Hi friends. I hope you had a happy 4th of July. Isaac and I spent the weekend in Swansboro, North Carolina. This is the same thing we did last year, only this time we were also celebrating my cousin Brooke getting married!!
Here are a few highlights:
We drove down to North Carolina on Wednesday after work and celebrated the 4th at my aunt and uncle’s house.
I had my hair braided by Natalie, one of Brooke’s good friends. I’ve been wanting to learn how to do a fishtail braid (thanks Pinterest) for a while so this was super exciting.
My aunt and uncle cooked up a big feast for everyone and then we all watched fireworks put on by the town of Swansboro.
The next day, Brooke and Jon’s wedding festivities began and the wedding party headed out on a boat for a day of sun before doing the rehearsal and going to dinner that evening.
The next morning it was Wedding Day time! The girls got things started by going to get our nails done at a nearby salon.
The bride and I!
After nails we all had lunch together at Icehouse and then got our hair and makeup done.
The Lady Brassey salad with blackened mahi for lunch.
Three of the four bridesmaids (Kate, Liz and I) keeping it classy, sipping our champagne in a can.
The wedding was a laid back, beach wedding in the bride’s parents’ backyard. The decor was simple, yet classy and everything looked absolutely adorable.
They had the reception catered by a food truck called Catch out of Wilmington and the food was delicious. Fun fact: Keith Rhodes, the chef of the food truck, was recently on Top Chef!
My favorite appetizer was a sweet potato spinach salad with a honey shallot vinaigrette. It reminded me of the baked sweet potato salads I make and the honey shallot vinaigrette was so flavorful. Definitely want to add it to my list of recipes to try to recreate soon.
The beautiful bride and I after the ceremony.
Jon and Brooke cutting the cake.
They had a small cake to cut but also served chocolate pecan pie as well as mini jars of cobbler and banana pudding made from a local baker. Oh, and vanilla ice cream. Of course I had to try one of everything! 
Overall, it was an amazing weekend full of pure joy and love. Congrats again to my gorgeous cousin, Brooke and her husband Jon.
The post Weekend Recap: Brooke + Jon’s wedding appeared first on Eating Bird Food.