new year - same wedding - two celebrations

Yacht Club at Chandlers Rockwall, Texas Ceremony/Cocktails @ 2:00 pm Please arrive by 1:45 Ceremony starts promptly at 2:00 Cocktails to follow Link: https://www.theyachtclubatchandlers.com/

Bakhalar Garden & Lagoon Bacalar, Mexico Lagoon Celebration @ 3:00 pm Bride & Groom Travel Plans: Departing DFW Airport Flight NK 343 Thursday February 3rd @ 8:40 am Arriving in Cancun @ 12:25 pm Driving to Bacalar Leaving Bacalar on Tuesday February 8th to Cancun Returning to Dallas on Saturday February 12th @3:50 pm

After COVID restrictions foiled our grandiose plans for a full destination wedding in early-2021, we've been behind the scenes working to come up with a plan to hopefully involve as much of our friends and family as possible. We would love to have everyone join us, but we understand the world and traveling aren't as simple as they were when we started this journey. We will now be having an event here in the states, followed by a fun, relaxing event in one of our favorite towns in Mexico. We hope you can join us where ever you feel most comfortable!! 2.2.22 Yacht Club at Chandlers Rockwall, Texas - Ceremony/Cocktails @ 2:00 pm 2.5.22 Bakhalar Garden & Lagoon Bacalar, Mexico - Lagoon Celebration @ 3:00 pm

Drunk in Love! We met at a bar during one of Luisa's company happy hours at the Cock & Bull. Neighborhood Pub in Lakewood, Dallas. Her coworkers made her go talk to the best looking guy in the joint (it's a dive). She didn't want to, still doesn't want to sometimes, but she finally did and even abandoned her girls' night to follow him to the beer garden. After a long night spent together, all was said and done and it was meant to be.

On our sixth anniversary of our first date, Ryan surprised me by leaving work early and setting up everything for our special day! I thought he had beat me home (we both work in downtown)...but really, he drove to work, turned around, and came home! He spent all day running errands and getting everything prepped to surprise me. As I walked in the house, he had set it up with flowers, my favorite wine was poured, and he was cooking dinner. Once dinner was over, he asked if we wanted to do presents. When I said sure, he said he wanted to record my reaction. Mind you I never thought it was a ring…. 1. He better not propose to me in this house, 2. I didn’t have time to get ready & 3. It was too big of a box to have a ring! Anyways once I opened the box, I found a picture frame with a list of reasons why he loved me. My heart melted right away since he is a “man of little words”. I decided that I wanted to read each one of them out load…let’s just say I didn’t make it to the third one before I was bawling. Once I made my way through all his sweet words, I needed a moment to compose myself. I was literally an emotional mess. He then kept repeating “there is more in the box” and to open it. Once I finally gained a little bit more composure, I opened the rest of the present to find 2 white handkerchiefs. I thought it was funny since I assumed he included them because he thought I’d need to dry my tears. When I unfolded the handkerchiefs, I saw they were for the dogs, and read them out loud (She said YES! & My Humans are getting Married!). I looked over and he was down on one knee holding my dream engagement ring. I nodded “YES” like crazy and burst into tears, and we were engaged! He ended the night by taking me to our favorite little Cuban bar and surprising me with my best friend (who helped him plan it all) and my entire family! We then celebrated the rest of the night with lots of drinks and dancing!!

Over the last few years, we’ve been fortunate to explore so many beautiful destinations. Of all these places, Mexico has always called us back! From the colorful jungle hillsides to the quaint beach towns along both coasts, we’re amazed each time we visit. But among all the hidden gems sprinkled throughout the country’s versatile landscapes, Bacalar stood out as our dream wedding location!

The small town of Bacalar is tucked away in the south of Mexico, just 130 miles south of Tulum and 25 miles north of Belize border. The town measures about 1 mile wide and about 3 miles long. It’s a popular destination among Mexican nationals who flock to the state of Q. Roo. for their holidays but still relatively unknown to Mexico’s international visitors.

The lagoon, also known as the “Lake of Seven Colors” or even nicknamed the “Maldives of Mexico” has both names for good reason! The breathtaking beauty of Bacalar’s lagoon is a result of the contrast between the lake’s white limestone bed and crystal-clear water. Because of the varying depths and changing reflections of the sun, the water gives the appearance of having every hue of blue you can imagine. These varying shades of turquoise, blue and indigo change throughout the lake in different depths of water. Some parts are so clear that some areas just look like sand, even when they are covered in 4 foot of water. The aquamarine water is also the perfect temperature, not too hot and not too cold.