We got up in the middle of the night on Wednesday (or really early Thursday morning, depending how you look at it) to make it to the airport. We were scheduled to fly from Tirana to Vienna to Chicago. Fortunately, we had a four hour layover in the Vienna airport which has couches. I took a nice long nap before boarding our flight to Chicago. We were well rested and ready to board when Mark got pulled through an extra security check. I waited at the gate for over half an hour. I wasn't panicking because there were two other people whose SOs had also been pulled for a random check. However, when both of them returned but Mark didn't I started to worry. Would they really hold the flight? Luckily for us, Mark arrived soon after and we were able to board the flight (at the time we were supposed to be taking off!) We got seats in the emergency exit row- WIN! and stretched out for the next 9 plus hours.
We arrived in Chicago about 2:30 Thursday afternoon (ahh the beauty of time zones). We had amazon primed costumes for Oktoberfest and clothes for Africa to the house so our arrival felt like Christmas morning.
We ran some errands, spent some time with family, enjoyed Mexican for dinner and Oberweis for dessert. Friday morning we got up early and made the three plus hour drive to Michigan for Mark and Nicole's wedding. Although it rained almost the entire way there we did stop for 5 Guys which was a definite win. Mark and Nicole were getting married in Marshall, MI on a farm. They had arranged for all of the wedding party to stay in the farmhouse on the grounds which was so convenient. We arrived just in time for the outdoor wedding rehearsal (it was cold and wet but that didn't stop us) and then we enjoyed a dinner of burgers and hot dogs at the farmhouse (I went 2 for 2 on hot dogs for the day and Mark went 2 for 2 on burgers 😂) After dinner we played a fun team game that put all the couples' knowledge of one another to the test. On Saturday we were up early. Since all the girls were getting their hair and makeup done I went out and picked up dress tape and Starbucks for everyone. When I got back I got to work at hanging the flower arrangements on the shepherd hooks that would be lining the aisle. It was chilly and damp but I managed to get them all done without getting too wet.
I
headed inside for a quick lunch (leftover burgers and dogs-- 3 for 3-- score!) and then got ready. Even though the clouds looked ominous the rain stayed away throughout the ceremony and the reception. The bride was absolutely gorgeous and the groom was beaming from ear to ear when she started down the aisle.
During the reception they had a dollar dance which I'd never heard of. Apparently it's a big thing in Michigan, because the entire bridal party couldn't believe I didn't know what it was. The maid of honor is in charge of collecting money on behalf of the bridge and the best man is in charge of collecting for the groom. Guests pledge "dollars" to dance with the bride or groom but only get to dance until the next person in line makes their pledge. At the end they announce who received more dollars, the bride or groom. Maybe we'll bring this Michigan tradition to Chicago for a try.
We danced away the rest of the night.
Sunday morning we helped clean up the barn and then got back on the road to Chicago (in the pouring rain) We had McDonalds (burgers again!) before heading to the airport. Although we didn't get an emergency exit row on this flight we did get an empty seat between the two of us which I was able to sleep in pretty much the whole way. Unfortunately the time zones are not in our favor on the way back to Tirana, so even though we left Sunday, we didn't arrive until late Monday afternoon. Overall, it was totally worth it and we were so happy to have been able to celebrate Mark and Nicole's special day with them. 💕
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