We will add to this list as other questions/useful bits of information come up, so check back for more info!

Pre-Wedding Questions

What's the best airport to fly into?

Most likely, San Francisco (SFO). For domestic travelers, Oakland (OAK) could be a good alternative--sometimes Southwest has cheaper tickets there than SFO. We wouldn't recommend Sacramento or Santa Rosa unless you specifically want to go through one of those airports. (The flights are usually more expensive, less frequent, and they aren't necessarily more convenient as far as getting up to Mendocino.) 

Will I need a car in mendocino?

We would recommend it, yes. We will try to facilitate as much ride-sharing as possible, (see our facebook group to check for existing discussions or to post your own request,) so we definitely aren't suggesting that every guest needs to have their own vehicle. Everything is very close (under 10 minutes) by car, but walking from place to place isn't really feasible. If you can bring a bike, great!

I'm interested in carpooling up to Mendocino and/or I am looking for other guests who might want to go in on a house rental together. (OR: I have extra seats in my car and/or I have extra room in my rental and am looking for someone to share!) 

Post your needs/available space to our facebook group and hopefully you can connect with other guests there!

Other than the wedding-related activities, what is there to do in the Mendocino area? 

So many things! There are a number of beautiful state parks in the area, you can go horseback riding, fishing, or even abalone diving! About 45 minutes Southwest is the Anderson Valley wine region, and the Skunk Train offers scenic rides through the Redwoods in vintage motorcars. There are a number of spas in the area, golf courses, AND it just so happens that the Mendocino County Fair is taking place over our wedding weekend--mark my words, an authentic American county fair is not an experience to be missed! Overall, the area is really quite beautiful and peaceful, which is one of the main reasons we picked the location, in spite of the lengthy journey it necessitates. Bring a book, a journal--whatever makes you happy--Mendocino is a special place to spend some time, and we're so excited to share a weekend there with you. 

Wedding Day Questions 

What should I wear? 

"Smart casual" is what I'm told you Aussies call it--cocktail, garden party, somewhere in that realm. We're told September is Northern California's most beautiful month--late summer, so theoretically it will still be sunny and pretty warm during the day. However, being RIGHT on the coast, temperatures will certainly drop considerably at night, and breezes could be chilly. (Here's the weather from September 2015 for reference.) Our ceremony is outside and our reception is in a partially open tent, so you'll want to bring something warm to slip on as it gets cooler. We'll be on a lawn, so it's probably best to stay away from spiky heels, and if you plan on kicking on late into the night, (as we hope you will!) the party will move down onto a small beach area for a bonfire after the noise curfew. (So if you want to bring something cozier/more causal to change into for the beach, please do!) 

If I drive to the wedding and have an EXTRA good time, how will I get back to my bed?

We definitely don't want anyone to feel like they need to abstain from the festivities or (worse) need to drive when they shouldn't. We will have shuttles to take people home at the end of the evening, (running as widely as around Albion to Fort Bragg and in between,) so no need to worry about being within walking distance from the site. Anyone who needs to can pick up their car from the site the next day. As we get closer to the actual date, we'll send out information on the shuttle schedules and routes. 

I have a baby/babies and they're coming with me. What should I do with them?

When we got engaged back in October 2014, we didn't think there would be many small humans present on the big day--we didn't have that many friends with children. But a lot can happen in 23 months, and a lot already has! So if you're planning on bringing small children to the wedding, let us know ASAP so we can reassign your invitation. 

...Just kidding! Babies/small humans are welcome, and we also hope that their respective parents can take some time to enjoy the festivities and take a load off as well. The wedding will take place on a private property, and our families will be staying in the two houses on the property, so our thought was that we could offer a room (or two, if needed) as a kiddo play/crash room. Our wedding coordinator is also a new mother who lives in the area, so she has a number of recommended and vetted local sitters, so if there's interest amongst the parents in bringing in some additional help, let us know and we can help facilitate. 

General Info that Might be of Use

Mendocino, while a hopping vacation/wedding destination, is still a pretty small town. There are not a lot of chain stores in town or close by, so just something to keep in mind as far as things you might need to purchase while you're in town. (i.e., 24-hour grocery stores and giant drug stores are not within the immediate vicinity.) The local grocery stores and other amenities seemed to serve us just fine when we visited on our reconnaissance trip, but if you have specific products that you know you need, you might want to plan on bringing them. OR, you can also grab things in San Francisco or some of the larger cities on the journey North. 

Also in the "smaller town" vein, cell service can be a little spotty here and there. In town it was just fine, but if you're staying in a house rental tucked away in the Redwoods, you might find your signal comes and goes a bit. We didn't have any issues with this, but just helpful to keep in mind if you're relying on GoogleMaps to get around. Remember that you can access maps without service, as long as you loaded the directions when you DID have service. 

And another small town feature! Some, not all, but some businesses only accept cash. There are plenty of ATMs, of course, but you may find it handy to come with some cash ready, just in case. 

From what we can tell, Mendocino is mostly made up of relatively well-off retired hippies. There's a lot of folk music, vegetarian/vegan food is pretty easy to find, and the overall vibe is very liberal and relaxed. Which is right up our alley! And in that spirit, we'll probably try to find some time to have a little informal music-making--most likely at the Sunday BBQ. We have a number of musically-inclined friends and family members, so hopefully we can get a little hootenanny of sorts going at some point. This is just fair warning--if this appeals to you, come prepared to jump in! If it's within your capacity to bring an instrument, all the better. Hooray!