Sam got Rich and Rich got Sam, and we all finally got to join in on their amazing wedding day. The entire four days was a celebration- not only of their nuptials, but also a celebration of friendship, of our kids swimming together, of reunions with people we hadn’t seen since Covid. We’d wander to the pool and get to visit with whomever was sunbathing at the time, or we’d be at breakfast and get to catch up with Corey’s old colleagues. And every night we stayed up too late at the hotel bar, but enjoyed that we could just stroll back to our rooms.
The days felt long in the best way. Saya learned to hold her breath under water (so proud!), and Sachi was a fan of the soft play area that she could climb on her own (she’s growing up too quickly!)
Their wedding was a perfect blend for friends and families and anyone who loves to eat and dance. The entertainers for the kids were excellent, the speeches heartfelt, and everyone was looking their best. My favorite part was singing all the words to Sister Act 2 songs during their ceremony! They hired a choir to do the album!
We celebrated Corey’s birthday the following Saturday. On our way to breakfast, a staff member called out ‘Happy Birthday, sir!’, and from then on, Corey had a ‘happy birthday’ at every meal: fruit platter at breakfast, chocolate cake at Sam and Rich’s lunch, and another chocolate cake in our room with bubbles in the late afternoon. We had an all you can eat sushi dinner and it was fantastic. Everyone left feeling great, and then we spent the evening catching up with Peyton, Flop and Ang, and a ton of other folks who were staying over from the wedding.
It was a long time coming, but completely worth the wait! I’d vacation at Penha Longa again in a heartbeat– and we might be trying to persuade our families for a group vacation in the coming years!
l o n d o n f o r r e s t 