The Most Romantic and Beautiful Wedding Ever...

Claudia's and Justin's wedding was the most wonderful wedding - it was like being in a movie where Pacabel's Canon played over their vows, the sun broke through the clouds just in time for a sunset, the bride flirted endlessly during the Jewish ceremony and every single person danced. I'm sure I've seen this film and it was just as magical in real life.

Friday night's reception with the out-of-town guests (which was honestly everyone - 131 of us) started off this film. There was incredible food, mole pollo, beans, rice, the most delicious guac, coke and rums (or shots of tequila), a 12 piece mariachi band who played the most incredible music, more dancing, eating, meeting new people and leaving the rehearsal dinner at midnight to go have more drinks at a tequila bar before crashing out at 3:30 a.m. The bright sunshine on Saturday morning only begged for a bottle of water and aspirin (but it could have been much worse.)

I walked around town with my "roommate" Brandi whose starting residency for anaesthesia next week. We ate lunch at an organic, environmental restaurant (yep, even in Queretaro) where I learned all about her med school experience, the challenges that Claudia and other's trying to enter difficult fields such a dermatology faced. (They did not get residencies this summer as they wanted to be placed together. Justin's choice as an OB/GYN (who does abortion) has him in high demand where Claudia's choice in dermatology has her in severe competition.) We bought a couple of souvenirs (these fun little dolls) for our nieces and goddaughters made by the some of the more poor rural women who would come into town to sell their tourist tchotchkes. She reminded me of the dress that I was interested in buying and one look, she said, You have to get it- you'd regret it otherwise. And I did. Bright yellow. It was lively and more exciting than the other two I had brought along for the occasion.

We made it to the church just before 5 p.m. Storm clouds were brewing and wind whipped up leaves and dust - which it had done the night before but had amount to nothing. As soon as Claudia and her parents started down the isle, the rain came pouring down - loud. We listened to the ceremony in Spanish while glancing nervously at the down pour. Just as the bride and groom where on their second or third kiss, they shooed us out into the clearing sky. A few sprinkles and a few bubbles later, Claudia and Justin came bursting out and into their dressed up ancient car while we loaded up in to buses to head out to a "hacienda" (ranch) on the out skirts of town for the Jewish ceremony and reception.

The bus ride was longer than we expected but the results were gorgeous! This former hacienda spread out over acres of beautiful land. There was an incredible marble veranda with stone column fountains. Stepping out of the bus, we were greeted with cocktails and appetizers and a sunset. When the sun was finally down, the sabbath over, we started with the Jewish wedding. The hoopa was made by both of the mothers and beautiful. At one point in the ceremony, the bride makes circles around the husband (to seal the relationship, build a protective wall, etc.) and Claudia turned it into a flirty, seductive dance around him which had all of us laughing. The rabbi (whom everyone thought Justin flew in from St. Louis but was really just from one town over) told stories about them as a couple, they broke the glass and we headed into the actual "house" for the dinner.

The evening could haven't been more magical and we hadn't even started dancing! Another 10 piece band (complete with two dancers) played modern Latina musica, covered the Bee Gees, Gloria Gaynor, and other wedding favorites. After the initial dances of the bride and groom, parents, the party started. Nearly everyone was on the dance floor and something I had never seen before - the band brought props - every half hour or so. First there were balloons, then masks, paper glasses, straw cowboy hats, hands (on a stick) - it was hilarious. We drank all of the wine, liqueur, ate the cake and when the buses came to get us at 1:30 a.m. (the staff was tearing down the tables) no one wanted to leave. They finally stopped the music and we finally left...

Sunday morning, an exhausted but still very festive crowd showed up for "brunch" which of course was as much food as we had had at ever single other meal - we wished the bride and groom off (for three weeks in Italy.) The weekend wasn't over - a community orchestra who covering Sinatra tunes invited people to dance in the town square, a bit of shopping for super fun party shirt, dinner with some of the friends and a late night beer (finally - a beer) with some of the bridal party to capped off the weekend and the most fabulous wedding ever.