SJ + MK September 2010

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INVITATIONS & GIFTS!

Hello Everyone!

Sept 12th is getting closer. Invites are done and hitting mailboxes tomorrow. See our blog post below entitled "More Details..." which has all the info about schedule of events for the weekend, flights and lodging. We will be adding a post with detailed directions closer to the weekend, but addresses for all events can be found below.

Gifts...people keep asking so I wanted to put this up on the blog...As you know, you need not get us anything (you coming is enough). If you do feel you want to get us something here is the direct link to our honeymoon registry where you can donate funds for our eventual honeymoon (which will happen sometime in the next year)-https://www.thehoneymoon.com/r/55718

We will donate 20% of our honeymoon fund to Communities United Against Violence (CUAV) and the Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project (QWOCMAP).

Looking forward to Sept.

xo SJ + MK

More Details...

Hey Folks,

Below is a schedule of events (including locations) and suggestions regarding housing and travel. Hope this helps in making plans.

Please use the blog to plan housing and carpools with people. Renting houses in the area is a good affordable option if you get a group of 4 or more together and can stay two nights at minimum.

We are looking forward to celebrating with you in September! Let us know if we can help in any way.

Excited SJ + MK.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, Sept 10

7pm, Welcome Dinner

20030 River Boulevard, Monte Rio, CA

Saturday, Sept 11

All Day, Daytime Activities: Outdoor Trips (Canoeing, Hiking), Wine Tasting and Arts & Crafts

Meet at House @ 20030 River Boulevard, Monte Rio, CA

7pm, Community Potluck BBQ

20030 River Boulevard, Monte Rio, CA

Sunday, Sept 12

3pm, Commitment Ceremony

Pacific View Drive, Jenner, CA

4pm, Champagne, Dinner & Party

Monte Rio Community Center, 20448 Hwy 116, Monte Rio, CA

TRAVEL

Nearest Airports are San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Napa County Airport.

The Oakland and San Francisco Airports are approximately 2hrs driving distance from where the events for the weekend will be held. The Napa Airport is about 1 hr and 40 minutes driving distance away from the festivities. The San Jose airport is generally the cheapest in the bay area, but it is farther- 2 and 1/2 hours away.

The Oakland and San Francisco Airports are probably the best to fly into because it will be easier to coordinate carpools and less of a drive to Monte Rio. The Napa Airport is closest, but expensive. San Jose Airport is the cheapest, but farther. Choose which one works for you.

Our ceremony will be held on a bluff top off of Pacific View Drive, Jenner, CA 95450. Our ceremony site is about 15mins (by car) away from the Monte Rio Community Center, where the reception will be held, and 20min (by car) away from the house where we will be holding the Welcome Dinner & Potluck Community BBQ.

Please use the blog to organize carpooling from the East Bay (Oakland, San Jose) and San Francisco.

HOUSING

FIRST, THIS IS A BUSY WEEKEND IN THE AREA SO PLEASE ORGANIZE EARLY AND MAKE RESERVATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!! The Russian River Jazz Festival is happening that weekend as well.

Second, the area where we will be staying is referred to as the Russian River and the town is Monte Rio. Another main town in the area is Guerneville, which is 10 minutes down the road from Monte Rio.

Here are a few sites that have houses for rent:

Russian River Getaways

800.433.6673

http://www.rrgetaways.com

Russian River Rentals

877.869.0198

510.658.0198

http://russianriverrentals.com

Russian River Vacation Homes

800.997.3312

www.riverhomes.com

The Big Yellow House on the River

415.474.4445

415.474.4435

www.spindlerentals.com/russian_river.html

Here are a few hotels in the area:

Dawn Ranch

707.869.0656

http://www.dawnranch.com

We have stayed here and liked it. Sometimes they have specials. It is very simple though not fancy. It is in Guernville which is about a 10min drive away from Monte Rio.

Monte Rio Cottages

707.865.4161

www.monteriocottages.com

Rio Villa Resort

707.865.1143

www.riovilla.com

This place is a block from the community center where the reception will be held.

Village Inn & Restaurant

707.865.2304

www.villageinn-ca.com

Do you know about Smilebox?

Mari discovered Smilebox and as a result we designed our save the date in like 20mins. Awesome. Do not underestimate the power of the internet..crazy. You should be getting this in the mail by the end of the month. xoxo sj+mk

SAVE THE DATE

Good News! We have reserved some places in Monte Rio, Ca so we wanted to make sure that each of you reserve the date for our Ceremony: Sunday Sept 12th. We want to make it a weekend affair so please block out your calendars for Friday Sept 10th-Sunday Sept 12 or Monday Sept 13th (especially for those coming from far away). Formal Save the Dates to come:) xoxo sj+mk

We've Made a Decision...

After a year of being engaged and two and a half years of being together we finally decided on a place and a date. Save the date folks- Sunday, Sept 12, 2010! We have traveled all over the Bay Area to find a place that captures the beauty and complexity of Sheena Johnson and Mari Kubota. We have decided on a sunset beach ceremony on the breathtaking Sonoma Coast then a quaint reception in the beach town (which is really a river-beach) of Monte Rio, CA. We are excited to invite family and friends to spend a memorable weekend with us to celebrate our commitment to each other and our commitment to creating a better world.

This journey has been long... we have gone to every beach in the Bay Area, researched every housing option along the coast, eaten at several good and a couple of bad restaurants, gone on many chilly, windy and arduous hikes to find the perfect ceremony site and day trip adventures.

During our Ceremony Weekend we want to celebrate our differences and shared loves. We are planning Italian, Japanese and Soul Food eating experiences for everyone, so come hungry. Mari loves the redwoods and hiking, and generally being in nature. Sheena loves sitting, tv, cozy fires and laying on the beach. The Russian River has the best of both worlds with comfy fire places and hot tub homes and towering Redwoods to explore. One thing we both have in common is that we are hella BOUGIE. Thats why we are not too far from a Ceder Bath House and several wineries. Doesn't this weekend sound exciting?

We will be heading back to Oakland tomorrow and planning to send out "Save the Dates" in Jan 2010! More to come....love, Sheena & Mari