Seersucker, or our Southern Roadtrip

Monday, June 24, 2013


We're back–and after a week playing catch up, so is A Crimson Kiss! I've missed you all, and can't wait to share the story of our Southern roadtrip–it was such a wonderful adventure!


We flew into Atlanta, picked up our rental car and headed East toward the beach–making a stop in Macon, GA for a late lunch. We drove into Savannah just before sunset and after checking into our balcony room at The Marshall House, explored the North Historic District. We spent the next two days wandering Savannah's squares, sipping sweet tea, reading "The Book" and even stumbling on Georgia's best cocktail bar for juleps–by the time we waved goodbye to Savannah, John was completely in love (and I was pretty smitten, too!).

We took low country back roads from Savannah to Charleston, and after all that city living, we were utterly charmed by Middleton Place, America's oldest landscaped gardens. John and I hardly left the plantation–between kayaking on the Ashley River, outdoor yoga, long walks and Middleton Place's fabulous restaurant, there was so much to do! We were curled up each night by the time the thunderstorm rolled in, and couldn't believe how much we'd missed East Coast summers.

We faced a seven hour drive from Charleston to the Outer Banks, so we loaded up the car early and hit the road. We stopped in Fayetteville for lunch, halfway to OBX–and stumbled on some of the best Greek food I've ever had! John made terrific time to Nags Head, and we got to our beachside inn with plenty of time for a dip in the Atlantic before dinner–what a relief that it turns out we're terrific car traveling companions! We spent the next day coated in SPF 100, and after a full day at the beach, indulged in tacos and my favorite East Coast treat–frozen custard. We got one more incredible summer storm at the beach before our drive to Virginia the next day–and spent the whole weekend praising the cooler weather it brought!

We got to Richmond just in time for the wedding rehearsal, and it was such fun to meet my dear friend's family and close friends that night. We spent Saturday morning in hair and nail appointments, then made our way to Cara and Nick's gorgeous venue for the main event! She was radiant as she walked down the aisle to strains of John's guitar, but it was their wedding vows that had me (and everyone else) sniffling. After the most beautiful ceremony I'd ever heard, it was time to celebrate with glasses of bubbly, a phenomenal dinner, and plenty of dancing–although you would have found John and I outside laughing up a storm with the man of honor and his partner. It wasn't easy to say goodbye to our friends or the East Coast, but before our flight, we made one last stop–John's dad's childhood home. It was the perfect way to end a wonderful trip, and when we landed in San Francisco late Sunday night, I was so thankful for the restorative week away.


Tell me, what have you been up to these last two weeks? I want to hear all about your summer reads, vacation plans and what you're doing with all these extra hours of sunshine!

Image by Jose Villa, bouquet by Flowerwild, styling by Lisa Vorce for Southern Weddings Magazine.

16 comments:

  1. Oh man this really makes me want to visit the south. Always a destination I've wanted to go!

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  2. I really want to go to Charleston - everyone is always RAVING about it! Glad you had such a great time!

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  3. I'm so glad you had such a wonderful trip! It all sounds perfect. I can't wait to go back to Charleston and hopefully sneak in a trip to Savannah as well. Both are such heavenly places. Welcome home!!

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  4. Yaaaay, you're back! So thrilled you had such a wonderful Southern road trip--it sounds perfect! That seersucker-wrapped bouquet is one of my Southern Weddings favorites, and I can't wait to see what other seersucker prettiness you have coming up this week :) In the last two weeks, I've flown to my soon-to-be home, found an apartment, packed up my car, and drove with my family to Tybee Island, GA, where we're now spending the week before I continue up the coast to move in :)

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  5. your adventure sounds amazing! now I'm daydreaming about taking my own roadtrip. welcome back :)

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  6. I want to visit North Carolina so bad!!!! It just sounds so charming and lovely. So glad you are back and safe. Happy week to you!

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  7. Lena, it is my luck that when someone totally awesome like you stops in Fayetteville, I no longer live there! Sounds like you had a lovely trip.

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  8. this makes me miss my nashville southern roots. :)

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  9. So happy to hear you two had a blast!!!!! Have a wonderful week ;)

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  10. Yay so happy you're back and it's great to hear that you had a wonderful time!

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  11. Welcome home! Now I'm wishing for return trips to Charleston & Outer Banks. Have a great week~

    always, koru kate

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  12. Welcome back! Your trip sounds wonderful and relaxing!

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  13. So glad you're back!! It sounds like your had an amazing trip! (and OMG the custard... why do we not have custard on the west coast, I can't figure it out?!)

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  14. What an amazing trip! You've also reminded me that I need to get some frozen custard soon :-)

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  15. Ah, this sounds like it was an awesome trip! I so want to go Charleston. I've been itching to go for years.

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  16. Your road trip sounds like such a blast! So happy you got to visit the East Coast! :)

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A Crimson Kiss – Timeless Events and Classic Cocktails by Ana Degenaar : Blogger