Day 3 - The Wedding

Day three was 'la dia mas importante' – the most important day (this blog is now permitted to feature random Spanish now that we’ve been in a Spanish-speaking country for more than three days).

The morning was mellow and included some time by the pool.  Fortunately, the weather was bright and sunny and it didn’t look to be changing anytime soon…or so we thought.

In the early afternoon the groomsmen, which includes four of the five TIS members, migrated to the groom's room to primp for the big show.  We convened in a suite to chill, sip on some beverages and discuss Dustin’s last few hours of freedom.  We proceeded to get dressed and take the traditional ‘groomsmen getting ready’ photos.  Around 4:30pm we headed down to the ceremony site.  On the walk down we quickly began to realize that long-sleeve collared shirts and long light grey cotton pants didn’t mesh well with 90 degrees and humid.  We began to sweat in areas we didn’t even know had sweat pores like our knees and shins.

Tom, Garrett, Mo, Greg and Matt...The Groomsmen

Who knew you could sweat from your knees and shins!

After the last of the guests had arrived, we finally reached go time.  The sky was clear, the sun was getting ready to set and there was a light breeze…perfect conditions.  

Dustin and his mom Cindy walking down the aisle

Garrett strolling down the aisle...

The beautiful couple saying their vows...

You may kiss the bride...

Mr. & Mrs. Dustin Avol

The beautiful ceremony lasted about 15-20 minutes.  Shortly after the “I Dos” while the guests proceeded to the cocktail reception, the clouds rolled in and the rain began to come down.  Although the flash storm lasted all of 10 minutes and came after the wedding ceremony, it still claimed a few casualties including having to re-position the outdoor wedding reception.  Like in theater, the show must go on so the hotel staff moved the ‘outside reception’ indoors.  It was a seamless adjustment and the guests enjoyed some extra cocktail reception time, which didn't seem to bother anyone.

Dustin, Hannah and Mo cracking open a bottle of RALLY VINO! 

The TIS crew poses with the wedding reception Mariachi band

In the end, the party went on...and on and on and on!  You couldn’t have hand selected a more lively, fun loving, energetic bunch.  From the families to the friends to the wedding party, the entire group was bouncing off the walls from the time we walked in to the time they kicked us out.  The quote that sums it up came early in the night when the DJ said, “This crowd is pumped and I’ve only been playing the dinner music.  This place could erupt when the dance music kicks in.”  And it did!  We danced the entire time only stopping for three top notch wedding speeches from the Father of the Bride Keith Schnell, the Maid of Honor Kate Schnell (the bride’s sister), and the Best Man and TIS’ own Matt D.

The groom and his jesters

Table 2 brought the ruckus

Mo and Garrett, members of table 2, doing their impression of going No. 2 

Laura and Mo broke out some props

Jump up, jump up and get down! - Sarah, Laura, Lauren and Stacie set the tone for a  off-the-wall wedding reception

Despite the warm and humid conditions, the flash flood and the wedding rearrangements, Dustin and Hannah’s wedding went off without a hitch in our minds.  It was a beautiful wedding for an absolutely beautiful couple.   A huge thank you to the Schnell and Avol family for including us and allowing us to be a part of such a special celebration.

Now, we have Sunday to recoup and then on Monday it's off to Puerto Rico.