[Mini Vacation] Northern California : Days 1 and 2

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

This past weekend, we went to Northern California for a wedding. The wedding was between Seth's mom's best friend's daughter, Ally, and her fiancé, Trent. Ally and I are practically cousins (Seth's mom and her mom are best friends but practically sisters) and she asked my sister in law and I to be bridesmaids in her wedding as well as my niece's to be flower girls. The wedding was at the Monte Verde Inn in Foresthill, CA -- a place I had never heard of before (and I grew up in Northern California) but ended up being one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

We left not-so-bright and early Thursday morning -- 4:45am to be exact. I was a little worried about having to wake up Mason but he did amazing. I was able to get him ready and in the car easily. I figured he would fall back asleep, but instead he stayed awake - half out of it - for about an hour until he crashed and slept for about an hour. He was then up and hungry and then awake for the rest of the trip there.


We stopped once for gas and lunch but that was all and made it to Roseville (just outside Sacramento) by noon. We were able to check in to our hotel, grab a bite to eat, and then head out for the rehearsal and then rehearsal dinner.




The drive to the venue was pretty standard freeway driving until we exited and starting climbing the mountain. It was a pretty windy road and we had no idea where it was taking us... and then...


We pulled up to this gorgeousness. And I immediately fell in love. The pictures don't do this place justice. It was pure beauty.







I walked around in awe of the beauty of nature, I took some pictures, and we did the rehearsal and then we were off, back down the mountain, to the rehearsal dinner at the groom's parents house. They had a wonderful dinner of the best tacos and tamales I've ever had and Mason had the best time playing with their huge marble set up. We left around 9pm, headed back to the hotel, and got some rest before the big day ahead!


Wedding morning came and I couldn't sleep. It wasn't even my wedding and I woke up at 5:30am, wide awake, unable to go back to sleep. Luckily Seth and Mason woke up shortly thereafter and then my sister in law and her family texted wanting to know if we wanted to meet for breakfast. We had breakfast together and then the guys were in charge of Mason for the day and the girls were off for hair, make up, and nails.




 


Mason wasn't technically in the wedding, but he was attached to my hip at the rehearsal and then the wedding was no different. Luckily the bride and groom are extremely amazing and laid back and didn't mind that they had a wedding party crasher. He actually behaved really well (except the one time he yelled "no!" - thankfully it wasn't during the time when the officiant asks if anyone objects - eek!) and was just SO excited to be standing up there with me.

After the ceremony, we took a few wedding party photos with the bride and groom and then I took a few pictures with my boys. We never get this dressed up so it was fun to take some pictures to remember the occasion. I mean, how cute does Mason look in his little suit??? There was supposed to be a tie that went with it, but I didn't fight him to put it on. He actually came down with a slight fever during the afternoon and Seth took him to Target to get some Tylenol and they both almost didn't make it, so I consider even part of the suit a win. And what's funny is that once he got to the wedding, he was acting TOTALLY fine and spent the majority of the night chasing my younger niece around, which in turn made me chase the both of them around.






The wedding was GORGEOUS and I was so honored to be able to stand up there and support the bride as she got married. I'm so happy for Ally and Trent and hope they are having the BEST honeymoon ever!

Stay tuned for Days 3 and 4, coming later this week! And also, I took tons of pictures of the decor (#blogger) but want to showcase it in a special way, so check back later this week for more on that too!


19 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures. Wow!! Looks like a great time and I love that Mason as a wedding crasher. Sweet boy!!

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  2. What a gorgeous setting! Can't wait to see more! Girl, you look stunning!

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  3. What a gorgeous wedding! I love your bridesmaid dress and your hair and makeup looked beautiful! Also love Seth wearing the bride tribe hat :)

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  4. Oh so fun!! You look gorgeous! I love the robes you wore while getting ready, too!

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  5. Looks amazing! I saw some of your pictures on snap chat too!

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  6. That place is GORGEOUS!!! I love, love, love your necklace(s), dets please! Mason looks so stinkin' cute. Oh my goodness he is adorable and I love the fact that he got to stand with you. They should have made him the ring bearer.

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  7. How darling :) Love this place so amazing
    Chelsea @ http://thewilliamsjourney1.blogspot.com

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  8. I have loved following your vacation via Snapchat and Instagram! How fun!! The venue looks so amazing and dreamy! And you my friend, looked gorgeous!!! The picture of you three is definitely a framer. Such a great picture!!!

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  9. Looks like an amazing wedding. You looked great as well, very elegant. :)

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  10. Wow, this place looks so so beautiful!! What a fun wedding. How CUTE that Mason stood up with you during the wedding. :) You guys are one good looking fam (I love your make-up and dress)..!! :)

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  11. This place is STUNNING!! And um. You my friend are gorgeous!!

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  12. That place is amazing I can only imagine how great it looked in real life. Pictures just fail to do so many place justice. You looked so pretty too! What an awesome weekend.

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  13. How fun, I just LOVE weddings! Like, love, love, love them. You look amazing! The best part about being in the wedding party is all the pampering that gets done the day of. Such a cute family.

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  14. WOAH. That place looks SO amazing!! I feel like NorCal is a totally different world!
    You and your little family are the sweetest, cutest, EVER! I love that Mason stood by you during the wedding. His outfit was on point, and matched so well with the bride's colors! It would have been an injustice had he NOT been up there with you!
    Also. Those robes you wore before the wedding. SWOONING. Did the bride give those as gifts? I freaking love them.

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  15. Liz! You look stunning!!! So beautiful.

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  16. What a beautiful wedding!! But Lizzie, you look amazing. I love you with heavier makeup. I'm all for eye makeup!

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  17. Navy blue is your color! We love Roseville and would totally move there in a heartbeat.

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  18. That location is so pretty for a wedding! And seriously, you look stunning! Your dress, makeup, everything! And I love the family photos too! How cute Mason wanted to stand up there with you :)

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  19. Every time I've seen the title of your post I see Northern Ireland, and have to do a double take. Next trip? Or after your cruise =) Or Cruise to Northern Ireland!
    I love love the pic of you and Mason when you are squatted (sounds so unappealing but I couldn't think of a better way to say it lol) and he is on your knee. You look beautiful! You should up the eye makeup every once and a while! You are rocking it. Looks like a beautiful but fun wedding - my fave.

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