Ode to {Wedding} Joy...

We made it! Our travels were fairly uneventful, the GPS system on our phones worked as best as it could (Sprint isn't an uber popular carrier in Northern California), and the weather was perfect... at least for the wedding.

During our trip, we noticed a few things...

• In California, coffee is served 24/7... everywhere.  There were coffee places on every corner - in every town! And... they were ALWAYS busy regardless of whether it was 6am, noon, or 11pm.
  
• Jack-in-the-Box is to California what Sonic is to Texas. (and dangit, there wasn't a Sonic anywhere to be found!)
  
• Wal-marts and Targets are much better in Texas (no offense to anyone in California!)
  
• It's cool to own an orchard in California - and decorate it in southwestern style better than any home I've seen in Texas (or Oklahoma, or Arkansas!). 
• It's cool to own a ranch in California too! It's even cooler if you're a girl.
  
• Fish tacos are better in California (no offense to anyone in Texas!)
• A 2400 square foot house in Texas really is HUGE when compared to homes in California.
• Water tends to retain in one's legs and ankles during flights from Texas to California and vice versa. Ugh... hugely... absolutely massively. Elephant trunks... 
• The San Jose airport has free WiFi - despite the "pay as you go" internet connections all over the place. Friends... it pays to read the window clings and posters!
• 60 degrees in California is completely, 100% different than 60 degrees in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.
• California would be a great place to live. (no offense to anyone in Texas)

We had an awesome time! Steve was able to catch up with a lot of family members he hadn't seen since his accident (or before) and I was able to meet oodles of awesome family members I had not yet met. It was brilliant to see Nicole and meet her incredible new family. They are so wonderful to her, and love her for the great and wonderful woman she is. We're just tickled that she's happy and has found such an incredibly kind and generous man to build her life with (not that she had to marry him to do it... but you get what I mean). Seriously though... I had so very many people pull me aside and share wonderful - incredible even - things about Matt and his family. As far as my personal experience with them, I found them to be kind, generous and incredibly hospitable!

The wedding itself was beautiful! It rained all day on Friday, and the weather called for more of the same all day Saturday. However, as weathermen often are, the weather predictions were off. It rained for a few hours Saturday morning and that was it. A large dark cloud loomed over the reception for a while, but it brought some welcome shade. Nicole came riding to the wedding (from the side of the house - not to the wedding literally) on a gorgeous horse, and had an entertaining time dismounting. The flower girl was absolutely precious and a pure joy to hear - mind you we were focused on the bride and groom. The wedding decor was simple and elegant, absolutely perfect. The food was tasty, and there was plenty to be had by all. There were even a group of gentlemen available to walk you to your car (or other mode of transportation) so you didn't have to walk on your own in the night's darkness.

I've uploaded the photos I took to a Flickr album so that you're able to access them if you like. They are unedited, so don't expect anything fabulous. :) To view it, click here.