Ever and I have always said that we would renew our vows and get remarried every 10 years (we love each other madly but will find any excuse to throw a party). Ten years came up faster than we could have imagined. As it approached, Elle was always asking why she wasn’t in any of our wedding photos and why she wasn’t a part of our first wedding. Even after we explained she wasn’t born (or even a thought in my brain, but I didn’t tell her that part), she was still always upset. Elle never even liked to look at our photo album, even so far as to say, “Mom, you look weird in your wedding.” This was her way saying I didn’t look nice and hating on me (the nerve!). Even with the “hating,” I knew that I wanted her to be a big part of our second wedding.

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Every year we go on a big vacation with a group of friends, we call it our “friendscation,” and this year our group picked a Cancun trip. Our anniversary is always around the time of the trip, so I knew we would do it then. It made sense to take advantage of so many of our friends being there, and my sister was the ONLY one at our initial wedding.  We didn’t invite family because then it would turn into a whole formal affair, having to invite everyone, and we really wanted it to be low key and about our kids and friends. We just wanted Elle to remember and to have a great time on vacation with our friends.  This is our grown up version of eloping.  I had a big, fancy, crazy formal wedding the first time with all my family and their friends, so I didn’t feel the slightest bit guilty about this version.

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If you know me you know I’m ALL about the dress, and while scrolling on Instagram I came across my “Orion” gown by “Willowby by Waters.”  Ever has been dedicating two songs that involve stars to me since we were dating, and I just knew it was perfect, and that he would get the meaning behind it. I loved that it was nontraditional to go with the vibe of the wedding, and I loved the sheer version because; 1) I knew it would be hot & humid, and 2) Ever would love that it was see through (the dress also comes in a non-sheer version for those that don’t want a risqué dress). I also decided to wear my hair natural and curly because it Ever’s favorite (and the humidity probably wouldn’t have allowed for anything else).  Elle’s dress also popped up on a Facebook ad and it was just perfect. (Her dress is by “Ele Story”  The headpieces we’re fromamazon.com and heels were CHANEL (a few seasons ago) and Elle’s sandals were “Saltwaters.”  I also bought Elle a pretty pair of gold dangly star earrings as a gift and to wear to the wedding.  I think she loved because she hasn’t taken them off since.

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Elle and I walked down the aisle to meet the Evers while “I lava you” played, it was from the short film before Moana and we always sing it in the car. Elle calls it our family love song.  Uppercase Ever and I could barely keep it together and the ceremony was barely under way.   We had so many more uncontrollable feels this time around because we had so much more to love in the family we made.  I would tell anyone a million times to get remarried after having children and make them part of the wedding, because it feels so much more significant.

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It was a short & sweet ceremony where we exchanged our own vows. I wrote mine and Ever winged his. His brought everyone to tears including myself.  I couldn’t have loved him more at that moment that I even tried to kiss him much to the official’s dismay.  Then we proceeded to initiate a sand ceremony where we mixed four different color sands, each one representing myself, Ever, lowercase Ever, & Elle into a glass jar to symbolize our union. We exchanged new wedding bands, I got a thin yellow gold pave diamond  Cartier Love band and Ever got a new yellow gold Love band as well (hopefully it doesn’t end up being a bottle opener like the previous white gold version he had before).  We ended it with, naturally, a champagne toast with all our friends.

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The reception was held on a deck by the beach, and we came into the party while “Poco Loco” from the movie Coco played.  It was very important for us to involve the kids and I knew Elle would love it. I loved that it was a Mexican themed song to go with our heritage & location. We danced with the kids, and after the song was over, they played “Loco” by Alejandra Fernandez, which is a song that Ever would dedicate to me since our early days. We danced to it until it ended, and we sat down for a night full of delicious food and abundant dancing. We had so much fun, probably TOO much fun, because the next day was rough on all of us (especially me!).  I wished I remember more, like the fire show Ever surprised me and our guests with, but the champagne got the best of me. I blame it on dehydration and not eating enough that day as I tried to get myself and the kids ready on time.  What I do remember was pure magic, but the hangover was not.

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The next day we planned a small bonfire and dinner on the beach for our friends but when we got there it looked more like a second reception.  Ever had completely upgraded everything to surprise me! There was a menu of all my favorites, including grilled lobster tails, salmon, steak, and a S’mores and dessert bar.  It was simply beyond amazing, and to top it off, after dinner a full mariachi band came to serenade us and even played songs from the movie “Coco,” and “Baby Shark” for the kids.  My heart was full watching all the kid’s expressions while they danced to the music.  The night wrapped up, and we just hung out by the beach in the beds that the resort has set up.  We all shared our love stories and how we met while the kids watched movies.  It was a night I won’t soon forget.

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The entire trip was what vacation dreams are made of.  Elle got to vacation with some of her very best friends, and so did we.  Dreams Resort in Riviera Maya was the perfect family friendly choice and the service was next to none.  They also specialize in weddings and made it very easy to design the events we wanted.  I would highly recommend them for weddings, but please know that if you plan of marrying in the summer, it is VERY hot and humid. 

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I honestly can’t wait to plan another 10-year renewal. I think it was just what we needed to recharge and replenish our love tank, and our friends said it was also a great reminder to love a little harder.  I love my husband even more because he made an already special event into a dream event. There were little things that I did not mention or share, because they are very personal to us and even though I’m an open book most times, I do have a private side. Wink Wink.

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XOXO Linda 

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