Putting on the Ritz!

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Our next stop was for our friend's, Julie Stern, wedding at the Ritz in Orlando. There was a minor price increase to go from the Marriott to the Ritz, so we went for the Ritz!

The normal price range is usually much higher, and we could see why! Everything was nicer. However, there seemed to be only a marginal improvement in service... Until we got to the pools. While the Ritz provided someone to "make our chase lounges" complete with 2 towels and a pillow, and handed out 4 grapes in a small plastic cup. The Marriott had a lazy river. You could find us at the Marriott.

The night of our big day there was the great wedding ceremony and reception. The ceremony was held at the Ritz around the corner from the reception. Besides the stringed quartet playing throughout, it had a bishop leading the ceremony joining hands with a Rabbi. There were prayers from the new testament and glass breaking within a chuppa. The son of a bishop was marrying a Jewish girl and we were witness to the meaningful symbolism that ensued. They took all the best parts from each. From the Christians, what is a ceremony without a passage from the Corinthians!? "Love is patient, love kind... Never boasts ... And endures...". From Judaism, they had the open, decorated household (Chuppa) that said friend and family are always welcomed into their home, a glass filled with two mixed wines symbolizing that they will take both the good with the bad (the sweet with the bitter) in their marriage. Finally, they broke the glass to represent the fact that this bond is irrevocable, like the broken glass. Incredible meanings!

Then, the reception... With food! The servers at our event flowed out like a steady river flowing out of a dam. Then, they circled our table like it was a rock in the midst of the stream, and placed each plate down at the exact same time with a loud "bang" adding to the weight of the meal... and the gold plated plates.

After food was a Jewish dancing ceremony with lots of circling, kicking and chair hoisting! I can't believe they let drunk people lift up the two to be honored! The hoisters almost dropped the bride! We wish there was a picture of the crowd when her chair first slipped!

Then, we danced. Enough said.

The next morning, we were on our way to Tulum, Mexico on the Yucatan Penninsula.

Stay tuned!