Our Renewal of Vows - the Ceremony and the Resort

Part 5

Text by Jaime Valdes-Riench

So it has been 2 weeks and I can’t believe how time has flown by! The trip was a whirlwind to get there and back, but at least once we checked in, time stood still.  I am so happy we chose Now Amber in Puerto Vallarta.  It was a gorgeous resort and the staff where wonderful!

I would love to give one last post about our renewal of vows and what happened at the resort and on the day.

We arrived on the Tuesday and the Wednesday I mixed a little work and the wedding prep.  We had a thorough tour of the facilities, the resort, and went over all the wedding details with Karen the on site wedding coordinator.  Because we planned the wedding the next day of arriving we had to meet with her the same day as the wedding.  Most couples would wait one more day, but considering it was only us, and a non-legal ceremony, really it was easy enough to do it the same day.  I don’t however recommend that for larger weddings.  It would be far too rushed.

The wedding planner Karen was wonderful! I also had spoken prior with the head of the wedding planning Edith prior to leaving.  Both where so great to work with. Both from being a bride and being a wedding planner. 

For the flowers, I had ordered my bouquet and Jorge’s boutonnière and they came out perfect! The key was that I sent in images of what I wanted and labelled it clearly for them.  As a wedding planner I can guide you more on those details.  I don’t want to get lost in this post so that will be for another time.

 

 

Our pre-wedding prep on the wedding day was pretty much perfect from a sports enthusiast’s point of view.  After the meeting and a light lunch, we went up to our large suite and watch the soccer games from the comfort of our terrance plunge pool on our deck! My husband was on cloud 9!  Really, it was a stress free day so why not?

Then came the primping.. After we both freshening up, and my husband got ready, I ask him to leave the suite so I could get ready and surprise him with my dress and hair.  Little did I know that instead of going to the lounge as planned, he stayed on the same floor to write out his vows.  This meant the wedding planner panicked and lost him! He forgot his flower and everyone started to worry and look for him.  I on the other hand got ready within in 30mins (new record) and was none the wiser.  Really, where could he go?  After 20 years, it was not like I was really worried.  (it was funny however to see the planner worry though. Been there, did that, done it).

It all came together in the end.  Simple, sweet and full of love.  I found the walk to the Gazebo a little awkward because I had to walk around the pool deck, but the gazebo was lovely.  We didn’t ask for decorations, but they still put in a little bit of drape to make it special.  It really was that, special.  Every word we spoke where heart felt.  It meant the world to me that Jorge wrote his vows, and I spoke from my heart.  We actually made the wedding planner cry.  That is a huge compliment because they take care of how many weddings?  

For the dinner, the resort pulled out the stops without any extra charge.  We asked to simply book a reservation at one of the A la carte restaurants, but they took it one further.  They cleared the top floor of the seafood restaurant to give us a private sunset dinner.  We had a designated waiter, (Oliver) who was like a private butler for us all night.  I have never heard so many “pops” of opening sparkling wine for one table in my life! And I am wedding planner! 

During the dinner we where not sure if the weather would hold out.  It started to rain a little, but ended right at the point a big beautiful red moon came out. We could not have asked for a better night.  It was peaceful and relaxing.  It was easy to loose yourself in the romance. 

I would like to say thank you for following me on this journey.  I didn’t want to be too wordy, but I want to give you a little taste of the amazing experience Jorge and I had.  It was something him and I promised we would do for each other.  Even though we did not have a photographer (we had a point and shoot camera on a timer – yes that is sad).  We wanted to document the experience at least with a few pictures.  My apologies they are not what I would had loved them to be, but I treasure them none the less.

So salud to a happy life! I wish nothing less than happiness for you all!

- Jaime & Jorge

Our Renewal of Vows part 4 - Wardrobe Malfunction

texted by Jaime Valdes-Riench

Hello so we meet again, and share another adventure in this renewal of vow journey.  Today I wanted to talk about something that is pretty real when it comes to any event.. the oh so loved… wardrobe malfunctions.

Not everything in the planning process is going to go smoothly, even for a wedding planner.  I do have to admit that with my experience and easy attitude to our ceremony there are far less challenges.  (remember second time around is far easier and we do not have guests to coordinate with).

In our case, I did want to share with you a few challenges though and how we over came them.  I hope it helps at least someone!

Jorge’s attire: 

For those of you who know Jorge, he is a big guy, but a bit on the shorter side.  This always makes for challenges with choosing dress clothes.  We have found now that getting Jorge a slender fit, French cut dress shirt is best.  With him naturally having a larger neck and shoulders, he is able to get a smaller size and it fits is body and neck well all at the same time.  It took a few tries to figure this out, but by going to an actual tailor or professional suit store for men gives us the guidance we really needed.  This also means it is important to plan ahead! We needed time for tailoring of pants, etc. or we would not have had it in time.  Jorge is just not “off the rack” type of person.  Who knew this time all the tailoring went to the groom and I AM off the rack type of person so my dress was pretty much easy, breezy.

For my challenge, it was my veil!  I had purchased it online from a reputable store and it was well made and beautiful.  It didn’t however fit the way I wanted it to though.  The veil was too small to cover my face AND have the flower in the back of my hair.  SO, my wedding planner / crafty side came out! I remade it.  I would love to show you how!

My Veil:

1.        I first removed the flower and veil from the hair comb.  Since I had to cut away the netting I had to toss it.  It just wasn’t the depth I needed it to be.

2.        I put the comb aside since I would use it again for the new veil.

3.       I purchased more Russian Tulle to make a new veil (Russian Tulle is a the correct netting for a bird cadge veil because of its wide holes and because it is finely woven).

4.       I followed these steps to make a new veil:

a.       First measure your head and add 4 inches.  Cut the veil to that length.  If you want a veil that the comb sits at the back of your head above your bun and still covers you face you will need at least a width of 18inches for the Russian Tulle

b.      Fold the piece of netting in half and cut an angle 5inches from side that is the back toward the outside edge and on angle where it is about half way deep on the outside edge (in my case 9 inches down from the top).  This allows for it to make more of a bonnet shape.  If you do not cut these angles you will have 2 large empty pockets on the sides.   Trust me, it doesn’t look pretty (sometimes I work on trial and error unfortunately).  

c.       Do a running stitch threw all the joints from the sides, around the back, down the other sid edge to edge.  There should only be the front edge of the veil that is not stitched.

d.      Pull the thread of the running stitch so the veil’s stitches scrunch together.  It will look sort of like a bonnet now.

e.      Attach the scrunched seem to the comb.  I did a running stitch again to attach it to the comb and sandwiched the seem in white ribbon to hide the edge of the sewed netting.  With a little hot glue tuck the edges of the ribbon under in order to have no seems showing (finishes the look nicely).

f.        Add a small appliqué if you desire.  I chose one because the veil will sit above my bun and it will give a lovely accent to my up-do.

After the veil was complete, I took the lovely feather flower and glued it to a hair clip.  I finished all edges with white ribbon to finish the look there as well.  I now am able to first put the flower at the back of my head to the side of my bun and have a removable bird cadge veil.  This is far more practical actually because for dinner, after our ceremony, I can still have the lovely flower, but the veil will not be in my way because I can remove it!

So all in all, sometimes these “challenges” are hidden gifts.  It does takes a bit of time, imagination and hot glue.. remember hot glue fixes EVERYTHING.. (just kidding). 

Cheers and pictures to come after we return!

Renewal of Our Vows part 3:

text by Jaime Valdes-Riench
Image by Now Amber. 

Our ceremony

How appropriate that today out of all days the minister from the resort emails us to finalize our vows since today is Jorge and my 13^th wedding anniversary!  What a fun and emotional journey that has been.  It is so reassuring that it is now finalized.  It gives the closure I needed to know that we are ready to be married again!

With me being an officiant myself I thought I would be a little unaffected by the words of the ceremony since I do say them all the time to all the wonderful couples I marry.  Now, not because I don’t feel for them, but simply I have learned to accept and hold back so I don’t cry at the weddings.  Could you imagine if the officiant started crying.. now that would be interesting.

Back to the vows:  Lucie at the resort is the minister that will be officiating our ceremony.  I am so excited as a couple we where able to experience the back and forth it took to make them just right.  As a planner, I see some of it, but I usually allow the couple and minister to work together for their privacy.

Lucie created such an amazing ceremony.  It is full of imagery of love and commitment, which reflects how both Jorge and I, and how feel for each other.  We asked for our children to be mentioned, we have time to say our own vows to each other and we even have a few ceremony verses such as “The Art of Marriage” and “The Blessing of the Hands”.  If I may, I would like to share them with you:

THE ART OF MARRIAGE
~ Author Wilferd A. Peterson ~

         
The little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,
but in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner

Blessing of the Hands

 These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.”

So I guess it is all real now! The countdown really is on! One week and away we go…

Cheers to a happy life together!

Renewal of Our Vows part 2 - Picking the Attire

text by Jaime Valdes-Riench
Veil picture from birdcage veils.com

Well, here I am again, ready to give you the inside on my and my hubby's journey for our renewal of vows.  I wish I could had written sooner, but being a wedding planner, my clients always come first and rightfully so...

So where are we to date?  I would love to share the journey of picking our attire for the ceremony.  I will not share photos quite yet, or I will spoil the only surprise I have left for my hubby.. sorry everyone, that will have to wait.

I was stumped on what to do.  Our ceremony is only the two of us and let's face it, I am a bit more mature in age.  My very first impulse was to run to Bliss Bridal and pick out a lovely gown.  Not over the top, but lovely none the less (that would be my inner child coming out enjoying dress up!!).  Then my wedding planner budget side took over ,and all I could think about was being practical.  

I have to admit, I love the 50's looks when women were really ladies, and THEY HAD CURVES!  So I went with a more fitted practical gown I could use later.  It is more of cocktail dress, and yes I did choose white.  Pairing that with sexy nude pair of 5" heels and birdcage veil, I think the look suits me well.  Most of all, the good old practical side says I can pull on a suit jacket over the dress and presto, I have a dress that would be great for work.  All in all, I only spent around $250.00 total for my look.  This is a sentimental ceremony, so I wanted to utilize jewellery that means alot to me.  This ceremony is all about the meaning, not about glitz.

Now, on the topic of sentimental, I really am one to dig deep sometimes. For my hubby, Jorge, we picked a tan dress pant and a French cut pin striped dress shirt.  To spicy it up, we picked out one fabulous tie!  His meaningful piece will be the cufflinks I bought him as a gift.  They are amber.  How appropriate considering we are having our ceremony at NOW Amber Resort.  He will have a special memory and keep sake.


By no means do I think the more mature bride or couple that wants to renew their vows should settle on what they imagine their ceremony should be (i.e. not going for the gown), but even though I am surrounded by so much eye candy with weddings everyday, I am actually a simple girl.  This ceremony is just about us.  I will still knock 'em dead, not because I will be that gorgeous, but simply because I know my husband.  I know how he cried when he saw me when I walked down the isle on our wedding day, I know how he looked at me when we had our gorgeous babies, and I know how he looks at me when we slow dance for no apparent reason but because a love song is playing.  

When it comes down to it, its love.  Simple, beautiful, pure love.. 

Thanks for reading.  I will love to share the flowers we picked next and then the special part.... the vows.  

Cheers to happy life!
Jaime.