Post-Wedding Recovery

on October 10, 2011

Well, the villa is in shambles. Decorations and empty cups and favors and wet bathing suits and flowers everywhere. Sign of a great destination wedding, right?

Nicole and Isaacâ€™s wedding was so much fun. Everything was perfect. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful and the reception was spot-on â€“ we dined poolside, in the open air, listening to tropical birds and crashing ocean waves.

Some standout moments: the personal, funny vows; the epic playlist that included many Britney Spears songs (Nicoleâ€™s favorite); and the amazing vegan spread and wedding cake. Oh, and I fainted during ceremony. It was so hot out, and I was standing with my knees locked and so still that my vision starting to swim, I blacked out, and collapsed into a chair. Probably only the third time that Iâ€™ve ever fainted. Thankfully, the bride and groom were facing the other way and didnâ€™t notice! I feel fine now, but man â€“ donâ€™t mess with that tropical heat.

I recovered, photographs were taken, and then we danced and hot tubbed the night away. A very beautiful wedding, indeed.

Up early with my friend Heather:

NOT a margarita!

In the blender:

Vega smoothie mix

Blueberries

Rice milk

And a peanut butter sandwich on the side.

Well, everyone else is still asleep, so Heather and I are just catching up on work and staring at this beautiful sceneâ€¦ I would be content to just move into this villa and never, ever leave.

As a member of a bridal party, have you ever done something embarrassing â€“ like fainted or tripped? During my friend Sarahâ€™s wedding, I got a nosebleed in the middle of the church. I never get nosebleeds. Not a good look for beautiful wedding photographs!

{ 69 comments }

Gina @ Running to the Kitchen October 10, 2011, 9:43 am
I seriously can’t get over how gorgeous that place is, I don’t think I’d leave either. I’ve never done anything embarrassing, but I’ve been in a wedding where the bride actually fainted walking down the aisle. Made for quite the ceremony!
- CaitlinHTP October 11, 2011, 9:12 pm
  OMG, poor bride! How could you go on afterwards?!
- Wedding Etiquette October 13, 2011, 2:05 pm
  Agreed – and yet they’re working away, even the morning after! Just stop that lol…and enjoy.
  
  My daughter fell down an entire flight of steps just seconds before entering the ceremony processional. She walked down the aisle with some tears and I thought, “How sweet”…until we saw the blood.
kathleen @ the daily crumb October 10, 2011, 9:46 am
oh no!! so glad you’re ok after the fainting incident… must have been scary! we are headed to our first destination wedding this summer. can’t wait!
Luv What You Do October 10, 2011, 9:47 am
So jealous of that gorgeous morning!!! I am also impressed that you are a dedicated blogger on vacation!

During my friend’s wedding, we were dancing the Horah (the Jewish dance where everyone holds hands and goes in a circle) and my strapless bridesmaides dress kept sliding down. Since I was holding hands with her family, it was hard to adjust and my close friend across the circle kept motioning me to ‘pull up my dress’ Luckily, nobody got a show (I magically found straps inside the dress) and used them to convert my dress from strapless. I was able to dance the rest of the night away without any wardrobe malfunctions.
- CaitlinHTP October 11, 2011, 9:12 pm
  Haha, I love the (topless) horah!
  - Luv What You Do October 11, 2011, 9:24 pm
    Thank you!
    I was almost the ‘whore’ of the Horah!
Deva @ Deva by Definition October 10, 2011, 9:48 am
I have never been a member of the wedding party before! I would be so freaked out if I fainted! How scary.
Lindsey October 10, 2011, 9:49 am
I have been a bridesmaid 7 times and I am surprised I have fallen walking up the aisle yet, I am a total klutz!
Glad you are feeling better! I know the feeling, I stood up in a wedding in Costa Rica and I remember thinking I might faint soon since the humidity was so intense.
Laura October 10, 2011, 9:51 am
I barely escaped an embarrassing moment… I was the “Best Woman” (in lieu of a “Best Man”) in my brother’s wedding. Just a few minutes before the ceremony I realized my sister-in-law’s wedding band was in my bag on the other side of the church (and it was a big church and down two flights of stairs). I’ve never sprinted so fast in heels and a long dress in my life!
- CaitlinHTP October 11, 2011, 9:13 pm
  AHHHHHH!!! Haha this made me laugh. I would’ve been panicking.
Katie of Cabbage Ranch October 10, 2011, 10:00 am
During a reading she was giving at my wedding, my sister started crying… and couldn’t stop. It wasn’t any kinda dainty, dab-at-the-corner-of-her-eyes display of emotion. She was red in the face, hiccupping, the whole deal: it was an ugly cry. We waited, and I smiled and then winked at her from the altar. It didn’t get better. Finally, to lighten the mood, in a stage whisper I said “You’re ruining the wedding!” That did the trick. A snort of laughter, a swipe with a tissue and she was up and running again. It’s one of my favorite memories from our wedding- such a genuine overflow of emotion stemmed with our own sarcastic brand of sisterly love.
emily October 10, 2011, 10:23 am
I’ve actualy never been a bridesmaid 🙁 But at my own wedding we did the Horah and when my husband and I were lifted on chairs the men got a little to enthusiastic and lifted me right into a fan! Not only did my head make a fairly loud “crack,” but I was wearing a borrowed (expensive!) veil and I about had a heart attack thinking I ruined it.

Glad you are feeling better.
- CaitlinHTP October 11, 2011, 9:14 pm
  From the other comments, it appears the horah is dangerous!
Trainer Kjirsten @ Balanced Healthy Life October 10, 2011, 10:23 am
I love those yellow flowers! So pretty! Luckily, I’ve advoided embarassing myself while being apart of a wedding party!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun October 10, 2011, 10:37 am
I’ve always heard of the locked knee and fainting thing. Glad you were okay! And that they were too caught up in love to notice. I love being able to see all their wedding as it plays out. 🙂
Alett October 10, 2011, 10:37 am
omg! I am so sorry but I totally LOL’d at the fainting thing – so glad you are better. I’m sorry for laughing.

Sounds like it was the perfect wedding day and exactly what the couple wanted. Magnificent!

Hmm…cannot think of any embarrassing bridesmaid moments but my friend told me of a horrifying story that happened at a wedding he was at:
-> during a quiet portion of the ceremony a voice spoke from the back of the church; it was the ex-boyfriend from years back. Anyway, he stated that he realized that the minister would not ask “if anyone objects to this wedding” so he stated that he flatly objected and went on to explain why. After he finished his little speech the minister just continued on. The bride was so upset by this that the wedding photos were kind of ruined. So sad! Horrifying.

Safe travels home.
I’m off to run the Tufts 10k for women. Was a day of decision to register as my motivation has been lacking.

cheers,
a.
- CaitlinHTP October 11, 2011, 9:15 pm
  THAT IS HORRIFYING. What a fucking asshole! No other words.
Nena October 10, 2011, 10:37 am
My best friend had a traditional american wedding and an asian wedding. She wore a wedding dress for the american wedding and for part of the asian reception. At the time she got married I didn’t wear very much makeup and she asked me to pretend to put mascara on her while the photographer took her picture. I told her that I didn’t know how to and she said if I didn’t want to do it, I didn’t have to. So to make her happy I did. Well, while I was pretending to put the mascara on her, the wand slipped from my hand and straight down her wedding dress. As it was falling she was screaming “tragedy!!!” lol. I apologized profusely!!! Thank god the mascara came off with some shout wipes one of the bridesmaids had in her bag. I felt horrible!
- CaitlinHTP October 11, 2011, 9:16 pm
  “tragedy!!!!!!!!!!!” major LOLs
Casey @ Pocket Full of Sunshine October 10, 2011, 10:49 am
I was a bridesmaid in my friend’s wedding, and I was SO nervous. Even though we rehearsed where to stand the night before, I picked the wrong step during the ceremony, and the priest pretty much stopped the ceremony to call me out and tell me to move up a step, haha. He’s kind of a jokester anyway and the wedding guests loved it, but I was incredibly embarrassed!
Kirsten October 10, 2011, 10:57 am
Oh yes, I do have a wedding story for you! I was a reader at a rather large church wedding, and when I went up to read there was nothing at the podium. I’d been specifically told that I did not need to bring the reading so I’m standing up in front of the church staring at a blank podium until the priest looked something up in a bible and brought it over to me so I’d have something to read. Oh well, at least my friend said it made for a good story later!
colleen October 10, 2011, 11:03 am
When I was the maid of honor for my high school friend, I almost did a face plant as I was walking down the aisle. My high heels got stuck on the carpet â€“ who puts carpets in churches? Love the villa pictures – amazing. I wouldn’t want to leave either.
Mia October 10, 2011, 11:11 am
you fainted?? may I suggest you take a pregnancy test….!
- Colleen October 10, 2011, 1:14 pm
  Maybe already a positive pregnancy test? – that insistence about the margarita could be a tiny bit telling… 🙂
  - Danielle October 10, 2011, 5:57 pm
    I have to say I thought the EXACT same thing!
    - Caileigh October 11, 2011, 9:24 pm
      This was my first thought as well!
- CaitlinHTP October 11, 2011, 9:21 pm
  I drank at the wedding! 🙂
lauren October 10, 2011, 11:15 am
I didn’t do anything embarrassing when I was in my friend’s wedding…but at my own, first when I was walking up the church steps my something blue garter fell down my leg, it just slid all the way down and fell off when I took a step. Then, since I was nervous and if you look at pictures, you can tell I led my dad down the aisle instead of the other way around. Nobody noticed, but my husband likes to remind me whenever we look at pictures together.
- CaitlinHTP October 11, 2011, 9:16 pm
  Stripping down the aisle!
Errign October 10, 2011, 11:20 am
I’ve never been in a wedding party, but I once fainted on a flight due to a random bp drop and totally puked Jamba Juice all over myself as I came to. Awesome sauce.
Lee October 10, 2011, 11:23 am
Oh no! How embarrassing. Glad to hear you’re okay and the wedding looks amazing.
Rosa - Fitness, Food, Fulfilled October 10, 2011, 11:36 am
Fainting is so scary because you feel like you have no control. I’ve only done it a few times and it always feels weird. I hope you’re okay!

When I was a maid of honor in my best friend’s wedding, I started crying as soon as she came down the aisle. I got it together, but couldn’t stop sniffling throughout the entire ceremony. Really distracting!
- CaitlinHTP October 11, 2011, 9:17 pm
  Agree – and i felt super trapped, standing up there! Can’t just run away and lie down.
Brooke @ sweats & sweets October 10, 2011, 11:51 am
Omgosh that is crazy! Glad you are ok! The wedding sounds beautiful, I too got married on Saturday so 10.08.11 was an uber popular day! Wish them many years of happiness!
- Amber K October 10, 2011, 2:04 pm
  Congratulations on your wedding! 10/08 was my husband’s and my 5-year anniversary 🙂
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife October 10, 2011, 12:08 pm
How awesome–it sounds lovely!

So sorry you fainted….yikes! I’ve never fainted before….and never really done anything embarrassing at a wedding. SO boring, I know 😉 But I kinda like it that way…hehe.
Kim @ girlevolving October 10, 2011, 12:08 pm
I was a bridesmaid in my friend’s wedding. While we were getting our hair done I started to feel sick. As we left the salon I ended up puking in the street gutter (totally hot). I look pale and and exhausted in all the pictures and I wasn’t able to stand up during the ceremony. Bridesmaid FAIL.
Kelly October 10, 2011, 12:24 pm
Nothing too crazy has happened to me, but I was just told recently about keeping your knees locked and how it contributes to a lot of people fainting during wedding ceremonies- apparently this is quite common!
Kendall October 10, 2011, 12:27 pm
Man it sounds like you guys have had a great time!
I was a bridesmaid for my sister, and thankfully nothing happened! I remember her telling us though not to lock our knees so that we wouldn’t faint (she had a summer wedding) from the heat.
Khushboo October 10, 2011, 12:36 pm
I once forgot to take off the pair of shorts I was wearing when I was getting ready for my cousin’s wedding. I only realised when I was sitting at the ceremony and hence spent the whole wedding with blue Nike shorts under my dress (luckily it was a floaty dress so I don’t think it was noticeable)!
CJ @ http://healthy-happy-whole.com/ October 10, 2011, 12:52 pm
that scenery is just beautiful. and i am sad to say I have only been to maybe 4 weddings, including my own. fortunately nothing embarassing happened, and i enjoyed each one fully! im thinking of requesting to my husband that we renew our vows for our five year anniverasry just because i like weddings so much…too early? haha
Joelle (On A Pink Typewriter) October 10, 2011, 12:56 pm
That sounds like such a gorgeous wedding!
katie @ KatieDid October 10, 2011, 1:12 pm
ahh thank goodness your okay! You seem to have bad luck in those situations! Glad the wedding was such a blast, I’m sure it was nothing short of amazing.
Kelly October 10, 2011, 1:28 pm
Thankfully I haven’t ever done anything too embarassing during any of the weddings I am. I do remember when my best friend got married it was a full Catholic wedding and mass and this was my first experience with a Catholic wedding and even though we had a rehearsal I felt a little lost during the ceremony like when I was supposed to stand and kneel. I felt like I kept messing up and everyone was looking at me.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey October 10, 2011, 1:47 pm
Oh my goodness! I’m glad you didn’t fall and hurt yourself. Last year I had a student faint during a music performance from the heat in the gym. She was a little shaken, but okay!
Hillary October 10, 2011, 1:49 pm
Last weekend I was the maid of honor in my best friend’s wedding. I almost forgot the groom’s ring to take down the aisle! Yikes. I still can’t shake how awful I would’ve felt if that happened!
Amber K October 10, 2011, 1:58 pm
I never been in a bridal party, but my own wedding was embarrassing enough. Especially when during the best man toast instead of talking about my husband, his best friend told a really embarrassing story about me. As his family laughed, my family sat stone-faced because they are not exactly joking people. Yeah…fun.

Hope you’re having fun soaking up those rays!
Yolie @ Practising Wellness October 10, 2011, 2:01 pm
Wow! Poor you! I’m so glad you feel okay now. I’ve fainted before, but never at a wedding…speaking of, that wedding looked just stunning! <3 What a gorgeous villa, in a beautiful setting 🙂 xyx
Julie (A Case of the Runs) October 10, 2011, 2:02 pm
Heeeh, I almost tripped on my long bridesmaids dress at my sister’s wedding as we were walking arm-in-arm with the groomsmen. Hopefully nobody noticed.
Jen@foodfamilyfitness October 10, 2011, 2:09 pm
I wouldn’t want to leave either!! Enjoy the rest of your time there 🙂
Krystina (Organically Me) October 10, 2011, 2:46 pm
I’m glad you’re alright! But that wedding sounds amazing!
Sonia (the Mexigarian) October 10, 2011, 3:15 pm
I’ve fainted numerous times. Church, shower, backyard. I seriously need to wear a helmet. Once, I fainted in a wedding I was a bridesmaid at as well. I was only 10 at the time but I toppled over. Luckily one of the older bridesmaids caught me. 🙂

Luckily you’re okay and in such a beautiful place to relax in. If they were taking video of the wedding, it’d be fun to watch and laugh over. My godmother watched my fainting scene over and over again.
Ali October 10, 2011, 3:33 pm
I was in a wedding this summer and was handed a bouquet of wildflowers and poppies. I have horrible allergies and during the middle of the vows, my nose started literally dripping onto my dress. I didn’t want to wipe my nose on my arm or sniff excessively loudly during the vows (obviously) and you can see the spots on my dress in the photos! Embarassing.
- CaitlinHTP October 11, 2011, 9:18 pm
  oh noooooooooooooooooo!
Christine October 10, 2011, 4:29 pm
This is belated but the new blog design looks great – have you considered right justifying the comments though? Having them centered makes it really hard to read. Ditto the title of the post – having it centered seems to lose it in the posts.
- CaitlinHTP October 11, 2011, 9:19 pm
  I will look into this – what browser do you use?
Bec October 10, 2011, 5:16 pm
My husband was the best man for his best friend’s wedding this summer. Th groom actually passed out during the ceremony and my husband didn’t even know how to help. We just said his bride took his breath away 🙂
Julia H. @ The Petite Spiel October 10, 2011, 5:35 pm
That wedding sounds like it was a blast! Minus the whole fainting part, of course…I’ve fainted a couple of times in the past (never at a wedding!) and it was, well, interesting. Not exactly the best thing to do haha
Sana October 10, 2011, 7:31 pm
Oh no, I am glad you are ok!
Laura @ Backstage Balance October 10, 2011, 9:40 pm
Looks like a great wedding!
I totally fainted as a bridesmaid at my friend’s wedding… it was an afternoon wedding on Memorial Day weekend, outdoors in Asheville, NC. The night before we had all been in the hot springs and I suppose I was a tad dehydrated. I held out until the end of the ceremony, though! The groomsman who was escorting me was able to catch my fall in a most dramatic fashion.
Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy October 10, 2011, 11:11 pm
I was just in my cousin’s wedding this past weekend. I had a glass of champagne in the limo before the ceremony without eating lunch. That, combined with my heavy bridesmaid dress and the warm air in the church, caused me to almost pass out. I’ve passed out before, so I knew what was happening, so I was able to sit down and attempt to cool off. Luckily my mom had some water, so I drank that and was able to stand up again. The guy walking me down the aisle was so sweet, he said he would make sure to hold on to me tighter so I wouldn’t fall over!
Cait October 11, 2011, 10:10 am
My cousin and his wife were married in Puerto Rico actually and the bride’s father fainted in the middle of the ceremony! The bride and groom were saying their vows and were so into each other they didn’t even notice that he went down. One of the bridesmaids was a doctor and ran to his side and luckily he was okay! Though he did miss the bulk of their ceremony…. They are still very, very happily married 12 years later, so maybe it is good luck 🙂

caitandallie.wordpress.com
Robert London October 11, 2011, 10:16 am
As a photographer I would like to know how many of these stories where caught on film! and was it funny to look at again or did you just throw it away? I always advice Brides to remember to take care of themselves, it is so easy to just get caught up in the moment and forget to eat or drink, perhaps I will start to put in salt tablets in my wedding emergency kit. @Nena did the photographer get a shot of the mascara stained dress? I have had few people act in ways that destroy the good festive nature of a wedding, as a documentarian your first reaction is to go over and shoot it, but then my experience comes in and I have always made a point of not photographing people behaving badly, that would give them what they wanted. PS: at my own wedding I was so nervous I walked off the altar after the ceremony leaving my Bride behind before I realized what I was doing – all caught on video!
- CaitlinHTP October 11, 2011, 9:19 pm
  The photographer did NOT get me fainting! LOl I asked.
Lisa October 11, 2011, 9:14 pm
Thankfully NO!! But I have fainted once before. I was cleaning a knife (a Global serrated cheese knife) and sliced my thumb really deep. I’m not queasy with blood, never fainted at the sight of my own blood but maybe the cut was so deep it sent me over the edge. I collapsed in the kitchen completely out!! My boyfriend freaked out and was ready to call 911. I went to the urgent care to get stitches but sat in the waiting room so long it didn’t need stitches by then. I felt so gross after fainting. My head hurt, I felt nauseated. YUCK
Heather October 11, 2011, 9:24 pm
I was at a wedding where all the speeches and toasts referred to how the couple had accidentally conceived twins very early in their relationship, reminded them to use a condom on their wedding night since they obviously didn’t use one before, and talked about how much weight the groom had gained since having their twins. I wanted to die for the couple. I couldn’t believe it. It was more of a roast than a wedding.
- CaitlinHTP October 11, 2011, 9:25 pm
  SOOOO inappropriate!
Sophie @ threetimesf October 15, 2011, 5:56 pm
Aaaahh, the more I read about the wedding the more perfect it sounds! 😀

Previous post: Love and Joy

Next post: Monday at the Villa