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1.18.2009

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.

Lodging

We have blocks of 20 rooms apiece reserved at the following two hotels. Please book ASAP, as this weekend is a popular travel time in the area. The blocks will be released in mid-June.

AmericInn Wabasha
Wabasha, MN
http://www.americinn.com/hotels/MN/Wabasha


Wabasha is a lovely little Mississippi River town right on the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Local attractions include The National Eagle Center. If you're looking to make your 4th of July weekend as patriotic as possible, nothing beats staying at the AmericInn and visiting some eagles.

  • Courtney and John will be staying here. Please don't come knocking on our window in the middle of the night.
  • Suggested for the wedding party, friends, and the bride's family.
  • They have the following rooms held in the Vowels/Garnevicus wedding block: Standard Double Queen Rooms, $109.95, Standard King Rooms, $119.95, and Suites, $159.95 (may vary). There are AAA and AARP discounts. They have requested that you call the hotel directly for booking giving the Vowels/Garnevicus name. If you try to book from the website you may not get the wedding block rate.
  • The hotel is fairly new and the rate includes a full hot and cold breakfast each morning. They have a pool and sauna. The regular rooms are quite nice and spacious, with good bathrooms. The suites are unique: they are all custom decorated by local artisans or shops, and some have in-room jacuzzis. (You can see many of them on the website.) There is a pleasant lobby and breakfast area.
  • It is about half an hour from the farm and a little under two hours from the MSP Airport. They have a fixed-rate airport shuttle that drops off directly at the hotel.

The Plaza Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI
http://www.plazaeauclaire.com

Eau Claire is a college town (John's mom graduated from UW-Eau Claire) of about 65,000. John's parents had their wedding reception at this hotel.


  • Suggested for the groom's family (it's closer to local relatives) and those looking for the comforts and conveniences of a city.
  • They have the following rooms held in the Vowels/Garnevicus wedding block: Perimeter Rooms, $79, Atrium Rooms, $89, and Tower Rooms, $95. The room rate includes up to four people; for five people, a rollaway bed is an additional $10. They have requested that you call the hotel directly for booking, giving either the Vowels/Garnevicus name or Group No. 6430 in order to get the wedding block rate.
  • This is a large hotel with 233 good-sized rooms. Amenities include a very nice pool, including kiddie pool and whirlpool; 24-hour pizza from the hotel desk; a restaurant open 6-2 and 5-9, as well as the attached Brewski’s Pub open until 2 am; plus a game room and workout room.
  • It is about an hour from the farm and about one and a half hours from the MSP Airport. They have a fixed-rate airport shuttle that drops off directly at the hotel; there are also public buses between the airport and Eau Claire.

In addition to these two options, there are a number of other local hotels, motels, and B&Bs, many of which have been kindly vetted and reviewed by Courtney's and John's moms (we've got a whole Word doc about them). There are also some camping and couch-crashing options for those on a tighter budget, or those who just really want to get in their farm time. Please contact us directly to find out more.

7.4.09

Save the Date!

When: Saturday, July 4, 2009
Where: Forster Farm / Nelson, WI 54756

This is the farm John's mom grew up on, and has been his parents' permanent residence since they retired and moved there from the Bronx in the summer of 2007.

Nearest major airport: Minneapolis-St Paul (about 2 hours)
Nearest major city: Eau Claire, WI (about 45 minutes)