The day we had waited and dreamed about for many months, had finally arrived. It was August 9th, in a few hours we would become husband and wife. Wow!

That morning we got up super early. We both were feeling anxious, but it didn't prevent us from practicing our first dance for the last time. This time, I decided to wear my wedding shoes and the husband wore his. We practiced about 5 times. My biggest fear was me getting entangled with the dress and we both falling on the floor because of it.
After practicing and showering, we checked every single detail thoroughly. We wanted to make sure we were not missing anything and that if something was missing, we could fix it asap. We also put most of our stuff back into our suitcases. That day we would change rooms. We just left out my wedding dress -which the husband had not seen- his suit, our shoes and other things we considered necessary.
We went down for breakfast and then we went out and bought a couple of things we needed.

The sun was shining. It was a beautiful day, there was no threat of rain and the sky could not be any bluer.
Early on, our wedding planner's staff had come to the hotel and were organizing the event, putting everything together. The girl in charge of the cleaning at the hotel did everything she could to have all the rooms clean and ready before our guests began to arrive, while also cleaning areas of the hotel which were screaming for some cleaning.
While the husband and I were doing our shopping, my phone started to ring. Since we rented the house in "Full House" mode, we had the chance of offering a free stay at the hotel to some of our guests -the night of the wedding-. At first we thought this was a super idea, but at the end it turned out as a total stress: Calls to my phone wouldn't stop, the doorbell ringing every 15 minutes as the guests would come in and out. while I was getting ready, some of our guests dying of curiosity, tried to check through the window and then the surprise was not longer a surprise. This part was a total chaos and it bothered me a lot that the wedding planner did little or actually nothing about this mess and chaos, at least to ease it a bit.


I don't recall having lunch. In fact, I believe that neither the husband nor I did. After making our final purchases, we met my in-laws at a restaurant near the hotel. The in-laws invited us to have a natural juice and to talk a little, I think they were trying to help with the anxiousness. As the arrival time to the hotel of the girl in charge of my hair and make up was close, the husband and I decided to go back. He took his suit, shoes, shirt, etc; and went to the room next door, which was where he got dressed. Meanwhile I stayed in our room. I took a second shower and as I did, the makeup girl arrived and once I was ready, she started to do her job.


All of a sudden arrived the photographer, whom I anxiously waited for. He introduced himself, we discussed the type of photography we wanted and he told me he would be very close to me with his camera, but that I should relax and imagine he was not there. This task was not so easy, I always feel intimidated when the camera is very close to me, even when the husband takes me close-up photos.

The window of the room where I was was open most of the time because the makeup girl needed enough light and the light in the room was poor. Since the window was open, I could see the husband walking back and forth, guests going up and down, some curious ones peeked trying to see more. As I already mentioned, this was something I did not like at all.
My makeup and hair were almost ready, but neither my bridesmaid nor my mother, whom were supposed to help me with the dress and others stuff had arrived. They were in the hotel, but getting their hair and makeup done in a different room. At the end they arrived, both radiants, but without their official dresses on. They helped me with the dress, shoes, accessories, etc.


The photographer disappeared without me noticing it. He went to take pictures of the husband and my FIL as he placed the cake toppers he made for us.


Once all this was done, the husband, the photographer,his assistant and I went out to get some pictures taken around the historic center of Cartagena. Yes, the husband saw me before the ceremony, but we planned to do so. The happiness and surprise on his face when he saw me wearing my wedding dress filled me with such joy. It was a beautiful moment. We hugged and he told me how beautiful I was. We also took the time to give a quick look to the set up of the room where the celebration was going to take place and to small details of the decoration, specifically the area designated for guests to write their wishes.


When we walked out of the hotel, we were surprised by many tourists whom were passing by. As soon as they saw us, they started to clap, to take photos with their phones, to shout: long live the newlyweds! or just to congratulate us. This was a special and fun moment, but also a bit uncomfortable. We felt like celebrities and having so many eyes and cameras pointing at us from everywhere made us laugh, but I think it was all because we were so embarrassed. Getting use to it took some time, since we were the center of attraction in every street or corner we arrived to.


The "photography tour" was definitely a whole new experience for us, one we will remember forever. The photos the photographer managed to take that day are great; soulful, artistic, funny, complemented with beautiful sceneries and a perfect natural light, just how we imagined them: the perfect memory!
We are so thankful that one of my cousins ​​was with us during the tour. He managed to capture such moments, but from other angles. The pictures he took are also very beautiful. We now have a folder with over 3000 wedding pictures.

Back to the hotel, the husband went to his second new room to take a quick shower and I went to the usual room to freshen up and for a hair and makeup touch up. When we got back from taking the pictures, some of our guests were already in their respective rooms. That means, when I got to the room, others were changing in the same room. My things were mixed up with theirs and the things the husband left in the other room, were lost. These were times of stress again. Honestly, if we were to marry again, I will think twice before offering our guests a free stay in the same place where the event takes place. Eventually the husband's stuff were found and he took them to the one that would become our room for the rest of ourr stay in Cartagena: the suite.

There were some minutes left for the ceremony, our guests were almost all ready. I was inside the room, extremely anxious. Suddenly one of wedding planner's assistants came in and told me rain drops were falling. I could not believe it! How was that possible? The day had been perfect. I tried to stay calm. In the distance I could heard the sound of the violin that accompanied the ceremony. At that time the violinist was playing "Por ti volare" by Andrea Bocelli, song we chose as a prelude, which announced that the ceremony was about to begin and the guests had to go to the roof.


The violinist had stopped playing por ti volare. Now in the distance, I could hear "a thousand years" by Christina Perri. It was the song we chose to make our entrances. By listening to it I knew the moment had arrived.