Waking up early isn't for me. It's just one of those things I'm really not cut out for (although I'm a little better at it than Natalie). There's just something unnatural about being awake before the sun is up. But this past weekend I had no trouble getting out of bed before dawn. There was work to be done with some really amazing people and that was motivation enough for me.
Ebony and Bryan planned their destination wedding in New Orleans very meticulously. There was a ton of thought put into each day, and they really wanted their guests to take in the city beyond just Bourbon Street. In fact, the day before the wedding they scheduled a work day at a Habitat for Humanity site in New Orleans East. To say that I was excited about this idea is an understatement. We live in a world where having a trending/viral/pinned engagement or wedding is increasingly sought after, yet Eb and Bryan wanted to take the spotlight off of themselves and use their wedding to help someone else. They had about 20 guests and family members at the site for the majority of the day, some with building experience and some who had never held a hammer. But everyone put in work and really came together for a wonderful experience. But it wasn't all work and no play. On one side of the house a group would be taking measurements and cutting siding, and on the other side people were dancing around and cracking jokes. It was a wonderful mix of play and purpose.
Overall it was a wonderful experience and one hell of a reason to wake up early. I had a blast getting to know Eb and Bryan a little better. Their friends and family are a great crew of characters, and I laughed just as much as I filmed. I even got to swing a hammer for a little bit which was a welcome change from being behind the camera or computer monitor. Huge thanks to Ebony and Brian for making this day happen!
For more information on the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity click HERE.
Big thanks to Danielle at NOLA Bash for coordinating the Habitat build as well as the rest of the wedding weekend.
Music licensed via The Music Bed.
