A Summer Wedding in Mexico

While I have had enough domestic travel over the past few years to satisfy any ounce of wanderlust I may have, it has been far too long since I had traveled internationally. And even then, I have yet to even leave North America. Which is fine with me. But, the last time I had gone to Mexico was, hmmm, let’s see . . . oh wow, back in 2019. I’s surprised I didn’t write a blog about it.

Well, fortunately for me, I was invited to a most lovely wedding getaway event for some extended friends/family. I joined my sister and her man to celebrate another chapter of love between magnificent Nicolette and Rashekii. And even better, it was a gay wedding! Despite being queer, this was the first gay wedding I had attended, and I certainly hope it isn’t the last.

A Pleasant Dream

But before I get too ahead of myself, lemme talk a little bit about the resort. The event took place at the Dreams Natura Resort and Spa in Cancun, Mexico. I’d say that we were quite blessed, because the weather was absolutely gorgeous during the whole trip, despite some weather advisories predicting otherwise. As you can see, the property was lovely, with direct access to the beach. And I am so thankful that the resort didn’t seem to be too overwhelmed with guests, especially with the trip taking place at the start of Summer. That made navigating the resort easy-breezy, just how I like it. It was relieving being able to casually stroll around - from room to room, restaurant to restaurant, pool to pool.

Sadly, I didn’t get any imagery of the food, as I was doing my best to stay focused on the moment and actually practice relaxing. As good as the food was, it likely wasn’t anything you haven’t seen before. Clean, well-prepared dishes that, in some cases, were in unusually large portions. I recall at one of the central restaurant grills that a chicken dinner, while absolutely delicious, was too much food for me to finish. Hearty and delicious - but far too much. Though if I had to mention some of my favorite dishes, that would include this surprisingly addictive ceviche at the main buffet/cafe, and a chicken parmesan dish at the Italian restaurant. I would happily go back to this resort for those two things alone.

Let’s Talk Activities

There were plenty of things to get into - from day to night. During the day, I personally enjoyed simply lounging around the pool and getting a much needed tan. And obviously dipping into the water was highly refreshing. I didn’t opt for going into the spa and getting a treatment or two, but my sister did, and she reported that it made her feel reborn. I quite literally loved that for her.

And at night, there were a variety of shows to occupy guests’ time. Live cover music singers, an acrobat/circus performer (or something like that), a “magic” show (which to be honest, I was not a fan of at all), pop-up shops, an arcade, etc. I would say that the singers were among my favorite evening activities; we started dancing in the lobby during one of our first nights there, and it definitely kicked up the energy, because other folks started showing their moves as well. It’s electric moments like that that create some of the best memories.

But of course, during big trips like this, people like to make the most of the experience by going on an excursion. My sister and the folks we were with wanted to go boating, snorkeling and jet skiing. I’m admittedly not much of an activity person in general, and would have been perfectly content lounging back at the resort, but I acquiesced and ended up going. Though my participation was limited - I mostly just sat around on the boat while the rest of the team did the snorkeling and dipping in the water. But, as seen above, I did bask in the sun toward the end of the boat ride, and once again, generated some dance momentum for the rest of the folks on the boat. It was nice.

Wedding Day

The special day was obviously a glorious time. Between the meals, and chatting with other guests, I finally reached a level of bliss I wish I had arrived at earlier in the trip. The arrangements were beautiful, and everyone was feeling the good vibes. And naturally the fashion that day was on point - lots of stylish dresses and statement outfits across the board. The wedding couple chose some powerful music for their event that definitely launched me into my feelings, and their vows for each other resonated deep. The love expressed was so real and tangible; I was left inspired and moved in a way that I didn’t expect. Almost makes me want to cry thinking about it again. A truly blessed couple.

I mean, it’s hard to beat a beachside wedding. And for the reception, we all got a great rooftop view of the resort that only helped amplify the positive spirits that were in motion following the ceremony. The dinner was delicious, and the music track had so many throwbacks that I hadn’t heard in years. So needless to say, after we all let our food digest a little, it was time to hit the dance floor to bust some moves as a collective one last time. Even some of the service staff jumped in to show their dance moves. The grooviness was legit.

While not a vacation I was truly prepared for, for various reasons, it was most certainly a breath of fresh air - literally and figuratively. It was great to get out of the city and take in some new (or I suppose revisit some similar) sights. I was able to participate in celebrating queer love, and I got to spend some much needed quality time with family. During crazy times like the world has been in so far this 2024, what more can a soul ask for.

Cheers to love. Cheers to light. Cheers to life.