Weddingbee Blog

I was so exhausted after last weekend I couldn’t post right away, but here goes a week later. Unfortunately, it was not *my* wedding to which my activities were related. I’ve been losing momentum in that area, lately. I had two bachelorettes parties, a friend’s b-day party, and a bridal shower to attend in one weekend. How did this usually anti-social lime fit that all in? Well, here goes…

First, to Burke Williams in Pasadena for early morning spa treatments on Saturday. It was just V, the bride-to-be, and three other ladies. My massage was so-so, but this location is pretty nice overall. It got VERY crowded about midday on a Saturday, though.

[image from pasadena.com]

To continue, the ‘chain-spa’ theme, we went to Happy Nails for pedicures. Afterwards we met with bridal bachelorette wardrobe success at Paseo Colorado after the pricey but very good pedicures. Hey, we’re used to the $10-15 range pedicures in the San Gabriel Valley. At this point, the ladies went to the MOH’s place to get beautiful for a bachelorette night out. Being the cupcake fiend I am, I parted ways with them to try out Violet’s Cakes and then on home to get ready for my night out (alas, they were out of their french toast cupcakes, but I heard they make quite yummy and affordable wedding cakes as well).

Later that evening I went to a friend’s birthday celebration at C+O Trattoria, home of the “crack garlic bread.” They’re better known as garlic knots in NY, but they’re rare around these parts, and C+O’s are indeed crack to the carb-lover in me. Why mention this in a wedding blog? They have a cute courtyard that would be wonderful for a rehearsal dinner. Yes, it’s a bit kitschy, but it’s very charming, the family-style portions are huge, and they have crack in their garlic knots. If it were closer to my venue, I would consider it for a rehearsal dinner as FI and I are pretty casual, love large portions of Italian food, and love garlic and carbs.

[image from C+O Trattoria]

That night was capped off with some Boddington’s on tap and karaoke at a local-to-me bar that I never knew existed but will probably not return to. It was fun because of the company but just not my scene. If anyone needs an after-party karaoke referral on the Westside, check out BoardWalk 11. The waitstaff was super nice, the DJ was alright, and random people from the crowd can all sing (except for the crazies I was with who only *tried* to rap, of course).

The next day was J’s bridal shower brunch at Shanghai Red’s on the Marina. Honestly, I don’t usually like the food there, but the Sunday champagne brunch is worth it for the waffle station, omelette station, and free-flowing champagne. Add in perfectly clear, mid-70-degree weather and an intimate table directly waterfont, and it was perfect for her small bridal shower. Fun conversation with great company, yummy donuts snuck in (as if we needed more sweets and pastries than what was offered at the buffet), gift-opening, and NO games made for the most low-key and enjoyable bridal shower I’ve been to in awhile. It was crowded, hectic, and loud, so I wouldn’t recommend the patio for any groups larger than 8. They do, however, do weddings waterside and receptions, too.

Enough ideas for things to do and places to eat in LA all in one weeked, yet? Oh, no worries, many more are forthcoming. But first, “the grumps,” as my FI so fondly calls me, must crawl into her cave and recover from such social overload from one weekend.