Jessica and David's Rehearsal Dinner

On Friday afternoon, I hitched a ride to the city with Jessie's cousin and maid of honor Danielle. We promptly checked into the Intercontinental and got ready for the rehearsal. 

I had a Hollywood slow motion reunion when I ran into Jessie's parents and then Jess in the lobby. I was so happy to see them. 

We got ready for the evening, and then we met in the room where they were going to have the wedding the next day. We ran through the rehearsal very easily (with the help of the wedding planner), and then we walked to dinner at Joe's Stone Crab. 

*It's an American culture to hold a dinner after the rehearsal for the bride and groom's immediate families, wedding parties, close friends and out of town guests. I'm only saying this because Aussies give me a blank look when I talk about rehearsal dinners.*

For the dinner, we were in a party room in the back. Joe's must be a very popular place, because we had a lot of trouble getting to the back of the restaurant. There were so many people in there!

It was a pretty formal dinner. There were passed appetizers and drinks, and we were all assigned to tables. There was also a menu for the event, which I always love. 

The salad was to die for. It was so tasty and simple. It was also lightly tossed in a vinaigrette, which is the only way I like my dressing. 

After we gave our orders for our main course and dessert, most of the bridesmaids and groomsmen gave speeches. I wrote a long-ish speech for Jessie and David. It was about two minutes in total, but I wish I had made it shorter. People were talking the whole time, and I don't think a lot of people would have understood the jokes. It was hysterical for me and Jess and anybody who went to college with us, so I guess that was the important part. It's hard to get people to listen to speeches during events like this, anyway. 

Creamed spinach and potatoes came out with our meals. I only had the potatoes, but they were superb. 

I ordered the filet mignon, and I actually cleared my plate. That never happens with me and red meat. They went so well with the potatoes. 

Dessert came out as the speeches came to a close (Jessie's brother made her cry, because his speech was so sweet). This peanut butter pie was one of the best desserts I have ever had in my life. It was a chocolate crust with a light and fluffy peanut butter filling and chocolate sauce on the side. Oh my goodness, it was good. 

I'm glad that the camera could at least do me the courtesy of capturing the texture of the pie. 

After dinner, a few of the girls went back to the bridal suite (or bridal HOUSE) in the hotel with Jessie. We hung out until she wanted to go to bed. I shared a separate room with some other girls in another tower of the hotel in a completely different elevator bank (it got annoying at times), but I slept very well. It was also good to have some bonding time with the bridesmaids I didn't know as well. 

The wedding day recap is coming up next!