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| Tropical Bliss!!! |
| Erinīs Fiji Journals (Coming soon) |
| Glenn's Journals 03-06-03 Fiji The WEDDING DAY!!! The trick this morning was to find a way around the resort so Erin and I would not see each other until the wedding. Or at least that I would not see her or something like that. Of course I stayed in bure #3 with Tim (Reminder: There are two double beds per room!!) while Stef relocated down to bure #1 with Erin. We had agreed that I would have breakfast first and be gone from the restaurant by 8:00 am. Erin, Judy, and Stef were planning on departing Crusoe's around 8:30 am for their 9:00 am appointment to start their 'Spa Day". I had been waking up around 6:30 am every morning this week (which is well after sunrise by the way) so completing breakfast by 8:00 am would not be a problem. I then just had to be out of sight until 8:30 am. The ladies were late for breakfast so I hung around the table a little longer than I should have. Luckily I covered my face as Erin and I passed at the reception desk ( I think she peaked!!) upon my leaving. After that I pretty much just hid in Jim and Sue's bure until the ladies left. Once the ladies were gone I had the run of the place. I checked in with the front desk in search of Noeline in preparation for the wedding. Graham, the manager, came to see me and said she would not be in until later but that he would assist me in any way possible. We scheduled to meet at 10:00 am to review the process and location we had chosen for the wedding. No worries!! My parents took the remaining car for a little exploring while the remainder of us were happy just hanging out for the day. The rest of us went snorkeling off the boat along the nearby reef for well over an hour. The current today was pretty strong which provided for a really good work out while swimming. We returned from snorkeling around 12:30 pm and just in time for lunch. We ate by the pool and spent a few hours relaxing. I even had time for a one hour nap until 3:00 pm when I was awoken by someone taking a photo of the groom (sleeping) 90 minutes before the wedding. After I awoke I settled in to checking on the preparation which was complete thanks to the staff. Tim and Jim had already checked it out for me so no worries there!! The minister had arrived early so I quickly met with him, went over the process including the processional where we made a few changes to include Erin's mom, Judy. It was nearing 3:30 pm and the videographer had arrived so we went over the location and expectations. It all sounded good so we were glad we paid extra for video. It was now nearing 4:00 pm and the photographer arrived. Lucky for me I had made a list of "must have" photos (mostly different combinations of family and friends at the wedding) and with Tim's help handled the photographer within a limited time. Now it was after 4:00 pm and only 25 minutes before the wedding started and I was still in my bathing suit. Everyone had returned to their bure's to clean up and get dressed. I returned to bure #3 where I showered etc... And with the help of Tim and Jim finally got dressed. The weather today included an offshore thunderstorm at 3:00 pm which passed by and provided a very humid and sunny day right behind it. You had to get dressed in stages so you could stand under the ceiling fan between stages. Don't forget that I was wearing a tuxedo with tails including a long sleeve shirt and vest. I was plenty sweaty before I even left the bure but so were most of the others. I was ready to go at 4:30 pm. From here on out it was a blur!!! Just kidding!!! People from the village and other guests at the resort were standing around waiting to see the wedding. It was even on the schedule for the days activities. Erin and Stef (maid of honor) were escorted by two Fijian warriors from bure #1 to the wedding path. Judy, Erin's mom, then walked Erin down the aisle, with warriors leading and following, until they reached me. I then took Erin's arm and we walked, again with the warriors leading the way, to the altar. She was stunning!!! I have never seen her more beautiful!!! After Jim, Stef, and Judy took their places we were prepared to start. The sermon took less than 45 minutes and included our own personal vows. Erin managed her vows just perfectly but I stuttered a little with mine. The other thing I noticed during the sermon was that Erin was not sweating one bit while the rest of us were sweating up a storm. I was not sure how she did it!!! We even placed a towel on the ministers pedestal for us to wipe down with. We needed it more than once!!! We were drinking champagne and tasting appetizers by 5:15 pm. We also worked with the photographer for the next 20 minutes to take all of the combinations of photos that I had prepared on the list. During the photography session is when I found out how Erin had stayed so dry during the wedding and even still. She had a fever!!! She sat down for a while trying to cool herself while I fanned her. She still looked beautiful but you could tell she was exhausted. After a little rest we proceeded to finish out the photography session with the sunset photos. During the sunset session everyone else returned to their bure's to change into more comfortable clothes. We were due to meet by the pool at 6:30 pm for the cutting of the cake, toasts, and our 1st dance. Erin and I opted to head to our bure to change before these events as we were really hot, her in her wedding dress and I in my tuxedo. We returned to the pool area aroud 6:45 pm where we proceeded with the cutting of the cake, toasts from Jim and my dad, and our 1st dance as husband and wife. The photographer and videographer left just after the 1st dance as there efforts were complete. Tonight's dinner was the Fijian feast which was prepared in a hole covered with tree fronds. Very tasty!!! Dinner was ready at 7:30 pm and we all went upstairs to serve ourselves. Erin passed on dinner and before 8:00 pm I had returned with her to the bure to put her to bed for the night. The fever and the days events had taken their toll. She took some medicine and laid down for the night. I returned to the festivities where we finished dinner and had some wedding cake before moving upstairs where they were having Fijian dancing and celebrations. The show was spectacular but I definitely wished that Erin felt better. (Overall I can't complain as neither one of us had been sick on this trip, but why tonight?) After the show most of our guests retired for the evening. Jim, Jen, and I returned to the pool in our bathers where we sat and chatted with Noeline, the assistant manager/wedding planner, for a while. She seems like a really neat lady. After a swim we retired to our bure's around 11:00 pm. Tomorrow we will spend the day in Suva. |
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| We are blessed with a beautiful sunset!!!. |