Hackler | Don't Blink

Three weeks ago I noted that I was writing my last Thursday Rundown as a bachelor. Well today I get to write my first Thursday Rundown as a married man. However, tonight’s rundown is a bit different. This evening I will be touching on five topics/events related to my wedding week that I didn’t write about for feature posts. Here we go…

Golf With Dad and Brother – A big reason why I took up golf so fervently over the past several months was because I wanted to play with my family when they came to Myrtle Beach for the wedding. On the Tuesday before the big day, I took Glen and my dad to Coastal Carolina University. We looked around campus and then I took them to our institution’s golf course, Hackler. We played nine holes on a gorgeous late afternoon. It was so nice hitting the links with them and showing off my game. I had a fabulous time…even if my brother won.

Hanging out on the golf course.

Charleston Trip – On that Wednesday, I got to take my family to an historic Southern city. Early in the morning we departed Myrtle Beach for Charleston so we could pick up my brother’s girlfriend, Ashley, from the airport. Once we arrived and got Ashley in the car, we headed to downtown Charleston. It was a hot day but we got some sightseeing in. We looked through the art in the park, toured a church, and shopped at the market. We couldn’t spend too much time in Charleston so after we ate lunch we headed back to Myrtle Beach. I know my family enjoyed exploring a new city.

Look closely and you can see my dad. It was a hot day in Charleston!

Bachelor Party! – I wanted a low key, relaxing bachelor party. Thankfully, my father-in-law was more than happy to help out. On Thursday, after all my groomsmen had arrived, we went cruising on the Intracoastal Waterway. Mr. Sid was gracious enough to take us all out on his boat. As the sun beat down on us, he took us up and down the unique body of water as we enjoyed some adult refreshments. We made a stop at the Boathouse for lunch, a popular restaurant right on the water. We ate, drank, and played corn hole. We arrived back on solid ground in plenty of time for that night’s festivities.

I got exactly what I wanted out of my bachelor party.

Wedding Weekend Kickoff BBQ – When I said we finished the bachelor party in plenty of time for “that night’s festivities” I was speaking of the BBQ held a few hours later. Sidney’s sisters organized an opportunity for the two families to get together right before the big wedding weekend was set to start. The party was held at the brand new house of Sidney’s sister, Steph. The function started with a professional photographer on hand to take family portraits. After the photo ops, everyone moved to Steph’s living room/kitchen and backyard. It was a fun and chill evening as the two families got to know one another. On the menu was my all-time favorite Southern dish, chicken bog! My west coast family and friends now like it as much as I do. My dad was impressed and humbled that Sidney’s family had stocked one of the coolers with PBR bottles, his favorite.

At the BBQ, us groomsmen put on the shirts that my brother had made.

The Proposal – What an awful person I would be if I didn’t mention the moment that set all the other events above in motion. A year ago on this date, I asked Sidney to marry me on the MarshWalk in Murrells Inlet. She said yes, thus starting a wonderful engagement that has led to our marriage. As Sidney and I lay in bed tonight we will no doubt think back to that special evening 12 months ago.