Why Enumclaw?
Because we found a private little meadow that’s idyllic and ideally suited to our party. Seriously, it has a waterfall and a kitchen. It’s only an hour outside of Seattle and it’s relatively easy to get to.
But isn’t Enumclaw where they—
[sigh] Yes. This won’t be that kind of party.
How many people will be there?
We’ve sent invitations to just under 300. We’re anticipating under 200. Don’t forget to RSVP!
What do we wear?
Wear something nice! It is, after all, a wedding. But keep in mind that we’ll be outside all day. In July. So wear something comfortable! Suits, ties, and dresses are encouraged, but not required. Costumes are always encouraged. High heels are probably not a good idea.
What should we bring?
Bring food and drink to share with at least a few other people. We’ll provide a main course and enough champagne for a toast, and we hope that you can bring the rest. Potluck style. Of course, we don’t want 200 people each showing up with enough food for 200 more. Bring enough for you and 5-10 other people to enjoy. We like variety and random food adventures, but if you need ideas, we have some suggestions here.
As for the drink, we’re hoping to set up a little volunteer bar. Bring a bottle and leave it behind the bar! If you plan on drinking a whole bottle, bring two!
Do we have to bring food?
Many wedding traditions we associate with anglo/christian weddings of the past couple of centuries are based on a wedding showing off one’s wealth and prosperity – that a man has arrived at a level of prosperity at which he can afford a bride. Our union is about the great love we have for one another and not property, wealth, or the union of a kingdom. We measure our wealth in this love. Our treasures are the fantastic network of supportive friends and family, our healthy bodies, and this beautiful earth with which we have been blessed. We share these riches with you at the celebration of our marriage. We ask you to share in this tradition by bringing a side of food or beverage to share amongst our loved ones.
Okay. But what do we need to bring?
Oh, right. For you. Bring a tent if you plan to camp, a camp chair if you have one, and enough snacks, clothes, provisions, and toiletries to keep yourself comfortable for as long as you plan to be there. Some other things that wouldn’t hurt: bug spray, a flashlight or lantern, a camera, and a sense of adventure. If you have a fancy camping mug or any sort personal beverage container, bring that too. It’s not required; we’ll have some plastic cups and flutes for beverages, but we like to avoid being wasteful…
I hate camping. Where else can I stay?
Bad news. We booked our wedding on the same weekend as the Scottish Highland Games. Normally, Enumclaw is only a short drive away with a few decent hotels, but this weekend it will be crawling with nutters pretending to be Scottish. Every single hotel room for miles around is booked solid. Oops. Honestly, your best bet is probably a hotel in Seattle. You could try your luck with airbnb, but even those are disappearing fast.
I’d love to camp, but my tent won’t fit in my carry-on!
You might be in luck! We’re trying something a little experimental. On the RSVP page, there’s an optional second form that will link to a public spreadsheet. If you need a thing (a tent, a ride from the airport, etc.), you can write it down there and see if someone else has the thing you need (or needs the thing you have). Word of warning: we’re not really maintaining this spreadsheet, so we can’t guarantee that your needs will be met. This is just our attempt at creating a little bulletin board where you can try and help each other out.
If you’ve already filled it out, or you want to see what others have written on the spreadsheet, you can skip directly to it with this link.
Can I bring my kid(s)?
Both Laura Rose and Remy spent their childhoods attending many adult functions, and are grateful for the respect and opportunities bestowed upon them by their parents. We want to pass that tradition on, and your children are an important part of our lives.
With that said, Shangri-La is in the middle of a forest, on the edge of a river, without a lot of safety measures in place. It will be the middle of summer and we’ll all be outside. There’s no wi-fi, there’s no daycare or playroom, and there might not be a whole lot of other children around.
So be forewarned: your child(ren) might be uncomfortable, and they might be the only one(s) there. And we want you to be able to join the party, not babysit the entire weekend. But in the honor of the tradition in which we both grew up, yes, your children are wholeheartedly invited.
Can I bring my pet(s)?
No. Our mutual feelings of respect and tradition don’t extend to animals. If you absolutely must (and by “must,” I mean, like, seeing-eye-dog must) — if, in other words, not bringing your pet means the difference between you being able to attend or not attend — then (grumble) we would rather have you there than not. We don’t want barking, pooping, begging for food, or crotch-sniffing. From your pets. There will be enough of that from the other guests.
Can I bring a date?
This one’s trickier… we want you to have a good time and be around people you love. But we’re also packing this place with as many people as we can, and we have a limited amount of space, seats, provisions, etc. Most of you know each other and you will be around friends. Some of you won’t. Considering that, we’re observing a little old-fashioned wedding etiquette: if your invitation invites you and a guest, then feel free to bring one; if it is addressed to just you, than please refrain from bringing one.
Where are you registered?
We’re not. The best gift you can give is to help us make this party great. In lieu of a gift, we ask that you bring a dish and some drinks to share. We don’t need stuff. Seriously. DO NOT BRING A GIFT. If you feel like you need to be generous, bring more alcohol! If you still feel the need to give us something extra on top of all of that, you can donate to our honeymoon.
But I saw the cutest little set of napkin rings…
NO! No stuff.
But they had skulls on them…
Maybe. But save it for Christmas.
Okay, I’m in. Where do I sign up?
We thought you’d never ask! You can RSVP here.
Hey, wait! Is that it? But I have more questions!
Well, we hoped to cover most of them, but if there’s anything we didn’t answer, add it to the comments section and check back soon!
