Jul
05

My Best Friends Wedding!!!

To be honest the only reason I came home was because I knew I could not miss my best friends wedding for anything in the world. I planned the entire 1st leg of my trip around her wedding (okay and my brothers wedding too).  You see it was 1999 towards the end of my 8th grade year when a new girl walked into my math class. Her name was Erika and the teacher sat her caddy corner to me. Of course me being the loud mouth and happy go lucky guy that I am turned around and introduced myself.  I then asked her where she was from and she said Chicago, I thought Chicago Middle School, but nope she meant the city. I guess I had no knowledge of other cities back then and thought every place were schools. After that moment we became friends been through a million things and built an amazing friendship over the years that is still strong today.

My best friend Erika & husband Ricardo with her best friends "The Incredibles"!!!

This was not just any wedding this was Erika marrying Ricardo. They were High School sweet hearts and managed to stay together ever since then. I have watched their relationship flourish to what it is today. They could not be any more perfect for each other than what they already are and I couldn’t be happier for them.

Since I had been out of town I had not seen the dress yet or knew much about the wedding. I just knew I couldn’t be a bridesmaid, but Erika made sure I was a groomsman. The night before the wedding Erika had booked a room at Hotel Zaza for all the bridesmaids and me. That way they would all be there bright an early to get make up and hair done.

The newly wed couple at the lobby at Hotel Zaza!!!

On Saturday July 2, 2011 I had the privilege to attend and be a part of my best friends wedding. It was 2:30pm and we began walking down the aisle for the church ceremony.  Moments later I looked back and I saw Erika walking down the aisle with her father. I saw Erika all dressed in white and looking the most beautiful I have ever seen her in my life. I couldn’t help it; tears just started rolling down my face. I kept thinking,  “wow she looks beautiful, the dress is stunning and I still can’t believe one of my best friends is getting married.” The church ceremony went on and through out it all I would continue to have tears (I can’t help it I’m an emotional guy). They finally said “I do” and Ricardo kissed the bride.

I took over 300 pictures that weekend. This one is by far my favorite. We were done with the church & back at the hotel celebrating before the reception. This captures the beauty of the bride with who knows what thoughts running through her mind.

After that we had some time to kill since we did not have to arrive at the reception until 6pm. The photographers took a few pictures of the bride & groom at the church along with family and the bridal party. The entire bridal party then got in the limo that was supposed to be only for the bride & groom. We were driven around to a beautiful forest area in Houston to take some more pictures. During the drive around we had the brilliant idea to enter at the reception dancing to a song. We brain stormed what song could it be and we all decided on Papa Americano. Then we went back to the Hotel ZaZa opened a few bottles of Champaign and celebrated.

We then arrived to the reception where we all got ready to enter dancing to Papa Americano now not only will this song forever remind me of Central America and Mexico like I have mentioned before, but will also remind me of my best friends wedding. After that we all took our seats had an amazing dinner. The reception hall was beautiful decorated with her favorite color purple. It looked amazing and stunning yet so simple. After the dinner the bride and groom danced and as we watched them dance we all looked at them in awe and in happiness. The bride then danced with her father and I think that is when everyone let the water works go and the tears started flowing. You can tell by the look in their faces neither wanted to say anything or they would start crying. The groom then danced with his mother and it was beautiful as well. After those 3 dances were done the party began. The band started playing some good Mexican music and the dance floor was full within a few seconds.

Erika dancing the night away. The wedding was amazing and everyone danced non-stop!!! My next favorite picture.

Later in the night the music was stopped to give a toast to the bride and groom. Before the toast each of the bridesmaids and groomsman gave a speech to them. The speeches (including mine) were all beautiful and we were all choking from the tears we had. We then got it back together and enjoyed the toss of the bouquet and the garder along with doing “La Vibora de la Mar ” (a tradition that is done at Mexican weddings where all the girls and men line up and run around the entire ball room holding on to each other). The music was then put back balloons and hats were handed out and the party continued all night long until midnight.

I must admit that this is probably one of the best weddings I have ever attended and trust me I have been to a lot of them. Everything just went so smoothly and with out a hitch. Everyone was so happy and the dance floor was full at all times and we were just having a blast. I think the open bar may have been a key factor in that, but I guess we will never know…lol! I’m glad I came home for this because I know if I hadn’t I would have regretted it for the rest of my life if I hadn’t. It was truly worth a trip home and I now know that I will not miss any of my best friends weddings when those days come.

Ricardo, Erika & I at Hotel Zaza before the reception!

To Erika & Ricardo: When I look at y’all two together I get a million emotions, because I know y’all have found y’alls “media naranja” and together y’all are complete. Y’alls relationship is like a fairytale and something so many people want (okay maybe I lie, I know it’s something I want). I know the two of you have an amazing new adventure ahead and with God’s blessing will be forever lasting. I love you both and want ya’ll to know that even though I may be thousands of miles away I am still here for y’all for anything y’all may need!

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Comments

  1. Sounds (and looks) like a beautiful day — and I know you were thrilled to be a part of the day!!
    Heather recently posted..My 7 Links: Blast from the Past Posts

  2. This is such a sweet post! Sounds like a beautiful wedding!! 🙂

  3. QueenBrain12 says:

    Just beautiful! I’m speechless. You all look like you were having a great time. I love it when you get all emotional. It’s just not a Jaime post without a little emotion and some tears.

    Thank you for sharing that day with us and all the pictures.

    I can’t wait to be at your wedding!!!!

    xoxo
    QueenB

    • Awww thanks Brain! I hope one day I do have a wedding as beautiful as this. Of course I would be wearing a white suit…lol!!!

  4. Oh wow! That B&W of your BFF is beautiful!
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  5. OMG Jaime!!! I love to see you surrounded by sooo many awesome friends who I know you truly cherish =))) I hope your best friend continues to have an awesome life with her high school sweet heart. Que bonito es el amor!! Me la saludas de mi parte and I hope we meet sometime in the near future =))) Miss you!!
    Superxicana recently posted..IT’S HARD TO TRAVEL WITH A BROKEN HEART

    • Thanks SX, I love my friends so much and of course will tell them you said hi. I love that they know a bit about you since I know I have told them many stories of the time I spent with you.

      I miss you too and hope I see you on the road soon!

  6. The wedding was so much fun, and I’m glad I got to see you while you were home!

    So I remember in 8th grade when Erika came to Beverly Hills… I was in Mrs. Vaughns class with ya’ll, and I remember when you and I would get into trouble all the time and you accidentally hit Mrs. Vaughn in the FUPA, HAhAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

    • Jorge I am glad I got to see you while I was here too. I sent you an email about plans for Saturday. Hope you can make it.

      Yes I remember 8th grade all too well. We had like every class together and were horrible together jajaja. We would always get in trouble. Oh man good times. Oh & yes I remember accidentally hitting Mrs Vaughn in the FUPA jajajajaja. Oh man cant stop laughing.

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