I spent the weekend in Massachusetts attending the wedding of my friends Aaron and James.
My experience with weddings is very limited:
- My mother’s extremely informal wedding to her second husband.
- Some distant relative’s wedding in Germany when I was in 4th grade.
- The ex-boyfriend’s brother’s reception in Minnesota.
I was a groomsman in this wedding, so it was somewhat nerve-racking, but nothing disastrous happened.
The photographer extraordinaire taking a picture of the rings at the Pierce House!
I think people were a little amused by my (utter) ignorance about how weddings work. For example – I had never heard of a receiving line. They don’t show that in movies!
The wedding was at Pierce House, which is a historic mansion in Lincoln, MA.
The Pierce House in Lincoln, MA.
We were also really close to Lexington and Concord…so history.
Everything was beautiful and we (barely) kept from bawling during the ceremony.
Some observations from this trip:
- The Boston airport is alright. The Washington D.C. airport is gross. The Dallas Airport is the best.
The Washington D.C. airport.
- The Lexington and Concord area looks exactly like the set of Gilmore Girls.
- I went to my first Dunkin’ Donuts. The bagel sandwiches are great.
- Driving in Middlesex County sucks. The roads are winding and pitch black.
- GPS in Middlesex County sucks. Google Maps will direct you to go the wrong-way on one-way roads.
- In Boston, people who wear Harvard shirts actually go to Harvard.
- Apparently it’s fall, and the leaves turn colors in Boston! (Everything is still green in Dallas.)
A cemetery in downtown Concord, Massachusetts.
- Apparently it’s fall, and it is chilly in the Northeast. (The wedding was outside and we were shivering, but survived.)
- Concord is pronounced “Conquered.”
- Apple cider = Sugary brown apple juice.
- Everything is historic.
- Exurban Boston bars kick everyone out at 12:45 a.m.
- Exurban Boston bars have no idea what X-Rated or Kinky Liqueur are.
- Extended Stay hotels have full kitchens.
- It’s okay to combine beer, champagne, and wine at the wedding, as long as there is no hard alcohol. Oh, and coffee.
Coffee was everything at the wedding.
- In the Northeast, they have this grocery store chain called Wegmans. Imagine a Whole Foods on steroids, with a full liquor store inside and excellent sushi.
- In exurban Boston, 2 miles away = 20 minute drive.
- Avoid the stinky cheese.
- When in doubt, brats.
- Budget Rental is not worth the $20 discount – the staff members are rude and the cars are in poor condition. I rented a VW Beetle that did not even lock until the groom’s brother dismantled the door and manually programmed my fob.
- A double bloody Mary in Washington D.C. is $18, but totally worth it.
A bloody Mary at the Washington DC airport.
- Your plane can be 45 minutes early if the winds are blowing in the right direction.
- Your plane arriving 45 minutes early means that you get to sit on the runway for an extra 45 minutes.
- In Dallas, it’s totally worth doing the “remote parking” option at the airport – only $9 per day!
- Whip / Nae Nae is the best wedding dance song ever.
- 6 a.m. flights are a terrible idea because that means getting up at 3 a.m. Never again.
- Actually taking vacation and not checking email is amazing, but you’ll pay for it when you get back.
- Aaron and James are the cutest couple ever!
James Sanna and Aaron Kraemer getting married!
Congrats!
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