Barcelo Maya Palace Wedding in the Rain – Celeste and Brett
“When it started to rain (downpour!) just moments before we were set to say I do, I should have been disappointed. We planned for over a year to have our ceremony outside overlooking the ocean. Instead of breaking down, I felt a sense of calm I’ve never experienced before.
“It didn’t matter if it rained, if my dress got soaked, if my hair went frizzy… I was about to marry my best friend and that’s all that mattered.”
“As Brett and I said our vows, the storm clouds broke away and the sun came out as I kissed my husband for the first time. Once the rain cleared we were greeted by a stunning sunset. It was even more striking than we ever could have imagined.”
“Our stormy wedding day turned into the most astonishing backdrop to the pictures we will cherish for years and years to come.”
Celeste: “Brett’s vows surprised me in the best way. He has always supported me and shows his unconditional love every day, but to hear him share his feeling in front of our friends and family melted my heart.
“I promise wherever our journey leads us, I will fight for you, respect you and cherish everything about you.”
Brett: “Celeste’s vows included details of our everyday life that really touched me:
“I vow to always leave you the drumsticks when we share wings. And let you take the crunchy French fries occasionally too. I vow to avoid walking in front of the TV during game 7. And I promise to ask for a back massage at least once a week. I vow to continue to always be right even when you won’t admit it.”
Her closing line shows her true love for me and I love that: “I will stand by your side for the rest of my life.” – Brett
Celeste: “As I stood waiting, arm in arm with my parents, it finally started to feel real. This past year had been a whirlwind of emotions, hundreds of emails, seating chart arrangements, numerous vow drafts… but in this moment, the planning was over and I was about to walk down the aisle.
My parents escorted me down with the support of my closest friends and family radiating on either side of me. I have never felt so much love in my entire life. I couldn’t see Brett very well at first; he was a silhouette in the distance among the smiling faces and happy tears.”
“As I got closer he took my hand and pulled me towards him. I looked up at his face and a single tear rolled down his cheek. In this moment I knew I never wanted him to let go.”
Brett: “The day started off with me being super nervous. I took the guys to the colonial hotel where we played some mini golf, had lunch and walked around. It was so hot that day we actually spent two hours in the pool before getting ready.
As the day went on I became even more nervous. I was thinking about everything; seeing Celeste in her wedding dress, the emotions of everyone around, and just standing there with my bride wondering if I’d even be able to speak to say my vows.
As soon as she walked down the aisle all my nerves vanished. I became extremely calm and felt almost comfortable knowing this was about to happen. Glancing to see how much of a wreck my dad was and how happy my mom was made it easier somehow.”
“Once she stood with me at the front I couldn’t stop staring at her, she looked incredibly beautiful and extremely happy. The look on her face and the love I felt through her hands I knew this was forever.
Celeste: “Having Sol and Vanessa capturing our wedding day was a wonderful surprise! They are both so unbelievably talented and creative. Their dedication to capturing the perfect photo every time is inspirational. At one point, Sol was in the ocean up to her knees (fully clothed!) and Vanessa was crouched down in the sand to get the right lighting and angle.”
“Sol’s free-spirit personality is refreshing and really helped us feel comfortable in front of the camera. It was so encouraging to see Sol and Vanessa’s enthusiasm when they captured a great shot.”
“The entire del Sol team is professional and incredibly helpful. Even with the long distance between us, the planning process was seamless, straightforward and a lot of fun! We were always well informed and they were very quick to respond to all our questions along the way. We can’t wait to plan our next photo-shoot with del Sol!”
“After we got engaged, we decided very quickly to have our wedding in Mexico. We took a trip to Riviera Maya to view potential venues and resorts. Our plan was to stay at the Barcelo Palace and check out other resorts during the week.”
“After seeing the beautiful gazebo overlooking the ocean, the immaculate reception area, and the many wedding packages to choose from, we knew Barcelo was the resort for us. The unwavering hospitality from the resort staff and the amazing food solidified our decision. We were so impressed with the Barcelo Palace that we didn’t feel the need to look anywhere else!”
“I was very concerned with having the “perfect” wedding. I thought rain on my wedding day would be the absolute worst thing that could happen. When I first heard the thunder and saw the dark clouds roll in, I didn’t cry like I thought I would… I smiled and laughed.”
“After all the wedding planning, this was the one thing completely out of my control. The rain was coming and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. In the end, I was still going to be married to the love of my life and we had our friends and family there to celebrate with us.”
“It’s important not to forget the reason you’re getting married. The rain doesn’t change the fact that you are about to experience one of the most amazing moments of your life. I’m grateful for the rain on my wedding day, because now I’m blessed with a lifetime of memories that I would not have if those storm clouds didn’t surprise us that day.”
A HUGE thank you to Celeste and Brett for their wonderful words!!
For more reason to embrace the rain check out our post: Why Rain on your Wedding Day is AWESOME!
Principal Photographer: Sol
Second Photographer: Vanessa
Destination Wedding Location: Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe Gazebo
Destination Wedding Reception: Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe Goral Grill
Destination Wedding Coordinator: Itzel Ayestarán
Gown Boutique: Justin Alexander from Novelle Bridal
Groom’s Custom Suit: Harry Rosen styled by Haseeb Zia
Bridesmaid dresses: Bill Levkoff
Groomsmen suits: Calvin Klein
