From Man on Man to Zone: A Magical Wedding Week

So last week I didn't blog because I was at a wedding in Santo Domingo. It was one of the most magical weeks I have ever experienced.
#jakeandjenplus5
The Nuckols are busy mission presidents, yet they hosted us so beautifully! Chartered buses everywhere, tours of the city given by El Presidente, a chance to hear from some of their missionaries, a Dominican ward testimony meeting, delicious food (and I mean delicious!), delightful company, and SO MUCH LOVE! I want all of my kids' weddings to feel like this. Derek better keep working lots of overtime, ha! But truly the best part was to sit together in the sealing room having spent several days as a group. We had come to know and love each other and we were rejoicing together in support of this miraculous and blessed union.

Here are the highlights in photos (the best photos from the wedding itself are at the bottom, taken by Kristen Erekson):

I met up with my bestie in JFK. Getting off the plane to have her waiting for me was amazing! We had such a good time talking throughout the week. She makes me a better woman and mom!

This was the view from our hotel window. I have never been to a 3rd world country before. It was beautiful and scary at the same time. I didn't get a picture of these, but the massive tangles of wires on the telephone poles, the street signs to avoid pedestrians who will be running across the street, the garbage...it all amazed me.

This was our forecast. But we ended up having thunderstorms on just our actual beach day. The other days were quite warm and sunny.

Since it was raining, we took some detours around the island before we went to the beach. These were some amazing ruins.

All the bridesmaids at the ruins.

We also stopped by a church building. It was open, so we went to check it out and make sure everything was okay. It was some missionaries having district meeting. All though the week we had interactions with missionaries that made me remember how much I loved serving. It made me excited for my kids to serve. Especially if they can have a mission president like President Nuckols!

There was a model having a photo shoot at the beach we ended up at. See the hoard of men and boys hanging around her? This was one of the things that shocked me most about the DR. Everywhere we went there were men just hanging around. Sitting, standing, chatting, watching...clearly there are economic problems when this many men have nothing to do all day? Did not see many women just hanging around. Only on Sunday we saw a few.

Some pics from our tour of the Colonial District. Christopher Columbus landed in the DR on (I think) his second voyage. (President Nuckols gave us a fantastic tour, so I should remember this). It was cool to see buildings so old.

The square with Christopher Columbus and roughly 1 million pigeons. The vendors were trying to sell us Rosary beads (didn't understand why we didn't want them) and Larimar--a stone found only in the DR. I did buy some Larimar. It's amazing.

The pics are out of order a bit, but this is the morning of the wedding, we hired a cab and made it to the white sandy beach of Don Julio. It was awesome. Could have spent more than the 2 hours we had here, but I'm glad we went (even though I was a little hesitant to get up early and go...)

Lounging!

At the temple. It was so amazing. And so many people coming and going from the temple. That was really amazing too.

Mrs. and Mrs. Bromley

The reception was in the Colonial District in an old museum. I had to sit on one of the cannons across from the museum.

More posing with my bridesmaid flowers

On Sunday before our flight Emmi and I went to Tres Ojos. The three eyes. It is 3 caves with lakes inside them. Beautiful walking around and experiencing the nature there. And hot and humid.

We only ate at one restaurant, because the Nuckols did such an amazing job of hosting us. El Postino. And we ate there twice because we liked it so much the first time (on the first day and the last day). Yummy Dominican Italian food.

On the way home, we stopped in NYC for an 8 hour layover. We decided to take an Uber into the city and take a look. This NYPD officer gave us directions to yummy pizza. When I put my arm around him and felt his vest it made me miss Derek so much! I was so glad to be on my way home.

Pizza! Buffalo chicken and cheese. And I ate most of both pieces. Yeah, I came home 10 pounds heavier.

I was so glad to come home to these kiddos!!!

More amazing wedding pics taken by one of the other bridesmaids, Kristen.

My favorite part of the reception was La Hora Loco. The crazy hour. It is a Dominican Wedding tradition. Men in crazy costumes flooded the dance floor, giving out masks, glow bracelets, noise makers, etc. It was unreal and amazingly fun!