When I flew in to Montego Bay, apart from the warm breeze and humidity in contrast to the chilly fall weather back home, our arrival was met with a light afternoon shower. This proved to be a bit of a foreshadowing of the days to come.

But as it is on most any tropical island, stress and worry, like liquids weighing more than 3.4 ounces in your carry on bag, simply aren't tolerated. So even on the wedding day, when the grey clouds rolled in just after lunch like clockwork, Helen and Brian weren't fazed. Neither was the bridal party as we skipped the line to the golf carts and cooled off under the refreshing shower on our way to the resort's palatial foyer.

It's the island life, what can I say.

When I encourage couples to incorporate activities and interests they have into their engagement session, I mean it.

So when Nyca and Viet told me their proposal story that happened on top of a mountain on a ski trip out West, I half jokingly said we could recreate that scene locally.

I'm an okay snowboarder. Like, I'll get egged-on and pressured to go down black diamonds skid-stopping the entire way. Also (and I waited to tell them till the end of the night), I'd broken my clavicle and syncopized on two separate occasions in each of the preceding seasons. No pressure.

But I'm so glad we made it happen! This was at the absolute tail end of the season so we were fortunate to have at least one resort still operating a couple lifts. It was truly something I'd jump (not while strapped to my snowboard) at the chance to do again.

I mean it!

One of the truly beautiful things a wedding does is it allows you to see the bringing together, combining, adjoining of two different people, their families, and cultures.

Shannon and Shayan's was that and more. Their rainy October wedding day saw both a Persian rite as well as a Chinese tea ceremony in traditional attire. And these unique traditions were celebrated at the iconic Legg Mason Tower, one of the most modern buildings along downtown Baltimore's cobbled streets with the Inner Harbor skyline as its backdrop. To top it off, Shayan created a custom logo combining their initials which could be seen creatively incorporated from the invites (which featured a wet seal!), the reception decor, to the Sofreh. 

Don't even get me started on the different shades of the bridesmaid dresses.

Congratulations, Shayannon!

Of all the brides I've had the pleasure of working with, Alison is by far with whom I go back the furthest. Like, grade-school and her-grandmother-sold-us-our-childhood-home type of way back. Granted she was in kindergarten and only recently have I been able to tell her and her twin sister apart, but that's our history and I'm just disclosing it because I ended up marrying a relative of hers and I take claims of nepotism seriously. 

But really, it was such an honor to come out to Napa and celebrate with her and Matt's families. They truly couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. 

Congratulations again, Alison and Matt!