Reibenspies-Gering and the Fat Cat's Mexican Adventure!

Well, what can we say? It was an awesome trip to Mexico this past week. We had been looking forward to this trip for quite some time. Our bride and groom, Stacey and Greg booked a destination package with Fat Cat to document their oceanfront wedding in Puerto Morales, Mexico near Cancun. We also were able to double up the trip making it a vacation of sorts for us. I'll try to give you all the rundown without being too winded.

Our flight was booked out of Kansas City direct to Cancun on the 5th so we went up the night before to be ready for a 7 am flight on the 5th. It seemed we'd never get out of town and we arrived to KC around 9:30 pm, then needed dinner and a Wally World run. Needless to say we had about 3 hours sleep that night. We headed to the airport that next morning only to find Cancun airport delayed our flight an hour. This was not welcome news as we had a Scuba diving certification to get to at 1 pm Cancun time. So after waiting as patiently as we could, we were off and landed in Cancun only to find ourselves waiting in line at baggage. Customs was a breeze. Then the 20 minute cab ride to El Cid Resort. We barely walked in the door and met up with the bride and groom who'd been there for 2 days already, sunburnt but relaxed. Our room was not ready so we dumped the baggage in their room and we all headed off together to the dive shop immediately; making it in record time!

The ocean was gorgeous, but it was very rough and terribly windy. There were 5 of us, as the bride was unable to dive that day, and needless to say we were all a little nervous about the huge waves bouncing us around in the boat! I've been on Cheney Lake on a good windy day, but this was something else! We geared up and sat on the edge of the boat entering the water backwards! Once I realized I was going to survive, I tried to get to the bottom (only 8 or 9 feet down) and never could as I was having problems with my vest. The current carried my unhappy self to a place in the ocean the boat was just barely able to get to in case we needed rescued :) and Barry and Greg came up trying to help me. The boat headed my way was a welcome site. The dive master said had we gone much further his boat would not have been able to get to us- GREAT! Nice way to start the trip. I was frustrated and mad and wanted back in the boat ASAP. So, we decided we'd try another day if the weather cooperated more.

Heading back dissapointed but happy to not have been washed out to sea, we finally got checked into our room and got to spend some great time with the bride and groom at the pool, at dinner, and elsewhere.

The second day we decided to head to Playa del Carmen just down the road for some shopping, great food, and some great laughs with the rest of the group. It was a good thing the groom spoke some spanish to help us all out! After a phenominal dinner back at the resort, we headed to bed and the next day geared up for our next adventure to the Island of Isla Mujeres! This was again a phenominal time. We ferried over then split our group of 8 up (9 counting the brides daughter) onto two different golf carts and drove all over the island looking for adventure. The island is only 7 miles long and everyone rides mopeds and golf carts, with some very small cars on the road as well. Most all the ladies decided we all wanted to go swim with the dolphins at Dolphin Discovery. I had done this once before on our cruise to Mexico at an aquarium, but this was completely different in the ocean! We all were able to interact with Louis the dolphin and get a belly ride and a foot push. Awesome critters. After drying out we had a little bit of time to return our golf carts and head to a great dinner on the beach near sunset and headed back to the resort via the ferry. I wished we'd had time to visit the turtle farm, but maybe another trip :)

The bride and groom decided they would like to come back to the island after the wedding for a photo shoot.

Tuesday was the big day for Stacey and Greg, and what we had come all this way for. Everyone was excited. We all met for breakfast and then headed to the spa while Stacey did a run through on her hair for the evening. Her friends surprised her with a bottle of champagne for the ladies and bridal gifts. Stacey was also surprised receiving a massage of her choice after finishing her hair that all the ladies pitched in to get. I was able to enjoy an 80-minute therapeutic ts'aak massage. All I can say is, that is something I could quite easily make a habit out of! Why was I not pampering myself before!? Anyways, afterwards there was no time to spare gathering equipment while Barry hung out with Greg and I followed Stacey to her room while she prepared for the wedding. She wore a white, sheer, strapless gown she purchased in Kansas City from Amore Bridal. White flip flops completed her beach look! The groom donned a casual tan suit with dark brown flip flops, but went barefoot for the ceremony. Stacey's flowers were provided by the resort and were vibrant oranges, creams, and other spring/summer colors. Stacey's daughter, Maddie was the flower girl in a simple white sundress and flip flops carrying a matching bouquet of flowers.

The resort sent an escort at a quarter to 6 to Stacey's room. Stacey, Maddie and I all rode on a golf cart to the beach. I was dropped off early at the beach and Stacey was escorted to the end of the pier to make her walk down this very different "isle"! She was preceded by Maddie.

It was a small private wedding, with no wedding party, and only 9 guests including Barry and I. A friend of the groom's came all the way from Iraq, where he lives and works. The crashing waves of the ocean were our backdrop with a bit of wind carrying pelicans and seagulls above us. A very short ceremony followed with friends signing the marriage license and the couple sharing in a unity sand ceremony with daughter Maddie. After the wedding, we had a chance to get some fun ocean shots on the beach and on a beached catamaran with friend and photographer, Dr. Matt Moll.

Dinner followed at the Alcazar at the resort and lots of champagne and toasts! I even got to sneak up to the newlyweds room before they did to get a shot of rose petals scattered throughout!

The next day several of Greg and Stacey's friends had to leave for the states, but we were able to stay and have a grand time with the newlyweds. We started out the day meeting Greg and Stacey at the pool to have some fun and "take the plunge" from the diving rock at the pool. We also conducted our on camera interviews with each of them since they will be receiving our new style of editing and storytelling- we like to call it a "cross-over"! It's similar to a Love Story and wedding video rolled into one, we can't wait to show you! Then we again headed into town to get that much awaited scuba certification! The seas were much calmer and we geared up and rolled out into the waves over the edge of the boat. Effortlessly gliding down to 30 feet below the surface to kneel on the sand below, the certification and skills went much smoother than I expected. After a practice emergency accent, we were done! And wishing we had more time to spare to follow the fish around and enjoy the time a little more. But we had to dry off and head back to El Cid to pick up the bride and groom for their photo session on the island of Isla Mujeres!

We crammed in a taxi, wedding dress in tow and after the ferry ride across the ocean, Stacey was a trooper changing into her dress in the tiniest, near to next dirtiest bathroom we've seen and promptly jumped on the back of a moped rented by her new husband! We followed in a golf cart getting shots of them riding through the streets of Isla Mujeres while bystanders clapped and cheered. It was also quite commical with one of the many stray dogs in town jumping onto the moped with NO prompting wanting to go for a ride! So off they went! Too hilarious. Time went by so fast we headed to the beach for sunset pictures and a dip in the ocean!

After an incredible meal at a local restaurant, we again climbed aboard the ferry and headed for a well deserved rest before the flight home early the next morning. We again, got about 3 hours sleep by the time we shared drinks with Greg and Stacey, rinsed and repacked scuba gear and cameras. Flights again were delayed but we were finally able to make it to the states and smooth sailing through customs. We were still so tired on the drive home from KC we stopped in Emporia for a good nights rest before sailing the rest of the way in.

To Greg and Stacey, thank you so much for letting us be a part of your spectacular day and your trip. We are very excited to put the edit together. We look forward to your reception here at home and most importantly, a long friendship in the future. LET'S GO DIVING!

Enjoy the photos we have posted here of the trip and check out the prequel at the end of the post!

Here's Barry saying hi at the pool, working on the tan that quickly turned into a sunburn in about 15 minutes! This is a view of the resort beach from the pier the wedding was held at. Stacey reads a letter handwritten from her daughter Maddie at the salon, Maddie also presented her with a beautiful necklace and pendant. Maddie playing with our underwater housing in the waves, look out everyone, she could be our future competition! Pelicans sun themselves on the rock ledges at the Garrafon Dolphin Discovery. Pelicans were absolutely everywhere! Another critter sunning himself at the restaurant near the beach we snorkeled at on Isla Mujeres. Hmmm. What is that? Another animal getting some sun, that's Bear picking up in the "Jaguar" after our first scuba diving adventure. We ended up snorkeling near the beach here and saw baracuda! Ya, you guessed it, my silly mug snorkeling at Isla Mujeres trying to get some shots with my new underwater housing (good to 17 feet!) but I had a little issue with moisture and leakage, so we'll have to check that out. Haven't looked at the footage yet, I hope to soon! There's the camera (it stayed dry, but I didn't want to push my luck!) These pictures were taken with our still camera and underwater housing by Barry. He saw lots of cool critters- check them out!
This is some sort of ray, not sure what kind, but isn't it cute!? A closer look at the unknown sea creature!
The prized photo from the trip! Here is a sand ray Barry caught a glimpse of, I never saw him and I'm jealous! Isn't it awesome? This the Dolphinarium at Garrafon on Isla Mujeres. I thought it was neat to swim with the dolphins in the ocean instead of an aquarium like our last adventure in Mexico, both experinces were awesome though! That's our group lining up getting ready to enter the water.

So check out the prequel below and let us know what you think!

Pretty good for a Kansas kid huh?