Our Jounal Entry from our Wedding Day - THE WEDDING

Here is what we wrote about our wedding day!

Kenneth:

Our wedding day - the day started with breakfast and talking with Mary and Danielle about the ceremony. After breakfast we went to the prayer mountain at the villiage to pray. Together we climbed the mountain with the help of our our guide Villie. This was amazing experience. Once at the top we prayed together for our marriage. What a way to start our day and our marriage. And so incredibly cool to be able to do this together!

Shonda:

After our jouney up the mountain, we came back to the resort and had a picnic lunch in the hammocks outside of the gym. It was our wedding day, and yet we were very relaxed and just enjoying the day.

After gathering Kenneth's attire for the wedding and moving it to the Kava Bowl, we headed to the spa. I enjoyed some time in the aromatherapy pools as well as a dip in the hot tub and a sit under the massaging waterfall. This was incredibly relaxing as well as inspiring as I was able to look out over the ocean and watch the waves.

Kenneth:

My Spa treatment included a pedicure and a manicure. This was a first. It was nice way to relax before the wedding. After the spa I headed back to the Kava Bowl in my robe to get ready for the ceremony. There I met the preacher and talked with Omar while I waited...

Shonda:

Meanwhile I went back to our bure to shower and begin to prepare myself for the ceremony. Samantha came over about 3:30 pm to help me with my hair. Having her there was a Godsend! I was able to relax and continue my makeup as she dried and straightened my hair. Carolyn came over shortly thereafter and Danielle not to long after that. They repeatedly told me how beautiful my dress was and what a beautiful bride I would be. Samantha saved the day by putting in a spur of the moment braid with her necklace, as my hair kept trying to curl up in the humidity. She did a really good job and everyone liked it a lot.

Once dressed, the girls helped me finalize my jewelry decision, touched up my lipstick, made sure I had my old, new, borrowed, blue, and stuffed the penny in my shoe, and off we were to the carriage (golfcart) to the ceremony site!

Kenneth:

While at the site - I talked with the guests and the choir and the minister. The site was decorated with flowers from fiji. The arch was beautiful. Everything was set. We all were waiting for the grand entrance of the bride. I could not wait to see her. I knew she would be beautiful - and then I saw her and all I could think was "WOW" - "SHE LOOKS AMAZING!"

Shonda:

Once at the WALA Deck the four fijian warriors escorted me down the deck and to where the guests and Kenneth were waiting. When I saw him I immediately felt at ease and at that point it didn't even matter who else was there watching or what the decorations looked like. All I could do was look at him. He looked incredible and I could tell from his "Wow" that he was pleased! :)

Kenneth:

The choir sang as she entered. Then the preacher started the ceremony - it was wonderful. The ocean, the mountains, and Shonda as my Bride. My favorite part was when Shonda gave me her vows! "WOW", they wew amazing, just like her.

Shonda:

The entire ceremony couldn't have been any more beautiful. Kenneth's vows to me were wonderful and very heartfelt and the sand ceremony was a beautiful culmination of the two of us blending our lives together. The minister announced us Mr. and Mrs. Gosnell and everyone came over to congratulate us. The choir members did the same and many of them said "may God bless your marriage." Keith and Richard had done to the villiage to buy Fijian men skirts and also bought us a kava bowl, which they gave to us after the ceremony. Everyone was so wonderful.