It’s hard to believe that a whole year has passed since we said I do!
Wedding photography: @Deividribeiro
Time has flown, but looking back at our journey, it’s incredible to see how everything led us to that magical wedding day in João Pessoa, Brazil.
Our story goes way back—friends since 2008, dating in 2013, engaged in 2021, then choosing to put our wedding on hold as we set out to explore the world full-time in 2022. We knew a wedding was in our future, but travel took priority. It wasn’t until we realized we’d keep pushing the wedding back indefinitely that we finally said, “Let’s just do it, now.” At this point, we were almost one year in of full-time travel and knew we would be going for more.
Brazil became the perfect wedding destination.
Though we also looked in having it in the Dominican Republic, where Kelvyn’s family is from, financially and logistically, João Pessoa made sense.
It’s close to where I was born and both my aunt and cousin were ready to help with all of the planning. It also aligned perfectly with our travel route for the next few months. Once we made the decision, everything started falling into place.
Fun fact: Our wedding date was 02.24.24 on a full moon and the day before Kelvyn’s 30th birthday. All of which made it a hell yes for us!
Despite the challenges of planning a wedding from across the world while backpacking through South America, things worked out in ways we never expected. The decision was made only six months in advance. We finalized nearly everything remotely—venue, photographer, DJ, and catering—all with the help of my cousin, who lives and had also gotten married in the same city. What could have been a very stressful process felt surprisingly natural. No one believed that we were planing a wedding while traveling full time.
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Unexpected Moments
One of the most unexpected and heartwarming moments of this journey happened in Colombia.
While staying at a hostel in Cali, we met a group of incredible ladies who, upon hearing that I hadn’t looked for a dress yet, immediately insisted on taking me wedding dress shopping. Five of them joined me—ironically, the same number of bridesmaids I would have at my wedding! Though I didn’t end up buying a dress that day, the experience was unforgettable.
The Wedding Dress
The dress I ultimately wore was handmade in Brazil by @Giovana_Franca. A talented wedding dress designer—and family member—inspired by the one I fell in love with in Colombia. Because we were still traveling, Kelvyn had the job of helping me take my own measurements—something neither of us expected to do as part of wedding prep!
Fun fact: I sent measurements in early December and had a blank dress fitting (photos below) when we arrived late December. I only saw the final dress four days prior to the wedding, in February. It all worked out perfectly!
As the months passed, we traveled through Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and a bit of Chile before making our way to Brazil two months prior to our wedding date to finalize the details. The final stretch was filled with venue visits, food tastings, and ensuring everything was set. Though it was mostly smooth sailing, the final weeks came with their fair share of stress—from delayed responses to last-minute changes.
Time in Brazil
One week before the wedding, friends and family from the U.S. and Brazil started arriving.
From beach excursions to boat trips and classic Brazilian barbecues, the days leading up to the wedding were filled with laughter, love, a few sunburns, and most importantly; unforgettable memories.
Seeing the different people from our lives come together and bond was an experience we’ll always cherish.
Given that our goal is for “The Traveler In Us” to always inspire the traveler in you. We thought this was the perfect opportunity for our guests to travel to a part of the world they had never been before.
Wedding Day
Then came February 24—the big day.
The bridal parties had the chance to get ready together early in the morning before making their way to the venue. The rest of our guests were transported by van to the stunning beachfront cliff venue—Kasa da Falésia—about an hour from where we were staying.
Just to keep things interesting, João Pessoa decided to hit us with the windiest day of the season! We couldn’t believe it. But we like to think it was a representation of how blown away we were by everything that day. It also helped keep us cool, as it was a fully outdoor wedding on a hot summer day in Brazil.
Fun fact: It was SO windy that my hair kept falling apart and I ended up having three different hairstyles by the end of the night.
It was truly everything we imagined and more. The setting was beautiful, the energy was electric, and the love was felt from everyone around. From the ceremony to the last song of the night, it was pure magic.
We had so much fun and felt immense gratitude—not only for the opportunity to have our dream wedding but also for being surrounded by some of the people we love most.
The wedding was only the beginning.
After celebrating with our closest loved ones that night, we had a Brazilian BBQ celebration for Kelvyn’s 30th birthday the following day! A month later, we set off on our honeymoon—a journey just as special as the day we said I do. But that’s a story for another post… stay tuned!
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Are you thinking about doing a destination wedding? Let us know. We are so happy we did.
Disclaimer: All the information shared is based on our research and experiences. Please note that we are not travel consultants, tour guides, or financial advisors and are not held liable for any misinformation. We give suggestions, but advise each person to do their own research and make the decision that best suits them. This blog posts also contains affiliate links, by using the links we provide you are helping us at no additional cost to you. Photos on this page belong strictly to The Traveler In Us and are not allowed to be saved or used for any reason unless granted permission so by the owners.
