So, I've obviously resisted the urge to blog about random things.... Now onto the wedding!
If you're here, that means you've probably received our save-the-date cards. The photo is from our spring break trip to New Mexico. The beautiful backdrop is Bandelier National Monument, a very cool place with Pueblo archeological sites and cliff dwellings one can actually climb up and explore.
Having chosen the date of June 4, we know we're not exactly giving you all tons of notice. We apologize. We really, really hope you can make it, though. It's not often that we get to have our friends and family in one place. And it's been way too long since we've seen some of you!
We are pretty casual people. While we like to get dressed up sometimes, our 'nights on the town' often involve a trip to our neighborhood Nepalese place or a brewpub that serves awesome brisket sliders and fresh beer. We love going to hikes in the Boulder area, visiting national parks, and just hanging around outside. We want our wedding to reflect our preferences and everyday life together.
Thus, we've chosen to get married outside at a Quaker-run camp and conference center in Medford, New Jersey. While neither of us is actually Quaker, Barbara did have a fabulous summer internship experience at the Newark office of the American Friends Service Committee and admires some Quaker values. The camp is quite beautiful in the summer -- lots of tree shade and foliage with a small creek running through where people can boat.
Our ceremony will probably start between 2 and 3 in the afternoon, with a casual BBQ reception (brisket, smoked chicken, mac-n-cheese, corn bread, etc.) under a tent immediately following. While that means we'll start eating dinner around 4pm, we figured that kind of timing might work best for those with early bed times or long-ish drives home that night. Plus, it means we get a few hours of sunshine-y warmth for badminton, croquet, and general outdoor lounging, weather permitting.
That being said, everyone is welcome to keep the party going and join us for a giant slumber party that night. (No pressure.) The camp offers rustic (and very affordable) accommodations -- we're talking camp cabins with bunk beds and shared showers and restroom facilities. BYOSB or BYOL, meaning you would have to bring your own sleeping bag or bed linens. As the camp can accommodate quite a few people, it's possible for families/small groups to arrange for private cabins. We'll have music, s'mores, a campfire, board games. What else could you need?
Of course, if the answer to that question is 'a private bathroom and a bigger bed' (a very reasonable request), there are many hotels nearby -- some just a few minutes away (like the Flying W, for instance). As we continue to work on this site, we'll post more info on hotel options in the coming weeks.
The most important thing for us (aside from actually getting married) is that we get to spend time with the people we love. In the past few years, we've sort of bounced around a bit, from South America to Syracuse to Florida to Colorado. We've gone from seeing some of you all the time to wistfully looking at photos of you on Facebook. We know that New Jersey is a trek for some of you. If you can come, however, we would love to see you.
If you have any questions or need any help with trip planning, please let us know. If you have dietary restrictions, please let us know. If you want to come a day early and hang out, please let us know. In short, we're desperate for human contact. With you. And are super excited about the prospect of seeing you. You can email us at either barbaragreen@gmail.com or michaelcburch@gmail.com. You can also call Barbara at (941) 387-5417 or Michael at (941) 323-1820
Love,
Barbara and Michael
