The year of the wedding: Los Gatos (Nestldown) edition

Where do I begin with this one?

Should I start with a walk down Memory Lane? Stories about the groom from our college days...as the most All-American guy I know...college football star...church buddy...lunch bunch member...big brother type???

Or, should I start at 1:30 a.m., Thursday...the time the alarm erupted at Taylor's house? The time we rolled out of bed to begin our trek down I-5 to San Jose for Troy's wedding?

No one besides the two of us road-trippers really needs to know about our voyage through Southern Oregon during the wee hours of the morning...seeing the sun rise over Mt. Shasta...my failed attempts to copilot and deejay the trip.

So we'll just skip over that and pick up once we made it to the San Jose area (just shy of a ten-hour trek). We met up with another great college friend Jesse and his girlfriend Courtney. After a couple showers and a couple cocktails, we hopped on the shuttle from the hotel to the wedding venue. It was quite the quick turnaround.

As semi-professional wedding attendees, Taylor and I feel as though we've seen a lot of sites, and Nestldown (still not sure why there's no "e" in the name) really took our breath away. The bus ride out felt like heading to summer camp, with the windy tree-lined narrow road. According to the bride, the venue used to be an estate, and the owners now offer corporate events and meetings along with a few weddings.

There were countless homespun details at this wedding, which I truly appreciate and try to document. You could feel the love in the delivery of the vows, and of course I loved the fact that Troy was able to finagle a Catholic ceremony outdoors.

I hadn't met Christie until the wedding, a rather significant something I couldn't quite believe. Troy was one of the best buddies I could have asked for in college, and for me to have not met someone this special up until that moment is almost ridiculous. Christie looked stunning, and oh so happy. She has quite the husband, and from the speeches and chit-chat among guests, it's evident the Bienemanns are adored by many.

Let's take a look back...

Guided by the light of the moon at "o'dark:30" as my dad likes to say.

Blurry...just like my state of mind.

Taylor had to drive and document as that latte at 5:30 put me right to sleep. Mt. Shasta at sunrise.

Let's scoot right to the ceremony site. Jesse, Courtney, and Taylor begin the decent. Thanks to Christie's note on the invite, I knew not to wear heels. Oh how thankful I was.

Down the stairs to the pond...

Seated and ready.

Shadowed, yet stunning. Jesse (or should I say Bono) and cutie pie Courtney.

Absolutely loved these program fans because of the flip-side...

A wedding party crossword! I loved it! And, just to note, with the help of Taylor's quick wedding website cramming, we were the first of our crew to finish.

Reason #756,945 why I need a new camera: I wish you could see the look on TB's face!

And that's another! My blurry first glance at the Mrs! Oh well. The memory stands. Simply stunning!

You can see (ever so slightly to the left) the bridesmaid attire...gray and white stripes with yellow flowers. The groom and his men wore gray suits. My favorite ensemble accessory was the yellow argyle socks.

Sizzling So-Cal-ians.

Surprise, surprise! Here we are at another wedding!

Had to get one with the Jess man.

The little lodge where the after-dark dancing took place.

Too much cute. Loved all the vintage treasures like these suitcases and the typewriter (not pictured). I also just love the Bienemann sign. Great gift.

Inside.

Outside. Cocktail hour.

Train rides available for guests. ;)

Coug flag shipped straight from the homeland. I can't wait to see the professional pics of the Cougs in attendance. 

The secret garden on site.

Jesse made me take a pic of the lime on this plate. He couldn't get over it! 

Paging Hansel and Gretel. We want your house.

Taylor and the garden sculptures.

Picture perfect.

Regretfully, the only pic of the bride and groom together! Can't believe TB is all grown up and married!

This was a spread straight out of the Benz book on desserts! Cake pops, cookies, pie bites, rice crispie balls, yum yum yum!

Shot sans flash. Also must note the lace tablecloth. Loved those.

First dance: Whatever It Is, Zac Brown Band.

Things started to get blurry...and Taylor told me to put the camera away. :) 

Unfortunately, I didn't get the snaps of Jesse + Courtney & Taylor + Kate or the pic of the four of us with the bride and groom, but Courtney did...so as soon as I get those from her, I'll add them to this post.

Cheers to everybody's favorite Coug and his new bride!