Destination ... Wedding Day Blues or Bliss?

IN PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO - It is 7:00 a.m. on February 10, 2001 at the Sheraton Hotel and Therese Garcia, who is soon to be Mrs. Jay Macias, sits alone in her bridal suite, tears streaming slowly down as they leave a watery trail on her face. She has been alone since midnight, when her soon-to-be husband put her in a taxi and sent her off to the hotel while he stayed at the bar with his family and friends. "I can't see the bride on the day of the wedding," Jay says jokingly as he looks down at his watch. That was seven hours ago, of which, Therese spent a good four hours tossing and turning in a trap of restlessness. As she awakens, she realizes she has nothing to do; the wedding is nearly 12 hours away. Most brides would relish such a peaceful start to one's wedding day; but not Therese, she was sad, contemplative and wishing she wasn't alone.

When Jay and Therese decided to get married, they began planning their wedding day immediately. They both wanted a wedding that was intimate, and reflective of their Latin heritage. Several months after their engagement, they traveled to Puerto Vallarta or PV, as the locals commonly refer to it, and fell in love with the place. It was during this vacation that they decided upon a destination wedding.