Its all about the Wedding....

   

Saturday May 21st my friend Jenny had the wedding of one of her closest friend and she took me as her companion. We split the present expenses and I did all the driving.

Thank the gods for good friends that think of me when they need someone to have fun with. 

I don't believe in marriage for me (been there done that kind of deal) however I believe that other people should go for it if that's what they want to do and I'm more than happy for them, and for me for having the opportunity to celebrate their union.

 I also would like to see some of my gay friends get the chance to experience being married with the same opportunities that we have. You don't have to agree with me but this is my blog and I can "express my very deep and thoughtful ideologies" (sarcasm here) if I want to!

This dress is a couple of sizes bigger but I still got it because it fits around my breast area and that's

the most difficult part for me to fit when I buy dresses.

This dress is also the last retail and regular price item that 

I got for myself almost 3 years ago.

Calvin Klein dress, almost 3 years old. Mudd sandals.

Grace Elements cardigan is also a bit larger but the color was too bright to let it go, almost 3 years old too.

This necklace was a gift I gave myself after a very difficult period of my life back in 2006-2007.

It was a bit pricey but I deserved it!!!!

All bangles are thrifted from "my" Salvation Army store. 

Purchased in the last month.

Lottie Dottie purchased back in 2003. This designer is from South Florida and her bags were very popular back in the early 2000's.

This is the chandelier at the Cadet Hotel lobby.

The Historical Cadet Hotel lobby.  

Me and Clark!  No we are not dating, just friends!

This hotel is a diamond among the beach rocks.  It's in the middle of Miami Beach's busy streets and just 2 blocks from the beach.

The hotel is located in James Ave, Miami Beach. The staff was amazing and the hotel atmosphere is like a 1940's movie.  

An integrated 1940's movie.

You don't see any of these phones anymore. It was conveniently by the bar, in case you want to drink and dial.

We went to the room where the bride and the maid of honor were getting their make up done to bring them some cameras, and I took this photo of the hallway. It's very modern in contrast to the lobby and gardens and has some spectacular black and white photographs on the walls.

The big cow-like skin chair in the room were the bride was. It was skin-softly-comfortable.

The hotel entrance.

My friend Jenny and I. She was the sexy mama and I was the colorful mama.

This is the garden area right by the bar exit. 

Now,  I want to copy this tranquil and serene 

atmosphere into my backyard.

We walked two blocks to the beach for the ceremony. These are some of the larger hotels by Collins Ave.

People on their cars were blowing their horns at us. We were about 25 people, all dress up with a catholic father in full gear, walking towards the beach! Quite a procession.

The world renown Delano Hotel.

Walking towards the ceremony area, right by the ocean...

You see I do go the beach!

This was the view before we started to walk in the sand. 

Sorry the photos are a bit out of order. I took about 40 photos so at times it was difficult to decided which one to post and which ones to let go.

The ceremony atrium branches, were installed by the groom and his friends and according to the story he told the branches were cut from a not so secret location that same morning.

It was a beautiful, brightly sunny and slightly windy day at Miami Beach.
The gave us parasols to protect us against the sun and the wind (I had to keep mine very close to my body because the of the wind) and flip flops to walk in the sand.
 I was so happy to be there, it was magical.

Another one of my close ups.  I guess I'm starting a new on my face photos trend.

A view of the ceremony from my seat.

DISCLAIMER: The people in the following photos (even though they look fabulous) have no relation to this blog or to me (don't you feel sad for them).

As she walk by, I took this photos...

I love her dress train. I thought the combination of flowers, sand and the train was very pleasing to the eye.
                                                    

Many beach goers came around and took videos and pictures of the ceremony and

of all of us sitting around.

They had a harpist playing and a young girl sang a lovely song right before the

bride and groom walk back to the hotel as husband and wife.

The rest of us were leaving to go back to The Cadet while the bride and groom close family stay behind

for more pictures.

As we all walked back, I turned and took this picture of the sunset.

              Photos like this ones are the best reasons to have a beach wedding.

By the gardens with my first of drink of wine. I also drank some champagne later on this evening and that was it; because I did not wanted to feel sleepy on my drive back home.  Specially since I was up from 5:30 a.m. 

The table was decorated with these beautiful yellow flowers and the gave us all a bouquet of them to take home, along with a ribbon heart coin.

The hotel restaurant, Pie a' Terre, did a buffet style dinner. It was delicious and they had a variety of foods as well as very helpful and knowledgeable staff.

The mini sandwiches were good to look at and even better to eat.

The pink sauce was great. I don't know what was made of but whatever it was I enjoy it.

I meet the restaurant event coordinator at the reception and took the time to tell her that the food was fantastic and the customer service was amazing.  I usually take the time to express my joy and gratitute to the people that work on the service industry because  more often you hear the bad reviews and not the good ones.

         The groom and the bride released some white balloons into the starry night.

A view of the cake. It was stunning. 

Proving once more that sometimes "keeping it simple stupid", works!

The flowers were quite delicate and lucious.

A view without the flash. 

I love wedding cakes!

 I'm getting one for my November birthday.

The cake was as good as it looks!! 

I got out of the conga line to take this picture and the went back in. 

We were dancing for about 2 hours or... maybe longer.

This is the "sitting pool".
 Here is the DJ spinning his magic. The music was a great variety of old Salsa and Merengue and some new latin Pop and Latin Hip-Hop.

The restaurant entrance (Pie a' Terre) as we were heading out into the night. 

Of course I said "congratulations" to the gorgeous couple and thank them for the invitation.

The yellow roses at my dinner room table, around 2:30 a.m. 

I'm going to another wedding on July 2. 

I'll keep you posted.

I'm sorry for such a long post and thanks so much for reading it!

 Have a healthy and fun week,