Something Else to Sing About!

Even though we're busy with the wedding, work duties still call . . . Good thing duties include awesome concerts like this one by Romantica at yesterday's Second Sunday Brunch in Washington Park, just a stone's throw from our house. Jessica's office of the College Hill Alliance puts on this monthly concert as part of their role in Macon's downtown development efforts. Maid of honor Sarah got this concert series going just over two years ago. Best man David helps Jessica with booking the bands and taking good care of them while they are here. Bradsmaid Brad has also helped promote the concert from the beginning. And Jamie remains the number one volunteer. If the weather yesterday was any indication, we're in for a beautiful spring.

From Macon with Love

We're some lucky people to have talented friends in this town who created this Macon music video put together by the Gateway Project to promote the city we're proud to call home. Among the great southern drawls you hear talking in the video is Father of the Bride Alan Walden and his late, great brother Phil Walden. And you'll see many of the video stars hopefully in attendance at the wedding!

Where to Stay

From the rehearsal party on Friday night (April 29) at the historic Grant's Lounge to the big day the next night at the Cox Capitol Theatre, the Walden-Weatherford wedding is a weekend affair and a good excuse to spend some time in Macon.

There are three hotels within a short distance of all of the festivities taking place in downtown Macon, all generously offering discounted rates for Walden-Weatherford wedding guests.

The 1842 Inn is walking distance to and from the Cox Capitol Theatre and Grant's Lounge. It is also a stone's throw from Jessica & Jamie's house. The Inn's normal rate is $230 per night, but the Inn is offering a special rate of $169 (+tax) per night for guests of the Walden-Weatherford wedding. Thanks to hotel manager EJ Nobles for the discount and say hello to Miss Gloria and Miss Emma who will take grand care of you.

The Hilton Garden Inn is Jessica's hotel partner in the College Hill Corridor. The hotel is located at Mercer University, and it is minutes' drive to downtown's wedding festivities. They are offering a special rate for Walden-Weatherford wedding guests at $109 (+tax) per night and have a personalized reservation page set up to make booking easy. Just click HERE. Elizabeth, Jonathan and the other great folks who Jessica loves to work with in the Corridor will make sure you have a wonderful weekend staying with them.

The Macon Marriott City Center is the newest hotel in the downtown region. They are a quick minute's drive to the wedding festivities, and it is possible to walk. They are offering a special wedding rate of $89 (+tax) per night. We love their bar (especially their blueberry mojitos!) and restaurant in their beautiful lobby and you'll get the full downtown Macon experience staying there. Click HERE to go to our personal reservation page.

We recommend making reservations soon in case the blocks fill. Please shoot us an e-mail as you make your reservations so we know where you will be staying. E-mail us both at maconcandy@gmail.com. We also hope to have information on transportation options soon.

And the Attendants Are . . .

Since this "concert with a wedding wedged in" is far from traditional, we've kept things simple on stage with us during the ceremony.

David Higdon was not only with us on our two "first dates," which included getting pedicures together, followed by a pretty awesome Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers show a few weeks later, but we've been hanging out and working on community projects like Bragg Jam and Second Sunday concerts ever since. He'll be standing in as Jamie's Best Man, even if Jessica considers him just as much one of her best men in her life, too.

Sarah Gerwig-Moore and Jessica haven't been best of friends very long, as far as longtime friend standards go, but in the few short years that they have tightly bonded, they've made up for the life they lived without each other. She's been with us from the beginning and has remained one of the best confidantes, supporter and cheerleader for both of us along the way. Jessica and Sarah are often asked if they are sisters, and they have also been easily confused as each other. Even though they are far from one of the same, they make a kick-butt team. Jessica is proud to have Sarah as her Maid of Honor.

Brooke Weatherford Kinross couldn't be a better big sister. From the early days when she would put her little brother in the car and crank up the Indigo Girls to the many concerts they attended together, Brooke showed Jamie what real music was made of and they both share an undeniable close-knit bond as brother and sister. We love having Brooke back in Macon, along with her beautiful family - husband Steve and our nephew Jackson James and niece Olive Jean. Brooke will stand by her brother on the big day.

Brad Evans was Jessica's publisher when she went to work for him and his wife with their newspaper The Eleventh Hour. At some point along the way, Brad Evans became the big brother Jessica never had. When it comes to having someone's back, Brad's got Jessica's like a grizzly bear (and Jessica has his like a mama bear). Brad is the one who told Jessica to give Jamie a chance, saying he would never suggest such a thing if he didn't think it was a good thing for her. And boy was he right. He even played wingman during the early days, when Jessica was too nervous to be around Jamie, who, as Brad so eloquently put, "Came on strong like a Wal-Greens cologne." Brad will be standing by Jessica, this time as her "Bradsmaid."

Pictured are the Maid of Honor and Best Man with Jessica and Jamie at the Eleventh Hour's "Readers' Choice Awards" in 2010.