Give us the details! When? Where? How?
The plan was set for Sandra’s birthday in early February during our vacation in Puerto Vallarta Mexico. The ring was purchased and stored six months in advance at a diamond shop located in Chicago’s Jewelers Row. I walked into the location three days before our planned vacation to Mexico and was told the ring was missing! Trust me—I was mad! Luckily a perfect replacement was located in time just 17 hours before the trip.
We arrived at our beautiful resort with my perfect engagement plans set. During our first night, a few hours before Sandra’s birthday, we attended a live show at the resort. As a part of my secret plan, Sandra unknowingly was selected to jump on stage to participate in the show. She was blindfolded on stage in front of the other 60 event attendees as I was escorted around the back of the stage. I walked on stage pulled out the ring, removed her blindfold, and history was made. Sadly with extreme nervousness I forgot the amazing speech and all I could remember was “Will you marry me?” Luckily she said yes as the amazing crowd of spectators cheered us on!
What has been your favorite experience planning the wedding?
We recently changed our original plans from a large wedding in downtown Chicago for 150+ guests to an intimate destination wedding guest count for 50 of our closest friends and family members. We love to travel and felt making the wedding about us was most important. The planning process of celebrating our wedding in paradise has been extremely fun.
How do you stay sane under the pressures of wedding planning?
We set designated days to discuss wedding planning. We support each others ideas and concerns regarding the wedding. Taking time away from potential hostile conversations to revisit at later times has helped as well.
What is your favorite part of using Joy for your wedding?
We love the clean cut platform and ease of use. We love the options to add additional details for our guest. We love the app option. Joy is by far the best destination wedding website thus far.
What piece of advice would you give couples to ensure that they use Joy to its fullest potential?
Play with the color schemes and test away. Don’t be afraid to break traditional methods of “how people do it.” Forget about RSVPs as the Joy platform allows you to skip the traditional mailing methods. Don’t be afraid to be electronic.
At Joy we believe that even though a wedding lasts a day, joy should last forever. What does that mean to you?
Have you ever seen someone and just knew they were different? That’s what happened with us. It didn’t take long to realize we were both the person each other prayed long and hard for. Consider it joy, fate, destiny.
