Charleston SC for Lori and Scott's Wedding

We went down to Charleston SC for cousin Lori and Scott's wedding.  We drove out from DC very early Thursday morning.  "Grandma Woods" flew down from NH and we picked her up in Raleigh on our way down.  It worked out best to pick her up there since she didn't get off work in NH until 7am and it was cheaper to fly to Raleigh than Charleston.  Since we were headed that way we just picked her up on her way down and got to see our old house and eat at our favorite sushi place there that we miss.

We arrived Thursday night and checked into our condo near the beach.  On Friday morning we went for a quick jog along the beach and then we all ate breakfast at a great place near our condo called Sea Biscuit Cafe.  In fact, we ate there every morning because it was so good!

Then we hit the beach for a while since it was so nice out.  The water was perfect for Avery, the beach had a very shallow slope to it with very small waves so Avery could walk out a long way comfortably.

Here is Avery with "sharkie"

Then we had lunch near the water at Vickery's with cousins Charline

And Christine

And a lot of other Woods' family

Then Friday night we went different ways.  Colleen went out with the girls for a bachelorette party

And Jim went out sailng with the guys.  Scott is a crew member on a sail boat and the owner/captain took everyone out on it.   It was a nice 42' boat. 

Jim learned a lot about sailing, got to hoist sails, and even take the helm

It was a great relaxing evening sailng around the harbor

And then pulling the boat into a dock and ate dinner

On Saturday went to the beach again and Avery had fun again, here she is flying like an airplane

And playing in the warm ocean water, the water was about 80 degrees, not bad for Oct 1

After that we headed into the City and went to the SC Aquarium

Avery loved seeing a fish up close, they actually stayed like this for a few minutes:

And waving saying "hi sharkie!!!"

She got to play at the puppet show

And even watch momma feed a ray

Then we went to the rehersal.  Avery practiced with the other two flower girls who she really loved.  She kept calling them her friends and they showed her what to do!

Then we got a few family pics

and headed to the rehersal dinner which was at the beach house the groom and friends rented.  Here are the bridge and groom with the delicious sailing cake:

 Colleen and Christine:

 After eating cake Avery relaxed by watching some videos on daddy's phone:

Sunday we got up and did our long run together along the beach.  Then we headed into the city and after lunch at Mellow Mushroom pizza we walked and strolled around downtown Charleston

The wedding was Sunday night at a great venue by the harbor called Alhambra Hall.  The ceremony was outdoor, but before it started Avery got ready and played with the other flower girls

Here is Jim with Greg, the father of the bride:

Here are a few more family pics before the wedding:

Here are the girls ready to go down the aisle

The first two went down the aisle with their pails of bird seed...

 While Avery just wandered around spreading bird seed from her bucket!  After Jim tried to corral her down the aisle she got halfway down and looked around for him and just stopped and said "Daddy...where are you?"

 

Eventually she made it down the aisle after everyone got a good chuckle!

Here are the bridesmaid sisters Charline

And Christine the maide of honor

Here are a few shots from the wedding and afterwards with family.

 

Before the reception started they had an outdoor cocktail hour, complete with croquet!

 During the reception Avery got a great photo with the bride:

 Here is the maid of honor toast at the cake:

And the father of the bride toasting:

And Avery had a blast dancing, the camera couldn't keep up with her!

We drove back up Monday and unfortunately Avery got a stomach bug and kept throwing up, once in the car, once at a rest stop in Virginia, but she was a trooper and we eventually made it back!