Some common questions

Q: Which one of you is from Wisconsin?
A: Neither, we both grew up in New York.

Q: Is Courtney changing her name?
A: NO!! ...But she is trying to learn to respond to this question with less feminist rage and hostility.

Q: What's up with Garnevowels?
A: Courtney has been advocating for a combo name (Garnevowels, Vowelnevicus, Garnevowelicus...) for the kids, but John has pointed out that that is crazy. The long-winded compromise solution is a hyphenated Garnevicus-Vowels for the kids. Courtney is pretty sure John is counting on them just getting sick of it and dropping the Vowels part.

Q: What will the ceremony be like?
A: Well, as so often happens when a nice Catholic boy with Buddhist leanings marries a Secular Humanist-Taoist-Stoic-Atheist, we'll open with a silent Quaker meeting, followed by a non-denominational ceremony presided over by a progressive Presbyterian minister. Followed by lots of cheese. All will take place outdoors, with coed bridal and groomal parties.

Q: Seriously?
A: We promise it will be really lovely and nice and meaningful. After years of teaching at a Quaker school (Friends Seminary in NYC) John came to embrace the many virtues of silent meeting; we were both even more sure of this after attending a friend's Quaker wedding ceremony a couple years ago. The Reverend Joseph H. Gilmore of South Presbyterian Church is a phenomenal poet and thinker, a wonderful human being, and has known Courtney since she went to nursery school at his church in Dobbs Ferry, NY. He's also the father of our good friend Schuyler, who is in the wedding party. (It's the first wedding party with two Gilmores, that we know of.)

Q: "Silent"? For how long?
A: Don't worry, you can speak if the spirit moves you.

Q: Is that the farm in that picture up there?
A: That is an outhouse. The farm is larger.

Q: Can I wear white?
A: Not after Labor Day. But yes. The bride will be wearing blue. So don't wear blue.