Memphis Wedding

As I briefly already mentioned I was out of town for a long weekend in Memphis. TJ was the best man in a college friend's wedding and I got to be his date! One of my old roommates was also a bridesmaid and she played a role in setting up the bride and groom and may also have been involved in bringing TJ and I together...

But perhaps that's a post for a different day. Anyway... I flew down to Memphis Thursday after work. TJ was already there doing groomsmen things and, as I've mentioned twice already on here, he met me at the hotel with a slab of ribs. It was the perfect kick-off to a perfectly Memphis weekend.

We started the next day off with a bang- we saw the ducks! If you don't know what I'm talking about click here. It was actually the only thing (outside of wedding obligations) that we had on our schedule for the day. So we were happy to set aside time in our morning to wait for a gaggle of ducks to march across the roof of their Peabody home, get on the elevator and then walk across the red carpet and into the fountain. These are some lucky ducks, they have a cushy life and there was quite the crowd gathered to gawk at them (and the official Duck Master).

After the ducks did their thing we headed to lunch at McEwens with the groom and another couple. I had a yummy chicken salad sandwich and helped myself to some of TJ's friend okra. We decided to walk around some afterwards and made our way to Beale Street, which is basically a tamer version of Bourbon Street (or so I'm told). We had a drink outside in the sun and chatted up the upcoming nuptials with a calm and collected groom. Oh, and did I mention the weather was the bomb!? My freckles came out a little more in force across my nose and it just felt like my face was saying "finally!"

We then headed back for a nap before TJ had to head to the rehearsal. He practiced his  best man speech before he left and then I started getting ready for the dinner myself. I love getting dressed up. Dressing is half the fun of a night out for me and I was excited to wear a new dress and heels. The dinner took place at Flight which was really yummy. I enjoyed shrimp and grits and some of TJ's pork tenderloin (we ate a lot of pork this weekend). TJ's speech was actually the best best man speech I've had the pleasure of hearing and it was his first time giving one. Not too long, and funny and personal without being awkward or inappropriate in front of the family. (Some of them can be just so darn painful... hah.)
After dinner we headed back to Beale Street. In the evenings they card you to even come on to the street and the scene is definitely wilder but their was some good live music and it was a warm evening so we enjoyed meandering around and people watching. TJ had been handed the rings at the rehearsal dinner so he was anxious to not have them in his pocket for too long. 

The next day TJ had groomsmen responsibilities to attend to so I answered some work emails, and then took myself out for a stroll and to pick up lunch and a big sweet tea. It wasn't too long before it was time to start getting ready for the wedding. The only people I really knew at the wedding were all in the wedding party so I had to make some friends on the shuttle to the church and during the beautiful ceremony and cocktail hour while they all took pictures.

Luckily the venue was fantastic and there was plenty to see and plenty of yummy food to distract me until my date arrived. On one side there was all Southern style foods. Mini barbecue sliders, different types of deviled eggs, like bloody mary and crawfish, plus a lobster mac and cheese bar. And on the other side there was an international food display with bang bang shrimp served with chopsticks in mini Chinese take out boxes, and chorizo empanadas. I just kept going back and forth for more. 

Soon the bride and groom arrived to kick off the dancing and before long they were passing out flip flops to the girls. TJ and I took a break and snapped the only (non-photobooth) picture of the two of us that evening and then before we knew it, it was time to line up with sparklers, my favorite type of wedding exit, and send the newlyweds on their way.. 
I love celebrating weddings. They always make me tear up and the two of them just beamed the whole night through.

The next day we decided to walk off some of the previous night's treats and head down to the waterfront, peak over at Arkansas. We then hopped on the trolley, which is super adorable and convenient and headed back to Central BBQ, because one rack of ribs is just not enough when you're in Memphis.
Central BBQ happens to be right next to the National Civil Rights Museum so we wandered around the historic spot while we waited for our friends to arrive. The museum is located at The Lorraine Hotel where Martin Luther King Junior was shot. The balcony, the cars parked outside are all forever preserved right where so much history happened. We didn't actually go inside since we had flights to catch and lunch to eat but it was still really something to see. 
So back to the BBQ. Now I know Rendezvous gets a lot of press for being the best in Memphis but I have to say that I love the atmosphere and the food at Central BBQ more! We sat outside on the patio and TJ and I split a half dry/half wet rack with collard greens, cole slaw, potato salad, and onion rings on the side. I also got a large sweet tea which came with a plastic cup that I was excited to take home. 
I refilled my sweet tea, snapped a couple pics with my old roommate/bestie and then TJ and I relunctantly headed to the airport. It was such a fun weekend and I felt like I really got a good taste of Memphis. I definitely want to go back and see some of the stuff we missed like Graceland and Sun Studios and probably a few more barbecue places...Until then though, I've had more than my fair share of ribs for this month. 

Comments

  1. I prefer Interstate BBQ. Sun Studios is just a hole in the wall but Graceland is awesome.

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  2. Having fun visiting blogs on the 15th day of the #atozchallenge. Sounds like a great place to have a wedding. Spring in Memphis just right. If you have time or interest, I am writing about gardening and related topics this month. Come visit.

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  3. That sounds like a great weekend! The cake was beautiful. Happy A to Z!

    -L.G. Keltner, minion in Captain Alex's Ninja Army
    http://lgkeltner.blogspot.com/
    http://warpednerdiversity.blogspot.com/

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  4. The bride's dress is beautiful, and what a pretty cake. Your dress looks lovely too...bring that one home so I can see it up close. I am a fan of sparklers too : ) And I'm jealous of the bbq. I've never been to Memphis! Can't wait to see you in 3 sleeps!

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  5. Sounds like a wonderful weekend. Hubby and I took a group of youth to International Youth Convention in Memphis about 20 years ago. We did go to the National Civil Rights Museum. It was very interesting and well worth the trip. We also did Graceland. Loved this too. However, we did not get BBQ. You make me think I really missed out now. haha Hope you get to go back and see the things you want and I hope I get to go back and get some ribs. :)

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