What a freakin weekend and CONGRATS TO THE SHERKS!!
If y’all didn’t know by now {considering I was extremely active on insta and snapchat}, this past weekend, my cousin {shoutout Alex} got married to the man of her dreams {shoutout Robby}.
Anyways - To say the least, I don’t think I have ever sweat so much at a wedding before… I also don’t think I’ve ever seen my mama dance the way she danced this past weekend. Not even at my Debutante Ball {which she got to consume alcohol at as well}.
I’ll start from the beginning though because the weekend in La Jolla {San Diego} was a long one but it felt like it went by in the snap of a finger…
THURSDAY {July 25, 2019}:
Not only was it my mom and dad’s wedding anniversary {shoutout to love and an everlasting marriage… aka their my biggest role models when it comes to finding “the one”}, but we also drove down to San Diego that day. When what usually is a 2.5 to 3 hour drive turned into almost a five hour drive {shoutout LA traffic}, we made it to the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa.
Because my parents and I arrived a little bit before my brother, we took care of the check in, gathered out lil goodie bag from Alex and her mama, and made our way to the hotel room… I swear though, that place is like a maze and it is SOOOO easy to get lost. By the time Nick arrived, we unloaded all of our luggage and then Nick helped me transport the surfboards to our room so that the sun would damage them and make the wax melt in the car. We then got lunch at the hotel, and I don’t know if I was just soooo hungry since I hadn’t eaten all day and it was already past 3:00 in the afternoon BUT I think I had the best salad of my life.
After our late lunch though, we had to get our showers in, officially get situated in the hotel room, and then get ready for the rehearsal dinner.
We arrived at Piatti which was just down La Jolla Shores {a short drive from the hotel BUT a place near and dear to my heart, as I grew up going to family dinners there every year we visited La Jolla}. With bottomless champagne filling my flute, I was in my own little world and the dinner was PERFECT. I got to catch up with some of my cousins whom I hadn’t seen in FOREVER, I got to mingle with some more people who were going to be at the wedding, and I got to hear a WHOLE LOT about Alex and Robby’s love.
To fill y’all in: My cousin went to school at USC {Southern California… NOT South Carolina}, graduated, and then began working for Deloitte where she was extremely successful. She then had to relocate which took her to freakin Ohio {yuppppp, who wants to move there from sunny So Cal?!} BUT that’s where she met Robby… The rest is history.
FRIDAY {July 26, 2019}:
Update for y’all… The one groomsman that I thought was attractive from the night before is engaged… SO that was a bummer and I truly don’t understand people when they say “you meet so many cute single people at weddings”… They must not have families of my size because the majority of people attending are family members {lol}.
Just thought I would share that though before I get into my Friday in La Jolla.
There’s not much to say about Friday other than it was a fun day of mingling {per usual}. The “pool party” started at 11:00 am and was scheduled to end literally an hour before the Welcome Dinner and Celebration, so before the pool party, my brother and I headed to the beach to surf in the morning.
When we got back to the hotel I thought I was going to get my tan on BUT it was way too hot in the sun so I stuck to staying in the shade with some family members who would just ask me “are you seeing anybody?” and “why are you single?” and “what are you doing now that you’ve moved home?” You would think I would rather go bask in the sun at that point, but I’m not kidding when I tell you the UV index was 12 {and I honestly thought it only went up to 10} SO I would rather answer all those questions a multitude of times than get skin cancer or burnt… Plus, I also had to shoot some content for a couple of companies I was working with that weekend SO I didn’t wanna get all sweaty AND I couldn’t get in the water cause I didn’t wanna get wet before pics.
The gist of above is I spent my whole day around the pool and then taking pictures though {in case you didn’t wanna read a whole paragraph}.
Then, in the early evening, everybody cleared the pool area to go back to their rooms and get ready for the night.
The Welcome Dinner and Celebration was AMAZING!! There was a bar, lights strung everywhere, a DJ, an assortment of Mexican appetizer sized food, etc. I got to play the roll of photographer though SO I was ALL OVER the dang place and meeting new people left and right {some of which were confused when they saw me at the wedding and found out I was Alex’s cousin cause they just thought I was the photographer lol}.
Around midnight {I think?}, we called it a night. My brother and I did an In-N-Out run and then when we got back to our hotel, my mama was bouncing on the beds “communicating” with my aunt by tapping on the ceiling with a hanger while my aunt just stomped on the floor… THIS is the kinda family Robby was getting himself into…
WHO ELSE WANTS TO BE A PART OF OUR FAMILY?!
SATURDAY {July 27, 2019}:
The big day started out as any other morning in San Diego would for my brother and me… We gathered our boards and headed to Scripps Beach again, but this time brought two of our cousins with us {shoutout Matt and Nick}.
After a couple of hours of surfing, Matt and Nick went to meet their parents at a restaurant that lined the beach and Nick and I went to my FAVORITE acai coffee shop in La Jolla… BRICK & BELL. Talk about good memories and a yummy acai bowl.
When we got back to the hotel, we got to spend a lil bit of time at the pool and then we met our parents at the hotel lunch spot {where I got the same salad as before… but it wasn’t as good as when I was starving}, and then we went back to our room to get ready for the evening.
I was in charge of welcoming people and getting people to write memories they have of {or with} Alex and Robby. Naturally, the “normal” bus was running late though SO I rode to the venue with all of the groomsmen… Talk about a ride that the main topics are: farts, girls, burping, and “how crazy it is that [Robby] is getting married.” I finally made it though and pretended to not hear a thing so I just sprinted {yes, in my heels} to find the wedding planner upon my arrival.
To say the least, the weather was freakin HOT and I have never seen somebody sweat as much as the wedding planning… Not even in any workout I have been a part of.
The ceremony was absolutely beautiful though {so the wedding planner’s sweat and tears definitely paid off} and I honestly may have shed a tear myself. Also shoutout to my Uncle who administered the wedding… He kept it short and sweet, which everybody was worried about from the start BUT I think it was just too hot to drag on.
Following the ceremony was the fun though. Family pictures, family shots, dinner, and dance party!! You best believe the bartender knew my order and had drinks awaiting my arrival by the end of the night. The dance floor got CRAZYYYY but it will definitely be a night to remember {yes, I remember it all… even after all the tequila and champagne} and I honestly can’t wait for the next family member’s wedding {shoutout Laura} in April!!
Now - I would say the night ended on a high note BECAUSE it basically did {or almost did} but my note to self and anybody // everybody who reads this post: DO NOT BIRD WHILE INTOXICATED {and in the dark}. I added that last part because I have birded tipsy with my friend Tatiana but on a designated trail back to her apartment in Dallas… My brother and dad pulled the move of not waiting for one of the party busses to take them back to the hotel and decided to bird in the dark and on the street. To say the least, Nick hit a pothole and went flying and then returned to the hotel with a bloody {and cracked open chin} and a messed up wrist {that ended up being sprained}.
That’s a story for another time though… Cause my mama and I didn’t even find out the outcome of the accident until we woke up, considering my dad and bro were at the hospital while my mama and I were at the pizza party at the hotel.
SUNDAY {July 28, 2019}:
To say the least, my mom did not wake up happy knowing her son ruined his brand new Hugo Boss suit AND bothered getting on a motorized scooter with alcohol in his system SO she stayed in the room while the rest of us met up with the rest of the family for breakfast… Or at least the family members that weren’t still in bed trying to sleep off all the liquid confidence that was consumed.
Considering breakfast was at 11:00 though, we then hung out at the pool with the fam for a lil bit until it was nearing late checkout, packed and showered, and then I made my mama go and take more pics for me for more companies… If you couldn’t tell, I am ALWAYS hustlin’ {lol}…
Following pictures, I got my matcha, I said my goodbyes, I loaded the car, and then I headed home.
BASICALLY - The weekend in La Jolla was a BLAST and I am sooooo happy {and excited} for my cousin and Robby and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them… All I know right now is that they’re going to be moving to San Diego {from Chicago} in September and I am going to visit them A TON!! That being said, Alex and Robby, I hope you’re ready for an almost permanent house guest.
xoxo V
