Brian and I just returned from his cousin's wedding at Saddlerock Ranch in California. All I have to say is that if my wedding is half as elegant as Alicia's, I will be happy.
Our flight was scheduled to leave at 11:15 am on Friday. We flew Midwest express which is my favorite airline. After having two stops on our way out, we arrived at LAX on time around 5pm. We gathered up our suitcases and then headed to the rental car agency. I managed to get us a car for $9 a day through Priceline.com. When we got there, there was line almost out the door with only three tellers getting everyone set up. By this time it was already quarter to 6 and we were no where near getting into our car. Unfortunately, this meant that we would not be able to get to the rehearsal dinner. We finally got into our car at 6 and didn't check into our hotel until after 7:30pm. We were so tired from our flight, we just decided to call it a day.
Saturday morning, we got up and joined Doug, Jean, Eileen, Walter, Scott, and Jill for breakfast. We ate at a great little restaurant called Marmalade's. We all had a good time discussing what we thought might happen that night at the wedding. After breakfast, we all went back to our rooms.
Originally, I was going to go with Scott and Jill and do a little shopping. I needed to get a card for our gift as well as wrapping paper and Saturday's paper. Jean and I started talking. I wanted to see LA but it seemed like Scott and Jill were not up for that. Jean really wanted to go. I made the executive decision that we should go to LA. I text messaged Scott and off Jean and I were to go star gazing.
We got into Hollywood and passed the Kodak theater. We parked the car and as soon as we got out, we bought tickets for a tour of the stars homes. Here's the link to the tour we took: http://www.starlinetours.com/los-angeles-tour-1.asp. As we waited for the tour to begin, Jean and I walked up and down the walk of fame. In front of Grauman's Chinese theater, we compared our feet to the sizes of the stars. It was really surprising to find how little every one's feet were, either that or I have really big feet. Finally the tour bus was loading. I shouldn't call it a bus really. It was more like a passenger van that had the roof cut off it. We toured Hollywood, Bel-Air, Beverly Hills, and the famous Rodeo Drive. We got to see the house that Posh Spice and David Beckham have recently purchased as well as Paris Hilton's house. It was a bit unnerving how much the driver knew about the star's schedules and which vehicles they used. We ended the tour and started to head back to the hotel but not before we stopped at In and Out Burger. The burger's were tasty and the drive through window provided a paper place mat to put on your lap so you didn't spill anything on yourself.
After the tour and In and Out burger, we made a quick stop at a CVS to pick up a few necessities. Unfortunately, there was no paper for Saturday. All of the papers at CVS were either for Friday or Sunday. That piece of the gift would be missing. Our gift was a white wooden memento box. Inside of it we put in the invitation and had planned to put that days paper in it to remind Ben and Alicia of the day. I picked up a card, wrapping paper, ribbon and some nail polish. We headed back to the hotel to get ready.
Alicia and Ben planned for a shuttle to pick everyone up at 5pm to bring us to the site. The shuttle turned out to be a coach bus. We left the hotel in the bus slightly after 5pm. We continued higher and higher into the mountains. Finally the bus stopped at the foot of a what appeared to be a long dusty highway with another shuttle waiting for us. We all got out and got into the other shuttle. This shuttle continued on a very windy dusty road to this little house on a hill surrounded by grapevines and mountains as far as the eye could see. Everyone got out and as I looked around, my breath was taken away with how beautiful the spot was. It looked absolutely perfect.
The ceremony site was on a cliff overlooking vineyards and mountains with a stone pathway leading down to it. The site was decorated with very beautiful white fabric and Gerber daisies. The music started and the groomsmen came down with Ben to wait for the arrival of the bridesmaids and Alicia. The bridesmaids were dressed in a beautiful blue/teal color that looked amazing on everyone. Alicia came down with her Uncle Walter. Alicia looked like a fabulous movie star from the 30's. It could not have been more perfect. period. Alicia and Ben wrote their own vows which brought everyone to tears. One of their friends read a native American wedding prayer. The sun was just beginning to set as the ceremony ended. It was magic.
After the ceremony, the party went up the stone pathway to the reception area which was also outside. As the sky got darker, the stars came out. The tables were light up by small lights snuggled in between the rose centerpieces. Outdoor heaters surrounded the party area to make sure everyone was comfortable. Alicia and Ben had their first dance as husband and wife. Everything seemed like it was a dream. It was that perfect. The food was delicious, the music had everyone dancing and the sundae bar rivaled Kellerhaus'. If our wedding is anywhere half as perfect, I will count myself blessed. I wish Ben and Alicia all the best for the future. May the only pain they experience be champagne.
