Wedding in Paradise

This pretty well sums up what the weekend was like. St. Thomas was absolutely beautiful. It was a nice mix between being familiarly American but different enough to have a new experience. They drive on the left side of the road (and yet the driver side of the vehicle is still on the left!) which definitely threw me. The locals have an accent that seemed to be a mixture of Jamaican and Puerto Rican. It was kind of hard to understand at times but still very charming.

Now, for the onslaught of photos!

It was hard to take a bad pic of the island. Everything about it leant itself to making a fantastic photo.

We arrived Thursday afternoon to overcast skies. What to do when you can't swim and lay out? Meet for drinks, of course! Nothing brings people together like Voodoo Juice and Dirty Nutty Bananas! Everyone got to meet and greet with family members old and new.

Aunt Betty and Granny

During supper that night is when I hear Ricky (Rusty's step dad) call through the beer and rum fog "Megan, you gonna meet me at the gym in the morning?!" I know a challenge when I see one...

"You bet! What time?" I reply.

"9 o'clock" Ricky says.

"Let's make it 8" I fire back. Oh boy, aren't I brave? This doesn't sound anything like all that sleeping in that I had planned! Damn!

Mr. 8:15, Ms. Right on Time

The next day we all just hung out at the pool and got a wee bit too much sun. A very nice, relaxing day. Just what I ordered! Friday night we all met up for drinks and appetizers at a restaurant/bar on another property that the hotel owns. It embodied the island feeling with no windows, light colors, tropical music and tropical drinks. Mojitos for everybody!

The view from the bar to the hotel

Daddy, Aunt Pat and Uncle Randall enjoy the island vibe

And so we come to the big day. It was a steamy day, by St. Thomas standards so we all were glistening just a touch. Aside from that, the day was perfect and everything went without a hitch. Of course, Marisa and Rusty both looked fantastic. I don't think I could imagine a more perfect place for the two of them to get married. St. Thomas was very fitting, indeed.

Marisa and Mom getting ready

Post ceremony with a little bubbly

Marisa and Rusty with the parents

Lots of iguanas on the hotel property. This one tried to crash the ceremony.

The bouquet with such vibrant colors.

We had a reception afterwards on a small terrace with some deelish food and drinkies. Then it was off to the boat dock where we boarded a catamaran for a sunset tour of the harbor. The drink of choice on the boat was called a Painkiller and I don't think anyone was feeling much pain! The combination of the boat, beautiful scenery, wind in your hair and fabulous people to celebrate with made the boat trip the coup de gras.

Mom and Jim

Granny, Grandaddy and I wait to shed our shoes and hop on the boat.

I love this picture!

Ricky shows his best side. Painkiller, anyone?

I love this one too. It looks very natural.

Stephen and Julie

Grandaddy and Marisa

Daddy and Celeste

Ricky and Brenda in another gorgeous sunset photo

Everyone kicking up their heels

Marisa putting her shoes back on. Say it with me: "YOWZA!"

To top off the night, we all hit the pool for a little nighttime swimming.

Rusty's sister, Ashley, enjoying the pool and some Voodoo Juice

Looks like loads of fun, right?! It certainly was. I am so glad that Marisa and Rusty made all of us take a vacation to such a beautiful place.

I took over 150 pictures, many of which are worth posting. Since here isn't the best place to do that, I created another blog for just wedding pics. I hope to post all of mine and ones taken by others. That way everyone's email box won't be jammed and there will be one central place to look through photos.

The new site is

www.esteswedding.blogspot.com

There are no photos up now but I will get them posted soon!

Update: I have posted all fifty zillion of my pics!