Semi-formal to business casual. No jeans please :) Practical shoes advised as ceremony will be outside on the grass.
The wedding will be nontraditional in five key ways. First the ceremony will be non-religious. The key difference is us choosing to be handfasted rather than exchange rings. In addition, the ceremony will be outside and officiated by Andrea’s father. Second the ceremony will be a short 5-10 minutes. We won’t have the traditional rows of chairs for people to sit. We encourage people to gather in a close semi-circle around the ceremony. There will be some chairs available if you don’t think you can stand for 5-10 minutes. Third, there isn’t a bridal party. Therefore, there will be no maid of honor or best man. Fourth, there will be yard games/activities to do including a scavenger hunt and bonfire. We will have games that are suitable for children and adults. Fifth, no alcohol is allowed at the venue. So we ask you to not bring any in.
After the ceremony, there will be yard games/activities to do including a scavenger hunt and a bonfire. We will provide snacks, including smores, throughout the day. We aim to have a family picnic vibe for the reception. Dinner will be buffet style and as soon as the food gets put out, please feel free to eat. You do not need to wait for an announcement or for the bride or groom to get their food first. No alcohol is allowed at the venue. So we ask you to not bring any in. Beverages, including coffee and soda, will be available.
Cabbage rolls are usually meat and rice wrapped in cabbage covered in red sauce. It is called holubsti in Ukrainian and is a dish Andrea grew up with among others that will be served at the reception. We are ordering our food from Kramarczuk’s. It’s a traditional Eastern European restaurant with Ukrainian ownership that has hired recent Ukrainian immigrants for decades as a means of first employment. The food is great, and near and dear to Andrea's family roots. https://kramarczuks.com/restaurant Here is what holubtsi is: https://order.toasttab.com/online/kramarczuk-sausage-company/item-cabbage-roll_0cb5a5b3-0c02-4fae-b60c-950782155e4a