We’re back!

The wedding was simply lovely and was held on a beautifully breezy afternoon in Dubuque, Iowa.

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The cathedral where the ceremony was held was absolutely gorgeous!

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I love how ornate Catholic churches are.

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I always feel like I’ve stepped back in time, and into Europe, when I’m in one!

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After the ceremony, the wedding party headed out on a trolley to cruise around town,

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while the guests headed to cocktail hour at the Grand River Center.

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It’s a fairly new complex and is situated right on the banks of the Mississippi river – which lends some gorgeous views!

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It was slightly rainy in the morning, but a bride couldn’t have wished for a more picturesque afternoon. :)

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The couple’s colors were black and white – very chic.

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We arrived right at the beginning of cocktail hour, natch, snagged a table right in the middle of the action,

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and had a little fun. ;)

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Cocktails too – I chose Sangria. What a fun idea to include on the menu!

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While we sipped, we snacked on mixed nuts at the table,

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some finger food,

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and awesome hot apps that were being passed out. Gyoza’s? Yes please!

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Soon the wedding party arrived and we took our seats to begin the fun.

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After a luscious dinner of reisling marinated chicken – it was TIME FOR CAKE!!!

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Both bride and groom were well behaved and there was no cake smashing to be had. Has anyone ever seen cake/face smashing at a wedding in person? All I know is, I told Ben that he would have a VERY unhappy bride on his hands if he smashed cake in my face at our wedding. Thankfully, he knew what was good for him, and refrained!

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They had four different kinds of cake to choose from, but I had my eye on one in particular.

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Strawberry filled white cake, anyone?! Light, sweet and refreshing – top notch.

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My husband unhinged his jaw and inhaled his piece. Why wouldn’t he? ;) Seriously, it was on a dare and was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Oh wedding shenanigans!

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Oh, I thought this was so cool – they also had chocolate covered fortune cookies!!! How clever/cute!

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Mine ripped in half. :(

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There we go! Good fortune. :)

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The evening was too gorgeous to stay indoors all night, so a bunch of us headed outside to sit by the river and enjoy each other’s company for awhile.

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The groom is a friend from high school, so it was fun to catch up with some old classmates that were there too. :)

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Romance was in the air.

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Drinks, too!

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I paid my duties as beer wench a couple times. ;)

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The good times rolled well into the night and concluded with some furious cutting of scotcharoos. Totally normal. ;)

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Congrats Katie & Dan!!!!

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