Before you RSVP

Please read the Wedding section below in its entirety.

In short, the wedding location will be challenging to get to and it is also quite a popular summer vacation town. If you do plan on attending, you should book accommodations as soon as possible.

We completely understand if you won’t be able to make it, and we want to stress that there is no obligation to attend.

Please RSVP before March 1, 2024.

Engagement

On Friday, April 7th, 2023, we got engaged at Glass Beach in Mendocino County, California.

The engagement ring we designed together features a yellow-green bicolor sapphire and, due to the gem’s naturally light color, it very closely resembles sea glass.

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We have loved exploring tide pools and collecting sea glass together along the California coast, and Austin has also always wanted to visit Glass Beach — so named due to the abundance of sea glass on its shore created from decades of dumping into an area of coastline just North of the beach.

Nate’s proposal at Glass Beach was a symbol of his love for Austin: the sea glass that surrounded us represented the sapphire seated atop her ring and the thousands of times he would choose her.

Elopement

The plan has always been to get married in the summer of 2024.

However, we knew we would be moving to our home in Michigan together the summer of 2023, and we realized that getting legally married in advance would help solve some of the complexities the move will bring.

In thinking about getting married ahead of time, it was very important to us that we not detract from our future wedding ceremony. But we’re also very sentimental people, and a courthouse marriage didn’t seem right for us either — if we were going to get married, we still wanted the moment to feel special.

And so, we transformed our engagement weekend into an elopement weekend. On Easter Sunday, April 9th, 2023, we were married in a private ceremony of just the two of us.

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More photos of the ceremony can be found here.

Although we are already married, we still want to host a full — but still very small — wedding ceremony in the summer of 2024, as we had originally planned.

Wedding

We are inviting our closest friends and family (that’s you!) to join us in celebrating our marriage in the same magical place where we first said “I do.”

Getting There

It’s a beautiful drive to Mendocino, winding through redwood forests and along the coast of California — but it’s still a drive, and it will take between two and three hours from the nearest airport.

For those in California, Mendocino is about a 3½-hour drive North from San Francisco, or about a 10-hour drive from Los Angeles.

For those flying in, the easiest way to get to Mendocino is to fly to the Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa (STS), then rent a car and drive 2 hours Northwest to Mendocino. However, you may find it more economical to fly into San Francisco (SFO), and then drive an extra hour from there instead.

…Or you could charter a private plane or helicopter…! Nearby Brewery Gulch Inn has a helipad.

We understand this isn’t terribly convenient and won’t work for everyone, and we want to make it clear that there is absolutely no obligation to attend our wedding. But we hope you’ll still join us if you’re able!

Staying There

Mendocino is a charming coastal town, and nearby Fort Bragg is also a great spot to visit during your stay.

Please note, Mendocino is a very popular summer destination so, if you plan on attending, please book far in advance!

There are a number of quaint inns, cottages, and B&Bs to stay at in and around Mendocino. There are no wedding blocks. Here are just a few options:

Ceremony

The ceremony will be held at 5:30pm at the Cypress Grove in Mendocino. This is the same spot where we had our private ceremony and we’re excited to host everyone there for our wedding.

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We will have two wonderful photographers at the event to capture every moment, so please, no photos or videos during the ceremony.

Please note, there are only five parking spaces, and our contract with the State of California expressly forbids cars from parking on the side of the road.

Currently, our recommendation is for guests to meet at Luna Trattoria and coordinate carpools to and from the Cypress Grove. If this changes, we’ll let you know by email.

After the ceremony, we will all meet back at Luna for the reception.

Reception

The reception will be held at Luna Trattoria. We are renting the entire restaurant. There will be light live music, an open bar, board games, and free food.

We absolutely fell in love with this restaurant when we first visited Mendocino, and it was obvious to us that this is where we should host the wedding reception.

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Please eat, socialize, and enjoy the evening with us. It will be a relaxed, toned-down affair — there won’t be a DJ or dancing, but there will be cake and games!

Food options are still being decided (but there will definitely be tiramisu). An abbreviated version of Luna’s menu will be available. If there’s something on there you really want, let us know and we’ll make sure to have it!

FAQs

Attire?

Cocktail, semi-formal, standard wedding attire. It might get cold, best bring something warm just in case.

Gifts?

No gifts, please!

You being there is already a gift enough. But if you really still feel so inclined, you can contribute to our future child’s education savings account (529 Plan) now, on a regular basis, or at any time in the future, via uGift.

Kids?

Probably not at the ceremony, but all are welcome at the reception. Please ask us first though!

Photos?

Sure! Just not during the ceremony, and please don’t share photos of us or other guests on any public-facing social media without permission. Please respect our guests’ privacy as well as our own.

If you do not want to be photographed by our photographers, please let us know.

Seating?

Sit wherever you’d like. Just don’t sit in the first row, as this is reserved for immediate family.

RSVP?

Please RSVP before March 1, 2024.

The RSVP will be included with your wedding invitation. Please mail it back to us using the prepaid, self-addressed envelope.

Questions?

Call, text, or email us.

Thank you, and we hope to see you there!