Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties

So, Dusty and I both had our "last hurrah's" this past weekend - I went to ATL with the girls and Dusty went to Tunica, Mississippi with the boys. Of course, the boys didn't take ONE picture, so we'll just have to be creative and picture them surrounding the black jack table, drinking for free, and spending/losing their money. :) This is where they stayed - http://www.goldstrikemississippi.com/. Dusty's weekend was pretty low key - in fact, he and Herman said to each other at one point (after getting calls from myself and Rebecca, Herman's wife) "This is crazy - the girls are acting like fools and wasted while we're just sitting here in the room hanging out and talking - what's wrong with this?" Dusty went with Herman Van Den Berg (his best man, friend from college), Garret Pair (our usher, friend from college), Steven Wheeler (friend he met through Herman), and Willem Van Den Berg (Herman's brother) - it was a great group and they had a blast!

Now, for the Bachelorette weekend - where the real fun happened. :) We had an AMAZING time. Amy and I drove down to Atlanta on Friday night and got there around 11:30 PM. We then met Chase and Kristin (friends from college) at Front Page News on Crescent Street in Midtown Atlanta. When we got back to the Hyatt that night, my passenger side window would not go up, so the next morning we had to locate a Nissan dealership. When we got to the dealership, we noticed a large nail in the side wall of my back tire - which is not fixable. So, I had to leave my car at the dealership to have a new tire put on, the window fixed, and I threw in an oil change while they were at it!

Kristin and Chase picked Amy and me up there, and they got us to the W JUST in time for our appointments at the Bliss Spa - AHHHHHMAAAZING! I had the Dew Diligence facial (which was half facial/half massage) and Amy had a Double Choc pedicure - a pedicure in a chocolate milk concoction served with a bowl of chocolate ice cream and a brownie - I think we were in Heaven...

Once we were done spa-ing, my friend Katherine had gotten in on her flight from Roanoke - it was so good to see her since she's not going to be able to make it to the wedding (she's starting PA school this year!!).

We then just hung around this amazing hotel - the W Midtown Atlanta - around the pool, lobby, etc. - check it out! http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3131

Once everyone got there, we got ready and went to Shout! A trendy restaurant within walking distance of our hotel. Amy had gotten there early and decorated the table - she had a black runner down the center of the table, three vases of light and dark pink roses, pink and black polka-dotted ribbon around the black napkins, rose petals on the table, and favors for everyone! A hand-decorated wine glass with pink and black polka dots, a black swirl down the stem, and on the bottom she had painted it black and then wrote "Rebecca's Bachelorette Weekend, 8.16.08, ATL, GA" - she did such an amazing job and made this weekend SO SPECIAL for me! Thank you, Amy!!

After I had two watermelon martinis, a shot of some apple liquor, and two glasses of champagne, we headed to Shout's upstairs - an outdoor posh bar. After a few drinks there, we made our way to Opera - a 40,000 square foot dance club/bar. We had a great time there, except it was super hot with all the people in there. We danced and I took pics with several other bachelorettes....the rest of the night is a blur....

All-in-all it was a FABULOUS weekend! And thank you so much to all of you who made the long trip! It is VERY appreciated and wouldn't have been the same without you! I love you all!!

Here are the girls that made it, and where they traveled from:
Amy Simpson (maid of honor, friend from college - came from Columbia, TN)
Chase Buczek (friend from college - came from Greenwich, CT)
Danielle Mercer (friend from Nashville - came from Hendersonville, TN)
Emily Lawman (friend from Nashville - came from Murfreesboro, TN)
Jenni Essary (friend from Nashville - came from Nashville, TN)
Katherine Min (friend from college - came from Roanoke, VA)
Kristin Flora (friend & roommate from college - came from Roanoke, VA)
Rebecca Van Den Berg (Herman's wife, good friend in Nashville - came from Nashville, TN)
Suzanne Morris (friend from Nashville - came from Nashville, TN)

Pictures will be posted later this evening!!