Lindsay's Las Caletas Wedding Pics!

[Ali and Jeff]

Congrats Lindsay...the teaser pics are amazing and I bet you couldn;t of imagined a better way to spend Valentines Day...cant wait to read your whole review! You two look so happy!

[TammyB]

Welcome back and congrats. Those pics were great, thanks for the tease. :-) BTW that 5th picture looks like you were almost on fire.. :-)

[anaderoux]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAMMYM BTW that 5th picture looks like you were almost on fire.. :-)

hahahahaha ditto!!!

Congrats Lindsay!!! Great pics!!!

[Natalie Z]

Congrats! The everything looked beautiful! I can't wait to read your review and see more pics!

[A10CalGal]

How wonderful Lindsay! Everything looks gorgeous...can't wait to see/hear more!

[TA Lindsay]

Ok, bear with me, this isn't my review YET, but I am copying this into a post so that all the Caletas girls can read it to get a better understanding of how the day went etc. This is from an email that my mom wrote to her friend in Toronto about the day of the wedding etc. Thought someone might want to read it! Sorry it's so long!

 

"Lindsay and Ed definately had the fairy tale wedding of their dreams! It was like something you would see in a travel brochure! It was more beautiful than you could ever imagine!

 

The days leading up to wedding day were hectic and filled with questions and anticipation from the other guests. Only Glenn, Sheri, Lindsay & Ed, and Ed’s parents knew the details. On Tuesday February 13th the Bridesmaids, Sharon & Bill, Ryan, and Auntie Ruby (Hairdresser for the bride) had lunch together and then gathered on the beach to discuss what would be taking place the next day. Seven of us would be picked up by a cab (Glenn, Sheri, Lindsay, Ciara, Kim, Kiley & Ruby) at 5:30 am on February 14th. We would be arriving at the wedding location (which still was not divulged) around 10:30 am and get to spend the day there relaxing, getting ready and just enjoying the day. The other guests would arrive later in the day. Tuesday at 7:30 a meeting was called with the remaining wedding guests - everyone met in the lobby area where Lindsay and Ed handed out a "Message in a bottle" to each room. These were little glass heart shaped corked bottles which were in a pink organza draw string bag that also had cinnamon & conversations hearts in. Inside the glass bottles were tiny sea shells and sand, plus a scroll rolled up and tied with twine. The message read "Please be dressed ready to attend the wedding and meet in the lobby at 1:15 pm on Wednesday February 14th. A bus will arrive to pick you up at 1:30 and you will be given further information at that time. The wedding is being held off-sight, and you will not be returning to the resort until sometime after midnight, so please make sure you have everything you need for the wedding and the day. (medications, a light sweater or jacket, cameras, beach footwear, etc)." That was all anyone was told. They were all so mad, and just dying of curiosity! It was pretty funny to see all of their questioning faces. (my friend Lori Taylor stood up and said “That’s all you’re telling us, I am not even part of the family and it is driving me crazy!†Is was pretty funny!) It was so much fun keeping all of this a secret from everyone. Later that evening, Sharon, Bill, & Ryan were made privy to the location of the wedding as each had a job to do after the 7 of us were gone. We felt very funny sneaking away from the hotel at 5:30 am in the dark while everyone slept and were none the wiser! It was neat! Bill's job was to work the video camera for the wedding. We just told Ryan the details because he was a little “bent out of shape†about not being confided in. He never even told Ciara he knew about it before she did!

 

Sharon was given a letter from Lindsay and Ed, to read to everyone when they got on the bus and at that time they would then know where they were going. This is the letter. (She couldn't make it through without tears however – I guess she had to stop a few times).

 

"Welcome to “Our Wedding Celebrationâ€

 

Finally the plans we have kept a secret for more than a year can be shared. (well, some of them!)

 

Mom & Dad first happened upon the location we are taking you, on their 25th Anniversary and couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful & magical it was. So in 2005 on our trip to Puerto Vallarta, Eddie and I just had to see it for ourselves. We visited the location on two different occasions, once during the day and again for sunset and the evening. We were hooked. It is perhaps the most serene, beautiful, breathtaking place on earth! When we got engaged and wedding plans were being discussed, and since a trip to PV was already in the works, we knew that somehow, someway we had to make this our “Dream Wedding†destination. With the help of a few people, the resourcefulness of the internet, much planning and the kind generosity of Ed’s parents, we are able share our dream with all of you! We are so grateful that so many of our family and friends believed in us and gave us your support by coming along to “share our dayâ€.

 

You begin the journey on this bus, which will take you to Nuevo Vallarta marina. There, an employee of Vallarta Adventures will direct you on board a catamaran. You will enjoy an open bar during the ride to our destination. (HINT – The Rum punch is to die for!!!!!) But please pace yourselves, as there will be cocktails upon your arrival, the wedding ceremony and a long evening to follow, none of which you will want to miss!

 

For anyone anxious or nauseous on the water, Auntie Sharon has been given a supply of gravol to distribute if you need it. (just don’t fall asleep and miss the boat!)

 

So please be our guests, sit back, enjoy the scenery and sights along the way – breath in the tropical/ocean air and help us make our Dream Come True – at long last!

 

“Let your life be measured not by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away!†We hope for you as well, this may be one of them!

 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for joining us!

 

Love

Lindsay and Eddie

(soon to be the new Mr. & Mrs. Ed Gatzke) "

 

Turned out that Bill got very sick in the night, (fever, sore throat and cough) and while I was showering at 4:30 am, Sharon came knocking on our door to say she didn’t think that she and Bill were going to be able to make the wedding, and what should she do about the video camera and the letter she was supposed to read? So I said for her to give the video camera to one of the other fellows and perhaps Melissa would read the letter. Turned out Bill’s fever broke later in the morning, so he was o.k. to stay back by himself and Sharon was able to come. It was sad that Uncie Bill had to miss is, but these things can’t be helped! (by the time we got back at 1:30 am he was feeling better Lindsay went to their room to show him her wedding dress and flowers, etc.) When we crept away at 5:30 am, Glenn’s Auntie Ruby snuck out of her adjoining room with Shirley & Della, and left a note under their door saying she had gone with us and would see them later. I guess Glenn’s mom was just livid because she was not “in the know†and now Ruby was not there to do her hair for her before the wedding! It was actually pretty funny! Even people around the resort we spoke with later, said Shirley was just fuming! They all told her to suck it up and get over it!

 

Anyway the wedding was held at Las Caletas, and Lindsay’s wedding planner was hired through Vallarata Adventures. Her name was Nicole and she did an absolutely fabulous job! We got to spend the day at the bridal suite overlooking the beach and ocean. Nicole did all the running around and wouldn’t let any of us lift a finger. She was on the go the entire day. It was a beautiful relaxing day for us. We had an excellent buffet lunch, open bar, champagne in the suite. It had walls and walls of big floor length mirrors, a big bathroom with two showers, a big closet to hang clothes in, and large sectional couch and even a king size bed and a small fridge. Out back was a Jacuzzi that had just been installed two days prior, so Lindsay and the girls were the first ones to be able to enjoy it. The area is a jungle, accessible only by the ocean and the only electricity is by the bar for the sound system and up in the bridal suite. The rest of the island is lit by torches and candles. During the day the jungle sounds are just deafening. Ciara was hoping they would put the parrots to bed before the wedding, as they were quite disruptive! At night – all was quiet!

 

The winds picked up during the afternoon, and by the time the other guests were to be leaving the marina the ocean was quite rough. The catamaran was late picking them up in Nuevo, and it was an anxious time watching out on the ocean from our bird’s eye view, waiting for them to all arrive. They were about ½ hr late, so things were rushed, and couldn’t follow the plan due to the diminishing light. The photographer was getting a little anxious to get some pictures taken before daylight was gone! (understandably). So the guests were led down the beach – had a quick moment to run to the washroom – a couple of them were not feeling too well due to the roughness of the ocean, and some of them were slightly damp from the spray! Then they were asked to be seated so the ceremony could begin! (The original plan was to have them arrive, sign the guest book, pick up a little thing of bubbles that Lindsay had put verses on and decorated, and have time for a cocktail and appetizers, but that just couldn’t happen! It was unfortunate, but not a big deal!) The wedding took place on the beach, straw mats formed a walkway from a massive rock stairway above the beach, to where the chairs were placed. They all had white chair covers on them. At the front was a table with the ring shell pillow on and the containers for their sand ceremony, as well as a beautiful bouquet of tropical flowers. Behind the table was an archway made of two palm fronds! It was breathtaking – like something out of a picture book. The photos don’t even do it justice, you just had to be there! Then it was time to begin. Ed’s brother came down the stairs, then Ed, (Eddie wore a white Traditional Mexican wedding shirt and a pair of white cotton pants – all were in bare feet) and then Ryan escorted me down the staircase. Then came Kiley, Ciara and lastly Kim. The girls looked so pretty in their brightly colored dresses with their tropical bouquets. Ciara did a fabulous job on the dresses and they all looked so cute! Then while all eyes were on the stairway, I had my camera focused on Eddie – I wanted to capture the look on his face when he saw Linds in her wedding dress for the first tme. He had tears, but truly a look of peace, love & happiness on his face! Lindsay was just glowing, and Glenn was in tears as well! It was a hard day for dear old dad! (and ma!!) Being not just the “partial†mom, I have to say, I have never seen Lindsay look more beautiful. She looked so happy and relaxed and was just “radiatingâ€. Truly the glowing bride! Both of them looked so happy and all during the ceremony – you could tell that this was definitely genuine love – you could just tell by the glances passing between them, it was like there was only the two of them there on the beach with the officiant and nothing else mattered. It was really beautiful. One little faux pas, which I saw about to happen even before it did, was, they had candles in glass holders on both sides of the staircase coming down to the beach, and they were lit after dark, but I knew the train of her dress was going to knock them. I should have moved them before, but everything happened so quickly that I didn’t have a chance. So when she and Glenn started down the stairs, her train caught the first holder and it smashed down the stairs. I think she broke two of them, but someone came to her aid and moved them and cleaned up the glass (all in bare feet) so it wasn’t too big of a disaster! The ceremony was fairly short, followed by their sand ceremony (similar to a unity candle, but with different colored sand) and then they walked back down the “aisle†to Smashmouth’s “I’m a beliver†(from Shrek). It was too cute! The photographer captured such a cute picture of them at this point! Then there were millions of pictures and the drinks and appetizers were brought out. A buffet supper was served, cutting of the cake (which they proceeded to smash all over each other’s faces – Lindsay started it – we have proof on the video camera), then some toasts and everyone was asked to head back down on the beach. The wedding set up had all been cleared away and a big bonfire lit and a dance floor set up with candles all around the outside of it. Their first dance was “From this moment†and then Lindsay and Glenn danced to “Butterfly kissesâ€. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place after that song! A few people danced and then Lindsay and Ed had one more surprise for everyone. They had hired the Las Caletas Fire dancers and they put on about a 15 minute show. They had Lindsay and Ed stand off to the front of the dance floor and several times during their show, they took the firesticks and twirled them around and on either side of them, kind of ceremonious-like. Mom was afraid they were going to catch Lindsay’s dress on fire! Lindsay said it was warm, but they weren’t that close. I think they knew what they were doing! Then a few more dances and sadly it was time to head back to the boat. The wind had let up a little, but the ocean was still very rough. They recommended everyone take gravol or Dramamine prior to boarding. Kim and Jason’s friend Frank didn’t do to well. Ciara wasn’t feeling too well either, and the rest of us were a little “nervous†as it was very rough, but we made it back to dry land safe and sound. The remaining wedding cake however was not so fortunate. Jason was carrying it, and holding it by the top of the plastic container and when he got off the boat onto the pier, the bottom fell off the container and the cake splatted all over the pier. He felt so terrible, and was afraid he had upset Lindsay. She really didn’t think much about it but the next day we had to make amends, as Jason and Brenda were feeling so badly! Glenn and Lindsay and I all went and talked to them and said it really wasn’t that big a deal. It was just cake (good cake and cost Lindsay & Ed $100, but still – why get upset!!!) Unfortunately they (Brenda & Jason) fretted about it all night! Stuff happens, no sense in getting upset over it! Geeze guys, don’t sweat the small stuff! Once off the boat we still had an hour bus ride back to Guayabitos. It was a quiet ride, I think most people dozed off. It was a beautiful day, went by in a blurr, but the memory of it will live in all of us forever! I still get choked up and teary thinking about it! One comment I heard from someone was “this is one wedding I will never ever forget!†"

 

Lindsay

[CourtneyV]

Aww- Lindsay, I actually got a little misty eyed when I read that! I love that you kept everything a secret - what an excellent idea! And isn't that what every bride wants to hear after their wedding - that their wedding is one the guests will never forget? Congratulations on your wedding... we still want to hear your review!

[LCBride2007]

That was a great letter to read - I loved it! I love the part about how the parents spent their 25th anniversary there, and that's how you found the place. What a great story!

[A10CalGal]

That's so awesome Lindsay! I had no clue you were keeping your guests in the dark...how much fun!

[*JillD*]

what a great letter Lindsay! Your mom put so much detail into that, it was almost like we were there just by reading it! Congratulations!