Newlyweds in NOLA

No, we aren't the newlyweds to which this post title is referring.

Since I still have almost a month to wait until we have pictures from our wedding, I think I'll blog instead about the gorgeous wedding I attended this weekend in New Orleans. Wheat had a game on Friday, so he wasn't able to attend, but I met up with some of my best friends from college as we celebrated Ben and his new bride, Amie, in true NOLA fashion.

Jenn, who drove down with her sister and mom, proved yet again why I have the coolest best friend in the world by saving me the ridiculous cab fare I would have paid by picking me up from the airport. After checking into our hotel, we wasted no time before hitting Bourbon Street. We stopped for dinner at Olde N'awlins Cookery, where I promptly crushed a blackened chicken po-boy. We followed that with a leisurely stroll down Bourbon Street, admiring the chaos of a typical Friday night in the Big Easy. I'm not even a drinker, but I'll never get over the intoxicating combination of good music, old architecture, and debaucherous people-watching.

When we'd finally had our fill of watching the crazies (who included a face-down, unconscious guy with a massive hole ripped in the butt of his jeans), we made our way to a packed Cafe Du Monde for Jenn's family's first warm beignets. As expected, they loved them. With happy bellies and powdered sugar-stained shirts, we made a brief stop at Hotel Monteleone before heading back for some much-needed sleep.

The next morning, we ventured out early in hopes of some more breakfast beignets. We changed our minds before reaching Jackson Square, however, and stopped instead at a ridiculously charming gelateria called La Divina. We regret nothing. Everyone else raved about the coffee, but I can attest to the delicious Belgian waffles. While eating, we saw some local kids run in for what appeared to be their daily gelato sample from the older shop owner they've clearly befriended.

After breakfast, we did a lap around Jackson Square, admiring the gorgeous St. Louis Cathedral and the remarkable local artwork that vendors sell along the walls of the park. The line for beignets was ridiculous, so we opted to watch the mighty Mississippi River roll by carrying its steamboats, instead.

Next, we stopped at Pirate's Alley Cafe and Absinthe House so Jenn and Kelly could sample the absinthe. The bartender, who was fittingly dressed as a Johnny Depp-style pirate, started the process and explained that ice cold water must gradually be dripped onto a sugar cube that will then dissolve into the absinthe positioned below. Another gentleman, dressed as a Jean Lafitte-style pirate, stopped in and sipped a coffee while telling us a little about the local piracy in the early 1800s. By the way, the girls wouldn't recommend the absinthe.

For the next hour, we wound our way through the French Quarter, drooling over the wrought-iron balconies, historical monuments and landmarks, gorgeous flower arrangements, and candle-lit lamps. By the time we hit Bourbon Street, we determined it was time for a Hand Grenade break at Tropical Isle and even I indulged in half of a frozen one. We posted up on the balcony, enjoyed the beautiful day, and were eventually joined by some of our friends from Miami.

Before we knew it, it was time to get ready for the wedding, so we sauntered back to the hotel. Shuttles picked us up from our hotel and delivered us to the New Orleans Country Club, which was just as incredible as it sounds. The ceremony was held outside under a 332-year-old oak tree that covered the entire space and actually took my breath away. As the sun started to set, I watched one of my best friends marry the love of his life alongside so many of our friends and it was honestly perfect.

The reception was much different than any other wedding I've ever attended. Following New Orleans tradition, the reception included no speeches and no set dinner or dancing time. Instead, the entire evening was filled with food and music performed by a live, nine-piece band. Intentionally, there weren't enough seats to accommodate all of the guests at once, so guests were encouraged to share tables, mingle, and eat and dance all night.

The venue, complete with a beautiful chandelier and several different rooms, was gorgeous. The flower arrangements blew my mind and so did the food. Any wedding that offers a loaded mashed potato bar and hot beignets at the end of the night is okay with me. Between dances, we rushed back for more food (oysters, turkey, pasta, hors d'oeuvres) and we almost didn't want to eat the cakes they were so impressive. A local artist was commissioned to start from scratch and paint a picture of the wedding reception and it was incredible to watch him go from a blank canvas to this beautiful keepsake by the end of the night.

As the wedding wound down, the bride and groom followed NOLA tradition again and paraded throughout the venue as the brass section played "When the Saints Go Marching In." They danced and hoisted their white and black 'Just Married' umbrellas as they boarded the limo that would take them to the after-party on Bourbon Street. In other words, it was awesome.

After a quick stop back at the hotel, we set out for the private after-party, which was held on the second floor of a karaoke bar called The Cat's Meow. As always, the karaoke was entertaining, but nothing beat the balcony that faced Bourbon Street. We spent several hours throwing beads, people-watching, laughing, and reminiscing on our college Spring Break trip to New Orleans. Between the inside jokes, singing, and dancing, it felt nice to realize that we don't just have to relive old memories - we're still close enough to create new, special ones.

The night ended by hobbling back to Canal Street for some late-night food. Jenn, Kelly, and I found it at a tiny, 24-hour, hole-in-the-wall po-boy joint and we screamed, then laughed hysterically as a rat ran across the cobblestone street right in front of us. And just as it always does, the trip ended far too quickly. I set off for Atlanta only to endure a two-hour delay (during which I scoured every gate for members of the cast of The Walking Dead to no avail) before finally arriving in Indy. I can't really complain, though...I had one handsome chauffeur pick me up.

Ben and Amie, I wish you a lifetime of happiness and many, many new memories together! Love you both!