Almost two weeks ago Leslie and Bryan tied the knot in Berkeley, California. And of course we were on hand to witness, along with tons of Klingners, friends of Mom and Dads, and Leslie and Bryan's peeps.
We traveled on American Airlines on the same flight as John and Susie (and three other wedding-bound couples). We got to Cali on Saturday (May 26) mid-day, picked up our rental car and drove to the Hotel Durant, where we got checked in. We shared a suite with John and Susie - they had a room with a king size bed and we had a queen murphy bed and a couch and table with four chairs, and we each had our own bath and closet, so it was a great set-up. We wandered around Berkeley and campus in the afternoon and ate middle eastern food for lunch. Saturday night I had the bachelorette event - a picnic in the rose garden with the bridesmaids, Leslie, and a few other of her girl friends. Then the bachelors met up with us at Leslie's friend Clare's house in Oakland and the real party started. We watched a scandalous video that Leslie and Bryan and their friends made in the honors dorm their first year at UT (Leslie and Bryan didn't even know each other then but were both in it). A lot of those friends are still in touch and most of them have ended up in the Bay Area as well, so great fun was had by all (and L&B were appropriately embarrassed which provided even more entertainment). Then we played Bryan & Leslie Jeopardy with questions we'd all submitted to Clare beforehand. It was both embarrassing and enlightening, and after just about every question someone would ask for the story behind the question. And Clare did a fabulous job putting it all together and hosting...it was really special. Matt and I were so impressed by how awesome L&B's friends are.
Sunday...I had a brunch with all the girls hosted by a lot of the moms at this really nice French place, La Note. We're talking french toast, croissants, amazing stuff. The afternoon we had the wedding rehearsal and then walked to the rehearsal dinner, which at an insanely nice restaurant called "Downtown." (Can you tell there was lots of eating? =D) It was just for the wedding party and their dates and family, so we were able to have really nice food. It was all amazing, and we had the first round of toasts from people. It succeeded in making those of us giving our toasts at the reception the next day very nervous! Then everyone was invited to Leslie and Bryan's favorite bar called Jupiter, where the unprivileged masses ate food and everyone drank good home-brewed beer.
On Monday Matt and his parents went to the Muir Woods to see the big redwoods, leaving me behind to do maid of honor stuff. Mom and Dad hosted a pajama breakfast in their suite in the hotel, and then I puttered in the hotel room before heading to Leslie's apartment. The bridesmaids, Leslie, and I got our hair done and watched the Little Mermaid before getting dressed and heading to the ceremony. The site was a big regional park in the hills above Berkeley. The ceremony itself was only about 15 minutes long and performed by one of Leslie's high school (and beyond) friends, Danny (in California you just need to fill out forms to get deputized by the state to perform a wedding, you don't have to be a minister or anything). Then we ate dinner, did toasts, and hours of dancing began. Really Les and Bryan just wanted to have a big party and that's what they got. It was very fun. Then on Tuesday we came back to Dallas and collapsed.
Lots of pictures of the weekend are floating around the internet. For example: Matt’s pictures, Clare’s pictures, and Ali’s pictures.
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