Wedded Bliss!

This past weekend I spent in Sonoma, California. My cousin Trish was married! It was a beautiful ceremony and out-of-this-world delightful reception!

I have lots of pictures for you to enjoy! I'll describe each as I go, but just so you have a general idea of my week Thursday night the Nugent house was filled with tantalizing smells of Mexican fare and rich colors while close family and friends of the couple, Trish and Bronson, mingled. As a surprise, a mariachi band added extra excitement to the already festive affair!

 Friday afternoon rolled around. Treecy, Madi and Maggie enjoyed the ladies' luncheon while I gathered with Lizanne, Joe, J.R., and Kenzie for wine tasting. After receiving a long list of local wineries, we called Hanzell's to see if we could get in--it is the premiere winery in Sonoma. After providing them with a blood sample and description of our socks we scored a tour and tasting! We toured the grounds tasting grapes as we wandered and then went to the library of wines dating back to its establishment in the 1950s to have our tasting. From there we went to Gundlach Bundschu where we were served by a former West High Graduate--what a small world! Also, we saw the decanter in use. It is a vessel which the wine is poured through, much like swirling the wine in the glass, to aerate the sample. (It could have been my bubbly disposition from the sipping, but it looked like an ovary to me). Later that evening we gathered to enjoy dinner at the Swiss Hotel. It was splendid, filled with garlic, and made us an hour late to the cocktail party! The cocktail party took place in the Nugent's historical barn (also the place where Treecy and Mike, Trish's dad, were married 15 years earlier). Too much fun for one day!

The Saturday rolled around. We were shuttled to the site--Trish's mother's property--overlooking rolling vineyards and nestled within green foothills. It was a touching and sincerely sweet ceremony. The guests were then escorted to the house by a bagpipe player. We had cocktails on the patio while the bridal party wrapped up photos. The bagpipes then signaled for the party to head down to the tents where there would be dinner and dancing. The evening was filled with laughter, wonderful dinner courses, drinks, incredible music and dancing. The late night revelers then moved back up to the house where In-n-Out burgers were brought in to satiate our dance-crazed bodies. A few guys wandered around with champagne bottles while others gathered around the fire and then others just passed out on the floor. It was one hell of a party!

Enjoy the pictorial description of my wonderful weekend!

Lizanne, Mattie, and Kenzie outside of the winery of Hanzell

Kenzie, Lizanne, and Mattie in front of the vineyard of Hanzell

J.R., Lizanne, Joe, and Mattie in front of Hanzell's vineyard. The oldest in the new world!

Mattie, Lizanne, Joe, Kenzie, and J.R.

Tasting wine at Gundlach Bundschu

Mike, Suzie, Mattie (in the blue dress!), Debbie, Randy, Jimmy, Liz, Joe, Lizanne, Brittany, J.R. at the Swiss Hotel

Jimmy and Liz at the Friday night cocktail party in the Nugent barn

J.R. sneaking a taste of the cake ;)

Joe and Lizanne at the wedding reception

Debbie, Mattie, Treecy at the cocktail party proceeding the wedding ceremony

Mattie and J.R.

Sarah and Mattie at the after party

Kat, Mattie and Sarah

Sarah and Mattie on the dance floor :)

Mattie and Treecy

The beautiful couple! Trish and Bronson