when they get together.

Del Sol Photography

Del Sol Photography

Del Sol Photography

As everyone was standing there, I think it really hit Nonni that her first grandchild was about to get married. Mr. Meerkat is the first of the grandkids in his family to get married, so I know this was a big moment for Nonni.

Del Sol Photography

After the guys and some of our guests were well on their way to Al Cielo, us girls headed towards the Royal lobby to grab a golf cart so we could quickly get to the White Sands lobby to meet the van. (Yea the resort is really that big that is has more than one lobby.)

Del Sol Photography

Of course I had my "I'm the boss" hat on and was the leading the way into the lobby. I was so lost in thought that I got a pretty good distance ahead of everyone before I realized it and turned about to see them all smiling at me.

Del Sol Photography

When the golf cart arrived we all piled in. I got the privilege of sitting in the front. I think it's because my dress took up so much room. ;)

We got to the White Sands lobby just as our van was pulling up. Talk about great timing.

Del Sol Photography

After a very short and hilarious (more to come on that later) drive we arrive at Al Cielo. I have to tell you that getting into a van with my dress was WAY easier than getting out of it. Mama-In-Law Meerkat had to help me get my big ol' dress out of the van and up to the entrance otherwise it might have been a full on Meerkat face plant into the driveway.

And as everyone stepped through the entrance and out to the beach, here is what they saw:

Del Sol Photography

Del Sol Photography

Breathtaking, isn't it?

Up Next: A Surprise For Mr. Meerkat

• We Arrive In Mexico
• Out Of Town Bags
• Fun In Mexico
• Our Best Man Goes Missing
• A Dress Fiasco and Rehearsal Dinner
• Our Fairy Godmothers (aka Getting Ready)
• Time To Put The Dress On
• The Guys Get Ready
• The Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue I Didn't Plan
• Just A Few Pictures With My Girls

Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Just A Few Pictures

After Diego, our videographer, verified that the guys had already headed up to the lobby, Sol and I headed over to my cabana to get some photos while the girls gathered up our stuff.

Del Sol Photography

Del Sol Photography

I just love that picture. As Sol was finishing up with the last couple solo pictures of me, my girls came along with all our paraphernalia.

Del Sol Photography

Del Sol Photography

When Sol asked about the "purses" I made them, Bridesmaid K and Sister-In-Law Meerkat happily showed them off. I wasn't sure they would be into my mini suitcase idea but it turns out they really loved them.

Del Sol Photography

Next it was time to get some portraits done. I love that Sol thought to grab a photo of our moms with us three girls. This is by far one of my favorite photos.

Del Sol Photography

And of course we got some photos with my girls. I can't go 10 minutes without cracking jokes so I was caught my in one of my HUGE laughs.

Del Sol Photography

And Sol even got a shot of the parasols I hand painted with our wedding date on them.

Del Sol Photography

Of course we got one of many photos where my girls are laughing and talking with each other. :P

Del Sol Photography

Then Sol had my girls go up on the bridge by our room and stand together for some photos.

Del Sol Photography

Which turned into fits of laugher as Sol kept saying to get closer to each other.

Del Sol Photography

Next it was my turn to go up on the bridge. As I was standing there, Jorge, the resorts segway tours guide, came through with one of his tour groups.

Del Sol Photography

It was really sweet that as each of the guests past they told us congratulations.

Once they were out of sight Sol told me to pick up my dress and spin with it. At first I was like "say wha?".

Del Sol Photography

But it didn't take me long to get into it.

Del Sol Photography

Del Sol Photography

Yea I was having a ton of fun twirling my dress around but all too quickly it was time to head to the lobby to catch our transportation to Al Cielo for the ceremony.

Up Next: Get Me To The Beach!

• We Arrive In Mexico
• Out Of Town Bags
• Fun In Mexico
• Our Best Man Goes Missing
• A Dress Fiasco and Rehearsal Dinner
• Our Fairy Godmothers (aka Getting Ready)
• Time To Put The Dress On
• The Guys Get Ready
• The Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue I Didn't Plan

Journey Of A Thousand Miles: The Old, New, Borrowed, Blue I Didn't Plan

Before we get too far along with the recaps I want to tell ya'all a little story.

Back when we first started planning the wedding, Bridesmaid K asked if she could make me something special to wear. She wanted to make me an ankle bracelet that contained my something old, new, borrowed, blue on it. I have a serious thing for ankle bracelets so it was the perfect idea. Well time passed and as the wedding drew closer I got so busy I forgot. When I did remember the night before we left for Mexico, it was one of those too little, too late moments. So I basically said screw it and went along my merry way.

What I didn't know is that some of my loving family members had already been working to make my "somethings" come to life. Between Bridesmaid K, Sister Meerkat, Nonni Meerkat and Mama-In-Law Meerkat, they came up with some amazing ideas which they decided to surprise me with the day before our wedding.

My something new came from Sister Meerkat. I have one necklace I wear all the time. A gold cross that she gave me when I was 13. I hardly ever take it off. It means that much to me. Well she figured it was time to update my look a bit with the addition of a new gold charm for my necklace. She got me this:

Not sure why it looks pink-ish, it is gold in person.

Since I already had my jewelry for the wedding, Mr. Meerkat took the heart charm and sewed it onto my handkerchief so that I could carry it with me down the aisle.

Bridesmaid K was responsible for my something borrowed. She still wanted me to have my beloved ankle bracelet so she let me borrow a shell one that she often wears. I don't have a great photo of it but you can see it peaking out from under my dress in this photo. By the way, I loved wearing it!

Del Sol Photography

Mama-In-Law Meerkat and Nonni Meerkat worked together to give me something old and blue. 

Remember when I was telling you about my great veil debate? How I wasn't really into veils but that Mama-In-Law Meerkat had offered to let me wear her veil which had been passed down by her mother? Well if not, the condensed version goes like this - after months of agonizing debate, I decided to not wear a veil but carry a part of Mama-In-Law Meerkat's veil with me. 

So Mama-In-Law Meerkat and Nonni Meerkat, Mr. Meerkat's paternal grandmother, took the idea and ran with it. Nonni Meerkat took the garter she wore at her wedding and sewed a piece of Mama-In-Law Meerkat's veil to it.

See the lace on the bottom half? Nonni replaced the original lace with some from the edge of Mama-In-Law Meerkat's veil. I loved having this with me when I walked down the aisle. It is a piece of history from both side of Mr. Meerkat's family and that means so much to me.

And last but not least there was one item I did remember to buy - a sixpence for my shoe. After Huskey's post I went to ebay and found one made in the year my parents were married. I carried it in my mini suitcase "purse" the entire day.

And that my friends is how my something old, new, borrowed and blue came into being.

Up Next: Just A Few Pictures With My Girls

• We Arrive In Mexico
• Out Of Town Bags
• Fun In Mexico
• Our Best Man Goes Missing
• A Dress Fiasco and Rehearsal Dinner
• Our Fairy Godmothers (aka Getting Ready)
• Time To Put The Dress On
• The Guys Get Ready