FAQs

Question

Are there any other events that I should know about around the wedding?

Answer

As we bring our cultures together for our special day(s) we are planning two ceremonies. One is a traditional Indian ceremony (held on Thursday). The other will be a Western Civil Ceremony (held on Saturday). The main reception will follow events on Saturday at Gunners Barracks. We are planning a few other non-wedding events for our international visitors throughout the wedding week. These are entirely optional. Stay tuned for details on the Schedule page.

Question

Is there public transportation nearby?

Answer

Sydney has excellent public transport, so unless you’re going to parts of Greater Sydney without a train station (or regional areas in the state), you won’t need to rent a car. Across Sydney, trains are the gold standard public transport option. Buses are also very good, and provide more coverage to areas where trains don’t directly go. Ferries are amazing for areas across the water, and if the weather is good we’d always recommend taking a ferry when possible (anything around Sydney Harbour is stunning!). Trams are new in the inner areas, although they’re generally slower than taking a bus. We strongly recommend downloading the TripView App to plan trip routes and view timetables for all forms of transport. The Premium version of the app (one-time $4.50 fee) gives live location of all trains / buses / ferries. To use public transport to travel to Gunners Barracks, the best option is below: Ferry F2 or F6 departs from Circular Quay and arrives at Taronga Zoo Wharf. From Taronga Zoo Wharf, Athol Wharf Rd bus stop, take Bus 238 Balmoral Beach to Middle Head Rd. Then walk 10 minutes to Gunners Barracks

Question

Are you registered? Where?

Answer

We know that many of you are traveling from far and wide to join us for our special day. Your presence is the best gift that we could ask for. However if you absolutely insist, you may contribute to our Newlywed Fund on our Registry page.

Question

Is there parking for the ceremony or reception?

Answer

There is limited parking at the Gunners Barracks venue, although there will be some street parking nearby. Best option is to use Uber or public transportation.

Question

What weather can I expect in Australia in November?

Answer

Fun Fact: The seasons are flipped in the Southern Hemisphere! Our wedding in November is late spring / early summer, meaning that while temperatures are starting to warm up, it’s still not too hot. Sydney weather has been wild the last few years with colder summers and lots of rain due to La Niña, so it’s hard to predict exactly what the weather will be like. Sydney during summer is more humid than the US West Coast, but nowhere near as humid as Midwest summers. It’s best to pack for light summer conditions, noting that it could be quite a lot hotter, or also a bit cooler than expected.

Question

Is there really a hole in the ozone layer over Australia?

Answer

YES! Across Australia, make sure to wear sunscreen regularly. The sun is harsher in Australia due to the hole in the ozone layer, the Southern Hemisphere being closer to the sun in summer, and relatively pollution-free air.

Question

What do I need to know about the scary Australian wildlife?

Answer

You don’t need to worry about spiders and snakes! No one has died from a confirmed spider bite in Australia since 1979 (when anti-venom was introduced), and Australia averages between 1-2 deaths from snakes per year.

Question

I want to rent a car. What do I need to know about driving in Australia?

Answer

Drive safe if you’re renting a car - Australia drives on the other side of the road, and the lanes in Sydney are much narrower than in the US. If you’re a comfortable / confident driver, you’ll be totally fine to drive there, just be really careful when coming out of parking lots or one-way roads (most likely situation where you’ll accidentally go on the wrong side).

Question

Is there anything that I need to know about law enforcement in Australia?

Answer

Law enforcement / police in Australia are much stricter than in the US. Australia takes border control very seriously, so don’t bring anything into the country that’s restricted - e.g. weapons, illicit substances, fruit, plants (see full list at the website below). In terms of driving, police in Australia frequently conduct random alcohol and drug tests (they don’t need a reason to pull you over). You can be fined by police if you’re even slightly over the speed limit, and there are also lots of stationary cameras (red light, speed, detecting whether you’re on the phone). Stationary red light and speed cameras have warning signs, but the phone detection cameras do not. https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/can-you-bring-it-in/list-of-items#

Question

Do Australians tip?

Answer

Unlike in the US, tipping is largely not part of the culture and not expected in Australia due to higher minimum wages in the service and hospitality industries. You’re always welcome to tip if you really want to, but it’s not expected and at most places you go to eat or drink, there won’t even be an option to tip.

Question

Ummm... Are you guys forgetting about the most important football game of the year? What's the plan?

Answer

I could never! It seems like planning a wedding during Michigan sports weekends runs in the family (Shealyn's parents also got married on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, splitting their priorities between wedding and football). There's good news and bad news. The bad news: If kickoff starts at 12PM EST (as it did last year), the game will start at 4AM on Sunday morning in Sydney. You can best believe that we'll have the game on in our room, but it is less than ideal. The good news: You heard it here first, an anniversary trip to watch the game at the Big House is imminent! PS - For our Australian guests, Shealyn's alma mater, the University of Michigan, faces their fiercest rivalry football game with Ohio State on November 25.