Two weeks ago, Scott and I were in VEGAS, BABY for Maria’s wedding! We took a 5:30 am flight. From Philadelphia. We left our house at 3:00 am. I couldn’t talk about it leading up to it. My father-in-law is an eminently helpful individual and would bring it up to talk through the logistics and details. Scott would just nod, “Yes, that’s right, 5:30. Yep, from Philly. Yes, we figured out the parking.” I would just walk in the other direction. Not trying to be rude, but it was just my coping mechanism with that hour of the morning! Here I am on flight #2, post-make up-application.
The flight into Vegas was a PARTY!
We stayed at The Venetian and after checking in, headed straight to the pool party at TAO. This is so far from my realm of comfort.
But it was a great way to get the wedding guests together in a Vegas atmosphere before everything started.
We roomed with our new friends, Allie and Todd. Allie is a fellow bridesmaid (thats how we met) and fellow Hokie. She lives in the next town (coincidence!) and we decided we must be travel partners throughout all the Miami and Vegas travel for the wedding.
We introduced the husbands once before spending 3 nights in one room together. It went well, but we couldn’t predict just how smashingly they ended up getting along. Todd came into the room and casually said, “I brought American Flag bandanas.” The room went dead silent. And that was when I knew, everything was going to be just fine.
After a 2:30 am wake up call and an afternoon in the sun with cocktails, all we could manage for dinner was burgers. They were amazing – definitely try I Heart Burgers if you can. They also had great orange crushes/margaritas. Cause it’s Vegas. This is a Seoul burger (with Kimchi and a fried egg).
And then we went to bed at 8:30. 
The next day was nails and rehearsing for the girls and golf, gambling and celebrity-sighting for the boys. Isn’t the day before your wedding such a surreal time? It was fun to spend some quick quiet time with Maria.
Josh came in during our photo shoot and well, grooms need love, too.
The fabulous foursome snuck in a little time at the sports bar in the casino. Did I mention that the Kentucky Derby AND the Mayweather fight were both that weekend? In the biggest gambling city in the world?
It was a show.
The girls were so busy with wedding stuff, that we barely got any Vegas time. So we really enjoyed our stroll to and from the rehearsal dinner down the strip.
The desert sunset was just beautiful. And Las Vegas is really just a playground for adults.
This is becoming gratuitous, but humor me. We were dressed up and had places to go!
Oh my word, the Bellagio fountains! I was in love. We stayed for 3 shows. 
Hats off to the designers/choreographers. 
They had classic Vegas-Sinatra, Big Band and the Grand Finale was Whitney Houston singing the National Anthem. We loved it and talked about it for the rest of the weekend. There may have been fountain-inspired dance moves at the wedding… 
Now! The reason for the weekend! Would you just LOOK at that champagne and blush perfection?
Our bridesmaid gift was this adorable PJ set.
I love it and can see no reason to not always have adorable sleeping outfits. 
Here is our beautiful bride! We had a nice, leisurely time getting ready. And in true Maria and Rebecca fashion, the two of us wound up hidden from the make up artists fixing our make up, while having a giggle fit. Don’t stand between us and eyeliner and bronzer, mmkay?
Maria was a beautiful bride, inside and out. I can’t say enough. My iPhone photos don’t do it justice.
The day was just perfect, as was the venue.
These handsome gents were there waiting for us. We couldn’t have asked for a better support team.
The beautiful bride. (She had a GoPro in her bouquet – brilliant!)
It was a very emotional, beautiful ceremony. As you can tell by the bridesmaid caught mid-tear brush (that would be moi). 
I always try to soak up the messages at weddings, because it makes you treasure your own marriage.
Speaking of marriage – I wore my wedding shoes again and it was GLORIOUS. 
BFFs.
I promise, we talked to other people! There were some dear lifelong friends there and I soaked up every minute of it.
Patrick is the closest thing to a brother I had growing up. It warms my heart that we are such good friends with each other’s spouses. Jenny and I talked throughout the whole dang dinner. And forget about small talk, this was heart-spilling stuff. And Patrick basically tackled Scott when ‘Enter Sandman’ was played at the end of the night. My heart could explode from the happiness. 
Why didn’t I play Enter Sandman at my wedding? Can I even call myself a Hokie?
Maria had some lovely details. 
I can’t get over the cocktail napkins…Maria loves Josh more. Are you serious right now with the cuteness!?
Dear friends, old and new.
The cool thing about sharing a middle school & high school with Maria? Getting to reconnect with your best friend from 7th grade. And marveling that she married a kid you met in kindergarten. And remembering why you got along so well all those years ago. Hi Thanh and Randy!
Basically, what I’m trying to say is that we had a good time, to put it mildly.
The Strip by night. 
It was a wonderful wedding and I’m glad to have shared in Maria and Josh’s special day.
Best wishes, y’all! LOVE you!
The Fitzgeralds 