It was finally here!! The big day I had been planning for almost a year! We were all up with the sun, dressed and ready to go right on time. We got down to the Buena Vista Theater to get our tickets and spot in line for the first boat tender from the Magic into Georgetown, Grand Cayman. We saw our Disboard friends in line, with all their scuba gear waiting to go as well...MH and I commented to each other how early they must have been to be first in line, and MH was jealous of all the diving they were doing!
We waited for what seemed like an eternity to be called down to the tender--it was actually maybe 15 minutes, long enough to get tired of watching the Wiggles on the movie theater screen. We made our way outside to the tender and got our first look at Grand Cayman--how stunning it was!! The water was the most beautiful shade of blue, and surrounding the Magic were 6 other cruise ships...quite the sight! As we approached the dock at shore, we had a little delay in getting a spot, which was starting to make me nervous about getting to Smith's Cove...I had no idea how long it would really take to get there from the terminal, I had been told about ten minutes, but this was first thing in the morning, and it looked like there was, what I thought, rush hour traffic. We were greeted by numeroud tour companies offering deals to every beach on this island except the one we were going to...one of the gentleman even went so far as to tell me that I didn't really want to go to Smith's Cove because "there's nothing there but some rocks". Hoping that MIL wouldn't catch on that we were headed to a tiny beach with just one bathroom, I ushered everyone down the street to the taxi dispatch. Being involved with the fire department, I knew that a taxi stand and a taxi dispatch were two separate things, so I asked one of the dispatchers where we could catch a taxi for 6--she was so kind; she went over to one of the drivers and had him take us directly from the dispatch. We gave him our destination and within 8 minutes we were at the beach. Early. Really early. We took advantage of the time we had and wandered around the beach. Smith's Cove was absolutely stunning--a beach within limestone rocks, the contrast between the rock and the water and the cream colored sand was goregous. I knew right away my research had been right on the money and that this was just the right spot for an intimate vow renewal. At this point, MIL still had no idea anything was going on...I had told her that we'd be stopping at this beach for a bit first, then someone from the Grand Old House would be walking us over to the "tea party", that was good enough for her and she continued walking around the beach with the kids, DH, and FIL. Not long after our arrival, maybe 15 minutes, Daniella from the Grand Old House arrived with chairs, and a table. Here's where it gets really crafty. MIL knew that I had met someone on the Disboards who was getting married on Grand Cayman--shortly after our tea party and that it was at the same location. MIL also knew that MH and I were the witnesses for this wedding. So when I went over to greet Daniella and let her know that we were all here and ready to go and that MIL still had no idea what was going on, I went back and told MIL that I was letting the coordinator know that the witnesses for the wedding were here already and that I was double checking the time of that wedding. MIL just assumed then, that all the chairs and table and other items being set up were for the wedding to follow. When the photographer arrived, MIL assumed again, it was for the wedding. While she was busy watching DS, who had become absuloutely obsessed with a coconut, I slipped away to the photographer (who was talking with the coordinator) to tell him of the surprise, and to please make sure he got a good picture of her face when the true plans for the day had been revealed. Jim, the photographer, was so excited to learn of the surprise himself, he had never done a surprise wedding of any type! All we were waiting for now was the minister, who was stuck in traffic elsewhere on the island but would be there soon...while we awaited his arrival, small tour groups came in and out taking some pictures of the beach while some locals came and set up chairs for sunbathing during the day. Some small boats stopped by to snorkel for a little bit and moved on. MIL noticed Jim taking photos from a distance and whispered "Should we tell him we aren't with that wedding?" but then she said he'd figure that out when we left for the tea party. She really had no clue at all. Finally the minister arrived and we were just about to get things going. I waved FIL and MIL over to near where the chairs were. FIL was getting ready to re-propose to MIL when all of a sudden, a tourist came up to us and said "Did you all organize this wedding yourself?" My jaw dropped and my face was white as the sand...all this time and some stranger drops the bomb? No one said anything, I was searching for the right response, and FIL saved it--he very simply said "My wife and I are celebrating our 35th anniversary and I brought her here today to renew our wedding vows." "Really??" asked MIL with a huge smile and a look of shock on her face!
I looked at her and just yelled "Surprise!!" She gave me a huge hug and started asking how long this had been planned, who knew, etc. She then asked if DD knew, and we told her proudly, yes, she's known from the start and had kept this secret all along. So now, with the real plan out in the open, it was time to get things going--FIL was given his boutiniere and MIL her bouquet which was made of tropical flowers--it was beautiful. Canon in D was played and FIL walked MIL down the aisle. The sea and rocks were a stunning backdrop to the ceremony. The minister, was wonderful and gave a beautiful ceremony. FIL surprised MIL yet again with a new ring...I sat and watched with tears of joy in my eyes--I'll never deny that I'm a sap for happy endings. DS was growing impatient, and decided he wanted nothing more than to lay in the sand, so he did. Right at MIL's feet during the ceremony. We all agreed to let him be as he was happy...happy pouring sand all over MIL's feet. At the end of the ceremony, we all signed the certificate, and the minister made us promise to come back in 35 years so the IL's could renew their vows again. We celebrated with champagne, which was quite good--DD asked for a small taste so she could join in the toasts, and she ended up loving it!! DS didn't love that we wouldn't allow him a glass. Following the toasts, we took more pictures and then had cake. Quite possibly one of the best cakes I've ever had. So good we ate the ENTIRE thing!! After all, it was our breakfast!! I am a firm believer in cake for breakfast every now and then. Everything was really perfect...a great big thank you to the staff at the Grand Old House who had everything ready to go the way I had requested. When we had finished every last crumb of cake and every last drop of bubbly, we all walked over to The Grand Old House. The House was as beautiful as the pictures I had seen online, prettier actually. The view from the wedding pavillion is spectacular. We went to the bar to have a cold drink, MH and FIL had a celebratory glass of Cognac, which shocked them at 22 Cayman dollars a glass! It was a special occasion though! The rest of us had a soda--it was getting very warm out--the sun was shining bright! DS was now sound asleep in his stroller, the waitstaff, all in love with him, insisted we let him stay inside in the cool air. MIL and FIL bid us good bye as they headed back to the ship for the Rasul FIL had booked as a "honeymoon" surprise for MIL. We anxiously awaited the arrival of our new friend Judy, the bride of the wedding we were to witness. Her handsome groom Brian and her son Joe were already there, having some pictures taken. We were told that Judy and her daughter would be arriving any minute so we headed outside to our spots for the ceremony.
I won't go into detail about that, Judy can tell you herself, but from our view, it was a wonderful wedding and we were truly happy and honored to be a part of it. The minister, the same who had conducted the ceremony for the IL's, told us that we were now bound to Judy and Brian and that it was our job to check up on them--a duty we'll happily obey! We stayed for lunch at the Grand Old House with Judy, Brian, and family, as well as their photographer Rebecca...who was also as nice as can be. We had a wonderful time and incredible food--we had eaten more than our fill yet again, but still managed room for more cake. Forget, jello, there's always room for cake.
After an indulgent lunch, Ariana returned to the beach with the bride and groom while we headed back to the ship. We stopped off for a couple of souveniers and then back onto the tender to the boat. I managed to forget to cover myself with sunscreen in the morning when I was pretty much bathing everyone else in it, so I was pleasantly pink and luckily not red. MH and DS passed out cold on the bed.
I was told this was a result of a bottle of champagne at the vow renewal, a glass of cognac, champagne at the wedding, and two glasses of wine at lunch...all before 2 pm! As for DS, well there are plenty of pictures that make me question just what Disney has in their milk for example:
Back to my report...
We were all exhausted, and stuffed, but we all made it to dinner that night somehow--back at Animator's Palate. After dinner we went to Who Wants to be a Mousketeer and had a great time...DD won a special pin at the end of the game since they ran out of time for contestants. We retired back to the room soon after that, as again we had another busy day ahead!
As soon as I have it converted to an AVI, I will be posting the photo dvd I made of the vow renwal!
