OMG! Here I am, on the back of a cruise ship in the middle of the Mediterranean and Nathan is down on bended knee proposing! Is this a dream? Is this really happening? Okay, let me go back a few years, when this love story all began.
My passion has always been travel and I found myself in a great job at ‘V The Vacation Store’ in Grande Prairie, AB where I was born and raised. While working there, I had helped many couples with their destination weddings and I soon discovered this was something that really interested and excited me. With a few weddings under my belt and some great travel experiences, I soon became the DestinationVows Wedding Specialist at V The Vacation Store.
Nathan, was born in Kelowna, BC but grew up in Grande Prairie as well. Like many people in this area he has worked in various parts of the oil and gas industry for most of his life. We met 4 years ago through friends at a local pub and immediately there were sparks. At that time he was back living in Kelowna, only in Grande Prairie while working but soon enough his trips back to Kelowna became fewer.
Before we knew it we were celebrating our four year anniversary with a European cruise and on one of our last days on the ship, he asked me to marry him. Of course the answer was yes.
Now that we were engaged and back home in Grande Prairie, it was time to start planning our own wedding. With me being a DestinationVows Specialist, we knew that it would have to be a destination wedding but we weren’t really into that cookie-cutter type resort wedding. We decided we wanted something different, unique but yet at the same time, traditional.
Being in the travel business, you tend to think more logistically. What destination is easily accessible, has plenty of flights to offer and most importantly, was affordable? It wasn’t very difficult for us to decide on Puerto Vallarta and NOW Amber Resort & Spa met all the criteria we were looking for in a resort.
As far as the actual wedding ceremony and reception, we had decided that we wanted to explore our options of an off-site location that would meet all of our needs.
A client had mentioned a fabulous restaurant called “Le Kliff” outside of Puerto Vallarta and when I looked it up online the first photo was a beautiful pathway that led from the restaurant to a beautiful wedding location that overlooked the ocean. Simply breath-taking, and exactly the wow factor we wanted. I needed to see this place for myself.
So not long after that, me and one of my bridesmaids went off for a week in Puerto Vallarta. A long way I know to go for dinner, but if possible, I strongly recommend couples get a sneak peek at their wedding venue or resort.
I knew the minute I walked into Le Kliff, that this was the place. The location, ambiance, surroundings – all perfect and then we had dinner, and that nailed it for me. This was where I would be married!
Next I talked with Jose, the restaurant’s wedding co-ordinator and I knew I was in good hands. I felt so confident and trusting in Jose. Most of my family and friends that know me, couldn’t believe that I basically gave them full reign of my wedding. I went over menu options, but other than, I left all the wedding details to the “Le Kliff” staff.
I had decided that I would rather be just as surprised as my guests on my wedding day and I had every confidence in “Le Kliff”. They even conveniently had an on-site bridal suite so our hair and makeup people just met us there. The bridesmaids and myself were able to relax and enjoy champagne and desserts while getting ready.
Throughout the afternoon , I loved to step out of the bridal suite every once in awhile and see more and more of the venue coming together and the best part, by leaving all the details to them, I was never quite sure what to expect but was always pleasantly surprised.
Before I knew it, I was walking down the aisle on the arm of my dad, surrounded by my family and closest friends. We said our “I do’s” on that rock, overlooking the ocean and we were Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Fiege!
My favourite memory? Other than becoming Mrs. Fiege, it would have to be the Mariachi band. In my mind I was thinking 2 or 3 musicians, but I had to turn my head twice when 10 beautifully dressed Mariachis in full traditional Mexican dress filled the air with festive music. It was something we would never had a chance to have at a wedding back home and a memory that will always stay with me.
