To nearly complete our multiple mini-trips in 2017, we made our way to Atlanta this past weekend for a close friend’s wedding. Besides being in the airport for connecting flights, this was my first time to Atlanta. The southern hospitality did not disappoint!
Flight Friday Morning
Mrs. BD had spent the last 10 days in Georgia for a work event. Bachelor life was coming to an end (for the better – trust me). I was on my own to make it to Atlanta – a scary but fun feat.
On the way to the airport, my Uber Driver was quite entertaining (but not in the same way as our prior two drivers in Cincinnati) – more to come on this soon. Thankfully, traffic was light on the way to Midway Airport. The flight itself was uneventful and – surprisingly – on time.
In Atlanta, I made the mistake of walking from terminal E to terminal C instead of taking the underground train (the “Plane Train”). A sign at the airport said the underground corridors connecting the terminals are about 1,000 feet apart. I had to walk all the way to domestic baggage. If I had the time, I might have walked but didn’t want to keep my ride waiting. I jumped on the next Plane Train.
Cost = $240 for airfare (Mrs. BD’s work covered her ticket for the work event the previous weekend)
Cost = $182 for doggie hotel (the grandparents were booked this weekend)
I Really Suck At (Top) Golf
To get to the festivities about an hour away, I carpooled with two friends who flew in on a different flight. After arriving in town, we dropped our friend’s wife with the group of other ladies for tea and lunch. I missed Mrs. BD by about 10 minutes (boo; no really, I missed her).
My friend and I met up with the groom and other family members / friends who were already at Top Golf. Disclaimer: I’m not a particular fan of watching or playing golf, but I do find it enjoyable in the limited, infrequent times that I do go. And my skill (or lack thereof) for golf is far less than my mild enthusiasm for it. But who cares? We were there for the groom, and we all had a good time.
I even managed to score a few points. Although, I looked like I was swinging a baseball bat and managed to whiff out quite a few times. Let’s just say I could use some extensive lessons and practice. My friends fared much better.
Cost = $7 for a Guinness (Lunch was included and covered by our gracious hosts)
We finished the afternoon and met up with the ladies and some other friends at Jekyll Brewing. Similar to a number of other local breweries we’ve visited in a few different states, the brewery didn’t serve food. But you could bring or order in food from other places.
Cost = $15 for a couple drinks
Friday Night Fun: Frozen and BBQ
There was a separate, official rehearsal dinner. But the Bride and Groom also had a dinner for the other guests! We only had to get to another hotel for dinner. Should have been easy, right?
Except one issue: we went to the wrong hotel. After piling 10 “adults” into the back of one couple’s minivan, we made our way to the correct hotel (the OTHER Hilton in town). It was okay though; we got to watch Frozen in the van.
Our friends brought in local BBQ, which was quite good. The alcohol was complimentary of one of the bride’s close family friends. A nice mini bar with a variety of liquor, beer and wine. And then it was 9:00, and we called it an early night.
Saturday Shenanigans
Saturday began with a complimentary breakfast buffet at the hotel. A nice spread of eggs, bacon, fruits, bagels, and other items. Mrs. BD ended up grabbing coffee out with our friends from Cincinnati, Ohio(!!); I dined with two other friends from college.
Cost = $15 (I forget my meal card in the room, but they comped our room the price of the meal AND gave us 2 free breakfasts the next day, too).
While Mrs. BD and the other ladies left to get their hair done, the guys headed to Gate City Brewery. Try the Half Gallon (no, not drinking a half gallon) milk stout. It was a very good beer.
Cost = $10 for a pint and a half pint.
Taco Tuesday Moves to Saturday (Again!)
I guess beer and tacos just pair well together. Like wine and cheese. Or peanut butter and jelly. And Gardettos and Bagel Bites (dont’t ask). So we found a taco place a few buildings down. Ceviche Taqueria in Roswell had some great food and a fun atmosphere.
Cost = $20 for a Corona Lite, 3 beef tacos with rice and beans (chips and salsa for the table included).
By the time we finished lunch, the ladies had already made their way over to the brewery. We headed back and met them. The place was packed though, and I’d forgotten where we were: Georgia. The University of Georgia Bulldog football team was playing against the University of Florida Gators.
After a couple of rounds, we grabbed an Uber and headed back to the hotel. Our Uber driver was polite but a bit odd; we got in the car and the first thing the driver said: “sorry, I had toilet paper on me.” A minute later, the driver then snorted and shot snot into a wad of toilet paper and pressed the paper around the mouth and nose…(WTH?!).
Cost = $25 for drinks and the Uber
Saturday Night Celebration: Why We Came
Back at the hotel, we had about an hour to change and get on the shuttle to the wedding. Despite the rain, we made it on time with no issues.
Ivy Hall at the Roswell Mill, the wedding venue, was beautiful. While quick, our friend’s had a very nice ceremony; they also had their dog in the wedding. I wish we thought of that when Mrs. BD and I got married. Throughout the ceremony, Mrs. BD also glanced at me to say “you’re crying.” Yes, I was. She then teased me.
Cocktail hour followed. Drinking beer for the last 24 hours, I opted for vodka sodas. I don’t drink as many and also don’t feel as full vs. when drinking beer. In between dancing and dinner, I also got to rock out with our friends’ almost 3-month-old daughter; I was kind of a boring dance partner though…she just slept when I rocked her back and forth in her stroller. But remember: every day is arm day!, so I at least got a few reps in.
After some burpees on the dance floor, Thunderstruck by AC/DC, and a few other details I won’t elaborate on, the night ended with a brief stop and hangout in our friends’ hotel room. We passed out fairly quickly after having a fun evening.
Sunday Morning
We had breakfast again with 2 of our friends after saying goodbye to most of the group. Some people had very early flights; we booked a 3:00 pm flight. We also carpooled with one of our friends back to the airport.
Cost = $354 for hotel
Looking Back and – More Importantly – Ahead
Our fourth and last wedding of the year, we were thankful for being able to visit and have the opportunities to spend time with close family and friends. Mrs. BD said it best: “It was so great to see everyone; exhausting but fun.” We wish we got to do it more often (with or without a wedding).
We also learned to remember the importance of moderation. Overall, it’s essential to continue to find our balance.
Up next, our last planned mini-trip for the year: we’ll be spending Thanksgiving in Columbus, O.H.I.O! with Mrs. BD’s parents. They’re always a lot of fun and the food is good (even when they try and make fancy Food Network-inspired dishes). And the pumpkin cookies.
Readers, have you taken any trips lately? How do you like to travel? Or how do you relax?
Related:
7 Nights, 8 Days: 33 is the New 5 & 1/2
Nasty Nati: $2.50 Tacos & $77 Ubers
How Do You Vacation: $800 in 48 hours or $1500 in 192?
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Wow those are some great pictures! Tacos and beer is such a great combo. Sounds like you had a great time 🙂 What kind of dog do you have? I just recently tried “Rover” to book for my dog (it’s kind of like Airbnb for dogs). I would book a dog hotel but they are pretty strict with vaccinations (my dog had a reaction to the Rabies vaccine so his vaccines are not up to date).
Thanks for the comment. We did have a lot of fun 🙂 especially with beer and tacos.
We have a mini-dachshund named Stella (actually working on a post about her and pet insurance). We’ll have to checkout Rover – actually never came across it yet. Our family usually watches our dog, and agreed – the formal hotels / boarding places are very strict.