The Houmas House and a Storybook Wedding

Saturday evening we attended the wedding of Toby's niece, Tabitha. The wedding was held at the Houmas House Plantation outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Words cannot describe how beautiful the gardens that surround the plantation house really are! In fact, on the way home Ricky said, "Dad, that place was so beautiful! It makes me wonder what Heaven must really be like!"

I had my camera ready for any and every photo op that came our way!!!!!! The kids really got tired of my camera after a little while! I tried to explain to them that I do not get the opportunity to take pictures of them in such beautiful surroundings often so HUMOR me! Worked for about 2 seconds!!!!!

When we arrived at the plantation, Toby was whisked away by the wedding coordinator who was looking for the preacher. We, the other 5 of us, were aloud to wander around the gardens looking for photo ops and of course beautiful flowers, water falls, fish ponds, secret gardens, and old, old oak trees that have branches that touch the ground. Even found a large, ceramic rooster in the gift shop, like I have been hunting for forever, that I am going back to get!!!!!

Now for a glimpse at the wedding from my camera's point of view............

This pagoda overlooks the gardens and is where Toby served the bride and groom communion.

This is one photo op that I didn't have to ask twice about!

They would have done anything to get up on that bridge!!!!

Since I don't post many pictures of my handsome, oldest son, I thought that I would share this one! He was the one who was the most into taking pictures!!!!!

This arch and gate reminded us so much of Greece and all the lovely gardens we saw there!

One of "those" moments with Kensli!!!! :)

A very large blooming Mimosa Tree

I haven't seen one of these trees this big since I was a kid!!!!

Exploring the plantation house.

Toby and Chris, the groom, were waiting in the house, shooting pool!

Here Comes the BRIDE!!!

To announce the start of the wedding an attendant rang a huge bell! Then, when the bride started her march the bell tolled again! You can see the bell and the attendant in the background on the left! Absolutely beautiful!!!!!

The wedding was on the front steps of the Houmas House!

A cute wedding attendee!


The wedding program.

After the ceremony, the bride and groom walked around to the back of the house to the tune of A Louisiana Saturday Night. It was so funny and appropriate, because is was definitely a warm, humid Louisiana Saturday Night.

Eventually the front door opened and there stood Tabitha and Chris welcoming us in for the reception. During pictures, the guests were treated to gumbo, bacon wrapped shrimp, tuna, and crab cakes. YUM! The kids dug right in!!!!

The Gumbo was a little spicy and Kensli decided to stick with just rice.

Finally, the pictures were over and the reception began. The bride and groom entered to the LSU Tiger's fight song! (The Tiger's won last night!)

There was all sorts of good food from duck to fried catfish. Kaitlyn was a little disappointed that there were no finger sandwiches, but she managed to find something she liked!

The kids loved watching the dancing. We didn't get to stay long, because of church this morning, but I did get a picture of the first dance!

Congratulations Tabitha and Chris!

As we left the wedding, you could here faint music from somewhere and a chorus of frogs sending us off into the night. The moon was full and shining on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River and it was a beautiful night to be alive!!!!!!