Yesterday Bo and I had the honor of attending Leslie and Charles wedding yesterday. The fact that the wedding was at Villanova, where Bo went for graduate school, made the day even more fun!

Our group cleaned up very well for the wedding and in record time, considering that there were six of us who had to shower and get ready for the event.

Before we left, Meghann and I had some fun with Sabrina’s baby belly and baby blocks.

Clearly, I’m more than a little excited for Sabrina and Philly Boy’s bambino.

We even travelled to the wedding in style! Bo and I rented a Tahoe yesterday so we could all ride to the wedding and reception together and not worry about drinking since Sabrina volunteered to be our designated driver.

As soon as we arrived at Villanova, it was clear that Leslie’s anti-rain dances and planning paid off. There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky, the temperatures were perfect, and the sun was shining!

The Villanova Cathedral was simpler than other cathedrals I’ve been in but that simplicity added to the wedding’s beauty. The bright white interior was warm with excitement and glowing with happiness as we entered. We were all commenting on the church’s simple decor and beautiful flowers as the organ music began.

It’s time to get the wedding started!

We were in the back row which ended up being a perfect position to see everyone enter and leave. Leslie’s mom was already in tears before the wedding started but Charles and his parents looked happy and calm.

The bridesmaid’s dresses were adorable on each and everyone of their shapes and sizes. The bright blue was the color of the flowers and hydrangeas and the neckline meant that the girls didn’t have to worry about necklaces or much other jewelry. Instead, the each had simple pearl drop earrings and matching floral heels. This little attention to detail and feminine touches were so very Leslie!

Within minutes, the doors opened and Leslie’s glow filled the church.

Within minutes, Charles and Leslie went from best friends to husband and wife!

Another added detail was the bubble and mascot exit that greeted them when they left the church!

 

After the new couple exited we took advantage of the sunshine for an impromptu photo opportunity!  Since their wedding was at 1:30 and the reception didn’t begin until 5:30, we decided that getting a light lunch was the best way to kill time. Luckily, Bo and I were more than happy to show the gang around Wayne!

  We tried Matador, a new restaurant in Wayne which features delicious Mexican food and drinks. We also decided that the best way to continue the celebration was to toast to the new couple!

After great debate, I chose a lighter dish, the traditional gazpacho, enjoyed with a side of fresh chips and guacamole.

The food was absolutely delicious but unfortunately, the service upstairs was a little slow. Regardless, I wish Matador had been around when I lived in Wayne. The one thing the area was always missing was a delicious Mexican restaurant.

At 5pm, we headed down to West Chester for the reception. None of us knew what to expect since Leslie hadn’t shared many reception details but we knew that it would be classy and definitely fun!

We were breathless as we drove up the long dirt road to the Greystone Hall. We started the cocktail hour off with one of their signature cocktails.

I tried the Something Borrowed which was supposed to be a mix of an Arnold Palmer and mojito but I wasn’t a fan of the mix unfortunately. It was a little too sweet for my taste.

The grounds were gorgeous and gave everyone plenty of room to socialize.

Unlike most weddings, the bride and groom were able to enjoy their cocktail hour due to the time between the ceremony and reception!

I loved seeing Leslie in all her glory and having a chance to spend time with the lovely blogger ladies: from L to R Melissa, me, Leslie, Sabrina, Lauren, and Meghann!

The dinner was seated and Leslie was kind enough to put us all together at one table!

You can be assured that there were plenty of pictures, food conversations, and laughs that took place with all of us at one table. It’s also amazing how well our men got along since it was the first time they were all hanging out together!

Dinner started with a spinach salad adorned with red onions, cucumbers, and a crisp.

I enjoyed the salmon for my main course which was perfectly cooked and topped with a sweet mango salsa! It was definitely one of the best wedding main dinners I’ve enjoyed!

Bo chose the steak which was better than expected though it took three tries to get one that was medium or medium rare versus well done.

After the speeches and toasts it was time to get the party started! The next three hours were filled with picture booth fun, dance floor singing, and lots of laughter.

 

We may not have looked good doing it but we enjoyed every second of the evening. Their band was fabulous and kept the energy high and dance floor filled.

Before we knew it the bouquet was being tossed. Unfortunately, my favorite single lady didn’t catch the bouquet but luckily she was okay with the outcome.

This wedding could not have been more perfect. Each family was smiling ear to ear and beaming the entire night while the lucky couple were in each other’s arms as they greeted guests. Bo and I saw Leslie and Charles in every detail of the reception and ceremony.  We couldn’t be happier for our friends who are so perfect for each other. Leslie’s humor and outgoing personality complements Charles’ calm and loving nature. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Brinkley!!