As I finalize everything before hitting the road later this week, I'm also thinking back to a few short weekends ago when we traveled down the coast to Ragged Point for my little brother's wedding. It was beautiful on all accounts and, having never seen the Big Sur coastline as a native Californian, I knew it was the perfect weekend away before I head out to see the rest of the country.

I'm sharing just a few snaps from the trip, mainly so that I can look back from my hotel room in South Dakota and remember why California is such a special place.

And in case you were wondering, we left photos of the actual wedding up to the professionals. That said, if my bother's permanent smile was any indication, memories of that weekend will probably suffice—no photos needed. Love is pretty grand, isn't it?

Enjoy the coastal goodness, friends!