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wwcitizenFriends of ours, Tommy and Brian, have been together for 9+ years* (as of Cinco de Mayo*). They're really cool, fun guys. We all four met on a bowling league at Chelsea Piers. Tommy's originally from Rochester, NY, and Brian is from Yadkinville, NC. Brian was surprised to know that I knew of Yadkinville cuz it's a small town.
Last year around Christmas, Matt and I witnessed Tommy propose to Brian on stage at the Duplex during their cabaret act called, "The Last Piece of Cake" (this was the farewell performance of their years-long cabaret). They invited us to participate in all aspects of their engagement, the bachelor party, and their wedding; we were really honored and excited to consider going to Mexico. I love Mexico and Matt had never been. We both love Tommy & Brian, and the friends of theirs we'd met along the way were just like them: real, big-hearted, awesome personalities, and different from anyone else we'd ever met. There was nothing holding us back - even being unemployed! In all my recent interviews, I made sure that the week of Oct. 14-22 would be blocked out for me (I did get a consulting Project Mgt job, but that's a different post).
We arrived on Thursday. On the way to the resort hotel (The Tropicana), our driver was nice enough to stop for us to buy some water. While Matt napped, I sat at the bar poolside and had a couple of shots of tequila (Don Pablo Reposado) coordinating with Brian to meet up with everyone on the beach. The resort was substantial, beautiful, and clean. I made the rounds of introductions of folks I hadn't met before. I got many salty, wet hugs from people I knew or who I hadn't met, but were excited to meet me. How absolutely wonderful! The stage was getting set for the entire weekend. We had the best, most unique time for 7 days straight.
Great planning by the couple (eh-hem, by Brian), great drinks, excellent food, no infections or sickness (at least with us!), awesome scenery, and beautiful ceremony. The Friday night "Welcome to Mexico" party was a HOOT with a mariachi band to boot - sponsored by Tommy's Uncle Ralph. The pre-wedding party Saturday night at the Villa Rosa (where the wedding party stayed) was really relaxing and fun with a hilarious game of Celebrity. The day of the wedding started out with pancakes with the Rochester crowd, while the wedding party took off to the destination - Las Caletas. As there aren't roads to Las Caletas, about 10 of us later took an hour party boat ride to Las Caletas. It was so much fun! Brian and Tommy (in line with their theatrical creativity) had a script and voiceover to begin our wedding adventure. They played such hits as Titanic, the Poseidon Adventure, and The Love Boat theme. We were tanked by the time we arrived and had been dancing for a while (as you see here).
Las Caletas is the previous home of John Huston, who directed and filmed Night of the Iguana at Las Caletas. Huston also directed The African Queen, The Maltese Falcon, and The Bible: In The Beginning among many other movies. For a wedding, Brian and Tommy could not have picked a more beautiful, secluded, relaxed, and elegant place. Every detail was covered, down to the sandalwood fans for everyone on their seats.
Apparently, the entire wedding party had worked hard to hold their emotions together all day long. All day long, that is, till they locked eyes on me. I always get choked up at weddings. Being at this marriage of two beautiful people with so much love and joy between and around them really touched me deeply. Matt was crying, Dara (another North Carolinian pictured above) behind me was bawling and Brian started crying when they saw me: a big blubbering bear, crying his eyes out. Later on that evening, I heard all about it: "Well, I was holding it together until I saw THIS one (pointing at me) shaking." "Oh, yeah... and I look at Steve... he had STREAMS of tears running down his face when I got to the bottom of the stairs and I lost it." Even Dara (spoken as Blanche Devereaux) said, "Well, weddings always get to me anyway, then I saw Steve and Matt just tearing up and starting to shake, well, I just lost it, too!" So, take note, if you would rather keep your tears in check and don't want to show your emotions at your wedding, don't invite me! LOL
The dinner was delicious Mexican food above a cliff where waves crashed below. The party, music, and dancing were fun, and the boat ride back to the marina was like none other! Lots of pictures, laughs, hugs, and booty shaking. We had never been to a destination wedding. We'd never been to a gay wedding. It was such a deeply memorable experience. Neither Matt nor I had been around so many friends and family who were so real, honest, loving, and self-giving to two beautiful people, Tommy and Brian.
Everyone there wanted them to get married and be happy together.
There are many more stories to be told of the week in Mexico, but this post is dedicated to Tommy's and Brian's wedding experience. Matt and I were so touched and honored to have been asked and blessed to be able to participate in welcoming Brian and Tommy into their marital bliss.
*Corrected timelines
Last year around Christmas, Matt and I witnessed Tommy propose to Brian on stage at the Duplex during their cabaret act called, "The Last Piece of Cake" (this was the farewell performance of their years-long cabaret). They invited us to participate in all aspects of their engagement, the bachelor party, and their wedding; we were really honored and excited to consider going to Mexico. I love Mexico and Matt had never been. We both love Tommy & Brian, and the friends of theirs we'd met along the way were just like them: real, big-hearted, awesome personalities, and different from anyone else we'd ever met. There was nothing holding us back - even being unemployed! In all my recent interviews, I made sure that the week of Oct. 14-22 would be blocked out for me (I did get a consulting Project Mgt job, but that's a different post).
We arrived on Thursday. On the way to the resort hotel (The Tropicana), our driver was nice enough to stop for us to buy some water. While Matt napped, I sat at the bar poolside and had a couple of shots of tequila (Don Pablo Reposado) coordinating with Brian to meet up with everyone on the beach. The resort was substantial, beautiful, and clean. I made the rounds of introductions of folks I hadn't met before. I got many salty, wet hugs from people I knew or who I hadn't met, but were excited to meet me. How absolutely wonderful! The stage was getting set for the entire weekend. We had the best, most unique time for 7 days straight.
Great planning by the couple (eh-hem, by Brian), great drinks, excellent food, no infections or sickness (at least with us!), awesome scenery, and beautiful ceremony. The Friday night "Welcome to Mexico" party was a HOOT with a mariachi band to boot - sponsored by Tommy's Uncle Ralph. The pre-wedding party Saturday night at the Villa Rosa (where the wedding party stayed) was really relaxing and fun with a hilarious game of Celebrity. The day of the wedding started out with pancakes with the Rochester crowd, while the wedding party took off to the destination - Las Caletas. As there aren't roads to Las Caletas, about 10 of us later took an hour party boat ride to Las Caletas. It was so much fun! Brian and Tommy (in line with their theatrical creativity) had a script and voiceover to begin our wedding adventure. They played such hits as Titanic, the Poseidon Adventure, and The Love Boat theme. We were tanked by the time we arrived and had been dancing for a while (as you see here).
Las Caletas is the previous home of John Huston, who directed and filmed Night of the Iguana at Las Caletas. Huston also directed The African Queen, The Maltese Falcon, and The Bible: In The Beginning among many other movies. For a wedding, Brian and Tommy could not have picked a more beautiful, secluded, relaxed, and elegant place. Every detail was covered, down to the sandalwood fans for everyone on their seats.
Apparently, the entire wedding party had worked hard to hold their emotions together all day long. All day long, that is, till they locked eyes on me. I always get choked up at weddings. Being at this marriage of two beautiful people with so much love and joy between and around them really touched me deeply. Matt was crying, Dara (another North Carolinian pictured above) behind me was bawling and Brian started crying when they saw me: a big blubbering bear, crying his eyes out. Later on that evening, I heard all about it: "Well, I was holding it together until I saw THIS one (pointing at me) shaking." "Oh, yeah... and I look at Steve... he had STREAMS of tears running down his face when I got to the bottom of the stairs and I lost it." Even Dara (spoken as Blanche Devereaux) said, "Well, weddings always get to me anyway, then I saw Steve and Matt just tearing up and starting to shake, well, I just lost it, too!" So, take note, if you would rather keep your tears in check and don't want to show your emotions at your wedding, don't invite me! LOL
The dinner was delicious Mexican food above a cliff where waves crashed below. The party, music, and dancing were fun, and the boat ride back to the marina was like none other! Lots of pictures, laughs, hugs, and booty shaking. We had never been to a destination wedding. We'd never been to a gay wedding. It was such a deeply memorable experience. Neither Matt nor I had been around so many friends and family who were so real, honest, loving, and self-giving to two beautiful people, Tommy and Brian.
Everyone there wanted them to get married and be happy together.
There are many more stories to be told of the week in Mexico, but this post is dedicated to Tommy's and Brian's wedding experience. Matt and I were so touched and honored to have been asked and blessed to be able to participate in welcoming Brian and Tommy into their marital bliss.
*Corrected timelines
