Breakfast/ Dessert/ Dinner/ Exercise/ Fitness/ Travel

A Glorious Affair

I’m back! I have a super long recap of the GORGEOUS wedding and this morning but first off let me say to the Madison girls that I am so sorry I wasn’t able to meet this morning! I emailed you guys but family stuff came up and it was just too crazy and busy for me to sneak away. I thought I would have time and I would have loved to but I needed to spend some time with my grandparents before we headed back to Milwaukee. I really wish I could have gotten the chance to run outside though–what a gorgeous day! Instead, I had to resort to waking up at a very, very early hour and hitting the hotel treadmill for a 3-miler. Meh.

Anyways, I’m going to start from the beginning yesterday because I have so many awesome pictures and the eats were SO good!!! πŸ™‚ I think I left off yesterday after we ate brunch. The wedding was scheduled for 1:30 outside in this beautiful garden on University of Wisconsin campus. My cousin, Matt, is in the process of getting his PhD from the college. He’s actually working on finding a cure for malaria—how crazy and interesting is that?! Its sort of a genius to say the least. πŸ˜‰

Here are my parents and I before the ceremony in the hotel lobby (I love this picture of us!):

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And father daughter shot because I matched his pink tie πŸ™‚

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I was worried it might rain but it was actually really nice and not too hot at all. There was a breeze and we were under a tent surrounded by tons of gorgeous flowers and veggie plants! Here are some pictures from the ceremony:

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Katie’s dress was antique lace and was absolutely breathtaking! The veil she is wearing is my aunt’s (her now mother-in-law) and my aunt is passing it down to me as well when I get married!
After the ceremony we had a photo-shoot of sorts while the wedding party took a million shots all over the garden.

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And then Ryan made me walk with him to go see Camp Randall, the football stadium. It was actually quite a hike and we were super dressed up so it was a little weird but he was excited.

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And I had fun because I found one of those milk thistle thingys the size of my HEAD!

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My dad picked us up on the side of the road and since we had two hours to kill till the reception, we went and sat outside and got a beer!


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I had a blue moon with an orange slice but LOVED Ryan’s spotted cow that was served with a lemon slice!!!!! Wondering if I can find these in Florida? Definitely my taste in beers….light with no bitterness and served with fruit!

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I only drank half because this was HUGE!
We also got bruschetta since brunch was a long time ago and we needed a snack before cocktail hour!

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The bruchetta was aaaaaamazing! I had one bread slice and tons of tomato topping. The bread was grilled and it was just so good.
Speaking of good food—the appetizers during the cocktail hour of the reception were probably the best wedding reception appetizers that I’ve ever had! Check out this phenomenal spread!!!

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I LOVE European style tapas and my favorites include fancy cheese, proscuitto, olives and crusty bread. Ryan and I loaded up this plate to share full of everything!
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I had a small glass of red wine, then a small cosmo while all this happening. The cosmo was pretty tiny but awesome!
Around 5:30 we all moved downstairs for dinner. We started with a beautiful salad with light dressing:

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And I had pre-ordered the seared salmon. Guests had a choice of chicken, seared salmon or fiet. The salmon was actually out of this world!


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I feel like a lot of times wedding food really isn’t awesome because kitchens are mass-producing meals for a crowd. However, this was awesome and was cooked to perfection—I thoroughly enjoyed every last bite!
Saving room for wedding cake, obviously…..

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Katie and Matt had different flavored layers of their cake—they had a red velvet layer, a poppy-seed layer (which was the best I think) and a white cake layer. The red velvet layer had chocolate ganache in between, the poppy-seed had almond filling and the vanilla cake had raspberry filling. Ryan got red velvet, my aunt got poppy-seed and I got vanilla. I had a bite of each (and ate all of mine)! It was very, very, very yummy!!! Worth every darn bite, especially the fondant icing! πŸ™‚
Here’s Ryan’s red velvet–
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With dinner, I had another glass of wine. Oh, how I love weddings!
After we ate we headed back upstairs for dancing! Ryan and I snuck out though to go watch the fireworks outside on the roof level of the hotel. πŸ˜‰

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And then we were huge dorks and went to bed at like 9:30 because poor Ryan had to wake up at 4:30 to catch his early flight back to Tampa!! Of course I didn’t wake up at 4:30 with him but I did wake up soon after to get a 3 mile run on the treadmill in because plans had changed and I had family time all morning. I wish I could do a reader meet-up everywhere I go because I want to meet you ALL! However its just tough when you are with, like 50 extended members of your family πŸ™
Before my run I had the other half of granola bar from yesterday morning and afterwards I spent time with my grandparents before they headed out and went out to breakfast. I had a cup of Moroccan Mint tea and an egg white veggie scramble with whole wheat toast—-

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The egg white scramble was awesome and only made with a bit of cheese and tons of veggies. I ordered it to be made “spicy” and then totally doused with Sriracha (aka heaven on earth) and inhaled every last bit. I was STARVING!!
And that pretty much sums it all up! I’m currently packing up and waiting for my parents to get ready so we can head over to Matt & Katie’s apartment for a wedding present opening brunch. After that I have a super long day of travel as we head out of Madison back to Milwaukee then fly through Atlanta to get home to Tampa around 10:30 tonight. I’m trying to figure out though where exactly this Trader Joe’s is in Madison because I convinced my parents that if we have time, we MUST stop!!!!
I’ll be blogging from Hot-Lanta! See you in a bit!

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  • Courtney (The Hungry Yogini)
    July 5, 2009 at 11:50 am

    Wow! You look so pretty! The wedding looks beautiful and the food looks delicious!

    Hope you are enjoying the time with your family…I’m sure your readers understand =) Weddings are special occasions after all!

  • pepper
    July 5, 2009 at 11:50 am

    Madison TJ’s is on Monroe Street, 2 blocks south of the football stadium you visited yesterday – very close. This store is very small, but still worth checking out if you haven’t been to one before.
    Hope you enjoy it!

  • Nicole
    July 5, 2009 at 11:54 am

    The bride’s dress is my absolute DREAM dress..and I don’t even want to get married!!

    Enjoy the rest of the trip!

  • OrganicGirl
    July 5, 2009 at 12:03 pm

    Hey Jenna and blog readers!

    I just started a blog about natural cooking and my struggles with IBS. I would love for you all to go check it out:
    http://www.imanorganicgirl.wordpress.com

  • Christie @ Quit Your Diet
    July 5, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    Wow, looks like you had an amazing time at the wedding! All of the foods looks fantastic and you look great in your dress.

    Have a great Sunday and travel safe!

  • devon
    July 5, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    Love the pink dress! It’s fantastic!

  • Danielle C.
    July 5, 2009 at 12:21 pm

    Wow that wedding spread does look amazing, oh how I love wedding cake especially. πŸ™‚

  • Jocelyn
    July 5, 2009 at 12:24 pm

    that spread looks sooooooooooooo yummy. The red velvet cake looks to die for! The brides lace dress is breathtaking..you are right!… I also adore your pink dress πŸ™‚ Sounds like you guys had a wonderful time. Hope you make it to that Trader Joes!

  • Jess
    July 5, 2009 at 12:25 pm

    I’m going to a wedding in 2 weeks and this made me look forward to it. I love your dress.

  • Matt
    July 5, 2009 at 12:28 pm

    That wedding looks awesome. It makes me want some cake!

  • Priyanka
    July 5, 2009 at 12:30 pm

    You look pretty in each and every pic! The pic of you and Ryan ( fireworks) is very cute. You guys make a cute pair!!

    BTW love your dress!

  • Becca
    July 5, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    The photo of you and your dad is super cute – love how you guys match each other! Glad you’ve had a good trip so far (and lots of delicious food!)!

  • Meghan@traveleatlove
    July 5, 2009 at 12:41 pm

    Sometimes ya just need family time! That wedding food looks delicious. We saw sooooo many weddings yesterday. It made me want to have another one (with the same husband of course!) πŸ™‚

  • Kiki
    July 5, 2009 at 12:50 pm

    that dress looks a-ma-zing on you!

  • Lizzie
    July 5, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    You look awesome and I have to say I am so jealous of your warm weather tan! πŸ™‚ I was in a wedding two weeks ago and missed the cocktail hour for photos, so we brought our cheese, crackers, wine, fruit, and beer picnic for the wedding party. Good thing as we were all still hungry by the time we got to the reception!

  • Courtney Craig
    July 5, 2009 at 12:54 pm

    I absolutely adore that bridal gown…OMG! Amazing! Where in the world did she purchase it/who is the designer????

    I just started reading your blog & am loving it! Thanks for sharing. It’s so nice to have things in common w/ other women on the web. I was a Nutrition major for my Undergrad, am a lacto-ovo-vegetarian (have been for ~ 18 years) and am training for my 2nd Half-Marathon! I am not, however, a writer! πŸ˜‰

    All the best!

  • Cait (Cait's Plate)
    July 5, 2009 at 12:57 pm

    That FOOD! It looks so vibrant and delicious!!! You look so pretty as well! Glad you guys had fun! πŸ™‚

  • Jen
    July 5, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    The Spotted Cow is made by New Glarus and is ONLY distributed in the state of Wisconsin. That said they are still one of the top ten breweries in the US (actually I think they are #2 this year) I LOVE New Glarus!! I just moved to Milwaukee, WI from Omaha, NE a month ago so I’m excited to be able to get New Glarus beers.

  • Ally
    July 5, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    TJ’s in on Monroe Street just a couple of blocks down from Camp Randall. From the stadium it’s about five to ten minutes walk maximum. If you ask anyone around the stadium, they’ll know where it is. You’ve gotta go!!!

  • sara.jane
    July 5, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    Oh this wedding looks fabulous! I’m getting married next year and just started to plan. Jenna, if you have time and are willing, would you be nice to email me what you did and didn’t like about the day…timeline, etc. I need input on food, the flow of the day, etc. That food looked amazing and I loved how the pineapple was sliced but left in “shell”(?) of the pineapple. Very pretty for the eye. I would so appreciate it πŸ™‚

    Another thing, your dress was gorgeous! And your dad is so handsome in a pink tie! HAHA

  • Megan (Runner's Kitchen)
    July 5, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    I love blue moon beer! The fact that it is served with a slice of fruit makes it even better πŸ™‚

  • Madison
    July 5, 2009 at 1:52 pm

    Hot pink is your color, girl! Not many people can pull that off–but your skin is so beautiful, you definitely looked great!

    All the food and drinks look so yummy–especially the wedding cake. I love wedding cakes!

  • Maria
    July 5, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    The wedding dress absolutely gorgeous/amazing. Wow, that is a huge milk thistle! The bruschetta does look amazing with all those juicy tomatoes with basil. Beautiful spread of appetizersβ€”so much good stuff to choose from :). Oooh salmon looks perfectly seared, and you can never go wrong with rich delicious salmon. Love the cariety of flavors of the cakeβ€”mmm looks fantastic! My goodness, the scramble looks great too. Haha, definitely a plethora of great food!

  • Mrs. Myers @ Eat Move Write
    July 5, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    You guys are adorable. I definitel love that dress. Did you and your dad plan to match? How adorable! I really like the bride’s wedding dress. I love things with a vintage feel. My wedding band is very vintage. Very me.

  • Kailey (SnackFace)
    July 5, 2009 at 3:29 pm

    GORGEOUS. You and Ryan- just too cute for me. You look amazing, you and your parents look fab, the wedding looks incredible…I have no words. Just gorgeous!

  • EmmW
    July 5, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    What a fun wedding! Looks like you had a blast!

    Oh, and there are Trader Joe’s all over the place in Atlanta as well. I’ve been to the one in Sandy Springs and it was fabulous! They also have one in Marietta, Norcross, Buckhead, Midtown, and Roswell!

  • Sarah
    July 5, 2009 at 3:32 pm

    The spotted cow beer is sooo good! It is a local beer in the Madison area. You are probably long gone, but if not, try the Yokel from the same company. Beer heaven!

    Wedding pics are gorgeous! You look so cute in your pink dress πŸ™‚

  • Mara @ What's For Dinner?
    July 5, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    You looked adorable! I can’t think of many people that could pull off a hot pink satin dress, but you totally did!

  • Jo
    July 5, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    What a great wedding feast! I know what you mean about wedding food, it can be a bit lacking. Loved your dress by the way πŸ™‚

  • Katrina (gluten free gidget)
    July 5, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    Yay for weddings! The dancing is the best part! Have a safe flight back!

  • Katie (food.home.fitness.)
    July 5, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    Thanks for the wedding recap! Everything looks amazing and what an awesome spread!!

  • Allie Katie
    July 5, 2009 at 5:20 pm

    Ahhh great pics! It’s so funny because you and your dad look like super cute matching prom dates! What fun!

  • Stefanie
    July 5, 2009 at 5:23 pm

    That bruschetta looks so good! I love bruschetta. If I can ever get tomatoes and basil to grow on my balcony I’m going to make it homemade!

  • Jessie
    July 5, 2009 at 6:36 pm

    that dress looks absolutely stunning on you!

  • K
    July 5, 2009 at 6:38 pm

    I’m originally from WI, and Spotted Cow is my absolute favorite beer of all time. I’ve never seen it anywhere else, so whenever I go home I bring back as much as I can.

  • Jessica
    July 5, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    Beautiful pics! In the pictures below from the market, there looks to be something like red velvet “oreos” … is that what they are? They look to DIE for if so.
    -Muffy

  • MarathonVal
    July 5, 2009 at 7:11 pm

    I’m glad you had such a great time at the wedding! I’m back visiting my college town with my husband now, and there was a wedding goes on on the campus last night… I always thought it would be fun to come back to your college to get married. What a fun weekend!

  • Nicole of Raspberry Stethoscope
    July 5, 2009 at 7:12 pm

    I love the bride’s dress!

  • Linda
    July 5, 2009 at 7:16 pm

    Welcome back!
    Wow, sounds like it was a magical day! Bride looks breathtakingly beautiul! I just love weddings πŸ˜€
    Ps Your dress is gorgeous, love that color on you!

    ~Linda

  • Tay
    July 5, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    Looks like a magically fun time, and you look HAWT girl! Love the dress πŸ˜€

  • Kathy
    July 5, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    I loveeee your pink dress- you look gorgeous!

  • Sarah
    July 5, 2009 at 8:10 pm

    Jenna you look like a gorgeous real-life Barbie! And the wedding looked fab as well.

  • leslie
    July 5, 2009 at 8:39 pm

    this looks like a beautiful wedding. her dress is GORGEOUS.

    i love that photo of you blowing the milk thistle! and the teapot! so cute.

  • Debbie (Green Apple A Day)
    July 5, 2009 at 8:59 pm

    You’re dress was awesome, and it’s super cute that your dad had a tie to match πŸ™‚

  • Deva
    July 5, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    I loved the bride’s dress and all of your pictures! The cake picture had me picturing the texture of the cake, icing, and filling on my tongue – so yummy!

  • earthybrit.wordpress.com
    July 5, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    The dress was made for you, the wedding looked beautiful as well as the food. The three different layers of cake was a wonderful ideal. You and Ryan are too cute together. Take care, earthybrit.

  • Sara
    July 5, 2009 at 9:47 pm

    My, what a recap! Everything looks phenomenal. That pink dress is killer! How romantic, with the rooftop fireworks. Looks like you had a fantastic time. And that last pic is definitely one for the refrigerator (at least)!

  • Bec
    July 5, 2009 at 11:01 pm

    looks like an amazing wedding!

  • Rose
    July 6, 2009 at 10:06 am

    Wedding looks beautiful – I love the bride’s gown!

  • Krissy - Single Serving
    July 6, 2009 at 11:12 am

    What great pics! Everything (and everyone!) looks amazing. Sounds like you had a great time!

  • Whitney
    July 6, 2009 at 11:26 am

    You look gorgeous in your dress! I love the pics of the thistle, too cute!

  • Angela
    July 7, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    You looked SO beautiful in that dress! wow…I love it!

  • Angela
    July 7, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    PS- Can I borrow it for the wedding Im going to this saturday?? hahah ;p

  • Jess
    July 10, 2009 at 3:39 pm

    What a beautiful wedding! That is why I’m in no rush to get married, I want to be able to provide my beloved guests with a beautiful sit down dinner like you all were treated to.

    Jenna, all the pictures were great, but I also love the one of you and your parents, since your pink dress ties your Dad with his pink tie and tan slacks to your Mom’s lovely tan skirt suit, lovely!