Tom and Kathleen's Big Day!

I've heard before that a wedding is one of the only days that all of your loved ones gather to express their undying love and happiness to you. Can you guess the other one is? (To avoid spoiling the mood of the post and to keep you reading on, I've answered it at the end of this post - DON'T SKIP AHEAD).

I had the pleasure of attending Kathleen Ko's and Tom Chang's wedding in Costa Rica this week. As mentioned in my previous post, Costa Rica is a stunning country - beautiful landscapes, wildlife and incredible adventures. However, the wedding was the main event, the reason why we were all there and there was so many things to say about this fun event.

We started off the day with the complementary breakfast at the hotel. At that time, I asked Kathleen in a mocking manner, "Are you going to cry?" She responded in her normal, humourous manner - "No, Tom's going to cry first!" She knows her hubby well, there were some tears flowing during their vows.

While the bridesmaids spent most of their day prepping the venue, the rest of the guests lounged by the pool, taking in the Costa Rican sun and sipping fruity drinks while waiting for the time where we had to dress up and get on a bus to the actual venue. It was an exciting (but bumpy) trip up to the other resort where the wedding was to take place. All were dressed in nice beach (yet formal) clothes and we were all ready to have a great time.

When we got to the venue, we were greeted on the beach with a lovely gazebo with about a dozen or so chairs in front - prime seats to witness the happiest day of Tom and Kathleen's life. The ceremony's backdrop was the beautiful Pacific Ocean - waves crashing on the sands, a calm breeze danced with the white sheets draping the simple gazebo, and soft volcanic black sand massaged your feet. The ceremony started quickly (to take advantage of the remaining sunlight for photos) and the happy bride and groom greeted each other while the Officiant read slowly her list of wishes for Tom and Kathleen. Readings were given by Tim, the groom's brother - the lyrics from I Wanna Grow Old With You. Two of the lovely bridesmaids then read Kathleen's favourite childhood story - "All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarden" by Robert Fulgham. These two readings reflected the fun personalities of the pair - both readings were simple and truthful.

When it came time for the vows, it was easy to see the love these two had for one another. Choking back tears of happiness, the two exchanged words that were only meant for the other, while friends and family looked on. What was so clear in this moment was that these two have found their soulmate - their go-to person that will love and cherish them for the rest of their lives. So lucky are they to have found that other person so early in their lives as they have the rest of their long lives to enjoy every moment being husband and wife.

Once the ceremonies were over, the happy couple strolled down the aisle, while guests waved handmade ribbon streamers to show their happiness for the two. We sat for dinner as the sun went down - a beautiful array of food that highlighted the best of Costa Rica fare. We listened to wonderful speeches from the Maid of Honour, the Best Man and the respective families - laughs and tears were abundant.

The guests were asked to write a postcard with their best wishes to the happy couple - which will be sent to them later down the line - a great idea to capture the guests' feelings for Tom and Kathleen to read and enjoy later as they receive the notes one at a time in the mail.

Dancing was the final chapter to that evening's delightful activities. We partied - taking shots and ripping up the dance floor. The best part was Mrs. Ko, Kathleen's mother, who outdanced everyone - a lovely surprise that brought a huge smile to Kathleen's face. As we closed off the evening, people were still dancing before we headed to the vans that took us back to the resort.

As I checked how many photos I took at the ceremony later that evening in my hotel room, I noticed that it was well over 400. With the old saying, each picture is worth 1,000, there was so much to say about this wedding that this blog can't do justice for.

To the happy couple - Tom and Kathleen, I'm so blessed to have been a part of your big day. You two are truly meant for one another, and judging by the love I saw that day from the two of you, from your friends and from your family, you'll never run out of that happy emotion. I want to wish you the very best to the start of your new life together - may you laugh everyday, even when you're saggy and wrinkly. Thank you for organizing such a great trip and a beautiful wedding - this will certainly be a day people will be talking about for years to come.

Oh yea, the answer to the first question...your funeral. (Cue Debbie Downer music - hahaha).

Costa Rica - a land of endless beauty

When the small country of Costa Rica gained its independence from Guatemala back in 1821, the newly formed country went by a new name - The Rich Coast. While those who were naming it were talking mostly about the richness of the resources found in the country (due to millions of years of volcanic activity, there's minerals galore), I believe the Rich Coast has to offer a wealth of natural beauty, culture and adventure.

I was there for Tom and Kathleen's wedding and honestly, they couldn't have picked a better location. I arrived at the Flamingo Resort and Spa in Guanacaste (an hour outside of Liberia) and immediately hit the pool for sun and relaxation. This wedding was a bit of a reunion of sorts and also an opportunity to meet some new faces.

The first two days were incredibly lazy and relaxing. My routine consisted of breakfast, pool, walks on the beach, pool, naps, pool, and sun x infinity. It was great to be able to do absolutely nothing and have no time restrictions. Replacing meetings, status calls, contact reports and other mundane Account Management jobs with those activities made me grin like a baby who just pooped their diaper, knowing someone had to change me shortly. (Sorry, probably not the best simile to use).

We started off the first two evenings with drinking games and a night out in Tamarindo at a bar called Sharky's. There, we crooned to awesome Karaoke songs and confused everyone at the bar as to the invasion of 20 or so Asian people drunk off their asses. Drinking games on Monday night helped the group bond and connect by laughing at one another's ineptitude when it came to abiding by drinking game rules. Always have a lookout when the Queen of Thumbs is played!

Thursday was the big wedding day (a separate post about the wedding will come later) but safe to say, it was one of the most beautiful ceremonies ever. A clear, breezy evening, with the sun slowly starting to set in the background, was the perfect backdrop for Tom and Kathleen to exchange their vows. Surrounded by a small but loving group of friends and family, the happy couple said some of the most touching words to each other that I've ever heard. Their love for each other was palpable, and their happiness showed in the big smiles they carried throughout the evening. We feasted on a great meal that the bride carefully picked out and listened to speech after speech from loved ones who professed their best wishes for Tom and Kathleen. The love expressed that evening was touching - especially the love from their respective parents. We all danced the night away while trying to drink the bar dry before 10pm. Best of all, their parents danced like it was their job and really became the highlight of the evening when they all joined Kathleen and Tom in a circle and danced the happy dance.

We spent our time wisely and got in a few adventure tours - on one day, we did ziplining, horseback riding, slid down an out of this world waterslide in the jungle and enjoyed a peaceful mud bath and hot springs; on the other, we did more ziplining (this time, it included a Tarzan jump) and after a day of zipping through over 3KM of ziplines, we relaxed at the most gorgeous resort overlooking the Aranale volcano, located in central Costa Rica. The Springs Resort in Costa Rica - a recommend for any honeymooning couple.

I cannot tell you how much fun I've had during my one week stay. This was certainly the 1st Chapter of a great adventure to come. I was so lucky and so happy to be a part of Tom and Kathleen's new adventure as a happily married couple and was blessed to have hung out with lively and friendly people during my stay.

If any of you need tips for Costa Rica, let me know! I'd be happy to give my suggestions!