done that: Columbee!

It has taken me forever to get this post written – which could probably be blamed on a number of things but …  I’ll skip my excuses and jump straight to the cause; Laziness.

Last weekend I traveled to Ohio for my college friend Mallory’s wedding. Now before you start crakin’ jokes about the Buckeye state – don’t. I’ve already heard all of them. I’ve already told all of them. And I’ve already thrown my temper tantrum about buying a $350+ plane ticket and using a day of vacation (in the summer) to fly to the middle of nowhere.

Ohio rocked.

It took three days in the great state of Ohio to realize a few things:

• Ohio has quick karma – it took us all of 25 minutes to learn that for every negative Ohio presents us. A positive is right around the corner. Ex: Spend $73 dollars on a cab – only to realize the nail salon you Googled no longer exists in its listed location.  2 hours later you find the coolest Mexican bar on the planet. Giving away free tequila shots.

• Ohio LOVES their college football – you either ARE a Buckeye fan or you have to leave. So yes, for one weekend I managed to keep my Gator pride in check and pretended to like the color red (and the Buckeyes). Don’t tell John.

• Ohio LOVES the color red – obviously. It's the color of their favorite football team ever.

• Ohio LOVES to celebrate gay pride week – Mallory happened to decide to get married during Gay pride week. Complete with festival, half dressed rainbow heads, a parade, and horrrrrrible protesters. Haters.

• Ohio LOVES beer – so obviously we had that in common.

• Ohio has AHHMAZZING hair salons – yes. AMAZING, should you ever find yourself in Columbus, Ohio near the German Village Taco Bell do yourself and your hair a favor and stop into Jolie Laide to get yourself one of their famous up-dos … in which they SEW your hair into place! Bobby-pins are sooo 2010. A needle and thread is all the rage in 2011. 

• Ohio cabbies suck – end of that story.

• Ohio people like free booze– everywhere they go.  Free tequila… free beer … open bar … my kinda state.

• Ohio is a fashion Mecca? – yes it is. Home to Bath and Body Works, Express, The Limited .. and drum roll please… VICTORIAS SECRET! Which makes me also kinda think that Ohio-ins are good at keeping secrets ... I mean, it takes some serious state-control to not be screaming "Victoria's Secret LIVES HERE!!!!"

Mallory's wedding was absolutely BEAUTIFUL (but of course I expected nothing less from my always stylish friend) and her new HUSBAND is probably the sweetest human being alive ... I mean anyone that can handle Mallory and all her CRAZY Flagler College friends (and not complain) gets an 'A' in my book! 

Her colors, black, red, and white suuuuiously could not have been more Mallory appropriate. The ceremony venue was a beautiful, old, Columbus church a few blocks from the hotel. The church itself had so much character, very few (if any) decorations were needed, the building held its own! The reception took place in the YWCA a building devoted to helping women who find themselves victims of domestic violence. The reception venue was chosen by Mallory and her family as a way to showcase a little-known Columbus landmark, the YWCA and their mission, and to shed light to an issue that normally carries so much stigma. 

The couple chose a live band over a DJ and well... they honestly couldn't have a made a better decision! The local Columbus 'funk' band definitely knew how to excite a crowd and get people moving! Mallory, being the performer that she is - stole the show towards the end of the reception, getting on stage to belt Journey - complete with back up singers, and dancing. Thats my Mal :)

MY FAVORITE PART OF THE WEDDING: PHOTO BOOTH.

The greatest wedding activity on the face of the planet. Not only did it keep guests entertained....the photos offered Mallory and her new Husband away to remember their special day, their guests, and all the fun everyone had at their reception! 

Meredith was Mallory's maid of honor (she also happens to be her older sister) - during her toast to the couple, Meredith surprised her sister and new brother in law with the "gift of song" - she had invited BUCK THAT, a local Columbus acapella group from OSU (the red team  that I mentioned earlier) to sing some 'words of wisdom' to the happy couple. 5 hours later, the singers from BUCK THAT (who I re-named, BUCK OFF) were in the bar of our hotel drinking champagne from the bottle with all of us. They were the gift that just kept giving. After leaving the photo booth at the reception venue - "name a song and make BUCK OFF sing it to us" became our new game of choice. you name it. they sung it.

Apparently, taking videos of my friend Elyse doing her Toddlers and Tierras impression, and asking for Double Tree Cookies (10+ times), and ordering pizza and then falling asleep before it arrived all seemed like really good ideas. Blame it on the open bar. and the hotel bar. and the wine in the room. or the vodka?

Columbus. we came. we saw. and we conquered.