Is it really Wednesday?? It has been a crazy few days!
This past weekend Dave and I made the 6-7 hour trip back to Omaha, Nebraska. For two weddings and a birthday.
Dave was in one of the weddings, so it made the weekend that much busier.
Friday night we attended Sam and Claire’s wedding at the Castle Unicorn. Yes, you read that right. It’s a real place in Iowa. You drive through cornfields to get to this place with a sign that points to “Parking” on the right. You drive up this curvy, crazy scary hill and arrive at an outdoor paradise.
I would never risk an outdoor wedding in Iowa (or Nebraska) with its unpredictable weather, but it really was beautiful.
 |
| Left: Dave’s Mom, Dave, Dave’s Dad, Dave’s adopted brother (and cousin); Right: Dave’s former roomie’s wife, Dave’s former roomie, Dave, Me |
We had to leave an hour into the reception (after some bacon covered pineapple) to attend to Dave’s best man duties at Louis and Bailey’s rehearsal and dinner. Watching the rehearsal made me realize I have no idea how to plan a wedding and will almost certainly be hiring a professional. There are many details I would never even think of! Like the order of the bridesmaids. Bailey was on the ball.
Dinner was at a super chill location (which I love) called Lansky’s which is a pizza place. So we dined on pizza until 9pm somehow I convinced Dave to drive the 45 minutes back to Castle Unicorn in Iowa. I knew that we would regret not going back to Sam and Claire’s reception since the couple now lives in Texas (so far away from the twin cities!) AND Dave’s old roomie and wife now live in DC.
I was definitely right to go back since we ended up having a blast being the only ones on the dance floor. We also got to witness Dave’s adopted brother bust some moves. This normally shy kid is slowly breaking out of his shell and it’s so cool to watch.
Poor Dave had to be up and out the door the next morning before 9am for his best man duties. I slept in way too late, waited way too long to get ready, and had to sneak in the back of the wedding. Dangit. Isn’t that the most awkward thing ever??
I was very thankful for the way Louis and Bailey included me in the wedding even though I wasn’t a part of the actual wedding party. I got to ride the party bus and even had a seat at the head table, as did all significant others. So thoughtful!
The reception was at 1316 Jones street in the cool downtown part of Omaha called the Old Market. I think my favorite part about the wedding was the awesome DJ who seriously kept the dance floor packed the entire evening. Don’t worry, I got his card.
I’d have to say I probably had some of the best wedding food I have ever had. The Parmesan chicken, green beans, potatoes and salad I had were all amazing. And all at the temperature you’d expect them to be…which is a plus.
The groom’s cake was pretty fun too, right?
I got Dave to dance and even take some fun photo booth pictures! Actually, we got quite a few pictures together. Winning!
After the reception wrapped up, I somehow convinced Dave to stay up way too late again. We ended up going to a hole-in-the wall bar with some friends in town (including his old roomie who now lives in DC). We played shuffleboard (I beat Dave in a game for the second time in our relationship and it was not fun haha) and closed the bar down.
 |
| Sweet paintings in the bar |
The next day we celebrated my “little” brother’s birthday at Village Inn. I got the red velvet pancakes, which sadly aren’t as good as the pumpkin pancakes. They were a little dry. Get on it Village Inn! Bring back my pumpkin pancakes!
This post is getting a little long, so I will end with some family pictures.
 |
| Me, sister Rachel, Josh, Dave |
 |
| Sister Rachel, Mom, Me, brother Josh |
 |
| Cutest nephew ever! He’s getting so big! |
 |
| My dad, nephew, sister Courtney |
I miss my family and friends already! It’s okay though because I have lots of unpacking, cleaning, working and hopefully some running to keep me busy!
What is the best wedding food you’ve had?
Do you live far away from family? How do you deal?
Linking up to Jenn’s WIAW + Becky’s TYT!
You had one heck of a weekend! You guys look so cute at the wedding! I definitely consider wedding dancing as cross training 🙂
Haha thanks for the validation. I definitely logged that on DailyMile. 😉
You had one heck of a weekend! You guys look so cute at the wedding! I definitely consider wedding dancing as cross training 🙂
Some of my family lives far from me and it stinks but we visit each other as often as possible. My older sister & fam moved up to the twin cities (which is only a few hours away from my grandma and our other extended family) and we try to visit as often as possible and they come down here a few times a year as well. Best wedding food would have to be the chicken cordon bleu at my little sister’s wedding, it was so good! It’s still on my “learn how to make this” list.
I do think it makes the visits more special, but then I feel like I don’t have time to see EVERYONE. If it was socially acceptable, I’d have a giant party every time I came back to town haha.
Also make sure you let me know when you come into town! 🙂
That is why I like going up there a little bit more – when my sister comes down here they are so busy seeing her husband’s family and other friends that we don’t always get much time with them.
Some of my family lives far from me and it stinks but we visit each other as often as possible. My older sister & fam moved up to the twin cities (which is only a few hours away from my grandma and our other extended family) and we try to visit as often as possible and they come down here a few times a year as well. Best wedding food would have to be the chicken cordon bleu at my little sister’s wedding, it was so good! It’s still on my “learn how to make this” list.
Haha thanks for the validation. I definitely logged that on DailyMile. 😉
I do think it makes the visits more special, but then I feel like I don’t have time to see EVERYONE. If it was socially acceptable, I’d have a giant party every time I came back to town haha.
Also make sure you let me know when you come into town! 🙂
Hmm, well I have to say it’s better than Four Weddings & a Funeral! Damn good movie with Hugh Grant if you didn’t already know! 😉 Sounds like you kids had an AMAZING time! Love the Mario cake…and the dance floor pics…and the photo booth! Ahh, brings back memories of Blend! That was so much fun! If I ever strike it rich one day, I’m totally gonna have a booth in the middle of my living room! Haha!
Closing the bar down playing shuffleboard? Is it just me or is that a bit oxymoronic! 😉
Best wedding food I’ve ever had was back in March…the ceviche appetizers…the bleu cheese, poached pear salad…the perfectly cooked halibut with butter sauce that I swear came straight from Heaven! Kinda all made up for the lack-luster cake! Ha!
Hmm “closing the bar down” means staying until close, right?…I am not getting the oxymoron haha you might have to explain it to me!!!
Wow that wedding sounds super fancy! Now I want fish!
Haha! Shuffle board is for old people who are in bed WAY before the bars close! 😉
Ahhhh gotcha!
Hmm, well I have to say it’s better than Four Weddings & a Funeral! Damn good movie with Hugh Grant if you didn’t already know! 😉 Sounds like you kids had an AMAZING time! Love the Mario cake…and the dance floor pics…and the photo booth! Ahh, brings back memories of Blend! That was so much fun! If I ever strike it rich one day, I’m totally gonna have a booth in the middle of my living room! Haha!
Closing the bar down playing shuffleboard? Is it just me or is that a bit oxymoronic! 😉
Best wedding food I’ve ever had was back in March…the ceviche appetizers…the bleu cheese, poached pear salad…the perfectly cooked halibut with butter sauce that I swear came straight from Heaven! Kinda all made up for the lack-luster cake! Ha!
That is why I like going up there a little bit more – when my sister comes down here they are so busy seeing her husband’s family and other friends that we don’t always get much time with them.
Hmm “closing the bar down” means staying until close, right?…I am not getting the oxymoron haha you might have to explain it to me!!!
Wow that wedding sounds super fancy! Now I want fish!
Haha! Shuffle board is for old people who are in bed WAY before the bars close! 😉
Such cute pics from the wedding! And if I wasn’t a vegetarian, that bacon wrapped pineapple sounds awesome! Maybe some facon will do..
Facon?? Is that a real thing??
Well there’s vegan bacon, but I just like saying facon, haha. I guess I should market the name!
Such cute pics from the wedding! And if I wasn’t a vegetarian, that bacon wrapped pineapple sounds awesome! Maybe some facon will do..
Ahhhh gotcha!
Facon?? Is that a real thing??
Well there’s vegan bacon, but I just like saying facon, haha. I guess I should market the name!