Which airport should we fly into?
Where should we stay?
How far is the wedding hotel to the wedding site, and how do we get back and forth?
Can you tell me more about the taxi service?
What is this welcome reception thing?
And what of the boozy bicycles? Is that some kind of joke?
Can you recommend some good, local wineries?
Where are you guys registered?
I don't get the URL of this website. What the heck does wagon wheel coffee table mean?
What if I have more questions that aren't covered here?
Which airport should we fly into?
You can fly into either the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) or the Oakland International Airport (OAK); both are easily accessible to Sonoma. SFO is about an hour and 20 minute drive away, and OAK is about an hour and 10 minutes. Also, Sonoma is about one hour away from downtown San Francisco, so if you are in town for several days and would like to spend some time in our fine city, it's definitely doable.
Where should we stay?
We have reserved a block of rooms at the Sonoma Valley Inn for the nights of Friday, 5/25; Saturday, 5/26; and Sunday, 5/27. The Friday and Saturday night rates are $249 a night for a standard king, and $279 a night for a fireplace suite. The Sunday night rates are $169 a night for the standard king and $179 a night for a fireplace suite. To ensure those rates, mention Whalen/Lynch when you call, and be sure to reserve by 3/26/2012.
Note that you might want to check Kayak or other hotel booking websites because several people have told us that they found deals on those sites that were much less than the price the hotel is giving us -- which is pretty lame, if you ask me. But if you want a cheaper rate, definitely try those sites!
You are, of course, welcome to look into alternative lodging options such as other nearby hotels or house rentals. If you choose to do this, our recommendation is that you try to find something in close proximity to the plaza in downtown Sonoma, since that is where the wedding hotel is located, and that will be the hub for the weekend's events.
How far is the wedding hotel to the wedding site, and how do we get back and forth?
SCRIBE Winery is 3.6 miles from the Sonoma Valley Inn. While there is parking available at the winery, we recommend taking the taxi service that we will be offering so as to avoid drinking and driving—especially since this party 'bout to get cuhRAZY.
Can you tell me more about the taxi service?
Certainly. We have reserved the fleet of Vern's Taxi Co., the one and only Sonoma cab company, to shuttle our wedding guests back and forth from the hotel to the wedding site. Beginning at 4pm on the day of the wedding, there will be taxis waiting outside the Sonoma Valley Inn ready to take guests to SCRIBE. The last taxi will depart the hotel at 4:30, and the ceremony will start at 5:00. The taxis will return to SCRIBE to transport people back to the hotel starting at 10:30, with the last cab leaving at 11:15.
In case your timing is different, you can always call Vern's and dispatch your own cab. The number is (707) 938-8885.
What is this welcome reception thing?
Oh, the welcome reception is an event we planned so that everyone can get to know each other before the wedding. That way, by the time the wedding rolls around, you will all be BFF already. This will probably mean that before the wedding even starts on Saturday, Barb, Jen's sister-in-law, will have already had shots of tequila with Katie, Loreal's sister. And Art, Jen's dad, will have already introduced Warren, Loreal's stepdad, to the wonderful elixir he refers to as LPR. (If you don't know what LPR stands for, be sure to ask him!)
The welcome reception will be held in the stone room of the Swiss Hotel and Bar, which is on the square, only a couple of blocks from the wedding hotel. We will provide desserts and champagne for a champagne toast, and there will also be a no-host bar available for those of you who want to get hammered.
And what of the boozy bicycles? Is that some kind of joke?
It's not, actually! Because the Sonoma area is so flat, and there are so many wineries within a very small radius of each other, it is very popular to wine taste via bicycle. So we will all meet on Sunday morning at the Sonoma Cheese Factory. There, we will pick up delicious boxed lunches that have been pre-ordered of us. (They are $12 per person.) Then, in the parking lot behind the Cheese Factory, we will meet the wonderful folks from Good Time Touring, who will be waiting for us with our bicycles. (The bikes are $21 to rent for the day.) Once we have our bikes (and those who are opting to drive are in their cars), we will lead the way as we explore some of our favorite wineries in California's picturesque and world-famous wine country. The route will be mapped out in advance so that those who plan to travel by car instead of bike that day can meet us at each winery along the way.
Can you recommend some good, local wineries?
Sure! Our favorites are listed in the right hand column of this page.
Where are you guys registered?
Did you know that according to traditional wedding etiquette, wedding gifts are purely optional? But in case you choose to get us a gift, we registered anyway. And we actually have two registries: one at Macy's, and one at Crate & Barrel.
I don't get the URL of this website. What the heck does wagon wheel coffee table mean?
Sigh. The fact that you don't know this makes me question our friendship. But please watch this video for the answer.
What if I have more questions that aren't covered here?
Then just call us and ask, silly!