Saturday July 29, 2017
2850 days 13 hrs 55 mins ago
Story
Josh and Mary Ann met after chatting online and realizing they had a mutual love for sending each other witty messages. Josh suggested they meet at the classiest restaurant in all of Santa Cruz, and Mary Ann happily agreed. When Mary Ann arrived, Josh was there and ignored her for 5 mins until the food arrived.
After he had eaten, he was more sociable and suggested a walk on the pier. Mary Ann agreed, but had not thought she would be outside and was shivering on the walk. Josh decided it would be a good time to point out that Mary Ann should have brought a warm jacket (he redeemed himself immediately by offering his warm jacket). The tables later turned when Josh realized he had not brought his car, and would have to walk home if Mary Ann did not give him a ride. Even after the merciless mocking, Mary Ann agreed to give him a ride and then to another date the next week.
Tidbits
How did you first meet?
We exchanged messages over teh interwebs. See Story for details.
Who made the first move? How?
Josh made the first move by asking Mary Ann to a date after talking to her online for a few weeks.
Who's going to take out the trash?
Josh.
What was your most memorable date?
We've been together more than 5 years. At this point no one single date stands out since there's been so many good ones.
What's your favorite activity together?
Adventuring.
Where are you going for your honeymoon?
Thailand! Its somewhere neither of us have been but both of us really want to see.
What's the best meal you have eaten together?
Anything Mary Ann cooks. Just kidding, it was really State Bird Provisions.
What's the most memorable trip you have taken together?
JAPAN.
How did you propose?
Josh wanted to go on a hike on a trip to Napa. Mary Ann was being grumpy, so Josh thought he wasn't going to propose that day. However, the beauty of the hike made Mary Ann less grumpy, so by the time they reached the lake at the end of the hike Josh decided to do it.
When they were heading home, they realized that the land they were hiking had previously been a mental institution. So much for romance.
Q & A
For all our friends and family who have lots of questions, please check out our FAQ first!
When is the RSVP deadline?
Please RSVP by June 15 2017.
What time should I arrive?
Please arrive at the venue by 3.30pm on July 29th
Where should I park?
The venue is a private house, so we will be hiring a valet to organize parking.
Are the ceremony and reception locations wheelchair accessible?
The venue is relatively flat, but please contact us if you have any specific questions regarding accessibility.
What should I wear?
We ask our guests wear cocktail attire. Temperature can be unpredictable, although we do expect warm weather. We recommend bringing layers because the area can get cold, especially in the evening, as we are so close to the Ocean.
"The coldest winter of my life was a summer in San Francisco" - often attributed to Mark Twain, technically not said by him, but keep this quote in mind.
What kind of shoes should/shouldn't I wear?
The ceremony will be in a garden, and the reception will be in a graveled area. We recommend either flat shoes or thick heels (e.g. wedges).
Can I bring a date?
We would like to keep the celebration focused on family and close friends. If we have missed inviting a long term partner, please let us know.
Will there be dancing?
Yes. Lots.
What is the best airport?
Any of the 3 bay area airports will work (SFO, SJC, OAK). San Jose (SJC) is the closest.
I want to go to LA, Disneyland, Hollywood, or San Diego. How far away are they?
5+ hours of driving. Disneyland is 577km away. By airplane it is about an hour of airtime. There is no direct train service.
Is the wedding indoors or outdoors?
The wedding and reception will be outdoors.
Will food be served?
We are serving a full meal as part of the reception. Beer and wine will also be available.
I am coming from out of town. Where should I stay?
There are discounted rates at a couple of local hotels in Aptos - please see our accommodations section for more detail. Santa Cruz is a tourist town, so you should be able to find hotels although we recommend booking early. Airbnb is also an option.
Please be aware that in the summer traffic between Aptos and Santa Cruz can be heavy. If you are driving from Santa Cruz or from the Bay Area the day of the wedding, please allow for extra time.
Can I take a train directly from my airport to santa cruz?
There is no 100% interconnected rail. It is possible to take caltrain to the highway 17 express bus which goes to Santa Cruz. But may have limited availability and hours. google.com/maps is good at showing the best transit options.
Highway 17 express website:
What time will the reception end?
We do have to end the reception at 9pm due to noise ordinance in Santa Cruz County.
Is there a gifts registry?
We are registered at Amazon: www.amazon.com/wedding/mary-ann-fanning-joshua-ellinger-santa-cruz-july-2017/registry/1GSFZJZ80V2O
We have also set up a Honeyfund account www.honeyfund.com/wedding/jplusma
Are there any fun things to do nearby?
Yes! Many!
Santa Cruz
- downtown has many moderately priced eateries
- santa cruz beach boardwalk is a seaside amusement park
- big sur - beautiful magestic nature 2 hours south of santa cruz.
- Henry Cowell state park - miles of hiking trails through giant redwoods 30 mins from the wedding venue.
- Westcliff - walkable roadside cliff next to one of the best surf spots in the world.
Monterey
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Pebble Beach - World famous golf course
San Francisco
- Summer with the San Francisco Symphony
- Japan Film Festival of San Francisco
- The Exploratorium - Award winning science museum (thursday nights open late)
- Alcatraz - book your tour early and ahead of time it fills up fast
- Cal Academy of Science
- SF MOMA
- Haight Ashbury Neighborhood (This year is 50 years since the summer of love!)
- Castro Neighborhood
- The Mission
- North Beach
Wine country (2 hours north of santa cruz)
- tour wineries and eat award winning food
Are kids welcome?
Please contact us if you are planning on bringing kids
Registry
Your presence is enough of a present to us! But for those of you who are stubborn, we've put together a wish-list to help you out.
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