Mexico, Part 3: Our Tropical Honeymoon in Riviera Maya

Our tropical honeymoon began at the conclusion of our beachfront destination wedding. The newly minted Mrs. Tires and I intended to fill our remaining six days in Riviera Maya, Mexico with a tour of ancient ruins, some spelunking, a dip with dolphins, and plenty of tropical beverages by the pool. For the first two days, we'd stay at Dreams Riviera Cancun, the resort where we had just said I do. We'd end our trip at a resort in the southern portion of Riviera Maya. That was the plan, at least...

After an informal post-wedding breakfast with our guests, Mrs Tires and I kicked off our honeymoon with a trip to the on-site spa. Mrs. Tires used the spa gift certificate included in our wedding package for a full body massage, and my dogs were barking so loud after dancing all night at the wedding that I was actually about to pony up real cash for an hour-long foot massage for the first time in my life.

The entire experience at the spa was fantastic. While we were waiting for our massage therapists, we hung out on the comfy couches in the lounge, which was adorned with bamboo finishing. A couple of carafes doled out uniquely colored liquid concoctions, each with its own healing quality. We enjoyed a sampling of each drink while we watched a strange but soothing video of a woman swimming with manatees. From there we were lead to private huts, where we received our massages. Mrs. Tires is a massage therapist, and she said her massage met her high standards, and I was amazed that someone could work on a pair of feet for a full hour. 

As we exited the spa, we ran into a friend who was organizing a massive field trip into Puerto Morelos, and he invited us to join. On the hotel's recommendation, we took a sixteen passenger van to the waterfront portion of town, where a small but impressive series of restaurants sat ready to feed tourists and locals alike. We chose a spot called La Panza es Primero, which translates to The Belly Is First. In addition to the clever name, several other factors drew us there: their famous guacamole, their luchador theme, their balcony overlooking the ocean, and, most importantly, their world-renowned margaritas. 

None of these items disappointed. The guac and the 'ritas exceeded our high expectations, and the theme added a fun vibe. We soaked it in, even donning luchador masks at one point to get into the spirit. Not to be overlooked, the food was outstanding. 

The balcony was too small to fit our entire party, but we took a peek before we left. The view was fantastic, and was highlighted by beautiful blue and turquoise water.

That night was a mellow one by design. The previous few days had been a whirlwind, we had to be up early the next day for an excursion, and we also had to pack, as we'd be checking out later the next day. Sadness seeped into our suite as we packed up our wedding supplies and reminisced. Fortunately we were too tired for the post-wedding blues to last too long. 

Bleary-eyed and just a couple sips into our first cups of coffee, we met up with a few friends the next morning and boarded a van filled with several other hotel guests. We were off to Tulum so we could bare witness to the remains of an ancient Mayan city. 

Tulum was inhabited by the Mayans up until sometime in the 15th century, and many of the city's large stone buildings still stand. The ruins draw many a tourist, ourselves included. When we arrived, we took a long walk to the visitor center, where we were assigned to a tour group. Our appointed guide was knowledgable and engaging. He was of Mayan descent, and it was clear he was passionate about Tulum.

He led us from one ruin to the next, explaining the purpose of each building, and sprinkling in some history along the way. It was 2011, so murmurings of the December 2012 date that represented the end of the Mayan calendar (and therefore the end of the world) were already swirling. Our guide assured us the date didn't mean the end of the world, just the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next. 

He also informed us that the Mayans never actually used the name Tulum, they called the city Zama. When he explained this, he gave us some details on a movement he was involved in that argued that the name should be changed back to Zama. No luck so far. 

One more nugget that stuck with me from our tour was the existence of a liquor the Mayans used to make called xtabentun. It's still produced today, and he promised us it would take our margaritas to the next level. He was right. We sampled it in our 'ritas later on. It added a sweet taste that took a lot of the bite out of the margarita. 

A number of lizards freely roamed the grounds. This amused us to no end. They were everywhere, and some were quite large. Apparently they're common in that part of Mexico.

At the conclusion of the tour, we were set free to explore the ruins on our own, and the guide recommended we head down to the beach nearby when we were done. We wandered around a few ruins that caught our eye, but it didn't take long before the beach started calling our name. It was pushing 100 degrees that day, and we were anxious to cool off. 

The beach was absolutely stunning. The water looked like it was straight out of a postcard, and it was flanked by giant cliffs. Unfortunately we had no idea the beach would be part of the day's activities, so we didn't have our bathing suits. I don't have a lot of regrets in life, but not being prepared to swim in that water is one of them. If you go to Tulum, don't forget your trunks!

It was a long bus ride back to the resort. We were quite tired from the early wakeup and the blazing heat, and even worse, we knew that upon returning to Dreams Riviera Cancun, we'd be departing for good. Checkout didn't take long, and after a few more goodbyes, we got in a cab and took another long drive from DRC to the Iberostar Tucan, where we'd be staying for the remainder of our honeymoon. As far as all-inclusive resorts go, It was a step down from DRC and we knew that, but we had no way of knowing quite what we were getting into. 

The resort looked promising at first, with a stunning, vibrantly-colored lobby, kind greeters and huge, intriguing statues waiting for us when we stepped out of the cab. 

However, a warning sign popped up when they affixed wristbands around our wrists before giving us our keys. They informed us we’d need to wear the bands for the entirety of our stay. Wristbands are a pet peeve of mine, and I wasn’t looking forward to sporting one for the better part of a week.

With that, a hotel staff member took our bags and lead us on a tour of the resort. While the vibe of the resort was fun and playful, featuring thatched roofs and brightly-colored buildings, we could tell it was going to fall far short of our expectations, as dried grass, chipped paint and crowded common areas greeted us at every turn. Our guide took us by the beach, where it looked like every square inch of sand was taken up by a beach chair or towel. We also walked by the pool with the swim-up bar, which was tiny, sported murky water and looked long-since abandoned. 

Our suspicion was turning into apprehension. Despite this, we kept our spirits up, as we hoped our honeymoon suite would turn things around. Things seemed ok when we first entered our room. It was large, cheerful and featured a humorous, well-intended combination of stuffed swans and rose petals. 

Before bidding us adios, our guide pointed out the mini-fridge, which would be stocked every other day. We peeked inside and saw two Coronas and two bottles of water. Doing some quick math, we realized we were each rationed a half a beer and a half a bottle of water per day. Hardly the fully-stocked fridge at DRC, which was refilled several times a day.

We weren’t quite sure how to proceed from there, and we shared our concerns as we explored the room further. As we poked around, we discovered a laughably uncomfortable bed, grimy, stained bathrobes, and, worst of all, an infestation of bugs. Tiny but plentiful winged creatures seemed to be crawling and flying all over the place, a pet peeve of Mrs. Tires’ that far exceeds my irritation over wristbands. We called the front desk about the bug infestation, and an hour later, a housekeeper showed up with a giant can of Raid, which she immediately started spraying all over the place without saying a word. As the fumes filled the room, we too were fuming.

We decided to take a walk around the resort to search for redeeming qualities while we let the chemicals in our room do their job. The main feature that drew us to the hotel was the on-site jungle, which promised exotic wildlife, just a stroll away. We were initially impressed with the plant life assembled to create the illusion of walking through a jungle while cruising through a luxury resort, but that was outweighed by the serious lack of wildlife. The animals we witnessed included a rooster in a tree, a caged parrot, and tiny rodents vaguely resembling rats that weren’t part of the jungle specifically and were actually found throughout the resort. We later learned from the hotel staff that they were called sereque, and they were more closely related to rabbits than rats, but by then it was too late. The phony jungle was the last in a series of disappointments that lead us to an inevitable conclusion: this resort just wasn't good enough for our honeymoon. 

We got on the phone and made an international call to Sally, our travel agent at SAL Travel, who advised us to seek out the Apple Vacations desk in the lobby and see what arrangements could be made. We did so and talked to a very understanding and accommodating gentleman who started working the phones to see what we'd have to do to stay at our wedding hotel. It took almost an hour, and when he finally got things figured out, he beckoned us with a concerned look on his face. He told us he could book us a room at DRC, but the downside was we'd have to pay an extra $80. I asked him if he meant $80 per night. Nope. $80 total. What he thought was bad news was a delightful surprise to us. We'd gladly pay a one-time $80 fee to leave the skuzziness of the Iberostar for the luxury of DRC. A credit card swipe, some suitcase lugging and a cab ride later, we returned to Dreams Riviera Cancun as happy as could be.

After checking in and unpacking, we got back into our bathing suits and headed out to the swim-up bar. Some familiar yet surprised faces greeted us at the pool, as some of our friends were still staying at DRC and were enjoying cocktails as we waded into the water. After a joyous reunion, we realized we had enough people to make a reservation at one of the open chefs tables at Hamatsu, the Japanese restaurant at the resort. This restaurant offered open tables for large parties which included a coordinated cooking show. If you've been to Benihana, you've seen this show, but who ever gets tired of knife tricks, onion volcanoes and flaming food? The show was delightfully amusing, and a bit more daring than the US version. We thoroughly enjoyed it, and the food was great too.

The next day we mostly stayed at the resort, where we made a point to check out places we hadn't made it to during the days leading up to our wedding. We started by ordering room service (included under the all-inclusive arrangement) and enjoying some breakfast in bed.

After washing breakfast down with bloody marys at the swing bar (pictured at the top of this post), we snagged some paddles and headed to the wading pool, where Mrs. Tires beat me mercilessly in a game of in-pool ping pong. 

Later in the day, we went on a snorkeling trip which was hosted by a third party vendor set up just down the beach from the resort. Some of my family members from Boston had gone during their stay, and they encouraged us to go for it so we could "see some shaaaks." We showed up at our appointed time, boarded a boat, and met our snorkeling guide, a large Mexican named Bacon.

After a brief and enjoyable boat ride out to the snorkeling site, we were handed face masks, snorkels, life jackets and flippers, and were told to gear up and dive in. I had never been snorkeling before, and I was surprised there was no orientation before we hopped in the water. I was expecting at least a few tips before jumping in. As it was, we put on our gear and hoisted ourselves off the side of the ship, landing in water that was pleasant and clear.

Snorkeling was actually pretty straightforward, and I really didn't need the orientation I was expecting. Bacon guided us in general directions, but we were free to swim off wherever we wanted. Bacon also pointed out a few cool things he saw that many people (and predators) overlook, such as crabs hanging out of their tiny caves, stingrays swimming at the bottom of the ocean, and lived-in conch shells. Apparently it was a bad year for snorkeling, and the captain told us the the number of sea creatures out in recent months had been lower than usual. Regardless, we had a great time seeing the vibrantly-colored fish and craggy formations that sat on the bottom of the ocean, and we loved being part of the underwater world for a while.

While we were glad to have some extra time to check out the resort, we certainly didn't plan on spending our entire time there. We had a couple of excursions planned, one of which was a trip to Xcaret the next day. This half zoo, half water park sounded right up our alley. If only it had lived up to its promise. Sigh. 

A greyhound-style bus filled with vacation revelers picked us up early the next morning, and we took an hour plus drive to the park. When we approached, the first stop was to drop off people at the zip lining adventure that was adjacent to the park. We felt a twinge of jealousy as they disembarked. Mrs. Tires had always wanted to zip line, and part of us wished we were joining them. Our lackluster experience at Xcaret justified our jealousy. 

When we finally arrived at Xcaret, we found a landscape that seemed like a combination of the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and a Rainforest Cafe. Animals and attractions were accessible just by wandering the paths that wound around the park, but there were a ton of gift shops and cheesy details that made it feel very commercial and watered down. 

The top draw for us at Xcaret was the opportunity to swim through an underground river that went through caves. I was sure that alone would be worth the price of admission. Boy was I wrong. Before entering the water, we were handed the same gear we were given during our snorkeling adventure the day before. Once we geared up, we got into the river and noticed the river floor was made out of cement. We figured this was just for the area where visitors entered the water, but as we got in and swam, we quickly realized the whole riverbed was paved. In addition, there were a ton of us swimming down the river. Each of us had flippers on (even though we easily could have navigated the river without them) so there was a lot of faces being accidentally kicked with flippers while we swam. The whole thing was too man-made, cheesy and crowded - a rather miserable experience that seriously underwhelmed. We were off to a disappointing start to the day. 

From there, we wandered over to the butterfly haven. This disappointed as well. The number of butterflies paled in comparison to the butterfly haven we were used to in Chicago.  The waterfall in the center of the haven was gorgeous, but of course Xcaret couldn't resist ruining the view with some carefully placed branding. 

By now we were pretty disappointed with our experience. We were also roasting in the heat. And tired. And maybe a little hung over. We needed some shelter and some fuel, so we wandered over to one of the eateries. To the surprise of no one, the food was overpriced and terrible. At that point, we were about ready to give up on Xcaret. 

However, as we left, we encountered a few key attractions that started to turn things around. They had some really cool animals typically not found in American zoos, and their enclosures were established via deep moats instead of cages, which made the animals feel more accessible. 

While the animals on the other side of the moats were gaining our affection, the wild lizards we saw as we wandered from one attraction to the next amused us as well. 

As we walked further, we passed some relatively scenic pools that were designed for snorkeling, and then found ourselves on a beach with hammocks. We claimed a couple of open hammocks and got comfy, and things started looking up. 

From there, we decided to take a riverboat tour. While I believe any time spent on a boat is a good time, this one ended up a disappointment thanks to its over-Disneyification. 

We had one more attraction in us after the riverboat, and that's when we wandered around to the beach that was roped off and filled with inner tubes. It didn't take us long to swim up to a couple of tubes and have a good float, a great cap to an up and down day. 

Overall I was not to thrilled with our Xcaret experience. The cool animals, the hammocks and the inner tubes were a lot of fun, but I don't think Xcaret really knew what it wanted to be, and the lousy cave swimming, the commercialization of the park and the overall murkiness evident throughout the place made for a rather lackluster destination that I can't recommend. 

We had one more excursion planned, a trip that would allow me to pull out a life-sized sharpie and cross an item off of my lifetime bucket list. We were going for another swim, but this time we would be joined by a few friendly dolphins. Dreams Sands Cancun (the other Dreams property in the Cancun area) offered the chance to swim with dolphins, and we dove in at the chance. 

A van took us from one Dreams property to the other, and on the way, we struck up a conversation with the couple sitting in front of us. They got married on the same day we did, only they were married in their home country of Ireland and then they traveled to Mexico for their honeymoon. She had a beautiful Irish name (which I can no longer recall) and he was a fan of the soccer team that had recently been purchased by the same guy who owned my favorite baseball team. We became fast friends, and we chatted the entire way. I wish I could remember their names. To our Irish friends, if you read this, please reach out! 

The ride up brought us through the main drag of Cancun. I had never been to Cancun proper, and it provided an interesting glimpse into life up there. There were a ton of clubs and bars, as well as every chain novelty restaurant ever created. It seemed quite crowded and chaotic, and I was glad we stayed further down the shoreline instead of in the heart of Cancun. However, in a different life, that whole area would've been a ton of fun. 

When we arrived at Dreams Sands Cancun, we were lead to lockers where we could change into our bathings suits, and then we walked out to the pool area. Dreams sported several large parallel pools, most of which were populated by happy tourists splashing around with dolphins. We were admitted into our designated pool as a couple, where we met two trainers who then introduced us to our designated dolphins. Two dolphins swam our way, did a couple laps around us and then came right up to our sides. We were encouraged to reach out and touch them, and they clicked and quacked as we petted them and tripped out over their rubbery skin. 

From there, we were instructed on how to hold our bodies so the dolphins could do their first trick. The trick involved swimming up behind us, pushing on our feet with their snouts, and pushing us up so we skimmed across the water. It was a tough trick for both the humans and the dolphins, but we both got pretty good rides. 

After that, the trainers walked the dolphins through a series of other tricks, including shaking our hands with their fins, swimming on their backs so we could cradle them, and even giving away some smooches. 

The whole experience was a blast and a half. The dolphins were wonderful creatures, and our interactions with them were effortless. It was amazing to play with a large swimming rubber mammal as if it was a pet. I highly recommend it to everyone. 

Our swim was photographed, and we were offered all of the pictures on a disk for the absurd price of $110. However, we were so taken by the experience, we couldn't resist. 

We chatted with our Irish friends for most of the ride home and then grabbed a drink with them at the swim-up bar when we returned to DRC. After saying farewell to our new friends, we cleaned ourselves up for one more dinner at the resort. That night we ate at El Patio, the restaurant that hosted our rehearsal dinner. It was a wonderful meal, and a great way to wrap up our time at Dreams Riviera Cancun. 

Our flight back to Chicago the next day marked the formal end to our time in Riviera Maya. It was hard to say goodbye. Riviera Maya will always be a special place for us and an important part of our story. Part of us will always be back there, lounging in the sun and having drinks at the swim-up bar. 

More Mexico: 

Mexico, Part 1: Guadalajara, Zacoalco & Playa Azul

Mexico, Part 2: Our Riviera Maya Beachfront Wedding

Mexico, Part 2: Our Riviera Maya Beachfront Wedding

My trips to Mexico included an off-the-beaten-path tour of Western Mexico and a border-town stopover during a trip to Texas. However, none of my experiences in Mexico were more prolific than the trip to Riviera Maya Mrs. Tires and I took in 2011. She was Ms. Tires when we flew into the airport in Cancun, but that changed after a few beachfront vows and an exchange of rings, and she was Mrs. Tires by the time we flew home.

After a skydive proposal in Wisconsin, Mrs. Tires and I started planning our wedding almost immediately. Our initial concept involved getting married at a castle in Scotland. We found a handful of castles that would be glad to host our wedding, but getting to them wound involve flights, trains, personal chauffeurs and a hike through the highlands. In the midst of putting these pieces together, I looked at Mrs. Tires and said, "Should we get married on a tropical beach somewhere instead?" My suggestion made her eyes light up the way they do when she realizes something she never thought possible could actually happen. She enthusiastically agreed, and within minutes, we stopped looking for castles and started looking for cabanas.

Beachfront weddings take many forms. There are upscale places like St. John's, St. Thomas, and many other saints. Then there are more Rastafarian-sounding places like Jamaica and Bermuda. Some places are more tropical, and some more affordable. Some are more adventurous, and some are easier to get to. To sort out our options, we worked with Sally from SAL Travel. She steered us towards a wedding in the Riviera Maya area of Mexico. Riviera Maya sits on the eastern shore of Mexico and goes roughly from Cancun to Tulum. In between those two points, there are many amazing options that offer just as much beauty as the St's and the Rastas at a fraction of the cost. Sally helped us get the ball rolling, and later in the process, she helped book our guests' trips to the resort. Having a bonafide travel agent on our side made our dream wedding a reality, and it also alleviated a tremendous burden.

Once we decided on Riviera Maya, we had to choose the resort to host the festivities. There was no shortage of options. We considered many factors while evaluating resorts, including the wedding packages, restaurant options, price ranges, rules on children, and overall beauty and experience. There was a ton to consider. Even with defined criteria, the resorts all started to sound the same after a while. We used a few different tools to sort through our options, none more helpful than the message boards on bestdestinationwedding.com.

Two weeks into our search, Mrs. Tires took a break from our seemingly endless search for the perfect resort and went out to sushi with a friend, and a couple at the next table overheard their conversation about the planning plight. The couple had just returned from their honeymoon in Riviera Maya and they highly recommended a brand new resort called Dreams Riviera Cancun. It had everything we were looking for, including great wedding packages, lots of food options, attractive ceremony locations, and, perhaps most importantly, a huge pool with a swim-up bar. We excitedly researched DRC the next day, and as soon as we did, we knew we had found the perfect place.

We chose our date - May 14, 2011 - and informed our guests via a hand-made video Save-the-Date.

Our year of planning went by quickly, and before we knew it, it was time to fly into Cancun and get things started. With favors, decorations and a wedding dress in tow, we hopped on a plane at O'Hare and landed in Cancun. At the airport, we boarded a van that dropped guests off at various resorts in the area. We realized pretty quickly that our wedding wasn't the only one in town. Of the four parties in the van, three were there for weddings. The mood in the van was therefore quite jovial, and the excitement grew as we conversed.

When we finally pulled up to Dreams Riviera Cancun, the outside looked more like a fortress than a resort. This made us a bit weary, and we joked it reminded us of a dinosaur paddock from Jurassic Park.

The hotel staff grabbed our luggage when we disembarked, and when we walked up the stairs and into the main lobby, things brightened considerably. We were greeted by a tented roof held up by huge wooden beams and perched high enough so we were in open air, yet fully covered. A stately assortment of chairs and couches appeared throughout the lobby, and a sprawling, fully-stocked bar was close by. A gentle breeze wafted the swirling scent of ocean and sunscreen. Hotel staff members handed out champagne and offered trays of cookies while we waited to check in.

After getting our room keys, we were anxious to get things started. However, we'd have to wait a while longer, as we had to go through "orientation" first. I put orientation in quotes. It was actually a sales pitch. We were offered the opportunity to attend a seminar about timeshares in the area in exchange for a $200 spa credit. The staff member pushed us hard to accept the offer. I was rather annoyed. The pitch was mandatory, and it was the only thing holding us back from officially kicking off the wedding and vacation of our dreams.We waited out the pitch, declined more than once, and eventually we were finally released and allowed to enter the rest of the resort.

When we stepped foot on the main walkway that spanned the grounds, we found beautiful palm trees, the shining sun, the perfect temperature, and a resort humming with charm. All of our stress and anxiety melted away as we strolled. We could tell the resort took great pride in its product. Everything was spotless and sparkling, and maintenance attendants meticulously painted and polished the individual floorboards as we walked by. We knew we had chosen the perfect place, and we couldn't wait to see more.

Our room wasn't ready immediately, so we took up residence at the Seaside Grill, an outdoor restaurant with a thatched roof that was situated right next to the main pool.

We started our meal off with margaritas and some fried dumplings, which were basically a tastier version of crab rangoon. We fell in love with the dish, and ordered about 30 more over the course of our stay.

The Seaside Grill was one of nine restaurants at the resort. Together they covered the entire swarth of styles and food options. Some were casual, such as the buffet-style World Café or the Barefoot Grill, a poolside pizza and burger counter. Others were more buttoned up, such as Bordeux, the french bistro, and Himatsu, the Benihana-style Japanese restaurant. We made our way to every one of them eventually, and they all had their highlights, but Seaside Gill was easily our favorite.

While waiting for our food, we glanced around and got a thorough view of the main pool. The water was sparkling, the pool revelers jolly, and the loungers toasty from basking in the sun.

Our room was ready by the time we finished our meals, so we headed up to our honeymoon suite to scope it out and get settled. The room was huge, and featured a king size bed, a couch, and two hot tubs, one inside and one on our private balcony.

They also left us a bottle of champagne as a greeting to the betrothed-to-be. After unpacking and sending our wedding clothes off to be cleaned and pressed, we changed into our bathing suits and headed back to the main pool. It was finally time to immerse ourselves in the infinity pool and have ourselves a paddle up to the swim-up bar.

We had built up the swim-up bar in our minds over time, and even with our sky-high expectations, it lived up to the hype. The long, spread out bar made it easy to get to a stool or to the bartender without too much traffic, the bartenders were a hoot, and sipping a tasty blended drink while floating around was a ton of fun. Additionally, we were quite amused by the concept of pulling soaking wet dollar bills out of our pockets and slapping them down on the bar as tips. Eventually the bartender would peel the bills off the counter and wedge them under liquor bottles so they could flap in the breeze to dry.

We also witnessed the effects of the infinity pool, which, when viewed at the right angle, appeared to seamlessly meld with the ocean beyond it. Both bodies of water were perfectly, delightfully blue.

We floated for the rest of the afternoon, and before we knew it, it was time to eat again. Our friends Mel and Bill got in just before dinner time, so we joined them for a poolside dinner and a show. We enjoyed the heck out of the ceviche and other delights while we were entertained by lots of singing and dancing. To top it all off (literally and figuratively), we had a great server who kept cracking jokes and convincing us to drink more wine. Not two sips would go by before he swooped in with another pour. The whole affair got us good and tipsy, and we laughed and sang the rest of the night away.

The next morning we made a point to get in some R&R. We woke up early, and after a quick trip to the World Café for breakfast, we took up residence under one of the canopies that dotted the beach. Each featured a thatched roof which shaded two beach chairs. We brought our books, lounged and read for a good couple of hours. Much to our delight, a troupe of servers regularly paced the beach, eager to serve thirsty guests. Somehow they knew exactly when to show up with a grapefruit juice refill, and whenever I'd thank them, they'd respond with "It's a pleasure, sir." I could listen to that all day.

Getting lost in a book was a welcome distraction, but the best moment of our time on the beach came when my stunner of a fiancée decided to strut her stuff and pose for photos in the shining sun. This moment is one of those times that's permanently planted in my memory, and whenever I recall it, it brings a glowing smile to my face.

We had one important piece of business to attend to that day - a meeting with our wedding coordinator to finalize the details of our ceremony and reception. While we made a choice to check out our options for decorations, flowers, cakes and the like in advance, the weddings at DRC are set up so one could show up on the day before the wedding and pick out food, ceremony location, music, etc, right then and there. We had several special requests, and our wedding coordinator assured us each one of them would be met. The whole meeting was conducted in less than an hour, and when it was over, the wedding became very, very real.

Adding to that sentiment was the fact that our guests were now showing up in full force. It seemed like everywhere we turned, we ran into another relative or close friend. Our excitement grew with every encounter. Each conversation wrapped up with a "where you headed?" The answer was usually either "to grab a bite," "to grab another drink," or "to the pool." This was almost always met with either "Mind if I join you?" or "See you there later!" We spent most of the rest of the day having that same conversation and following through. Eventually our crew took over the entire swim-up bar.

That evening, we organized a small group of friends to scout out Desires, the resort's night club. When we first arrived at the club, it was dead quiet, other than the sound of squeaking sneakers coming from the basketball games showing on several TVs. More people arrived as the evening went on, but the dead air at Desires was preventing them from dancing. That lasted until our friend Jarrad stepped onto the dance floor. With total disregard for the fact that he was the only one out there, Jarrad started dancing like a best kind of crazed maniac. We all knew he was a good dancer, but as he moved, shook and spun around, we realized he was taking things to another level. Friends and strangers alike cheered as he breakdanced, did the worm, and busted out more moves than many of us knew existed. By the time he was done, the awkwardness in the room had been replaced with dance fever, with the club attendees hitting the floor in full force. The club was jumpin' for hours after that, with everyone still grooving when we left at midnight.

We had one more item on the agenda that night. Being a Jimmy Buffett fan seeped in paradise, I felt the need to order a couple of burgers with cheese.  A quick call to the kitchen was all it took, and a half hour later, we were in the outdoor hot tub with our Cheeseburgers in Paradise. In reality the burgers were ok at best, but in concept, they were incredible.

After an ambitious final pre-wedding workout on Friday morning, the rest of the day brought more swimming, socializing, eating and drinking. The swim-up bar acted as our main meeting point, and we were all smiles, all day.

That night, the wedding festivities officially kicked off with the rehearsal dinner. We rented out the El Patio restaurant for the event and had the majority of the restaurant to ourselves. Once dinner was served, Mrs. Tires and I addressed our guests and thanked them for being such important people in our lives, and for crossing over into a different country to witness our wedding. Our parents also spoke, and then we opened up the floor to anyone else who had something to say. Our friends and relatives delivered hilarious and moving speeches. Occasionally they were interrupted by the sound of the blender mixing a margarita, a perfectly acceptable obstacle. The event fostered great vibes, and by the end of the meal, the walls between family and friends were breaking down. The festivities had officially kicked off, and they were going swimmingly.

At the conclusion of the dinner, our party spilled out into the open-air lobby, where we took many photos and refilled our beverages. Eventually someone presented a ridiculous idea that was too spontaneous and mischievous to pass up. Skinny dipping! We were clamoring and giggling as a huge group of us marched across the resort and towards the beach. Upon reaching the sand, we disrobed in short order, and then ran into the water in our birthday suits. We were laughing hysterically and making a ton of noise as we reveled in the hysteria. It was late and we weren't supposed to be swimming at that time, so it didn't take long for the resort to stop us. While they made us get out of the water, they could never take this delightful memory from us, and to this day we have a good laugh about it.

We woke up the next morning astounded and ecstatic that it was May 14. We had been anticipating this day for almost two years, and it was finally here...our wedding day!

After a hearty breakfast, we met up with our wedding party for a brief but effective wedding rehearsal on the beach. Fortunately, the proceedings were fairly straightforward, and we left feeling confident in our assignments. That left us a few hours before things really got going, so we spent our time at...you guessed it...the swim-up bar.

Before long, 3:00 rolled around, the time we designated to start getting ready. I kissed my fiancée goodbye for the last time, and she went off for hair and makeup while I gathered my groomsmen. My best friend Jon acted as my best man, and my uncle Steve and my brother Ben stood up on my side as groomsmen. We're all Red Sox fans, so we dawned the matching Red Sox bathing suits I gave them as groomsmen's gifts and we posed for some photos that were taken by our good friend and go-to photographer Adie.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Tires and her crew were getting dolled up in the honeymoon suite. To calm her nerves, she sent her two brother-in-laws to seek out some champagne. Entire bottles of alcohol aren't included in the all-inclusive package, so they really had to work the bartender to get their hands on a bottle. Finally a deal was brokered. They got the champagne in exchange for a promise that we'd name our first born child Raul, after the generous bartender. Sorry we didn't live up to our end of the bargain, Raul! 

After the photo shoot, my groomsmen and I set up shop in the best man's quarters, where I showered up and changed. I invited all of the guys to join us in the room, and attendance was high. I'm sure we broke some occupancy rules, as there were about fifteen of us on the best man's balcony. We cracked jokes and kept the mood light. 

Once I was fully prepared, I led the guys from the room to the beach where the wedding would be held. Wedding revelers and other hotel guests cheered us on as we marched across the resort. The excitement was really starting to build. 

After touching base with the sound guy and reviewing the song cues, my groomsmen and I staked out a spot down the beach, where we could see the wedding guests gather while we stood out of sight.

We waited for what seemed like an eternity for the wedding to start. There were a thousand details going through my mind, and I had been waiting for this moment for years, so the anticipation was stretching my perception of time. In reality, we probably waited about ten minutes. Finally the song Swept Away by The Avett Brothers started playing, our cue to march up the beach and take our places near the alter. 

As I stood watching our parents walk down the aisle and take their seats, a mix of giddiness and nerves swelled up inside me. It's a rare and exhilarating feeling to know that one of the most significant moments of your life is just minutes away. That feeling multiplied ten-fold when the opening chords of Led Zeppelin's Over the Hills and Far Away started playing. 

With that, everyone stood up to welcome the bride. I felt suspended in time as the beautiful Mrs. Tires began her descent down the aisle. She looked absolutely stunning in her flowing white dress, and her face beamed with happiness as she walked. The entire collection of wedding guests and I stood in awe of my captivating bride as she approached.

As she drew closer, I met her in the aisle, hugged her brother Kevin (her escort) and locked arms with her. We were both feeling a bit nervous, so to break through it, I whispered an inside joke in her ear. We both had a good chuckle and sported huge smiles as we took up residence at the altar. This was really happening!

The ceremony included some nice statements from our Justice of the Peace, Linda, as well as readings by Leanne's best friend Frank and my best man Jon. 

Our own version of a sand ceremony bridged the gap between the readings and our vows. This ceremony is typical of the weddings at DRC, and it normally consists of pouring artificially colored sand into a container. We decided to personalize it by substituting the colored sand with sand from beaches that were significant in our lives, including some from beaches in New Hampshire and California (our home states), the Lake Michigan shoreline in Chicago (our current home), and from the very beach we were standing on. 

At the conclusion of the sand ceremony, we read our vows. I shed many a tear while reading mine. Mrs. Tires delivered hers elegantly and eloquently. 

The ceremony concluded with exchanging rings and saying "I do." It's a tradition as old as marriage itself, but that didn't make it any less impactful or any less true. 

With that, we were officially a married couple. We kissed, and then faced our guests, who greeted us with enthusiastic cheers and thunderous applause. We made our way back up the aisle hand in hand while Shades of Blue's "Oh, How Happy." played in the background. 

As we exited, the staff at Dreams handed everyone a glass of champagne, and my uncle Steve gave a brief but moving toast. 

Next, we headed to the beach for pictures. Our photographer Anel was superb, and she had lots of creative ideas for shots. They came out beautifully. 

With the photo session complete, we made our way to the reception, which was situated between the infinity pool and the beach. As we approached, they announced us, and we boogied into the reception with huge smiles on our faces, love in our hearts, and dance moves pouring out of our bodies. 

We danced our way to the center of the dance floor, which was made up of neon and pastel squares that lit up and resembled Michael Jackson's Billy Jean video. We had our first dance to our song, Baby, I'm Yours by Barbara Lewis. 

At the conclusion of the dance, we were surprised by huge sparklers that shot glowing golden bursts into the air. My newly-minted brother-in-law Kevin was quite surprised as well, as the pyrotechnics met the wind and blew a deluge of sparks into his unsuspecting face. Fortunately no one was hurt, and with everyone safe, we reveled in the moment and had a good laugh. 

From there, we were ushered to the buffet, where we fixed plates full of delicious food, and then took up residence on huge plush red chairs at the sweethearts table. We felt like royalty as we dined and looked out at our guests. As the meal concluded, Jon, Frank, and Mrs. Tires' sisters Carolyn and Louisa treated everyone to hilarious and heart-felt speeches that had everyone rolling. 

At the conclusion of the speeches, we opened up the dance floor. Our friends were practically pushing each other out of the way to get there and dance. There was a jubilant vibe in the air, and that, mixed with a few cocktails, made for a hell of a dance party. It took about two minutes for a conga line to break out. 

When Right Said Fred's I'm Too Sexy came on, an impromptu mock runway formed, and we all took turns strutting our stuff as others looked on and cheered. Eventually a second dance party broke out on the beach about twenty feet away. There were a few slow songs in there as well. I have a vivid memory of swaying with Mrs. Tires to REM's Night Swimming. There was something about the way the heavy notes from the piano bounced off the ocean water that made the moment particularly impactful. It was one of those rare perfect moments in life that will stay with me forever. 

We danced, ate and drank late in the evening, and the staff had to kick us out for us to finally leave. Friends swear to me that it was one of the most epic dance parties they've every been a part of. In my mind, the dance party was an extension of the wedding itself, an exuberant, emotional and memorable event that will stand out as a highlight for the rest of my life. 

The wedding events wrapped up with an informal breakfast at the World Café the next morning, where we chatted with many of our guests and relived the night before. The good vibes carried over to that morning and beyond. 

At the conclusion of breakfast, Mrs. Tires and I realized the wedding festivities were officially over. It felt a bit strange that something we had looked forward to for so long was now behind us, but we had no regrets and were riding a newly-wed high that set a wonderful foundation for our marriage. 

While the wedding was over, we still had lots of time ahead of us in Mexico. The honeymoon was about to get started...

Coming Soon: Mexico, Part 3: Our Tropical Honeymoon