My Best Friend's Wedding

A cliché of a post title but there aren't that many other ways to say it. I'm biased, I know, but despite this I feel very confident in saying that my best friend was the most exquisite bride in the world. As expected, every detail was perfect, and the occasion was without question an affair to remember. I do, however, wish I had more and better pictures.

Bridesmaids

Taken moments before the "first look"

Found some friends at cocktail hour

And look who flew in from Arizona!

Napa Nuptuals

Took a weekend off from my MOH duties (my best friend's wedding is next week!) and went to Napa to celebrate the marriage of one of Sam's closest friends from college. I slacked off big time in picture-taking, so you'll have to take my word for it that the wedding was stunning. Of course, we also took advantage of Napa's major attraction (wine, of course).

Bonus: we realized it was our -1 year anniversary…exactly 365 days to go!

Awful quality but this back-row, fuzzy shot is the only one I have of the beautiful bride and groom

A Breath of Fresh Air

We are smack in the middle of wedding season. This weekend, we escaped the NYC humidity this to attend a wedding at Hawkesdene in Andrews, North Carolina, and what a wedding it was!

A sibling hike

Newleyweds!

I know it's blurry but it was too cute not to post. Mom and dad cutting a rug!

Auf Wiedersehen, Austria; Pozdrav, Croatia!

Following our outdoorsy Alpine adventure in the top of Austria, we hopped over to beautiful Croatia for some much needed beach time. What I learned about Croatia is that not only is it visually spectacular, but it is also the perfect destination for all types of vacationers from history buffs to adrenaline junkies to beach sleepers to foodies. Actually, as I write this I realize that I am all four of those things.

And here is a video of Sam jumping into a former submarine shelter

An Alpine Reunion

After spending what feels like a million years apart (in reality, it was only two months), Sam and I have finally been reunited. While I was taking care of business in New York, Sam had a summer position in Vienna, Austria.

As luck would have it, Sam's family has dear friends in a town in the Austrian alps called Heiligenblut (literally "Holy Blood"), where we convened for some high-mountain family fun.

On the glacier

Jumping over a crevasse

Jerez de la Frontera

I have been something of a slacker in posting and have had many adventures in the time that has passed since my last entry. Most recently, a trip to Spain for wedding-research purposes.

There is a small city in the south of Spain called Jerez de la Frontera where Sam's mother has an apartment. This town is where Sherry is made. Early in our relationship when Sam was living in New Delhi, India, we met there for a mini getaway. It is safe to say that this is where we really fell in love. I never thought I was the destination wedding type, but somehow now that Sam and I are engaged there seems to be no more fitting location for us to be married than Jerez.

So…last week we visited with my parents and Josie, Sam's brother, taking in the local culture and exploring wedding venues. Photo recap below.

Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre

Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art

An Andalusian horse after the show

Sherry being aged at a "Bodega". This particular bodega is called "Gonzalez Byass" and is where Tio Pepe is produced-- perhaps the most well-known sherry.

The Alcázar of Jerez: once a Moorish fortress and dating back to the 11th century.

Flamenco being performed at our favorite spot: El Laga del Tio Parilla

Josie on the Flamenco stage (couldn't resist)

Walking Tour

Spent the afternoon on a historic walking tour of lower Manhattan led by renowned historian extraordinaire, John Tauranac. Sadly, my camera (and by that I mean phone) died early on, but at least I snapped this shot of gorgeous Grace Church.