A Dominican Republic Wedding. Part 1: The Ceremony

Awake and at the airport around 5 in the morning on January 13^th, my sister Melissa and my soon-to-be brother in law Kurt’s wedding party gathered.  We were bleary eyed but in high spirits, with some tears being shed, and Kurt awkwardly lugging the large wedding dress around.

There was a change in the flight or some error, which caused our once direct flight to Punta Cana to have a 5-hour layover in Toronto.  I still want to see Toronto, but not this way.  To compensate the party, Melissa’s travel agent got everyone access to a VIP lounge with free drinks, food and Internet.   We used that time to catch up, and meet up, with various people that have congregated from several cities across the country: from Calgary to Victoria to Ottawa.  Melissa and Kurt are both in the Canadian armed forces after all, and are well traveled in that regard.

It was late when we arrived at the thatched-roof international airport, where I easily had my best experience at such a locale.  No profiling, awkward questions, mug shots or fingerprint scanning.  No, the staff maybe seemed to just want to go home, as they never even glanced to see if there was writing on the landing or customs forms we handed them.

I will admit, at first I wasn’t too sure about this destination wedding idea.  The price seemed a bit high, and I didn’t want to hang out at a ‘hotel’ for a week to save money.  Instead I learnt what a ‘resort’ was, and it’s like a small city.  Everyone got lost trying to find their hotel room, as there were so many buildings.  I had just met my roommate for the first time about 12 hours ago, as we both saved some money splitting a room.

The Majestic Resort that we were staying at is a 5 stars all-inclusive place.  Again, I never really had any idea, as I don’t travel in that (assumingly expensive) style, but I now definitely believe we got our moneys’ worth there.  Anytime, almost anywhere, you could grab alcohol and not pay.  There were various restaurants from Japanese, Italian, French, a steak house, and a couple buffets.  Our ‘side’ of the resort never really had kids, but including the other half that did, would rival the University of Regina’s campus’ size.  Anytime you wanted, with very few exceptions, you could drop in and eat as much as you want and not pay anything, save for a tip should you choose, as the service was always prompt and fantastic.

That first night everyone scattered.  That I know of, some went to an all-night snack joint, while some went to see the beach despite it being really late.  We weren’t really lumped together, and we found out later the entire place was booked solid.  We discovered this when my roommate and I, along with a couple others in our group, arrived to our rooms only having a single bed instead of 2 separate ones.  We never were able to change, and despite my offering, my roommate slept on a cot the whole week.

That first night, she only got back to the hotel room at 8 in the morning, crying, and conveying how she lost her shoes, purse and everything inside it like her wallet, ID and room card.  I asked if there was anything I could do, but she just cried herself to sleep instead of answering. 

I figured there’s nothing I could/should do, since we hardly knew each other and it wasn’t my place to get into her business.  She ended up getting her stuff back later thanks to an honest guest that turned in her items when they were found strewn across the lawn somewhere in the mini-city.

Melissa and Kurt decided that first day should be a day of rest to get used to the surroundings, and had a meeting with the wedding planner to finalize stuff.  Needless to say, most people took advantage of the free alcohol and hit the sauce from morning to night.  I took the opportunity with some others to just scout the place now that the sun was out, discovering the theater, gym, spa and more.

This place is massive, and the main hall is adorned in marble.  The beach is amazing and huge, with many different activities strewn about from kayaking to beach volleyball.  If salt water wasn’t your thing, there is a huge, massive pool stretching the entire length of the resort, and we quickly learnt the best place where to find others in our group that have gathered: by the in-pool bar.

When I first came across it, I don’t know if it was noon yet or not, I was asking around why no one was swimming in the ocean.  My sister Patty came up to interrupt me, and it was quickly apparent that she was drunk so that answered my question I guess.  I joined everyone, drinking in the pool and just hanging out.  At the beach you had to walk a bit further, and even get out of the water, to get a new drink.  Here, there were even stools in the pool to sit on while drinking at the bar.

There was a nearby water volleyball net (water polo?) where the wedding party gathered for drunken, sloppy volleyball, rich with rule arguments and laughter.  A little later there was an even a competition, introduced first by the staff dancing to Dominican music.  This is a daily event apparently, and Fridays are drinking contests.  People from our group won it in the end, and it was almost nationally themed at times.  One day the staff joked how we’re really in “Punta Cana-da” because of all the tourists from The Great White North.

When that was over, I was finally able to convince my brother John to go swim in the salty ocean for the first time.  There were many breaks far out, so it was much calmer (and safer?) than my first experience in Vietnam.  Well John went in, complained how salty it was, and was out in 5 minutes.  Oh well, each to their own.  He later went back in for a bit longer, posing for pictures that he has decorated his facebook with.

That night was a large group pre-wedding supper at an Italian restaurant.  We had 3 separate tables, and were treated to a wonderful drunk speech for the engaged couple.  It went on for a while, didn’t have much content despite demanding the attention of the restaurant, but it had a strong finish, explaining how Kurt is a man of the military, ending people’s lives, while Melissa is a nurse, bringing them back.  While John was mortified at first, he recognized the speech’s brilliance later and commended the dude that gave it.

In a rare twist, the only real ‘bad’ thing to go wrong all week, our food orders got mixed up at our table, but it wasn’t like we were paying anyways, and later went to the buffet anyways for dessert and whatever.  Many people partied late into the night, some in the main lobby on the couches, while others were outside about 15 feet away, enjoying live music and the occasional dance. 

I mentioned theaters earlier, and they have shows twice a day; that night was a circus.  It had everything: high stilts, acrobatics, flame throwing/breathing and more.  At times it reminded me a lot of the Cirque Du Soleil shows I saw in Vegas.  It’s crazy to note how the performers work several jobs, serving food and topping off drinks during the day, while performing Cirque Du Soleil acrobatics at night. 

The only unfortunate thing was how tired we all were from a day of swimming and sitting under the hot sun.  Many people turned in before it was over, while some others simply fell asleep in the large and very comfortable chairs.  Again, we only really paid in tips for everything. 

Now it was the 15^th, and the knot was to be tied at 11 in the morning. That left a lot of time in the morning, although surprisingly some people complained how it was way too early.  They just need to learn to lay off the unlimited sauce a bit more in my opinion but I digress.  After all, I have a lot of experience with that situation in Japan already, and those first weeks/months were pretty crazy.  I mostly just try to enjoy the drinks instead of trying to get stupid off their effects.  We all tried many different kinds too and it was neat learn all their new names and combinations.

I went with Chad, Ken and my Aunt Diane to a nearby flea market for some bartering.  I knew something was a bit off at first, but realized later it was too clean.  This ‘off market’ stuff was probably still a part of the monstrous resort, as we walked past the tennis courts and other luxuries.  Regardless it was still really fun, and you could tell who visited the place by their free necklaces/good-luck-charms they would come back with.

It was good to partner up, as the aggressive nature of bartering is tough to handle for us overly polite Canadians.  I did alright I think, and Chad spent some time living in the Caribbean, but our toughened demeanor was cracking by their overly kind approach.  For example, the free necklaces and shots of alcohol they’d give you for walking in their shop.  We both ended up getting a necklace and earring set for our girlfriends.

We went back to change for the wedding.  Patty was the maid of honour and John was a groomsman while I hung out in the audience taking pictures.  We gathered in the main lobby, drinking again, and waited for the party to show up in their outfits.  I later found out we were really waiting for the wedding planner to come after conducting a wedding on the beach that was running a bit late.  After this wedding she rushed off for yet another one.

As you can probably gather, it’s pretty ridiculous how many weddings happen at this resort.  Everyday you’d see two or more separate parties and many different dresses.  Sometimes taking pictures at the beach, other times at the buffet, casually eating while dressed in elegance.

We all took our seats under a white gazebo nearby, and many were glad to find shade if they could.  Kurt waited nervously alone at the front for a while as the procession prepared in the main lobby, and a healthy group of gawkers gathered to witness.  After all the support cast was on stage, Melissa came out with mom, tears in her eyes while the upbeat “Brown Eyed Girl” played in the background.  She really did find a beautiful dress, and she was just stunning for her wedding.

The ceremony was short in sweet, conducted in Spanish at first, then translated into English for us.  They both said their vows to each other, and I became convinced I have bad hearing.  The important thing is they both could hear each other, and the happiness they conveyed was without measure.  Rings were exchanged, and they kissed to seal the deal while everyone erupted in applause.

We gathered in the main, marble hall for more drinks, but mostly pictures and congratulations.  Pictures were taken for a long time with various people in various configurations such as the groom men, or Kurt’s side of the family, and so on.  When that was over, they gathered on the nearby master staircase for more stunning shots, then again later at the beach, where dresses got wet by the splashing tide, and memories were forged forever.

Congratulations, Kurt and Melissa Popescue. Jan 15, 2011.

The afternoon was a flurry of excitement, but before long we gathered again upstairs and heard speeches from friends and family members.  I had trouble making out most of it again except for my mom, who gave an elegant and very clear speech for Kurt, welcoming him to the family.  We were treated to a PowerPoint slideshow prepared by Patty, with various pictures of the lovebirds growing up, and growing together. 

To top it off, they shared their first dance together as husband and wife, moving to the beat of “I’m yours” by Jason Maraz.  After a quick break we all massed together again at the dining room next door.  There we enjoyed great food, great wedding cake, and whispered pleas for no more drunken speeches.  I had to leave for a bit to clear my head and hit the sauce harder, but when I came back the girls were all together, singing and dancing to whatever songs that came to their heads from Disney to childhood favourites.

Some of the employees in the background watched in amusement as the girls entertained everyone with their dance numbers.  Most people went and did their own things after that, and many went to the Resort’s dance club.  I saw Melissa dancing there in her wedding dress as I had seen several other girls during the week doing the same.  The club was fun, clean, (free!) and played the music we liked.  The party went on late into the night.  Some people went for greasy burgers at 2 in the morning again while others went skinny-dipping in the monstrous pool.  

It was a legendary party to top off a storybook wedding.  May they live happily ever after.

"This is the best day the world has ever seen. Tomorrow will be better." -R.A. Campbell 

tnoy