Lynsey & Justin’s Destination Wedding – Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico

On May 1st I received a phone call from my friend Mark, my friend that connected me with Lauren & Dante’s wedding back in 2007. He wanted to know if I would be willing to go to Mexico for a wedding … in a week. Due to a variety of circumstances, not to mention the Sw*ne Flu, he couldn’t go to Mexico – but I was more than happy to hop on a flight and head south of the border!

The life lesson from this whole wedding weekend was that plans change, but if you roll with it, it is often even better then you dreamed! For example, Mike flew down to Mexico with me, and when we arrived at the airport in Puerto Vallarta, we went to arrange for a taxi to get to the property. Neither one of us speaks Spanish really. We tell the driver to take us to Riu Jallasco. When he pulled up to Riu Palace Pacifico in Nuevo Vallarta, we were completely confused. It wasn’t until we got to the front desk (convinced we were going to be back in a cab soon to get to the other property) that we learned that due to the flu and so many cancellations, everyone had been moved to their top end property! It was so beautiful — and being all-inclusive, we were well taken care of too! We finally were able to meet up with Lynsey & Justin at the front desk as we checked in, and they are such awesome people! Both of their families and all of their friends were so welcoming too – we were immediately a part of their whole wedding weekend and we had such a great time!

My husband, Mike, will be the first to tell you that he isn’t a photographer. Don’t believe him. I asked him to get backup photos for me, just so had a few options of different angles. He went ahead and stayed with the guys while they were getting ready and got a variety of photos, and then during the ceremony he took photos from other vantage points then I was getting. His photo is on the left. My photo is on the right. It was a lot of fun shooting with him — although he doesn’t seem too anxious to do it again!

They wanted to jump, so jump they did! Then the men & I went to get shots down by the water, and the women had Mike take more jumping shots. It was hot, be we were having such a great time taking photos on the beach!

And eventually, Lynsey, Justin & I went off and took some photos alone. I love the emotion I see in the photographs of alone time with the couple after the wedding!

Because the wedding was in Mexico, and during the height of the media’s coverage of the Sw*ne Flu, Justin’s mom decorated custom medical masks just for them to coordinate with their wedding attire! Sw*ne Flu be damned, guests and members of the wedding party not being able to come because of it, love and a beautiful beach wedding in Mexico can not be stopped!

We ended the formal activities of the evening with a dinner at the steak house on the property, out on the patio overlooking the water at sunset. There was so much love and laughter surrounding Justin & Lynsey and such a sharing of all the joy. It was amazing! I get a bit misty-eyed just thinking about it. The toasts were that wonderful. It was a blessing to be a part of it all! Thank you again to Justin & Lynsey and your families for having us as a part of it – and we’re looking forward getting together with you again soon!

Decorations, flowers & coordination of the wedding all provided by Hotel Riu Palace Pacifico in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.