A Bridal Shower in Atlanta

A Bridal Shower in Atlanta

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for July 27, 2025

This weekend we flew to Atlanta to celebrate Avery’s fiancée, Abby, at her bridal shower. It was a special day for her, surrounded by family and friends—and we were happy to be there to show our support.

On Friday, I ended up in the backseat with two Averys—my son and his fiancée’s little sister. Pretty sure I’ll be saying “Avery… no, the other one” for the rest of my life.

We grabbed lunch at Central City Tavern in Alpharetta and were pleasantly surprised by how fancy everything felt. Great food, great weather, and just enough bougie energy to make us feel like we probably should’ve worn nicer shoes.

Abby gave us a great tour of her hometown, sharing stories from her childhood in the Atlanta suburb of Suwanee. It’s always fun seeing a place through someone else’s memories—especially when they light up pointing out things like, “That’s where we’d go after cheer practice.”

Eventually we made it to Abby’s parents’ house, where Andrew and Andrea showed us what real Southern hospitality looks like. They grilled, they hosted, they gave us the full tour—including a game room that could rival Dave & Buster’s. We ate like royalty, laughed a lot, and ended the night watching Happy Gilmore 2, which had just dropped on Netflix and made for the perfect family movie.

We really enjoyed the chance to meet more of Abby’s extended family. She’s got a lot of cousins, and they were all incredibly warm and welcoming—just like the rest of the crew.

Saturday was the big event. Even though we’d come for the bridal shower, it was strictly a ladies-only affair—so we snapped a few photos, gave our hugs, and set off in a completely different direction. Let’s just say our day involved a lot less lace and a lot more elevation.

While the girls were busy showering, the boys decided to head up into the Georgia mountains for something a little more rugged. The drive alone was an adrenaline rush—twisty roads, steep drop-offs, and motorcycles flying past us on blind curves like they had a death wish. By the time we pulled over to hike, I was already feeling like I’d survived something.

We picked up Dan—86 years old and somehow still able to run laps around me—for what I was told would be a “moderate” hike. That should’ve been my first clue. Turns out we were on part of the Appalachian Trail, a 2,190-mile beast that stretches from Georgia all the way to Maine. We only did about three miles, but at least a mile of it felt like climbing a rock staircase with no handrail. Dan was cruising. I was negotiating with my lungs.

Eventually we made it to Preacher’s Rock, a stunning overlook on the Appalachian Trail near the summit of Big Cedar Mountain. The hike starts at Woody Gap and climbs nearly 500 feet in elevation, most of it packed into a steep, rocky final stretch full of switchbacks. It’s less than two miles to the top, but it felt like one of the longest miles I’ve ever walked. I honestly considered turning back—twice—but the view at the summit made every breathless step worth it.

After the hike, Avery made a quick stop at the bridal shower to surprise Abby with a bouquet of roses. Miss Sheri caught it all on video, but I’m still waiting on clearance to share it. Let’s just say it was a sweet moment—and based on the reactions from the ladies in the room, he nailed it.

@toddswank ChatGPT told me to start recording unscripted videos to find my path in life. #pathinlife #chatgpt #aitherapy ♬ BOURBON STREET SHUFFLE - Abaco

@toddswank Where the mountains meet the sky! I used AI to make this song a reality! #georgia #mountains #preachersrock #appalachiantrail #mountainsmeetthesky ♬ Where The Mountains Meet The Sky - Steve Biddison