G E T A W A Y :: San Jose

The last five days have been spent surrounded by family in sunny San Jose to celebrate Pat and Dena's wedding.  Pat is Rob's cousin and was in our wedding so of course we were thrilled when we found out we were able to make it to his wedding!


Days were spent brunching and lounging by the pool, drinking straw-ber-ritas.  Nights were filled with fun wedding festivities.  This was my first time in San Jose so I loved taking it all in!  It has such a cool west coast vibe, while still feeling a little east coast familiar.  The views of the mountains were just breathtaking all over the city.


I am just a total sucker for weddings and this one was no different.  I love when weddings completely fit the personality of the bride and groom.  From music to venue, details to overall vibe, I want to be surrounded by things the bride and groom love, ignoring the idea of what weddings "must look like".  This wedding was the perfect example of that!  Their readings included a poem by Shel Silverstein and Cowboy Junkies lyrics, and Mumford and Sons (below!) blasted after they were announced as husband and wife.  At one part in the ceremony, Pat and Dena surprised everyone by playing the ukelele and singing.  They had 40 dozen cookies as their wedding sweets and even brewed their own beer for the reception!  The beer had such creative names such as "Hoppily Ever After", "Something Borrowed, Something Brewed", and "Wear White Wheat"

 Pat and Dena wrote their own vows and when they read them, there was not a dry eye in the crowd.  Their words were so personal yet easy to relate to and their stories just showed how real their love is for each other.  Rob said something to me that was exactly what I was thinking: I like hearing people's vows because I mean all those things, I can just never find the words to say them.  Being at weddings almost feels like committing myself all over again.  And I think that is always a good thing.



Rob was absolutely smitten by this precious baby Mila all weekend.  He could not put her down!  But with those cheeks, can you blame him?

We had a great time singing and dancing the night away, and even got the DJ to play Wagon Wheel for all of us southern folks ;)  I am so lucky to have married into this wonderful family (almost a year and a half ago!) and am excited for Dena to be the newest "newbie"!  Now we are home just long enough to catch our breath before we are off to Richmond for wedding number two!