Both Saturday and Sunday of our vacation turned out to be wedding days. Our first wedding was between a Rutgers swimming buddy and his lovely bride. Nick and Christine have been a part of Huppdates in the past thanks to their visits to the valley and Nick's treck with Jonathan across the Grand Canyon. After some Rutgers pride educing campus touring Jonathan and I got ready for the full mass wedding, accompanied by a much anticipated reception, complete with plenty of dancing!
A full catholic mass isn't quite my scene, but Nick and Christine's ceremony was brimming with sincere love and the newlyweds appeared quite delighted with the first step in their new marital adventure. Ever since our own wedding I have to admit, I'm a bit of a sucker for weddings, so despite the religious aspect, I very much enjoyed being a part of such an exciting first step in a friend's married life.
After the ceremony we hopped on a shuttle back to the hotel, and snagged a quick beverage before loading into the school bus (yes, an official school bus) to the wedding reception. Turned out, a buddy whom Jonathan crossed the Grand Canyon with, John, was in charge of decorating the interior of the school bus. I was particularly impressed with his crepe paper decorative style. I mean honestly, how many guys know how key it is to twist the streamers? Job well done.
After we off loaded from the bus it was party time. We enjoyed all sorts of appetizers, including oysters and clams in the half shell (yum yum yum), ravioli, sausages and sourkraut, veggies, cheeses and all sorts of tasty server-passed goodies. As the reception continued we sat, danced, ate, and danced some more. Not only are weddings a lovely display of shared love and appreciation, but I'd be remiss if I didn't note just how much I love, love, love eating good food and dancing until my feet can't take it any more.
After the reception we boarded the shuttle for a rather entertaining, semi rowdy ride back to the hotel, then headed out to the after party at Old Bay. Old Bay is a Cajun themed bar/restaurant in New Brunswick that Jonathan and I rarely visited while at Rutgers, but is a favorite of the newlyweds. We enjoyed a terrific live band, a few more libations and time with friends, before this partier was ready to turn in for the night.
The next morning we enjoyed breakfast with friends at one of New Jersey's many random hole in the wall dinners. Dinners, for those not accustom to New Jersey, are a very Jersey thing, which include 24 hour massive portion earteries that serve any kind of food at any hour. Yeah, I appreciate them when I'm in town, but my waist line is happy that their novelty has not made its way west. Back at the hotel we said our goodbyes and loaded back on yo the NJ rail line headed to Trenton where we would switch trains for our final destination, Philadelphia.
Upon our arrival in the city of brotherly love, we taxied to our hotel, checked in, changed, and walked to the second wedding in two days. We quickly made our way to The Ritten House and met up with Jonathan's parents before making our way downstairs for a few family pictures, and a lovely wedding ceremony. We enjoyed a lovely reception complete with a fantastic dinner and plenty of dancing. When we're home, despite my love of dancing, we do not seek out clubs or dance scenes, so whenever we have a wedding to attend I'm sure to get my buggy on!
Monday was the first day of our free time in Philly which we planned to spend touring one of the nation's first prisons and perhaps a museum or two.
Prison and museum touring to come...
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