thank you

now that we've had a full month to recover from wedding planning, a fabulous weekend on orcas and a great honeymoon on vancouver island, we just wanted to offer a big thanks to family and friends for making our wedding truly awesome.

we know eastsound isn't exactly the easiest place to get to and we particularly appreciate all your efforts to join and celebrate with us. also, thank you for the wonderful gifts we've received and donations made in our names. they are all very much appreciated.

minor change in plans: sunday morning breakfast

due to some unanticipated circumstances we are moving the LOCATION and TIME of the Sunday morning breakfast. instead of the Inn at Ships Bay, we have decided to have a much more informal no-host get together at the Sunflower Cafe at 10:30 AM. this small cafe is right on the main corner of downtown eastsound.

this will let folks staying in downtown walk to breakfast. maybe if the weather's nice we can walk to the local park as well. so if you're still around and so inclined, swing by, order a coffee, breakfast, or both and hang with us before we disembark on our post-wedding adventure.

sorry 'bout the late change of plans.

weather gods can't decide

so depending on where you like to get your weather forecast from, it could be 65 and sunny or 55 and rainy. our recommendation...do a dance...dress in layers and bring a raincoat/umbrella. the ceremony is planned to be outside even if it's just a little sprinkle, but if the weather is completely unreasonable, we'll move indoors (still at the odd fellows hall, though)

g and r big weekend calendar

less than a week away, and we’re super excited and not the least bit stressed. [gretchen laughs…] can't wait to see you all at 5 pm saturday for the ceremony and reception, but incase you looking for things to do before and after that...below are a few other fun weekend goings-on:

THURSDAY 9/17
post-dinner drinks? -- don’t know if anyone will be up to the island this early, but if you are, contact us and we’d love to get together and explore all that the “metropolis” of eastsound has to offer thursday evening.

FRIDAY 9/18
early morning road bike ride? -- if anyone is so inclined to get out and explore orcas island on two wheels, cook father and son will be departing from eastsound between 8:30 and 9:00 am for a pedal around some of the island’s more scenic points – including a short pedal up mt. constiution. contact rich if you’re interested.

family/friends soccer game or just come by to visit -- at 1:00 pm, we will be at Eastsound Waterfront Park (on the shore, just on the west side of downtown Eastsound), where we hope that everyone already up on the island will come by for an informal gathering and soccer game. we'll provide a soccer ball and some cones. you just bring yourselves, maybe a sack lunch if you're so inclined, your shoes (if you want to play futbol - cleats not necessary), and your best freddie ljungberg impression.

SATURDAY 9/19
orcas island farmer’s market -- from 10 am – 3 pm there is a great farmers market in downtown eastsound featuring local produce (much of it organic), crafts, art, jewelry, clothing, pottery, food and drink vendors, and some of Orcas Island's service organizations (historical museum, master gardeners). definitely check it out!

kayak -- the san juans may just be the sea paddling capital of the NW. check out rentals here and get out there and enjoy all the beauty of this magical place on saturday morning. just be sure to paddle home by 5 pm.

hike/drive up mt. constitution -- if water sports aren’t your thing a hike or drive up to the highest point in the san juans is certainly a can’t miss activity. check out moran state park for more info. the view up there is amazing.

ceremony & reception -- the headliner...the main event...our wedding! be there or be square, 5 pm sharp, Odd Fellows Hall, right in eastsound – can you dig it? directions and location: click here.

SUNDAY9/20
breakfast -- we will be enjoying a very informal no-host breakfast at the Sunflower Cafe at 10:30 in eastsound. swing by and say hi if you're still around.

***can’t wait to see you all soon – g & r

black tie or black jeans?

some folks have inquired as to what might be appropriate attire for the ceremony and reception....while we are not proponents of the black-jean look (or for that matter any denim, shorts, or tennis shoes), beyond that we take the perspective of "wear" what will make you comfortable...you'll be on "island time"

however, anticipating that this may not be enough guidance for most people, the following is gretchen and rich's guide to appropriate wedding attire:

FOR THE MEN:



even the groom won't be wearing one of these (ergo, please don't wear a tuxedo...)




but, the groom IS trying his best to leave the bike spandex at home and go this route. however, a suit is certainly not required for our guests.



wear one of these if you're so inclined, add a jacket, leave the jacket...the world is your oyster. (but if you do go the tie route, please know smiley faces are not a pre-req.)




and of course, the shirt and slacks look...sophisticated, but still screaming "hey people, i'm super laid back underneath it all", this too would be fine


finally, while we can't argue with this classic look (!), it ain't gonna cut it at the reception




FOR THE WOMEN:
the bride will be dressed in something long and white(ish), but we don't recommend duplicating this look, or people may look at you funny or try to make you kiss rich.




wear something like this if you feel so inclined, but just make sure that you're still comfortable enough to boogey down after dinner! (i.e., formal attire is not required!)




yes...dressy, fancy, and fun! -->















these work, too...






if you wear something along these lines, you'll probably feel underdressed - not to mention that you'll be dreaming about getting back to that office cubicle. -->



oh, and ladies (and men), the island can get a bit chilly as the sun goes down, so don't forget to pack a sweater or wrap to keep warm.

hope this helps, but if you have specific questions, please give us a call or email. we always love to hear from our guests!

people are asking...

...where we are registered. so here's the quick 411.

if you want to buy us something, you can find our registry list at Macy's, Crate and Barrel, and Sears.

alternatively, in lieu of gifts, you may consider supporting some non-profits that are important to us:

American Cancer Society
National Multiple Sclerosis Society

thanks! your donations or gifts are very much appreciated. see you soon!

invitations out!

hopefully by now those fine u.s. postmen (and postwomen) have delivered the little white envelopes to your home, apartment, sailboat or campground in the woods. we're getting excited to see you all in a few weeks and now the ball's in your court... fill those little postcards out, let us know if you prefer pacific nw salmon or some tasty local veggie dish (and no claudia - unfortunately we're not serving the pasta primavera) and send 'em on back.

before you make travel arrangements...

apparently, it’s been quite a while since our last post here… so to briefly fill you in, our past several months have been filled with an amazing trip down to Patagonia (Chile and Argentina), a successful first home-buying endeavor, the annual Kennebunkport excursion, and of course a bit of gardening and bike riding to top it all off.

now that we are t minus 2 months away from the big weekend and the formal invitations are on their way, it’s time for some full on wedding planning. a few folks have asked: what’s the best way to get up to Orcas?

while we’re certainly not experts on the subject, we did visit the island last weekend and took the following notes for your perusal. outside of riding a bicycle (which in rich's perspective is the best way, of course!), there are four good ways to get to Orcas. below are options for people flying into SeaTac airport with some cost information. locals and near-locals can modify the details accordingly.

1. drive to Anacortes Ferry Terminal-->drive onto ferry-->drive while on Orcas
[$43 for for ferry ride (car & driver) + $13/additional passengers, rental car fee + gas $$]

2. drive to Anacortes Ferry Terminal and park-->walk onto ferry-->walk/carpool/taxi/rent a car while on Orcas
[$13/passenger for ferry ride, $10 parking fee per day, rental car fee + gas $$]

3. take shuttle bus from SeaTac to Anacortes Ferry Terminal-->walk onto ferry-->walk/carpool/taxi/rent a car while on Orcas
[$33 bus ride ($61 round-trip), $13/passenger for ferry trip]

4. fly from SeaTac to Orcas-->walk/carpool/taxi/rent a car while on Orcas
[$100 one-way roughly, $200 round-trip]

___________________
beyond cost, you may have some other questions - so here’s our attempt at some preemptive answers:

how long does it take to drive from Seattle to the Anacortes Ferry Terminal?
google maps will tell you can drive the 81 miles in 1 hour 36 minutes. we say it depends on traffic and time of day you’re traveling. last friday we left downtown Seattle at 3:00 pm and arrived at the terminal at 5:35 pm, in what was probably standard “heavy friday afternoon traffic.” while we can’t give you a definitive answer on this one, we recommend at least 2 hours driving time to be safe, unless you’re traveling during a “peak traffic time of day,” in which case we’d shoot for a bit longer. remember too, that you want to arrive at the terminal at least 30 minutes before your scheduled ferry, especially if you’re driving on. also...if you're driving from SeaTac airport, add an extra 20 to 40 minutes onto your drive time.

once on Oracs, do I need a car to get to your wedding?
the wedding is located in Eastsound, WA, 8.5 miles from the island’s ferry terminal. however once you are in Eastsound, you really don’t have to leave unless you want to explore the outer reaches of the island (and depending on where your accommodations are located). the ceremony, reception, many accommodations and restaurants, parks and shops are all centrally located in Eastsound, meaning everything is walkable. if you do leave your car behind, there are four ways to get from the ferry terminal to Eastsound: 1) orcas island shuttle (this requires a special charter service in late september, so if you're interested in this option, please contact us and let us know, and if there is a critical mass of folks, we can make arrangements for people), 2) taxi, 3) carpool with someone, or 4) rent a car after you get on the island.

is that ferry price one-way or round trip?
yeah we know the ferry is a bit pricey, but here’s the good news – you don't have to pay for the return ferry to Anacortes. the most clever of you may figure out that flying to the island and then hitching a ride back, just might be the way to go.

when do those ferries leave?
please check the ferry schedule for yourself to double check, but here are some popular times that people might be thinking about coming and going:

Friday Sept. 18th – 10:05 am - 11:50 am - 2:45 pm - 5:35 pm - 6:50 pm - 9:00 pm
Saturday Sept. 19th – 7:45 am - 10:05 am - 11:50 am
Sunday Sept. 20th (return trip) – 7:15 am - 9:20 am - 12:05 pm - 1:30 pm -4:20 pm - 7:00 pm

the ferry sailing time is 50 minutes or 80 minutes, depending on whether they stop at other islands en route. Also, keep in mind when deciding which ferry to catch, they may be running late (especially on Friday evenings and Sundays). Sunday afternoons leaving Orcas can also have very long ferry lines, so if you're driving, you may not get on the ferry that you want if you arrive just prior to departure (i.e., the cars in front of you in line filled the ferry)...we recommend that on Sunday, arrive at the Orcas ferry dock a couple hours early for the ferry you want to catch. [there's a grassy area and picnic tables, cafe, and grocery store near the Orcas ferry dock, so you can take/buy your lunch and lounge in the sun or shade while you're waiting!]

i want to carpool, can you guys help me out?
sure, if you let us know when you plan to come in and what ferry you’re looking to take, we’re happy to try and set you up with someone else attending the wedding, who is coming or going around the same time.

you're invited

we are excited to celebrate the commitment we've made to each other and want to invite you to be a part of the celebration. we put this website together to fulfill a secret geeky ambition of being able to say that we "blog" and more importantly to provide you with some information about our upcoming wedding and about beautiful orcas island. we hope to see you on the weekend of september 18, 19, and 20. and of course if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. formal invitations will be mailed in the summer.

a bit about orcas

we chose to get married on orcas because it's one of the most beautiful spots in washington state and somewhat reminiscent of the maine coast. it's home to mt. constitution, the highest point in the san juans, and a great place to catch a sunset. the island has countless outdoor opportunities including hiking, kayaking, sailing and of course biking. or if you're more inclined, it's a perfect place to just relax, take in some views of puget sound and enjoy some fine pacific northwest vino.

a little more about the island:

Orcas Island is called the “Gem of the San Juans” and is an island north of Seattle in an archipelago made up of hundreds of islands within Puget Sound. It is approximately 57 square miles and boasts lush valleys, mountain peaks, a saltwater coastline and many freshwater lakes. About 4,000 full-time residents live throughout the island’s villages and pastoral, mountain and marine settings. It is accessible by ferry, airplane, seaplane, and private boat. Orcas is a magical place with a multitude of activities to enjoy including hiking, biking, sailing, kayaking, golfing, tennis, and whale-watching, as well art-gallery shopping and simply strolling through the main village.