Jimmy and I got married on September 30, 1995. While Jimmy's family gave us generous cash gifts, which helped tremendously, we basically paid for the whole shebang ourselves. Both of my parents had passed away, and we were...old. Well, sort of old - I was 35 and he was...gasp...40. So according to Emily Post, we were on our own. While we were in no way poor, we weren't loaded either, and didn't relish the idea of going into debt before we even started our life together.
So I put out a plea to all of our friends that if anyone wanted to offer as a wedding gift some kind of service in lieu of a place setting of china, we would be very happy.
Our extremely creative friends rose to the occasion. Denise (who at the time was the Costume Designer for Melrose Place) designed and made my wedding gown, Patricia bought and arranged all the flowers, Donald was the DJ, Deasa decorated the church. And my friend Craig (the one whose dad was the voice of The Robot on Lost in Space) gave us all of his frequent flyer miles, so we could go on a honeymoon. The only stipulation was that we had to go somewhere Southwest Airlines flew.
After months of working and planning for our wedding, the insanity of the week of the event and the craziness of our big and wacky wedding, we really needed some time to relax. Some place peaceful and slow-paced, where we could relax and regroup.
So of course we chose...New Orleans!
The best way I can describe our honeymoon is...4 nights of debauchery. Honest to God. We stayed drunk for 4 full days - no small feat. And ate like pigs. Dionysus would have been proud. Because anybody who has ever visited New Orleans knows that the town is slightly evil, and extremely seductive.
"Good morning, ma'am. Would you care for a Brandy Milk Punch with your breakfast?"
"Oh, I really shouldn't...mmmm...Okay!"
Only in New Orleans does it seem appropriate, no, downright necessary to work in some kind of elaborate cocktail with every meal. Check out the "Eye Openers" menu at Brennan's - 15 different breakfast cocktails available to go along with your eggs and crepes, from a Bloody Bull to an Absinthe Frappe.
We stayed at the historic Olivier House Hotel in the French Quarter, which was very lovely and romantic.
And we did manage to do a bit of the usual touristy stuff. We visited Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo Museum, took a Mississippi Riverboat Cruise and got tarot card readings at the Bottom of the Cup Tearoom.
And of course being...us...we took our very own Streetcar Named Desire tour of The Quarter.
And of course...
But mostly, we just caroused.
We keep saying we want to go back. 10th Anniversary...didn't happen. 15th Anniversary...didn't happen. Let's cross our fingers for the 20th.
Of course, by then we'll be so damned old that we won't be able to take all that partying, and it will no doubt be a much mellower trip.
NAAAAAH!
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Please check out all of the other Spin Cycle honeymooners. Aren't they romantic...
Peg at Square Peg in a Round Hole
SuziCate at The Water Witch's Daughter
Vandy J at The Testosterone Three and Me
Michele Renee at Must Be a Full Moon
Kendra at Life in the Slow Lane
Ginny Marie at Lemon Drop Pie - NEW ON SATURDAY!!
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Next week on The Spin Cycle...
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I know...how about...
Most Embarrassing Moment.
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So you know the rules...write your incredibly humiliating and embarrassing post...let me know you did in a comment...copy and paste my extremely cool button into your HTML...come back here next Friday to see my spin...visit all the other spinners...find out what next week's spin will be.
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Great photos for a fun flashback!
Posted by: Andrea | 02/10/2012 at 04:00 AM
Sounds like you have wonderful friends and had a great honeymoon. I love NOLA but you are right the drinking is a little over the top.
Posted by: Michele | 02/10/2012 at 06:23 AM
Looks like you two had a GREAT time! I bet the first week of Oct was a perfect time for a visit. I adore brunch drinks to go with brunch and I really should indulge in that more. Bloody Mary's, yum.
Would Jimmy be mad if you maybe took a little swing to NOLA if you make it to TX this summer? I will drive there and meet you.
My post is just up. Why does it always happen where I cannot find a photo or two when I need it? I am going into the attic now to try and find some photos to add to my post.
Posted by: Michele R. | 02/10/2012 at 06:32 AM
You have such loving and generous friends!
I lived in Louisiana for 2 years and never stopped in New Orleans. Maybe someday.
Posted by: Erica@Pines Lake Redhead | 02/10/2012 at 07:14 AM
I love it!
Posted by: Sarah at 32Flavors | 02/10/2012 at 07:27 AM
Now you guys make the idea of drunken pigs sound like loads of fun! Love New Orleans...where I rode my very first street car!
Posted by: SuziCate | 02/10/2012 at 07:57 AM
Nick's been to New Orleans, but I have not yet had the pleasure. I'm not sure I could drink that much. If my own honeymoon is any indication, I would be under the table fast asleep in no time.
Posted by: VandyJ | 02/10/2012 at 08:17 AM
http://lifeintheslowlane-kendra.blogspot.com/2012/02/honeymoon-was-just-beginning.html
Sounds like an awesome trip! My spin...not as romantic or filled with debauchery!
Posted by: Kendra | 02/10/2012 at 10:28 AM
I miss you guys. And your wedding was BEAUTIFUL. {{{Hugs}}}
And I did NOT know about Craig's dad being the voice of the Robot. Squuueeee.
Posted by: Fiddledeedee | 02/10/2012 at 02:19 PM
Okay, now THAT looks like a fun honeymoon! I've only been to NOLA once, and it was when I really didn't drink.
I should try it now that I'm old and less of a fuddy-duddy...
Girls' Weekend!!!
Posted by: Aimee | 02/10/2012 at 04:32 PM
I actually have something, but queued it up to post on Monday (Since I posted today and want to spread things out a bit).
Posted by: CaJoh | 02/10/2012 at 09:27 PM
What a fun honeymoon! I've never been to NOLA! Ed has been there, but he was a chaperone for our church's youth group, so no carousing for him!
I really wanted to write about my honeymoon, so even though I'm late, I published it anyway!
http://www.lemondroppie.com/2012/02/one-wedding-two-honeymoons/
Posted by: Ginny Marie | 02/11/2012 at 06:50 AM
Oh man, I love these photos. You and Jimmy look divine.
STELLA!
Posted by: Becky | 02/12/2012 at 09:33 AM
That's awesome. What a great way to get married! I imagine if I ever get around to it, it'll be crowdsourced too...
Posted by: Keely | 02/12/2012 at 02:46 PM
I've only been through New Orleans, but have always wanted to go back. Great idea for the wedding! John and I footed the bill for most of ours and wow, it took crunching of numbers to make that happen.
We didn't even have a honeymoon, consideriing how much the wedding cost.
Posted by: Sprite's Keeper | 02/12/2012 at 06:21 PM