Sorry, this post has been a while in coming. My teacher certification course is keeping me busy (making pretend newsletters and websites and visiting a local school several times a week) and at the end of the day I am just tired of typing! But I promised a lot of you pictures, and I do have a few to share.
In November I headed back to the US (all by my lonesome...the United Arab Emirates University wanted to make sure I felt like the ONLY person at the wedding without a date). I think I was in St. Michaels for about 4 minutes before we headed back to the airport to head down to New Orleans for the big event - Prad and Amanda's wedding!
We stayed at P&A's super-nice new house for the first couple of nights. (It really is super-nice...I am slightly, no completely jealous.) We spent the day before the day before the wedding (yes, 2 days before) running errands with Prad when we stumbled across a most exciting establishment!
We were in this random strip mall and had just finished an errand when we spotted a Walgreens, which mom and I had mentioned wanting to pop into. As we walked through the parking lot I glanced to my left and saw it - Zeke's!!! GORDON WENT THERE! It was an absolutely disgusting place - you should have seen their kitchen (actually, be glad you didn't). But, he fixed them right up and turned them around. I had found one of the restaurants that had been on his show without even looking for it! Very exciting.
The following morning we got up bright and early to move everything to the Westin in New Orleans - a super nice hotel right on the edge of the French Quarter. Mom, my Grandmother and I were invited to a bridal luncheon that morning, and even with bumper to bumper traffic we managed to make it on time. The luncheon was really nice. It was at Antoines - a famous New Orleans restaurant. Very yummy food and fun company.
Pretty much immediately following that, we hopped back in the car to go to the church for the rehearsal. Such a pretty church in the Garden District. After that was the rehearsal dinner. It was at Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse and it was gooooood. Judging by the windowsills lined with empty wine bottles it seemed that everyone had a pretty good time!
While a good part of the wedding party (well, the guys) all hit the bars after the dinner, I hit the sack! We had the adjoining room (to our monstrous suite) which was meant for Bryn and I, but since Bryn wasn't there it sort of defaulted to the groom, but since he was out getting drunk I claimed it for myself. The Westin has REALLY comfortable beds...I hadn't slept that well in months! (The pillows in the UAE aren't doing it for me...seriously, we have bought 5 different types and I have tried every combination possible and still wake up with a sore neck.)
The next morning Dad and I (and Uncle Jim and some cousins) walked to the Cafe du Monde for cafe au lait and beignets. We opened the place - literally took the chairs down off of the table, but minutes later there was a line snaking around the building - it's one popular place!
We wandered around the French Quarter for a little while before I had to go back to join the girls for hair and make-up in Amanda's family's suite. After I was all made-up and properly coiffed, mom and I decided to hit the mall downstairs. I wanted lipstick and had a pretty good excuse to get some, and while we were at it mom got a complimentary makeover which was lots of fun.
Now, I can only talk about the girls' side from here on out. I know the guys and the groom's side all got ready in the Hamilton Suite, then took a party bus to the church. The girls got ready in the Robert Suite, then congregated in the lobby for some pictures (with like 3 other wedding parties...it was pretty crazy!) We rode to the church in a stretch Escalade...very sweet ride!
The coolest part of the whole thing was the police motorcycle escort. We had like 3 NOPD officers on their bikes with lights, sirens and the works weaving in and out of traffic and stopping cars to let us through - we must have looked like rock stars!
The ceremony was really nice and went off without a (noticeable) hitch. Then it was back to the Westin for the reception full of yummy food, good music, and lots of people I didn't know, but who knew me...ha.
The next morning we slowly made our way out of the hotel - after a very leisurely brunch on a private balcony with Prad, Amanda, Amanda's parents, mom, dad and Uncle Michael. After we saw P&A off in their car to the airport (to catch a flight to CA then Bora Bora - totally jealous again!) we set off for Perdido for some R&R.
Perdido was exactly as it has always been. While I was there I popped over to Pensacola to take the first of 3 required exams to be a teacher - I passed. (thank goodness!)
It was a good trip and great to see P&A finally get married!!! Luckily their photographer got way better pics than I did ;)
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