This past weekend Mike and I traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, for his friend Pat’s wedding. These trips are always a good time because A) Who doesn’t love a wedding? B) We get to experience somewhere new together and C) Being reunited with a big friend group is always exciting! The last time we were all together like this was in Stowe, Vermont back in the fall which you can read about here!
I’m excited to share our trip with you! Read on, friends!
I had no clue that horses raced at Churchill Downs other than Derby weekend! These seats we’re sitting in are spoken for during that big weekend and are suuuuper pricey. But regular people like us get to sit up close to the horses and the action every other weekend. On Friday afternoon we hung out here for a couple hours while our room at the Brown Hotel was prepped and sipped on icy mint juleps. (For the record: two of these were plenty. It’s basically bourbon and mint and that’s about it!)
There’s all kinds of fun events like Twilight Thursdays throughout the spring and into September if you find yourself there soon!
That night we had an amazing dinner at 8UP–I got the salmon with forbidden rice risotto (it’s BLACK) and broccolini. If you go, you have to get the brussel sprouts appetizer, even if you’re not a brussel sprouts fanatic. Charred, sweet, and savory, we inhaled this at the table.
On Saturday the group met for a much needed brunch at the Porch Kitchen and Bar before we got ready for the wedding at 4. Oh my gosh, this placeeee.
We had time to make a quick pit stop at the Louisville Slugger Factory. If you ever need something to break up the day, for two dollars you get ten swings in the batting cages inside!
Then it was off to get ready for the wedding! And let me tell you, the venue was exactly what I imagined and beyond…
I mean…wow.
Pat and Courtney had their wedding ceremony and reception on site at the Whitehall Estate and Gardens in Louisville. We arrived on a shuttle bus from our hotel and were greeted by a proper Southern receiving line with the parents of the bride and groom. Call me old fashioned, but I really liked this.
We quickly passed through the parlor and into the back garden and grounds…
…which was pretty much something out of the Secret Garden. Everything was so lush and green.
We passed under a tunnel of arbors and the ladies were escorted to their seats by groomsmen.
I love this “naked icing” trend! So simple and whimsy.
The reception was held in a tent in the gardens. It started pouring around 6 but we stayed totally dry and probably wouldn’t have ever noticed if we didn’t have to make mad dashes to the bathrooms! 🙂
We were all so curious about the dinner menu since the invites didn’t request us to choose our preferences. Pat and Courtney had a huge buffet including a mashed potato bar with all the fixings and short rib, grilled salmon, jumbo shrimp, crab dip, a carving station with steak and turkey, plus a massive table with cheeses, fruit and crackers. I loved it!
The live band was so good and played everything from Led Zeppelin to Blink 182 and N*Sync so that was all I needed to have a great time on the dance floor. The reception ended around 10 o’clock and we headed back to the hotel to change and hit the after party at a bar across the street. It was truly a full wedding weekend!
Louisville, we’ll see you again some day!
Cobble & Brick 