Katie + Shawn

Huracan Cafe // Punta Cana

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Katie & Shawn… two gentle people who are very much in love – full of life, character & joy. They mesh together like peas and carrots. It’s so unavoidably evident how much affection these two carry for each other. You’ll see just what I mean… xoxo r+m

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We met at our mutual friends wedding.  I was standing on the bride’s side and he on the grooms.  The first time we saw each other was the day of the rehearsal – at a local beach in Sarnia.  We were both living in London at the time – he was a Western student and I was raised there. I remember leaving the rehearsal and I could not stop thinking about him.  I worked up the nerve to start a conversation with him the night of the wedding by asking him where he lived in London.  As it turned out he lived four houses down from me on the same street!  We really hit it off that night – we stayed up all night talking and walked down to the nearby bridge to watch the sun come up.

Our first date was a few short days later in Sarnia.  He is originally from Sarnia so he was staying at his parents house and I was staying with my friend.  I went to his house to pick him up and he invited me in to meet his parents.  They are the warmest loveliest people and were very welcoming to me.  We left for the restaurant and I felt a little confused – we hadn’t officially started dating, and I had met his parents.  So I asked Shawn what he had introduced me to his parents as and he replied “My girlfriend…. is that okay?”  Lucky for me he was JUST as crazy for me as I was for him!

Shawn proposed on New Years while on a family trip to Mexico.  I had kind of been thinking a proposal MIGHT happen the Christmas leading up to it – instead I got a beautiful handbag which I still love and use.  So I really was not expecting it at all.  The night he proposed I was (as usual) running behind getting ready for dinner.  He was so patient and sweet trying to do things to help me get ready faster.  He suggested we have a drink out on the balcony before going down to meet everyone and I thought it was a fun way to start the night!  When I got out on the balcony he told me how much he loved me then got down on one knee and I almost fell over I was so shocked!

For me it’s always been Shawn.  When I met him it was like a part of me said “there you are… I’ve been looking for you!’  I knew Shawn was supposed to be my husband from the day I met him. It sounds crazy but I got home from meeting him and called my sisters and told them I found my husband!

 

 

I think back to this day and catch myself grinning from ear to ear.  It was so amazing.  Our favourite memory is the way it felt to have all the people we love most, and who love us so much there in one room together.  Its one of those perfect moments of pure happiness that you want to live over and over again.  Another favourite was our first look.  The wedding day is so busy and I can’t thank Melinda enough for making us take the time to be in the moment and really take in our first look.  

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… VENDOR MENTIONS …

I am so grateful for our vendors who worked so hard to make our day special.  Natalia and the Huracan Team were absolutely FANTASTIC.  Natalia was AMAZING to work with – My Dad and in-laws were nervous about having an off resort wedding until Natalia breezed into the Huracan.  She has a way of making everyone feel special and put us all at ease – meeting with her was like a breath of fresh air.  She worked so hard and made our wedding day absolutely perfect.  

Mel and Rob were the perfect addition to our wedding day. My guests still tell me how amazing they were. Rob is so good at being there with the camera to catch all the candid moments and Mel is so talented at making people look natural.  Shawn and I are always awkward in photos and she was always there with some gentle coaching to make us comfortable and ourselves. Their easy personalities make it so natural to relax and just have a good time with them.

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… ADVICE FROM THE BRIDE …

I was a lazy bride!  I did almost no planning in preparation for this wedding – so if you’re anything like me and just want a stress free, amazingly fun day then I would advise you to go with people who know what they’re doing and do it well.  Punta Cana has so many talented amazing people to make your wedding easy and perfect!  So put in their hands and enjoy  :)

xo – k + s