Loading...
the union of
Brandi & Caleb
Brandi &
Caleb
Brandi & Caleb
Countdown Blog
Keeping you updated on all the inane details whether you like it or not
-
SoCal Wedding Shower!
 We just got back from a fantastic labor day weekend in Southern California where we celebrated the upcoming wedding with our friends at Oli and Amanda's house!
  Oli took on the tough task of hanging the tissue paper poofs with great success.
  Caleb lent a helping hand by peeling some jicama for the tasty coleslaw.
  Â Angela and Amanda discussing the finer points of the flowers.                         Â
Caleb, Angela, Amanda, Tony and Wendy enjoying the Micheladas that Wendy mixed up for us.Â
  Christina laughing at me as I contemplate what exactly is in a Michelada - which turns out to be beer, spicy Clamato juice, and lime. My mind was reeling.Â
  Angela and Jack, both former neighbors and friends, manning the grill.
  Joel, Angela, Keiran, and Setsuko relaxing in the backyard.
  Caleb talking to Jack during his break from the grill.
  Amanda, Jack and Caleb.
  Amanda and Oli, whose backyard we all got to enjoy during the party.
  Caleb and I contemplating our upcoming marriage as Tony and Wendy offer us their encouragement.Â
  Joel showing off his new iPhone to Setsuko and Keiran.
  Oli and Jack in front of the grills.   We had a great time and were so happy everyone took the time to come out to celebrate with us - even those that are planning on coming up for the wedding too! It was an awesome afternoon and we can't thank you guys enough. Hurray! Three weeks to go!Added by Brandi on Tue, Sep 2nd 2008
0 comment(s) -
P.S.
... we've been busy updating the site for your viewing pleasure. Check out the "Cast of Characters" Page!
Added by Brandi on Tue, Aug 12th 2008
0 comment(s) -
And They're Off!
After a slight problem getting the stamps delivered to us, we spent the weekend hunched over cardstock and inkpads. And the big news- we sent out the invitations yesterday!
So check your mailboxes and we're looking forward to seeing you there!Added by Brandi on Tue, Aug 12th 2008
0 comment(s) -
Hey! Look at This!
A quick interruption in wedding-related content
So for those of you that heaven't heard, I recently took a job as pastry chef at one of my old employers, Town Hall restaurant in San Francisco. I've been there about a month now and it's good to be back! I just recently finished switching the menu over to my own desserts, so here's a copy of the menu for your enjoyment:
The only dessert that is not my creation is the Pot de Creme - while I have made improvements to it, it's Town Hall's signature dessert so I can't take it off the menu. So if you're in the area stop in an say hi!
www.townhallsf.comAdded by Brandi on Tue, Aug 12th 2008
1 comment(s) -
Once More, With Feeling
A review of the important details
  Ok, so since September is almost upon us, and invites should be going out this next week, we wanted to review all the important info you all might need to get you out to Wellspring and enjoy your weekend with us. Some things to remember:
• If you want to stay in the area over the weekend and haven't made arrangements already, do it quickly! Off-site hotels are booking up fast since there are two other weddings happening in the area that weekend. Go to the accommodations page for phone numbers and links to hotels.• If you want to stay at Wellspring please lock down your reservation with Amanda as soon as possible. We have a few rustic cabins still available at $40 per person per night. She can be reached at VineyardEvents@yahoo.com. Tent Cabins and camp sites will be available for free on a first come, first served basis so no need to reserve ahead of time if you're planning on roughing it (within reason- there are bathrooms and showers available at the campsites.)• Driving directions to Wellspring can be found HERE. Plan on about a 2 1/2 Hour drive from San Francisco and about a 1 1/2 hour drive from Santa Rosa. Once you get onto HWY 128 there will be a lot of twists and turns. Once you get into Boonville, you're almost there. Philo is about five more miles up the road. When you see a Fire Station to your right and a Logging Mill to your left, you're almost at the turn off to Ray's Road.• The ceremony will be held on Wellspring's back deck at 4:30pm on Saturday and will most likely be standing room only with the exception of a few chairs for grandparents and those that might need to sit. It won't be a long ceremony but it will be outdoors so please don't wear heels if you can help it or you will be uncomfortable walking around and standing on the gravel.• The weather should be warm during the day and cool off at night with the possibility of the fog rolling in. The BBQ/reception will be immediately following the ceremony. If you're just coming up for the day pack something warm for when the weather cools down. If you're staying for the weekend, don't forget your swimsuit!• If you're staying at Wellspring, we suggest that you bring slippers or flip-flops, sunscreen, bug repellant, hiking shoes (if you're into that), and a flashlight. Also, bring your own towels and toiletries or contact us if you're traveling by air and don't have room - we can make arrangements for you. Contrary to what Wellspring's "What to Bring" PDF says, there are linens and pillows on the beds in the Rustic Cabins so don't worry about that.• If you're staying at Wellspring, you can check in as early as 11A.M. on Friday the  19th. We will probably be there by then ourselves, but if you're staying in the area for the weekend you can arrive at any time Friday. Keep in mind there will be a Welcome Dinner Friday night at Wellspring to which you are all invited, starting at 6pm. See the Wedding Information Page for details.ÂAdded by Brandi on Mon, Jul 28th 2008
1 comment(s) -
Proof that the invites are actually coming
No, really. We promise.
 So we have the cardstock and envelopes, Caleb is finishing up the type for the stamps, and I've addressed nearly all of them. We should be finishing them up this week and hopefully getting them all out to you by the next one. Bear with us, what did you expect from a couple of procrastinators with no free time to speak of?
Added by Brandi on Sun, Jul 27th 2008
0 comment(s) -
Best. Engagement Announcement. Ever.
The best part is the last names in script.
  So my mom wanted to put an engagement announcement in Santa Rosa's local paper. We agreed on the condition that we got to pick the picture that went along with it.Â
 Thanks, Silke, for taking that awesome picture.Â
Added by Brandi on Sun, Jul 27th 2008
1 comment(s) -
Seattle Field Trip!!
Dress fittings, wedding rings, Tamarind Tree and Jolly Roger
 Ok, so with three months (!!) to go we took a jaunt up to Seattle for my dress fitting. Chrissy Wai-Ching (www.wai-ching.com) is making my not-exactly-traditional wedding dress. Since I sent up my measurements and my dress is a hybrid of a few of her creations, we thought going up for a fitting would be a good idea and it was a chance to get away and go hit up our old haunts we've been missing. We stayed with my cousin and her family (Thanks, Lisa!!)Â
  Our first stop on Sunday was to Top Pot donuts. Huge, delicious donuts in our former hood of Capitol Hill.Â
 ÂAlso some great coffee. One of the things Seattle does best.
  With that out of the way, we wandered around Capitol Hill and noticed how much things had changed. We also had to jump in to the local QFC to see if they had the beer we loved on sale. (Hey, we've got priorities)...
Note that the aisle description calls it "Micro Brews", not just "Beer." Now THAT is awesome. Seattle takes its beer seriously.
  They didn't have the beer we were looking for (Snoqualmie Spring Fever, their spring seasonal ale) but look at this selection. This is at the local SUPERMARKET. Try finding anything comparable to this at Safeway.
  Above you can see a selection of Port Brewing's beers, and also Anderson Valley Brewing Co.'s Imperial IPA. These two breweries are both from California. Outside of City Beer store, I've never seen them for sale in San Francisco. And here they are at one of Seattle's local grocery stores. Sigh.  Dicks Hamburgers, Washington's answer to In n' Out Burgers. Greasier but just as tasty...Â
  Next we hit up a local indie jewelry shop we liked and found our wedding rings. That being so quick and easy, we were lured into a smug sense of accomplishment.Â
  Mine will looks like this but a bit narrower. Caleb's band will be solid but have three small gold dots so they're somewhat match-y.
  And what better way to celebrate a smug sense of self-accomplishment than with some beer and smoked onion rings?
Caleb, disappointed by the fact that they were out of our beloved Jolly Roger Ale. The Nightwatch Ale was tasty, but a poor substitute.
 So we went in search of the Jolly Roger. Found it at Bottleworks, the local specialty beer store. Most expensive six-pack I ever bought. Totally worth it.
  Hey, did you hear? Hypercolor is back.
  Heading in to Chrissy's Studio for my fitting....
  You didn't expect to get to see the whole dress did you?
  My burns are my favorite accessory. Ok maybe a few more: here's some close ups of the embroidery and dye-work...
  And one of our last stops before we headed home had to be Tamarind Tree. Yum.
All this for about nine bucks a plate. So, so good.
 And that's it. Dress turned out even better than I had hoped, We got our rings ordered and on their way, we had tasty food and beer. Pretty much everything we could ask for. Except sunny, warm weather. This is Seattle, after all.ÂAdded by Brandi on Sun, Jul 27th 2008
0 comment(s) -
Five Months To Go.....
.... time to start thinking about where you'll be sleeping
 So now that the Save-the-dates are slowly trickling out (sorry, we're working on it...) you guys are visiting the site and hopefully planning on joining us in September. As I posted previously, we wanted to give you plenty of lead-time to book a place to stay for the weekend of the wedding. If you visit the Accommodations page you can see what is available close by.Â
  If you are interested in staying at Wellspring, we have handed off the booking arrangements to our planner, Amanda. She can be contacted at VineyardEvents@yahoo.com. There is a limited amount of availability so if you'd like to stay there get in contact with her as soon as possible. Staying at Wellspring will be very much like summer camp - while she will book you a bed according to your preferences and availability, you will be sharing a cabin, and likely a room, with others. If you know whom you'd like to share with, let her know and she'll do her best to group people together.  Beds in the Lodges/ Housekeeping cabins near the main hall and farmhouse will be $60 per person per night. Rustic cabins will be $40 per person per night. If you'd like to camp out, the tent cabins and campsite will be free on a first-come first-served basis - but we hope everyone camping will be neighborly and share.  We're hoping staying at Wellspring will be a fun experience, and a chance for everyone to see and hang out with family and old friends and also make new ones. It's going to be one big weekend party! But again, if you would rather have your own room away from it all, please visit the Accommodations page and book your rooms ASAP - the Anderson Valley is a small area and the hotels can fill up quickly! We can't wait to see you all there!  And don't forget to visit the RSVP page and let us know you're coming! If you'll only be joining us for part of the weekend be sure to let us know in the notes/comments section. Thanks!  ÂAdded by Brandi on Fri, Apr 25th 2008
1 comment(s) -
It's Always Sunny in The Mission...
We've Moved!
In case you haven't heard, we have moved to The Mission. We've got a great place that gets tons of sunlight and our own backyard! Here's our updated address:
65 Hill St. Apt D.San Francisco, CA 94110Added by Brandi on Sun, Mar 23rd 2008
1 comment(s) -
Save the Dates Are Coming Your Way!
...... when we get around to it......
 We took another trip out across the bay last Monday to pick up our Save-the-Date posters from Bloom Screenprinting. Now we just have to actually send them out!
  Brandi outside of the shop, enjoying the sunshine:
..... And without further ado.... WOOHOO! They're done!
  Caleb writing out the check for the posters....
... And Nat wrapping them up for us.
  So if you live near by or see us on a regular basis, bug us till we give you one and save us some money on postage! Less than six months to go!!Added by Brandi on Sun, Mar 23rd 2008
0 comment(s) -
Save-the-Dates Are Almost Ready!
Color Field Trip!
 I took a field trip out to see Nat at Bloom Screen Printing last week to check the color on the posters before the final printing...
 Â  Bloom Screen Printing is located in scenic Oakland, California.
 Inside the shop, and shelves of ink.
 Matching up the ink colors to the pantone swatch colors we had picked out...
And a look at the film of our Save-the Dates for the screens:
Added by Caleb on Sun, Mar 23rd 2008
0 comment(s) -
Wedding FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Answers to all your burning, itching questions
So you're finally getting married, huh? It's about time!!
Wow, we haven't heard that one before. No, really. Seriously. Ahem. This phrase might have to be banned from use during the wedding weekend. C'mon people - we're both masters of procrastination, so why would you expect anything different?
Ok, Fine. So what's with this whole "wedding weekend" deal?Â
 Well, when we started to think about how we wanted our wedding to be, it didn't really appeal to us to pack it all into a few hours, especially since we have friends and family all over the globe that we hope will join us and we want to be able to spend time with. Typically wedding days are a blur for the bride and groom, but we wanted enough time to be able to kick back, relax and hang out with the people that really matter to us - all of you. And if we're going to ask you to make the trek here we thought we should keep you entertained for more than just a few hours.
And this is all taking place at a hippie retreat in the woods? How do I get there?
 Wellspring is in the middle of the Anderson Valley, about two and a half hours north of San Francisco. From the Bay Area and the South, take 101 North to 128 West (Fort Bragg/Mendocino/Boonville Exit just past Cloverdale). From North of Ukiah, take 101 South to the Hwy 253/Boonville exit. Take 253 approximately 16 miles, and then turn right onto Hwy 128 in Boonville. From Hwy 128, continue on through Boonville to the little town of Philo, and turn left onto Ray’s Rd. (76 gas station on the corner). Follow the signs to Wellspring, going right when the road forks. Wellspring is at 18450, the very end of Ray’s Rd. Here's where it is on Google Maps.
What's the dress code? Do I need to go to the thrift store and buy some tie-dye shirts?
 Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. It's going to be a very casual weekend. We'll be in the woods in a valley in early fall, so the weather most likely will be pretty warm during the day and cooler at night. We'll be dressed up for the ceremony, but you don't have to be. If you like polo shirts and khaki shorts, great. If you're itching to sport some hippie attire, that's fine too. But no, Jordan, you can't wear your tuxedo ;). Oh, and don't forget your swimsuit!
Where/when is the ceremony? Can I just come for that?
 If you can only join us for the ceremony, that's perfectly okay. We know it may be easier for those of you who live nearby - just specify that when you RSVP so we don't worry about whether you have somewhere to sleep. We'll be getting married in an as-yet-to-be-determined place somewhere on the grounds of Wellspring in the late afternoon on Saturday the 20th. Can't make it for the ceremony? Consider joining us for dinner Friday night instead. Can't make that either but still want to pop in? Then come by whenever you can - you know where to find us. More information on the breakdown of the weekend can be found on the Wedding Info page.
I want to come for the whole weekend. Where can I stay?
 Fantastic! See the accommodations page for more info on lodging. We'd love to have you stay at Wellspring, but if it's too "rustic" for your taste, we recommend booking a room elsewhere as early as possible because there are not a whole lot of lodging options in the valley. Â
How "rustic" are we talking here?
 That depends. As we mentioned, it is a retreat in the middle of the woods. Staying  with us at Wellspring is going to be like staying at summer-camp, because a lot of the cabins have mostly single or double beds and not much privacy. If you're looking for A king size pillowtop and your own private suite, mosey over to the accommodations page and see what else is available. The Rustic Cabins (yes, that's what they're called) do not have private bathrooms but share a bathhouse just up the slope from the cabins. And the tent cabins and campsites are just that (but they also have an actual bathhouse nearby as well.) Bed linens are provided but towels and toiletries are not. We'll post a more comprehensive list of things you might need later, or you can download Wellspring's "what to bring" PDF. Â
I want a Lodge! Put me in a Lodge!!
 Easy there, tiger. We're still working out the details of how exactly everyone who wants to stay with us will be placed, and we'll post more on this later. But for now just note that it's not going to be first-dibs or anything. Guests will be assigned to cabins based on our knowledge of their needs, but we'll give you plenty of lead-time in case you end up wanting to book something someplace else. Just keep in mind that if you're (reasonably) young and (reasonably) spry, we may ask you to stay in a rustic cabin or even (gasp!) camp out. The campsites and tent cabins will be free, however if you end up in one of the lodges or rustic cabins there will be a (very affordable) fee - it will still be the cheapest option in the valley. The cabins/lodges will hold at least 4 and up to 11 people, so if you got some buddies that are also invited that you wouldn't mind rooming with, let us know!Â
What sort of a reception are you having? Cocktails? Drum circles? A Love-in?
  The ceremony will be followed by refreshments (read: beer, wine, champagne) and some snacks, then a casual barbeque, most likely buffet-style. Maybe dancing? Some board games? Who knows.Â
Could we have pony rides?
  There is a horse at Wellspring, but I don't think it's going to be that into rides.
What about clowns on parade?
  The only clown there will be you, buddy. But maybe we'll find a piñata for old times-sake. I'm looking at you guys, Tony and Daniel.... ;) yes, we still have pictures somewhere.Â
Added by Brandi on Sat, Mar 22nd 2008
2 comment(s)