Wedding Days in Mauritius

Day 1 - Sunday

Left Melbourne at the crack of dawn to be at Melbourne airport by 6.00am.

Despite all the best planning , our departure from Fairfiled was short lived as I instructed the taxi cab driver to return home , thinking I had left our Credit Agricole  cards.<disaster>.

After a quick search , to no avail, we left once again......<man i was panicking , where were those cards>

Virgin check in was not a problem , thanks to the 30Kg we could carry each , because of our transfer to Air Mauritius once in Perth. 

Departure 8am  and 4 hours later we where in Perth. One day I'll come back , but for now I'd added it to my trip adviser as to places i have visited  Be it for two hours at the airport.... I'll take it>.

I found the CA cards hidden in my back pack , yes I knew I packed them!

Next on to our flight with Air Mauritius. <How did we managed to fit into those little seats> For some reason they seemed smaller than most.

A much uneventful flight , as every flight should be <Except for that annoying mother and her son in front of us. > by 5pm we touched down in Mauritius.

Through customs and straight to the baggage pick up and for Deb on to the duty free shopping. Deb in her wisdom scored a few bottle's of wine , for later on. <I new there was more reasons why I love this woman>

On to our chariot and off to the Shanti Maurice.

What a grand entrance that awaited us , pools of fish, candles , mood lighting, and a coconut water drink.

Man I was tired...... 

(posted by David Cigognini)

Day 2 - Monday (Explore)

We wake up at 4 am.... so we talk and then open the blinds to a perfect view of the beach and the sunrise. 

Gosh this place is so beautiful. As we are up so early I go to yoga while Dave takes a walk. 

We meet for breakfast and I have my first upside down pancake, banana and pineapple..all a la carte here at Shanti so we order fruit, yoghurt and lots of coffee.

We explore some more and book our first massage together for the afternoon. We also organise for Rita (Dave mom) to join us for drinks at our resort.

Soooo the day passes and we start to unwind, particularly after the massage, then Rita arrives. We open our bottle of duty free French champagne and try to order some nibbles. We end up with Naan but is all ok as we watch our first sunset together on the beach sipping the golden liquid. Gosh we are lucky to be here. Rita departs and we go to dinner, on the terrace, beautiful night and wonderful food.

(posted by Deborah Stenning)

Day 3 - Tuesday (Flic en Flac - Port Louis)

Met with Cynthia our wedding coordinator to choose flowers, venue, cake and make appointments. It is starting to get very exciting for the both of us. We have a tour of all the options for our dinner and look at the luxury villa. It will be ours the day before the wedding for the rest of our stay. Dave heads off to his first ever pedicure....and yes I did make him go as I had a special photo in mind that requires, at least, decent feet.

Post this relaxing event for Dave and a sojourn on the beach for me we head off to another superb beach side dinner. 

 

Day 4- Wednesday ( Port Louis,Trou aux Biches and getting lost a lot)

Today we saw the whole island or so it seemed. We hired a car, picked up Rita and managed to find Flic and Flac where Bridie and Julian were waiting for us. Thanks to the concierge at Shanti we found a perfect parking spot (my good luck holding up). This spot was at the back of a hotel on the port and when we asked how to get across to the market we were directed to a free ferry service. That was fun. A promenade on the wharf and following B&J we were at the market trying a Mauritian version of a lassi. Mmmmmm. Then an explore of the market with the usual tourist dodo stuff. We then went to the museum to see the skeleton of a dodo but alas it was closed.

The only dodo's were outside in the garden. B&J didn't let us down as the next stop was for the best roti in Port Louis.. a picnic in the park.

We were doing so well that we decided to visit Bim and his wife at Troux aux Biches. We left Port Louis confidently then were lost pretty much after the first turn out of the city. The map looked easy, the signage was not helpful. However we did find them (after ringing and getting directions). Bim found us and we then found his house. B&J ever adventurous had coconut juice from Bim tree while we stuck with beer and tea. On leaving we got directions that led us back to Port Louis. The traffic was horrendous so post one attempt to try a new way, and ending back on the motorway we decided to stick with it to get to Flic and Flac. The exits were unreadable (no lights and by this time it was dark) so we were lost again. We stopped for directions and finally dropped B&J off at their apartment then Rita and finally we arrived at Shanti at 9pm. What a day.... not so restful. Hamburgers in the room, thank god for room service.

Day 5 - Thursday (Port Louis & Civil paper works)

The first big day arrives and I am up early getting ready for my court appearance. I don my white bikini and wear it while having breakfast on our terrace (delivered by the breakfast van). 

We arrive at the reception and Rita is here so we can all go together. We are all excited and nervous. 

An interesting discussion with Rita and our driver enlightens us all on the history and geography of Mauritius. 
 This passes the time and eventually 1 hour and 15 minutes we arrive at Port Louis and meet our representative who will walk us through all the days paperwork.

 

We use her phone to ring Bridie and Julian as we are not sure where they are and after some tooing and froing we will meet her at the court house. Paperwork is checked and we take photos along the way to record the event. We arrive at the courthouse to a tearful greeting from Bridie who did not have a clue where she was supposed to go.

A very brief raising of hands and Dave and I are ready to head off back to Chemin Greinier (our small town near our resort) to announce the Bahns with our Registrant. After what looks like we are going down a back lane to the drivers home we arrive at the official registrant office. 

He is very taken with Rita who manages the situation with aplomb and dignity while making sure all the processes are managed appropriately.

We are dropped back at Shanti for lunch and finally moved into our luxury villa. Man we are soo lucky. 

My mannie and peddie are next and they take ages so finally I have a quick change and we are off to the Hilton for the Treppo dinner. It was fabulous and included a band that the in-between couple dance to. The B&J couple opt out in what is many opt out dance opportunities.

What a great, stressful, exciting and fun day. Looking forward nervously to the big day tomorrow.

Day 6 - D Day (Wedding day)

The big day arrives and we wake up in our fabulous villa. After a few days of worry about the weather the day looks like it will be just as fantastic as the previous ones..that is sun, ambient temperatures at 25 degrees. Parfait.

B&J arrive early and so we order a big breakfast for us all. A walk along the beach and an early morning dip makes us even more hungry. Breakfast arrives and it is as good as ever but strangely I am not so hungry today.

B&J eat anything left and B and I head off to the spa to discuss her hair for today. On my return Dave and J are not at the villa so I head back to the spa for our relaxing massage together compliments of the wedding package. Dave is no where to be seen so after ringing around I finally start my massage, now needed as my stress levels have risen due to the missing bridegroom. Half way through Dave arrives at which time I am relaxing and enjoying the massage. It appears a lapse of memory and concentrating on his vows led to the late arrival. I pop into see B and she is looking lovely..just some light makeup and perfecto.

Back in the villa the boys leave for their room for the day to prepare and do what is needed. Bridie relaxes and I head off for my hair and make up.

During this time the boys try their hand at the very small golf course, 

  well it really is a putting area, and try various methods to achieve a spectacular outcome.


   

Finally it is time to put on get the dresses on and depart after a few photos. Just as we are about to leave we get a call that two of our guests are missing. Where are Bim and Martha? After returning to the room and calling them we discover they were told to wait with the photographer on the beach. Thank goodness as they are 30% of our wedding guests.

We leave again and into our wedding buggy with my lovely bouquet.

We arrive in our buggy and Cynthia takes us to the photographer on the beach. Now I am really getting nervous so so the photos are fine but am anxious to start.

Finally we are ready. I look at the pier and it is decorated beautifully. 

I see our guests and Dave waiting.

Bridie goes to meet Dave who is halfway down the pier and he is looking gorgeous. He smiles and kisses Bridie who continues down the pier. He looks at me and smiles and I am still nervous but very glad we are here together. I walk carefully on the red carpet and I can't stop smiling. Then we are together and we kiss....my goodness I love this man. We walk hand in hand and arrive at the end of the pier to kisses and greetings from Rita, Julian, Bim, and Martha plus our celebrant.   

We take our seats behind the lovely decorated table with our special flower decoration and our rings in held in place with glass and sand.

The celebrant starts the ceremony and tells us all about why marriage is important and that we must not abandon each other. He specifically asks us in turn “ Do you David/Deborah intend on abandoning Deborah/David?” At which point we both answered that no we would not abandon each other. 

What followed was a good 10 more minutes of time when he then explained more about what marriage means. Dave was being very attentive as (he explained later) he had paid for it and wanted full value so appreciated the time he put in and he listened to store all the advice.

Soon we were ready to read our vows. 

Daves were wrapped in a ribbon and printed on beautiful paper. 

As he read them out I started to tear up as they were so beautiful. Who would have believed he was such a poet. (Thinking about it now it must be in the Cigognini blood as his cousin Vanna had just published her first volume of poems.)

I then read mine and hoped he would think they expressed how much I love and value this wonderful man.

A kiss sealed the vows.

Rita then read a blessing she tearily explained, was from her and Daves father Adelio who could not be there at this time. It was moving and reminded me of all the family and friends that were unable to make it to our special day. A big hug from mum to son nearly made me cry again.

We then exchanged our rings
with special words sealing our union to each other. Another fabulous kiss was followed by the signing of the certificates.

We were then blessed by the grandmother of the Shanti Maurice, in traditional Mauritian Hindu manner.

We sat down again for the toasting and cutting of the cake when we were attacked with confetti by Rita. 
This was very funny as most of it blew back onto Rita and the cake. Bim joined in and a laugh was had by all.

Our lovely cream cake was now multicoloured with confetti. Just perfect!

We toasted each other with champagne and cut our cake for everyone to have a bite. Feeding Dave his cake was fun and symbolic (or so I am told).

More photos followed on the pier with guests and on the beach. My barefoot feet photo was a hit with everyone except Bim who was reluctant to take off his shoes.

We then headed off for photos at an old colonial house

 

 before returning for a fabulous dinner on the beach.




Surrounded by bonfires 

 We had a gorgeous dinner and my promised French champagne (thank you Rita).

My last surprise was dancing at the Rhum and Fish shack. 

Sega got us all up and boogying. 


Naturally Julian didn't participate so Bridie kept him company by sitting out the wedding dancing. Martha on the other hand was "called" to the dance floor and showed us all how it was done.

 

Finally we headed back to our villa, said our goodbyes then settled in for a honeymoon night.