Well, we are back. After the most insane month of my life….followed by the most relaxing week I’ve ever had..and will probably ever have… we are back.
I won’t go into gushy details about how flipping perfect our wedding was…but it really was. I’ll wait to get our photographers’ photos up to show you so you can see for yourself. 🙂
But…the night Neil, his brother and I got into Omaha, there were 2.5 hours of tornado warnings we had to sit through. Now, for those who don’t know me well, tornadoes are in my top three fears. Seriously. They are so destructive. And we are helpless in their paths. I’ve always been scared out of my mind of them. So I guess it was sort of fitting that the threat of them would show up during a chaotic week.
I want to thank my family for dealing with me freaking out and demanding that all our wedding stuff be taken to my parents’ basement. I didn’t want their house to get damaged, either. But there was no way I could rebuild our wedding in two days!!! So I wasn’t going to take any chances!!!
But in my angst and apprehension, I paced…with camera in tow. And here is one of the several images I caught that night.
Luckily…the twisters didn’t strike near us.
Anyway…. skip ahead a few days. (Did I mention that our wedding was perfect??? And part of it was because I had planned the timeline around photos…hint, hint, brides and grooms!!)
So the honeymoon….we headed to Jamaica and set up camp at Couples Swept Away all-inclusive resort. It was impeccably perfect. Seriously.
We got off the plane and into a ramshackle van, no AC, with two other couples. Vinton, our driver, was a jovial sort, and willing to give us a taste of authentic Jamaica. And by “taste”…I mean literally…. he jumped out of the vehicle at one point and returned with a warm bottle of Coke and a bottle or overproof rum. No ice. But we drank some anyway….
Vinton was also set on educating us about the local fruit. So many different ones, too!
This is a Jamaican fruit…it was weirdly textured…and dry. Like a mixture of a pear, plum and crab apple. Neil ate the whole thing.
The scariest part of the entire trip was actually the way Jamaicans drive. On the opposite side of the road first of all…and on streets no bigger than a school hallway. And there are no lights. Just the trust that someone else will stop for you. It wasn’t rare to only be three feet behind the next car….no joke. I covered my eyes through a good deal of the hour-and-15-minute trip to the resort.
Our room…. Outside our room.
Along the beach, these locals sang everyday. Such beautiful rhythms…This was our first night there. I remember Neil rolling his eyes that I wanted to take a pic already. (He gets a bit jealous of Geraldine) But I’m so glad I endured my new hubby’s irritation, because this is my favorite shot from the trip. It was almost dusk… and I blocked the sun with the tree, but exposed for the bright light, so it underexposed everything else. What pretty blues!!! So the next day, i thought I’d capture what we could see from our beachfront verandah suite.
And while Neil read Tom Robbins, I walked around our resort. I don’t know what this is exactly, but it was really cool.One night, we happened upon a kitten. (I think he belonged to a staff member.) And it followed us. And then all three of us happened upon a crab. Needless to say, the two entertained one another for awhile. Neil and I moved on with our lives. I wonder who won…
We went parasailing. Neil is not too fond of heights, but since he IS fond of me…he sucked it up and went with me. I am very proud of him for abandoning his fear in the name of love. I sure as heck wouldn’t have flirted with a tornado for HIM. haha
Back on the ground…
And we decided to venture a bit off of the resort. We took a bus with two other couples to a few local merchants. (they all sold the same stuff, and this was definitely disappointing as the “crafts” lost their genuinity). But then we went to the Negril LIghthouse. And one of the other couples took this pic. That’s Neil and me!!!! then we headed to the famous Rick’s Cafe. It was a bit overrated, to be honest. But there were cliff jumpers. They were cool, until they wanted tips.
This is us again!! One of the ‘cliff jumpers”….but actually jumped from this skinny-butt tree way above the cliffs. Some local onlookers. Whiel everyone else was staring at the jumpers, I couldn’t help but see the beauty that was being ignored. Or the signs that cracked me up.
And the sunset. The day we took the catamaran cruise (aka booze cruise) to the caves….and we got to swim in these crystal waters!! and we swam through the caves. It was an amazing experience. A castle hotel along the cliffs. Not too bad for a point and shoot camera, eh? And the wedding photographer in me jumped out to take some random ring shots around the resort.
This next one cracks me up. Every time. Hee hee. This was my souvenir from the trip.The last night’s sunset. I miss it already. But….when we got home finally on Monday night….our pals Jennifer & Tisha had put up a WELCOME BACK banner with notes from our family and friends…and then they vacuumed, and trailed chocolate kisses to our bedroom…and even decorated my stuffed monkey Mitch. What a great homecoming!!! KISSES right back to you!!!Now…I have some other photo sessions to catch up on!!! And some snoozing. So tired am I. 🙂
erika d. - Yea!! I am so happy the wedding was perfect!!! Congrats to you. Love the Jamaica pics but I am dying to see the wedding shots!!
Kay - Congratulations Darby! You two are soo cute!
Clary - Oh Darbi!! It looks like Heaven. Can’t wait to see pics of the perfect wedding:o)!!
Rhonda - We went to CSA for our honeymoon in Februrary– I’m so glad you loved it too. Paradise!
Beautiful photos, thanks for sharing!
Amanda - Thank you for posting these pictures! My fiance and I are going there for our honeymoon in 64days and I cannot wait!
Nicole - What fabulous images! I too went to Swept Away for my honeymoon in April and it was nothing short of amazing! Love your pics from parasailing… I was too chicken to take my camera up there!
And yeah, the authenticity of the Jamaican goods was kind of a bummer. I was hoping to pick up lots of great handmade crafts only to find that the exact same items they sold in the market were available at the AIRPORT! Oh well, I did purchase a few paintings directly from the artist so at least something was “authentic”!
P.S. Aren’t the frozen drinks TO.DIE.FOR??!!!! Yum yum!
Jenn - Wow! Your pictures are so crisp, I feel like I’m there. They’re beautiful!
Darbi G. Photography - THanks all!!! And yes, the drinks were yummy. My fave (non-frozen, though) was Reggae Sumfest!!! Delish!
Julie - Congrats! Love the Jamaican pics. I honeymooned there too, I know what you mean about the crazy driving. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it back in one piece!
Photography by Lara - Oh, man, this is a great post! You guys are too cute! I miss you already!
Anonymous - I will be going to Couples Swept away July 7th thru 15th for my honeymoon, hope to come back in one piece (crazy things going on there) you are a great photographer. I hope you have made use of this to benefit yourself financially. Really great pics. These pics have inspired me to take some like that also as we are not able to afford a photographer for our upcoming wedding. Anyway again great pics and great looking couple. 🙂 hope married life is treating you both very well. 🙂
Darbi G. Photography - Awww, thanks for stopping by…Anonymous. 😉 have fun there…it's AMAZING!!!
Anonymous - Oh that was quick. 🙂 No problem. Love, Peace and happiness to you. 🙂
Elden - I recently came across your post and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that it caught my interest and you've provided informative points. I will visit this blog often.
Thank you,
Merchant Cash Advance
Anonymous - Wow I love your pictures and it was written very lovely. Being from Jamaica it really brought me back especially with the fruit
couples resorts - Hello Darbi and Neil – what wonderful visual album of your memories at CSA and the Jamaica culture. I posted your blog on our corporate facebook page, be sure to "fan" us so you can see the comments. Congratulations on your nuptials we look forward to welcoming you home again soon. Andi Washington, Director of Sales and Marketing, Couples Resorts.
Janice - Just saw your beautiful photos on the Couples website. Did you stay in room #3117? It looks like the exact view we had when we were there in '07.
Coffee Please!?! - Congratulations! )love( LOVE L.O.V.E. Couples Resorts! Especially when they're on Bloody Bay in Negril! Thanks for sharing with us and bringing back my longing to go "home".
Kelly - Hello Darbi, as a Couples Resort Specialist, I need to tell you…you have a very special eye. You capture color and texture so well! Wish I could take you on my vacations…I could use a GREAT photographer! Would you be interested in sharing a few of your pictures for my website?
[email protected]
Anonymous - Thank you for sharing your CSA pictures – we've been there 3 time and each time the beauty of the place overwhelms me. Have a wonderful life together. Ellen and John
Anonymous - Wow, as a travel agent who has been selling all four Couples for 13 years I have to say..most awesome, beautiful pics I have seen of our favorite resorts! You captured Swept Away, people, fruit, animals, flowers, the SUNSET!! YOU GOT TALENT!!! Noreen