Day 3 - Part 1 : The Wedding

Half Moon Cay -- the Wedding

Was awakened at 5am by a grinding, shaking, earth-quaking something.  After which, the engines stopped and then restarted.  I realized later that it was likely the thrusters slowing us down as we approached the island., but WOW!  Knocked my glasses right off the night stand (and it was a good thing I noticed before I stepped on them!).  Got up again at 7, showered and headed up for breakfast.  (The kids had theirs delivered, and the bride and groom were skipping it today!).  Got dressed, and Rayna did my hair (French braided the top and straightened the rest) and waited for the bride.

Leslie looked amazing.  Her dress was gorgeous.  They all looked fabulous! Upstairs to meet Agata and Kerrie, and after a few pics, they escorted us past the long line of people heading to the island and on to the tender.  It was a hot and sunny morning and the island is just a slice of paradise.   Palm trees, brilliant flowers, powder soft white sand, and the most amazing turquoise water I have ever seen.  What a spectacular spot!   The wedding had been moved out of the chapel on to the actual beach, which was what Leslie had wanted all along.  The minister, Gloria, was a lovely Bahamian minister, who had gotten up at 2am to get from her island to this one for the 2 weddings held here today (this was the first).  The wedding register from her church, in which this marriage has been inscribed, will be 100 years old on May 3rd.  Just a beautiful old book.

Kerrie took a gazillion pictures before the ceremony … and I took about 10 gazillion.  (I took lots of candid shots, making sure I got pics with Agata and Kerrie and Gloria in them, so Leslie and Davie will always have them.)  Then the wedding ….  The words of the ceremony were simply beautiful.  It was extremely touching… it was also visually stunning,  I am so glad they moved it outside.   Leslie and Davie just glowed through the whole thing - even the pros commented on how happy they looked.   After more pics (these are going to be amazing!), we headed back to the ship for the cake cutting and more even pics!  We all had a piece of wedding cake, some sparkling cider, and toasted the couple.  And the wedding was over!  By now, the humidity is slowly taking the curls out of Leslie’s hair, and putting the curl back in my hair.   Sigh.

Time to change into shorts and head back to Paradise for the rest of the day.   Or did we….?  Stay tuned for Day 3 …. Part 2!