I wanted to share this story about a newly wed couple's honeymoon experience with Iguana Mama but first, some background.
Melanie and Joel first met when they were 5 years old playing on the same soccer team, and the again while attending the same high school in Bradenton Florida. Young teens whose friendship bond grew strong and by their junior year they were going steady. That was 2010 and they were just 16.
Post high school, Joel went on to the University of South Florida in Tampa and Melanie chose Florida State University in Tallahassee. They were living four hours apart yet managed to make the long distance relationship work for 3 years until both graduated with Bachelor degrees.
After graduation they decided to move to Orlando which seemed like the best compromise for Melanie’s continuing studies and Joel’s career start.
On June 9th, 2015 while visiting their hometown, Joel sent Melanie on a scavenger hunt with friends. Each time Melanie solved a clue she was met by a friend with another clue all of which eventually spelled out “Marry Me?” and led Melanie to Siesta Beach where Joel was waiting.
Melanie and Joel first met when they were 5 years old playing on the same soccer team, and the again while attending the same high school in Bradenton Florida. Young teens whose friendship bond grew strong and by their junior year they were going steady. That was 2010 and they were just 16.
Post high school, Joel went on to the University of South Florida in Tampa and Melanie chose Florida State University in Tallahassee. They were living four hours apart yet managed to make the long distance relationship work for 3 years until both graduated with Bachelor degrees.
After graduation they decided to move to Orlando which seemed like the best compromise for Melanie’s continuing studies and Joel’s career start.
On June 9th, 2015 while visiting their hometown, Joel sent Melanie on a scavenger hunt with friends. Each time Melanie solved a clue she was met by a friend with another clue all of which eventually spelled out “Marry Me?” and led Melanie to Siesta Beach where Joel was waiting.
On that beach, surrounded by friends and family, Melanie said “Yes!” and one year later, on May 14th, 2016, (five and a half years after they met again in high school) Melanie and Joel exchanged vows.
They celebrated their union at a dream reception and the following morning, left for their honeymoon on board the Carnival Valor heading to Amber Cove, Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic!
Having heard about the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua from a colleague and after watching the video, Melanie was sold. They booked with Iguana Mama and we met them along with a group of other passengers at the port on May 18th.
That day we were testing the possibility of going to the top of the 27 waterfalls with cruise ship passengers and I offered everyone the option of going mid-way as booked or going to the top. As newlyweds often do… Melanie and Joel chose to go all the way!
That day we were testing the possibility of going to the top of the 27 waterfalls with cruise ship passengers and I offered everyone the option of going mid-way as booked or going to the top. As newlyweds often do… Melanie and Joel chose to go all the way!
Melanie later wrote “Being from Florida, where our tallest hills are on golf courses (okay I’m exaggerating a little but not much), I underestimated the challenge it would be to race up to the top. However, it was definitely worth the hard work. We had a blast and were in awe of the beauty the entire way down.”
At the last waterfall of the day, Joel decided to jump twice and then waded off to the side to wait for everyone else to finish their jumps and that's where it happened !
Joel felt his precious wedding ring slip from his finger! Not while hiking or jumping or sliding down waterfalls and cascading streams but, standing there in the last pool simply waiting to get out.
Panicked, he and the guides tried desperately to find the ring but the water was too disturbed from all the jumpers that day. It was a sad ending for what had been a perfect day up until that point.
Joel felt his precious wedding ring slip from his finger! Not while hiking or jumping or sliding down waterfalls and cascading streams but, standing there in the last pool simply waiting to get out.
Panicked, he and the guides tried desperately to find the ring but the water was too disturbed from all the jumpers that day. It was a sad ending for what had been a perfect day up until that point.
Our guides offered to return the next morning with scuba gear to look for the ring. On the way back to the base and port I tried to assure them the guides would give it their best shot but honestly, neither I nor they really believed it would be found. Still… we were determined to try!
Imagine the cheers and happiness the next morning when Arido (the guide who'd promised to go back) popped up out the water with wedding ring in hand! I couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear while emailing the newlyweds that Joel's “PRECIOUS” had been recovered and
Imagine the cheers and happiness the next morning when Arido (the guide who'd promised to go back) popped up out the water with wedding ring in hand! I couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear while emailing the newlyweds that Joel's “PRECIOUS” had been recovered and
of course their reply was pure elation!!
While a lot of quotes like “never give up” and “hope springs eternal” readily come to mind, I think the most stirring message for me that day was
While a lot of quotes like “never give up” and “hope springs eternal” readily come to mind, I think the most stirring message for me that day was
“ If it’s meant to be, it will be! "