Showing posts with label Del Sol Photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Del Sol Photography. Show all posts

Jul 13, 2011

Journey Of A Thousand Miles: And We Danced The Night Away...

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Del Sol Photography

Even though the night was coming to an end and our all out dance party was starting to wind down, our DJ still had a couple surprises up his sleeve.

I guess to really tell this story I need to start back when Bijan, our DJ, was trying to put together a playlist for our reception. He asked both of us to send a list of our 10 favorite songs so he could get a feel for our style. When I got a look at Mr. Meerkat's list, #1 was and I quote - "my entire Metallica collection". *facepalm* I emailed Bijan and clarified that while these are the songs we liked, he did not have to play any that were not good for dancing.

So imagine my surprise as we were out there on the dance floor and I heard Bijan's voice come over the speakers saying "Chris, this one is for you." Followed by the song Nothing Else Matters by Metallica. Leave it to Bijan to find the only love song Metallica ever wrote. Mr. Meerkat was ecstatic! And yes we danced like nothing else mattered.


Del Sol Photography


Del Sol Photography


Del Sol Photography

All of our family and friends joined us out on the dance floor. I never in a million years would have thought that we would have three different generations out on the dance floor dancing to Metallica.




Del Sol Photography


Del Sol Photography



As the evening came to an end, Bijan gave us one last amazing song to end the night on - Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. It was absolutly perfect for our group because for us it doesn't get any better than some classic Queen.


While the song starts out really slow, everyone was standing around in a circle together shoulder to shoulder, singing and swaying.


Best Man Meerkat and Kari the Hairy Fairy were even singing into straws.


And then the fun started as the fast guitar rifts began and the beat picked up.


Which produced more singing at the top of our lungs mixed with some amazing air guitar displays.



Personal photos by Mama-In-Law Meerkat & Sister-In-Law Meerkat

I couldn't have thought of a more "us" way to end the reception.

After the music had faded away and everyone had said their good nights, Mr. Meerkat and I along with Best Man Meerkat went to the hotel lobby to relax a bit and to have one final celebratory wedding day drink together. As we sat there talking, I couldn't help but feel happy. Our wedding and reception were absolutely amazing and better than I could have ever dreamed they could be. From putting on my dress to being able to have a Father-Daughter dance, everything was simply perfect.

Thank you Mr. Meerkat for helping make all my wedding day dreams come true.


Up Next: Cenote Trash The Dress


Days Before Wedding
Getting Ready
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour and Portraits
The Reception
Posted by Carla at 2:12 PM 0 comments
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Jul 11, 2011

Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Rock Music, Flaming Coffee & One Sexy Bitch

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Del Sol Photography

After we finished dancing with our moms, our reception became a full on dance party. Brother-In-Law Meerkat started his own version of a train and went around the tables snagging people as we made our way back out to the dance floor.


Del Sol Photography

Once we had everyone out there, they really started to let lose singing and dancing. I can't even begin to tell you all the amazing memories we made out on the dance floor that night. I can still hear Stacey the Makeup Fairy and Sister-In-Law Meerkat singing at the top of the their lungs "save a horse, ride a cowboy".


Del Sol Photography

Even Mr. Meerkat got in on the dancing aside from the fact he tells me all the time he is not comfortable dancing. 


Del Sol Photography

After we had all been shaking it on the dance floor for a while, one of our bartenders started to prepare the special treat we had arranged for our guests - flaming Mayan coffee.


Del Sol Photography

It's basically the same anise liquor based Mayan coffee that Mr. Meerkat had each night at the resorts piano bar but with the main difference being they add a flaming tequila mixture to the top of the drink so that when they hand it to you it is on fire. 


Del Sol Photography

While everyone was taking a little breather to enjoy their drinks, our DJ started up a special request of Kari's - Thriller by Michael Jackson. Once my brother-in-law heard it, him and Kari were out on the dance floor to show us how it was done.


Del Sol Photography


Del Sol Photography

And I have to be honest I couldn't resist getting in on it either but these two put me to shame! They were simply awesome out there.


Del Sol Photography

It didn't take long to get everyone out on the dance floor again.


Del Sol Photography

Shaking their butts and just having a good ol' time.


Del Sol Photography

After we had all been dancing for a bit the song Low by Flo Rida started playing. Mr. Meerkat and I have been in love with this song ever since we saw Tom Cruise doing his crazy dance to it in Tropic Thunder. Our reception was probably the first time in the five years Mr. Meerkat and I had been dating that he has gotten to really see me let lose and dance. I think I impressed him. ;)


Del Sol Photography

As you may have guessed from the picture above Mr Meerkat and I stole the show on this one. Who knew the two of us together could rock a dance floor.


Del Sol Photography

There were so many amazing memories we made out on the dance floor at our reception but I think one of the moments that stands out in my memory the most has to do with the song Sexy Bitch by David Guetta.


Remember back when I was telling you about our drive to the ceremony site? I made a passing reference to how funny the drive over was but I saved the full story for this post. Let me introduce you to Kari the Hair Fairy's better half and our sexy bitch - Wilderness Keith.


Del Sol Photography

While Kari and Keith rode with all us girls over to the ceremony site, he was a little out numbered being the only guy in the van. And us girls, as usual, were all being silly telling each other how pretty we looked. Leave it to Keith to one up all of us. He held up his beer and said with a huge smile on his face "You know whose a sexy bitch?" (to which we all just stared at him for the answer) "I'm a sexy bitch". Well our van just erupted into laughter and it became a running joke.

So when Kari tipped off our DJ to play Sexy Bitch by David Guetta, you can only imagine the response it got from all of us. The end result was Keith busting out some crazy, sick moves while sounded by a circle of us ladies dancing around him. It. Was. Epic. To this day, when ever people talk about our wedding that is one of the stories that gets retold.

Up Next: And We Danced The Night Away...


Days Before Wedding
Getting Ready
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour and Portraits
The Reception
Posted by Carla at 1:29 PM 0 comments
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Jun 17, 2011

Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Dancing With Our Moms

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Del Sol Photography

After all the tears had started to subside, it was time for the Mother-Son dance. I know Mr. Meerkat had a rough time choosing music for this because he really loves rock. So I was happy to see him find a classic that he loved: Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.


As the music started Mr. Meerkat led Mama-In-Law Meerkat out onto the dance floor.


Del Sol Photography

I was loving watching them dance together.


Del Sol Photography

I started crying again when I saw Mama-In-Law Meerkat crying onto Mr. Meerkat's shoulder.


Del Sol Photography

The dance was simple, sweet and perfect for them.


Del Sol Photography

After Mama-In-Law Meerkat and Mr. Meerkat had finished their dance and we had all wiped our tears away I pulled Mama Meerkat out onto the floor.

Remember back when I asked you for help on what music to play for the surprise mother-daughter dance I was planning? As always, you came through with awesome ideas.  I ended up doing a mash up of three songs:  Chubby Checker's The Twist (my moms favorite), Cupids's Cupid Shuffle and Cotton Eyed Joe by The Rednex.

And thankfully the AMAZING Mr. Panther was able to put together a mp3 for me that faded from one song to the next.



As soon as my mom heard the twist, she knew exactly what to do. Dance her butt off!


Del Sol Photography

And this is the point where my plan went a bit south. The one thing I didn't count on was Mama Meerkat having blisters all over her feet. A week of walking all over the Riviera Maya really took a toll on her feet. By the time the first 35 seconds of the song was finished her blisters were hurting so bad she had to sit down.

Lucky for me Sister-In-Law Meerkat and Stacey the Makeup Fairy had my back. They got up there with me and did the cupid shuffle.


Del Sol Photography

And I give them credit, they even attempted to learn the dance steps to Cotton Eyed Joe on the fly. If you have ever seen this dance you know its fast and you move A LOT! I even yanked my dress up so they could see my feet but alas I am a terrible dance teacher. :P


Del Sol Photography

Mostly we just ended up laughing a lot but it was still fun. 


Del Sol Photography

It didn't take long after that song ended for the party to get into full swing. I never knew our family and friends could rock a party like they did! Wait until you see them.

Up Next: Whose A Sexy Bitch?


Days Before Wedding
Getting Ready
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour and Portraits
The Reception
Posted by Carla at 10:57 AM 0 comments
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Jun 14, 2011

Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Mr. Meerkat Made Me Cry

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Del Sol Photography

As the last few notes of our first dance faded away, I started to turn and make my way off the dance floor for the Mother-Son dance but Mr. Meerkat stopped me. Then I heard the the beginning of a song my dad use to play for me as a little girl.


The song is called Daddy's Girl and it was our song. The one where when you hear it playing, you look at each other and smile.

So for a minute I just stood there staring at Mr. Meerkat. I didn't understand what was going on. Then it slowly came to me. Mr. Meerkat was giving me the Father-Daughter dance I never thought I would be able to have.


Del Sol Photography

After losing my dad to cancer, being able to have a Father-Daughter dance to our song wasn't an option. It was one of the hardest things to come to terms with while we were planning.


Del Sol Photography

I can remember Mr. Meerkat pulling me into his arms and whispering in my ear:
I would give anything for your dad to be here but since he can't I was hoping you wouldn't mind if I filled in for him.

Del Sol Photography


Del Sol Photography


Del Sol Photography

I held on so very tightly to Mr. Meerkat as we danced. And I cried - a lot. So did our family and friend. But it was the good kind of cry that reminds us of how much we are loved.


Del Sol Photography

Even though I was crying, I was still pretty much holding it together until I heard this part of the song:

I recall the day that your young man come to call.
Seems like only yesterday, you swam and played football.
But I know the time has come, that I must set you free.
But no matter where you are, you know what you are to me.

Once I heard that I couldn't dance anymore. It was just too hard. I told Mr. Meerkat how much it meant to me to have my Father-Daughter dance but that I wanted to get back to the celebrating.


Del Sol Photography

He simply smiled and nodded at me in this way that said he understood. So he took my hand and escorted me off the dance floor.

Even though it was hard at the time, I am so glad that I got to have my Father-Daughter dance.

Up Next: Dancing With Our Moms


Days Before Wedding
Getting Ready
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour and Portraits
The Reception
Posted by Carla at 4:33 PM 0 comments
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Jun 13, 2011

Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Our Unchoreographed First Dance

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Del Sol Photography

Throughout our planning Mr. Meerkat and I debated back and forth on choreographing our first dance vs taking the lets just wing it approach. I moaned and whined to you about wanting a up beat, get the crowd cheering dance but in the end we totally went for the wing it option. And you know what? Our first dance turned out even better than I had imagined it choreographed.

I think one of the reasons was the song we chose - All or Nothing by Theory of a Deadman.



So many of the things said in the song reminded me of how Mr. Meerkat and I meet and fell in love. It was so perfectly us I don't know how I didn't see it from the beginning.

I guess I should let the photos and song speak for themselves.


Del Sol Photography

When I first saw you standing there
You know it was a little hard not to stare
So nervous when I drove you home
I know being apart is a little hard to bare.

Send some flowers to your work in hopes
That I'd have you in my arms again
We kissed that night before I left
Still now that's something
I could never forget



Del Sol Photography

You've got all that I need
Looking at all or nothing
Babe it's you and I
With you I know that
I am good for something

So lets go give it a try
We got our backs against the ocean
It's just us against the world
Looking at all or nothing
Babe it's you and I



Del Sol Photography

Lets take a chance go far away today
And never look back again
Since I said I loved you in Las Vegas
It's never been the same since then

You've got all that I need
Looking at all or nothing
Babe it's you and I



Del Sol Photography

With you I know
I am good for something
So lets go give it a try
We got our backs against the ocean
It's just us against the world
Looking at all or nothing
Babe it's you and I
Looking at all or nothing
Babe it's you and I



Del Sol Photography

This is it nothing to hide
One more kiss never say goodbye
This is it babe your all mine

Looking at all or nothing
Babe it's you and I
I know that I am good for something
So lets go give it a try



Del Sol Photography

Looking at all or nothing
Babe it's you and I
With you I know that
I am good for something
So lets go give it a try

We got our backs against the ocean
It's just us against the world
Looking at all or nothing
Babe it's you and I
Looking at all or nothing
Babe it's you and I

As the last notes of our first dance faded away, something happened that I never thought would have happened in a million years....

Up Next: Mr. Meerkat Made Me Cry



Days Before Wedding
Getting Ready
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour and Portraits
The Reception
Posted by Carla at 10:15 PM 0 comments
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