The Adventures of Newlywed Life: New York, New York

Our romantic date night at Apiary

Devouring Melissa's Mini Cupcakes

Hallway of the old cathedral where Catherine & Jon live

The last week in August, Barron and I spent some time in NYC and a few days in New Jersey for a wedding. One of Barron's close friends from med school was getting married and we decided to make a vacation out of it. We were very lucky that Barron was extremely busy at his practice all summer and I myself tied up working weddings for my part-time wedding planning job. Therefore, other than a 3 day weekend in Charleston to visit Barron's family this was really the first trip of the summer for us.

We started off in Jersey for the wedding. Long story short, being uneducated about the area, we took a $60, hour long cab ride from the hotel to the church. While stranded by ourselves waiting 30 minutes for a new cab and another $60 cab fare, Jessica (the BRIDE) sweet as can be, saw us sitting alone after everyone had left (including the wedding party) and offered us a ride with her videographer. We were so very thankful! He was HILARIOUS!!! He was typical of what us Southerners imagine of Jersey men. Complete Danny Devito look alike, black slicked back hair with his shirt unbuttoned to expose a little hair and his collection of gold necklaces to match all 7 of the gold rings on his fingers. He was so proud to tell us over and over and over again that he was "best" friends with Deanna Pappas (previous bachelorette) from "Neman," GA he called it. He excitedly flashed us his autographed prints and live web chat photos of her he had downloaded from the Internet and uploaded onto his i-phone. Words cannot describe the humor of our 40 minute ride to the reception, but I can top it off by adding that we listened to him sing Kenny Chesney songs in his Jersey accent the whole way. It was Priceless.

The Getaway Car

The wedding reception was beautiful!!!! It was held at Addison Park which was a gorgeous venue. Being a wedding planner I wish this place was in Atlanta so that I could recommend it to my brides. Barron and I took a few pictures of ourselves in the lobby just to capture it all. The band was fabulous and the five course seated dinner was superb. This was definitely a wedding to remember. Jessica if you're reading this I give you 5 stars!

Lobby of Addison Park

Following our stay in Jersey, we headed to meet up with a friend of mine who I haven't seen since 7th grade. What an experience! Catherine and I were best friends in 4th-5th grade and had so much fun in the gifted program together doing crazy projects and visiting Cumberland Island. Since then, we have no history except for a run-in at the county wide Orchestra competition in 7th grade! Now, 15 years later she has 2 beautiful children and lives right near Union Square in an old renovated church that takes you back in time from the moment you walk in the door. The picturesque cathedral is located in the first suburb of New York and has ornate stained glass windows galore that tell stories from centuries ago. It was an amazing place to stay. She and Jon were so hospitable and we considered ourselves very lucky guests. We loved catching up and spending time with the children. I got to ask Catherine a million baby questions since I've learned very little since years babysitting back in college. I have a lot to learn before Barron and I start a family of our own one day!

Catherine & her beautiful children, Grey & Scarlet

While in New York we decided to spend our time strolling streets, shopping, and dining out. What better place to do that in besides New York? Catherine and Jon recommended some great places to eat of which I'd love to pass on to anyone who likes to visit New York. The first is not a restaurant, it is a cupcake bakery that sells mini cupcakes out of a tiny window on the side of the street in SoHo. Melissa's Cupcakes were DIVINE! Even the website will make your mouth drool. http://www.bakedbymelissa.com/ Barron found the "Best French Toast in the World" at NoHo Star. http://www.nohostar.com/ We had a romantic date night at a sexy, modern restaurant called Apiary, http://www.apiarynyc.com/ And truly a night to remember was spent with Barron's Uncle at this adorable Moroccan restaurant called Sintir, http://www.sintir.com. We absolutely loved our experience at Sintir. We dined outside in a courtyard underneath a tent seated on antique Moroccan carved benches. Barron's Uncle Steve lives in the upper East Side and it was so nice to be able to get together with him while in New York. Traveling the world is his passion and he is always filled with great stories of his trips. We fell in love with the addictive Moroccan Mint Tea and melt in your mouth Lamb Shanks. The night was unforgettable.

Before we got on the plane to head home, Barron and I took a walk through Times Square so we could take some pictures since it was our first trip to New York together. We got to sneak a peek at the Naked Cowboy who is currently running for Mayor. I was delightfully surprised to see all the beautiful new pedestrian areas the city has created in Times Square. What used to be busy streets is now walkways filled with a plethora of potted plants and outdoor seating. It was a perfect way to end the trip before we headed home. Goodbye New York, Hello Atlanta!!! We love the city, but at the end of the day, it is always nice to come back home!