Sunday, September 19, 2010

Interlude: 48-Hour Kelowna Adventure.

One of Nat's best friends/groomsmen got married last weekend in Kelowna, British Colombia. For those of you unfamiliar with Canadian geography, British Colombia is the most western province in the country. And flying from Toronto with a layover in Vancouver, takes about 8 hours to get to. So minus 16 hours of travel time from the 48 hour trip, we only had 32 hours to make the most of it.

And I think we did a pretty good job of that.

Since I've managed to lose three cameras in just as many years (one was nicked out of my purse at London Bridge Station so totally not my fault), I caved and bought a shiny new Canon Powershot to celebrate the trip. I can now post pictures again! Huzzah! Fingers crossed this one stays put.

So now, please enjoy the beautiful vistas and pure emotion from Huw & Kathryn's west coast wedding.


Working, working, working away.


The beautiful view from the Star Alliance Members Lounge, while laying over in Vancouver.


Erm...yes, this is the cuisine we were offered in the lounge.
...at least it was free!


About to board the teeeeeeeny, tiny plane that will take us to Kelowna.
Sugar rush is in order.


A rare shot of Nat actually looking and smiling at the camera.
So dreamy :)


The teeeeeny tiny terrifying plane.


Don't you ever wonder, "Gee! I wonder what's in a Vanity Kit.."?


TA-DAAAAA!!
2 cotton balls and an ear bud!
SO vain.


I may or may not have inserted the cotton swab into my ear canal...
...but only out of spite.


Dreaming of mountain living.


Our hotel....AND Liquor Store!
All jokes aside, some incredible British Colombia wines were purchased in El Liquor Store.


The Groom-to-be, enjoying a pre-wedding bloody caesar.
They used steak spice rub as the rim on the glass.
Uncomfortably delicious.


A local, and total "d"-bag driving his annoyingly, angrily loud boat in circles near the patio we were sitting on.
The boat is called, "Wicked, Wet & Wild".
Total "d"-bag.


YUMMY TURKEY SLIDERS!!!


Such a lovely picture, aside from the cheap thumbs-up.
Behind us is the view we had during the ceremony.


J.O. & L.O.
All of the ladies were encouraged to wear a dressy hat to the ceremony.
Sadly, I did not get that memo :(


Carrie & Couch: Hipster Wedding Go-ers.


Chris & Kristi, showing off another cute hat!



Nat & Japan Dan.
Handsomest of the Handsome.


The winery was selling these empty barrels for $40.
I wanted one so bad, but ultimately figured the shipping cost would greatly outweigh the spontaneous purchase of a cheap wine barrel.


The bride, in Vera Wang.




You seriously can't beat that view.


Getting a bit misty there, Nat??


Seriously wicked arty shot.


Mr. & Mrs. Huw Evans!



Emily and Carrie. Bringing the "hot" to cocktail hour.



More cheap thumbs up with me and Naomi.




The view up the hill at the winery.
Nat swears he saw a cougar lurking....


I ate one of these grapes hoping it would taste like wine...
...it tasted like a grape.


This Jaguar belonged to the bride's father.
Nat and Mike drooled over it while we waited for the taxi.


Mike equating the front of the car to breasts.


...I can see it.

Now, according to legend, there is a lake monster living in Okanagan Lake called Ogopogo.
There have been sightings of him since the late 19th century, and the town of Kelowna decided to immortalize it by slapping a stencil of it on the side of taxis.




I like the pictures I found on Google images better:



...although I doubt the authenticity of the last two, the first one looks a little weird...


On the way to the reception in an Ogopogo Cab.


Mike enjoying the front seat company of the driver.


Gorgeous view from the golf club where the reception was held.




TABLE 9!! WOOT!!


Showcasing the selection of beverages after consuming more than a few of said beverages.






Emily and Ryan (a.k.a. McLovin'), Nat's Best Man.


It's official. I am a cow.


Mmmmm....cow......


Over exposure + sepia tone = no need for airbrushing or Botox.



This picture sums up how I felt for the rest of the night: Blurry.





That be spun sugar on his head.



Hilarity ensued!!






J.O. & L.O.
Cutest of the cute!


I kept telling Emily that the beer label matched her dress. I just had to capture it on camera!!





Oh dear.....


Aaaaaand, that's all she wrote, folks.


Ryan takes the lead on the drums!
Fact: Ryan was the drummer and Nat was the bassist for The Salingers.
Dreamy :)






The next morning, steak spice bloody caesars were most definitely in order.


That be BACON on my turkey burger.
I love Kelowna.