Story
Sarah and John met when Sarah moved to Baltimore for law school in 2016 and moved in with one of John's childhood best friends, Mike Guzman (soon to be of groomsman fame). John, who had recently moved back from Northern Virginia, started hanging out at the house a suspicious amount. In typical fashion, they started watching football and seeing music together with their amazing group of (new for Sarah, old for John) friends. They now live together in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore, and enjoy traveling, cooking (i.e., Sarah enjoys eating food that John cooks), hiking, camping, visiting National Parks, and seeing live music together. Their beloved cat son, Milo, joined them in the early days of quarantine, and is now the de facto head of the household.
Schedule
Travel
Getting In
For those flying into town, we recommend flying into Baltimore-Washington (BWI) or Dulles, both of which are approximately a 50-minute drive from Frederick where the hotels are located. We suggest renting a car or using Uber/Lyft.
Getting Downtown
The hotels are located about 10 minutes outside of Frederick's downtown area. The downtown area accessible by Uber/Lyft, and there is ample street parking.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Frederick, Westview Drive, Frederick, MD, USA
We have reserved a limited number of rooms at two adjacent hotels. We highly recommend booking ASAP, as this is a popular weekend for weddings in the area and the hotel block will fill. To book at the Marriott, please follow the link below or call the hotel directly and let them know you'd like a room in the Simmons-Kennelly block. All bookings in the block must be completed by Sept. 2
Home2 Suites by Hilton Frederick, Buckeystown Pike, Frederick, MD, USA
To book at the Hilton, please use the link below or call and let them know you'd like a room in the Simmons-Kennelly block. All rooms in the block must be booked by August 30.
Additional Lodging Options
If you find that the two reserved hotel blocks are booked, there is a Homewood Suites next to and within walking distance of the other two hotels (see link below). There are also various other hotels and AirBnBs in the area.
Complimentary Shuttle
Oct 1
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
The venue is located approximately 30 minutes from the hotels. A complimentary shuttle bus will be available to and from the wedding venue from each of the two reserved hotels. The buses will depart promptly at 3:15pm, so please plan to board out front the hotels around 3:00pm.
If you prefer to drive to the venue, there is ample parking. Keep in mind the roads to the venue are rural and curvy, so please use caution at night.
Return shuttle:
Oct 1
10:30 PM - 11:00 PM
Favorite Spots in Frederick
Things to do in the Frederick area
Registry
Welcome to our wedding registry! Although there are household items we'd like to add or update, our most desired gift (besides your presence, of course) is to take our dream honeymoon next year!
Q & A
For all our friends and family who have lots of questions, please check out our Q & A first!
Is the wedding indoors or outdoors?
Weather permitting, our wedding ceremony is outdoors on the lawn. Dinner will be held inside the winery's tasting room. Cocktail hour and post-dinner dancing will be held outside on the covered pavilion. Although we encourage everyone to join us outside after dinner, the tasting room and deck will remain open. We recommend bringing an extra layer if the forecast calls for cooler weather.
Is there an open bar?
Of course! Beer, spirits, and Creek's Edge wine will be served free of charge. Please remember to bring some cash to tip our wonderful bartenders. Please drink responsibly.
Where should I park?
There is ample parking at both the venue and the hotels. Street parking is available for Welcome Drinks and the After Party.
Can I walk from the hotel to the Welcome Drinks?
Due to the quaint nature of Frederick's downtown area, the hotels are located about a 10 minute drive away from the brewery. As a result, we recommend driving or taking an Uber/Lyft.
Who is invited to Welcome Drinks on Friday night?
All wedding guests in town on Friday night are welcome to join us for Welcome Drinks at Steinhardt Brewing in Frederick. Drinks will be available for purchase and complimentary food will be provided. Due to the brewery's licensing, only beer and hard seltzer/ciders will be served (in addition to non-alcoholic options). RSVP is encouraged but not required if your plans change. Guests under 21 are welcome. Dress is casual.
What's the deal with the After Party?
Our after-party starts at 11:00 p.m. on the rooftop bar at Brewer's Alley in Frederick (near where we had the Welcome Drinks). Their kitchen is open until midnight if you want a late-night snack. The return shuttle buses from the venue will first stop at the hotels and then immediately proceed to Brewer's Alley. Please note there will NOT be time to get off and change, so if you wish to do that, we recommend Ubering. Return transportation from the bar to the hotels will also be available in two shifts.
I'm in town all weekend, what is there to do in the Frederick area?
Frederick is located in central Maryland, right where Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania all meet. We recommend getting lunch and exploring the shops on N. Market Street in downtown Frederick. If you're feeling adventurous, you can visit Harpers Ferry (25 minutes away in WV) or the Gettysburg Battlefield (40 minutes away in PA) to learn about the rich Civil War history in the area. If you would like to do a day hike, we recommend Catoctin or Gambrills State Parks. See links above in "Things to Do" section.
COVID Precautions
If you are experiencing symptoms prior to the event, we ask that you take a home test and/or PCR. Please text Sarah or John ASAP if you test positive and are unable to attend. Thankfully, most of our wedding will take place outside and/or in well-ventilated areas regardless of weather. We are not requiring masks, but please be respectful of the boundaries and choices of other guests. If eligible, we strongly encourage guests to receive the bivalent booster prior to attending.