We travel for a lot of reasons. And it’s not always for vacation and tourism. Sometimes it’s business. Sometimes it’s to spend holidays with family or quality time with friends who live in far off cities. I would estimate that more than half of my travel is for the final category–family and friends. After all, as fun as it is discovering what this world has to offer, it’s even more important to stay connected with the ones you love.
There’s nothing like a special friend’s momentous life occasion to get plane tickets booked and bags packed. I attended a wedding in Tampa this weekend and was honored to be apart of the groom’s party. Yes, the groom’s party! My best bud from Key West Stephen married his beautiful bride Krissy this weekend, and I took my usual place as one of the boys and as an honorary “groomsman.”
I can’t say that my three night stay in Tampa gave me much insight into what the city is really like. Well, I guess I did get a taste of the nightlife with the bachelor party, but I’ll stick with the old wisdom of “what happens at the bachelor party, stays at the bachelor party.” Most of my time was spent with the wedding party and guests doing official “wedding business.” I mostly enjoyed an idyllic green backyard in the suburb of Lutz decorated in yellow flowers with a giant barbecue smoker and a dance floor under a tent with lots of old friends.
Here’s a few pix from this picture perfect wedding that Stephen described as a “backyard country barbecue” and that I thought totally encapsulated this wonderful couple.
The ceremony. Photo via Demian Harris
Lady’s Woman. Photo via Lara Shepard
Groomsmen. Photo via Samantha Mary
The beautiful bride & groom
It looks like wedding duties will have me in action once a month now through at least September. Next up is my best friend’s bridal shower in Pittsburgh. It seems like weddings and engagements come in waves and this year is a pretty big one for my friends. What about you? Will you be attending a lot of weddings this summer?
