Barnesy & Jill's Wedding

The morning after was spent at Brunch back at the Westin. It was fun to relive the previous nights' funny parts and everyone's great memories over a Bloody Mary.

Again afterwards we spent the afternoon dividing time between the pool and the beach. Such a hard life!

Later that evening the Joyners, Creans, Besters-To-Be and the us joined forces and headed down to the Hyatt for the Luau. I had a blast - great company (never know when we are all going to get together again), good food, the outdoors (we didn't even budge when it started raining in the middle of dinner) and decent entertainment. However us oldies were straight back to the hotel afterwards too exhausted to go on.

Me & The Creans @ The Hyatt Luau

A and I got up early on our last morning to walk along the beach and get a quick swim in before we head back to reality. Got a taxi back to the airport with the Creans and spent the flight back reflecting on how stoked we were to get the opportunity to make our first trip to Hawaii such a special one. And how can we get back quickly?

Barnesy & Jill's Monaghan Wedding

Plenty of relaxing time around the pool and at the beach before we have to get ready for the evening festivities. It is so good to sit in the sun and not worry about anything - work, cell phones, life etc. You just have to not get sunburned.

We caught the early shuttle for the 20 minute ride up to the Ritz, where the wedding is held outside down by the ocean. Just ridiculously beautiful! We waited a while as a storm passed through - just enough to make the wedding party nervous. But the simple ceremony had all the elements of beauty. The waves in the background, a small group of close friends and family, the setting sun and the happy couple. Everyone was so happy it all went well for Greg & Jill.

Regs, Phil, KTel, Creany, A & I @ The Ritz

Greg, Mick & Anthony at the ready

Jill & Greg married in paradise

A & I after the wedding

The evening then moved back into the hotel where the open reception room, looking over the golf course and the coast, hosted the festivities in style. When the wedding party arrived - the party started. A great meal followed by all the usual wedding frivolities topped off a great day for everyone, especially Greg & Jill.  A and I are definitely blessed to have such great friends and a good life.

A, Phil, Suzanne & KTel @ The Reception

Barnes, Me, Crean, Regs & JJ @ The Reception

Barnesy & Jill's Monaghan Wedding

We made it! We only get 3 nights but is was the wedding I had to get to. Barnesy and Jill were finally getting married and picked a spot between both families to do so. The beautiful island of Maui.  I shuffled some days off work around so that A & I could make the journey for the wedding and catch up with some friends.

After an early start our flights to Maui via San Francisco seemed effortless and by 12pm local time, we were ready to find friends and maybe get in some pool time. We ran into most of the crew while having lunch at a bar in our hotel, The Westin Ocean Villas, so the festivities began.

One of my missions for the trip is to get into the ocean every day we are here, and after lunch I started that tradition - switching out between the Pacific and the pool. When we finally got settled into our room, we had little time before getting on the bus to Lahaina to go an a pre-wedding cruise. Wow! This is the life. 3 hours just cruising, with great people, enjoying the good weather and celebrating the love of 2 friends. Doesn't get much better than that.

Creany, Barnes & I cruising Maui

The Bride & Groom

We kicked on for a little while at a local pub, but it had been a long day for A and I so we left before the shenanigans got out of hand.

The Creantels

Philby, Barnes & Regs