FAQs

Question

Can I bring a plus one?

Answer

Our wedding is strictly RSVP only. Due to the capacity with our reception venue, we are sadly unable to accommodate additional guests. We will only be able to accommodate those listed on your invitation. Thank you for understanding!

Question

Are children welcome on the wedding day?

Answer

All invited children have been listed directly on the wedding invitation and will be listed on the wedding website as a guest to be RSVPd for the events of the wedding weekend. As you consider your family plans, please be mindful that the wedding ceremony will be up to an hour long and is a time of reverence and deep meaning. It is our desire that these intentionally quiet moments are not interrupted by disruptive behavior so please be mindful of this format when deciding for your children to attend the ceremony. There is a barn nearby to the ceremony area where children can be taken if the format of a quiet ceremony does not align.

Question

Are children welcome at other weekend events?

Answer

Yes! Unfortunately, due to a town ordinance, we cannot add additional guests for the wedding day, though.

Question

Are there childcare options?

Answer

We are working on collecting recommendations for local childcare. We aim to suggest a few people who are well-vetted by our community, and can meet your logistical needs. If you would like to attend the wedding without your children, or if you would like to bring them to only the ceremony or the reception, talk to us about figuring out an option for childcare at your accommodations.

Question

What kind of food will be provided?

Answer

All weekend meals that we provide will be vegetarian. We have both been vegetarians for over 10 years. In fact, we became vegetarians during the same summer. Melissa ate her last hot dog when she was 15 at a family barbecue in Michigan. Sam ate his last bratwurst at a college dining hall while interning in Germany at age 19. We like to think we were connected by an invisible string when we made our respective decisions. We are excited to share this core tenet of our values with our family and friends, and to show you all how delicious and nourishing vegetarian food can be! Vegetarian means no meat or seafood, but dairy and eggs are fair game. Please let us know if you have specific dietary restrictions. If you need your fix of meat, we are sure the Outback Steakhouse next to the Courtyard Marriott will be happy to serve you :).

Question

There are a lot of weekend events - what meals will be provided?

Answer

For the post-bike ride picnic on Friday, we’ll share details about a recommended restaurant for pickup, or feel free to bring your own lunch. We'll provide drinks and light noshes. The Saturday afternoon activities do not include food. For the Saturday Havdallah, we recommend eating a light dinner beforehand - a great chance to get together with your fellow wedding guests! We will provide some light noshes, drinks, and dessert at the event. For the wedding day (Sunday), we are delighted to feed you cocktail hour munchies, a full catered dinner, drinks, dessert, and the works. Dinner will be served on the early side (around 5:30 or 6:00 PM), so consider keeping your lunch light. On Monday morning, brunch will be available on a rolling basis at the Courtyard Marriott.

Question

What is the attire?

Answer

For the wedding day, we ask guests to dress in summer cocktail attire. Ladies might enjoy midi or shorter dresses, dressy separates, or jumpsuits. Men can wear dress shirts with chinos or dress pants and blazers or sport coats. Please choose outdoor-friendly shoes and bring a light layer. Garden/sunset colors encouraged! See our Pinterest if you’re looking for inspiration: tinyurl.com/guest-attire-inspiration All other weekend events are casual.

Question

Will the wedding take place indoors or outdoors?

Answer

Our ceremony and cocktail hour will be outdoors, while the reception will take place indoors in a climate-controlled barn. Guests will need to step on grass and wood chips briefly to take their seats. For that reason, stiletto or otherwise-thin heels are not recommended.

Question

What happens in case of bad weather?

Answer

If weather conditions require, the ceremony and cocktail hour will move into the barn.

Question

How should I prepare for an outdoor ceremony?

Answer

September in Michigan is usually warm but mild. Sometimes it’s still pretty hot. Plan to bring layers. Note that you will walk briefly on grass and wood chips, so sturdy shoes will be helpful. We don’t expect many bugs, but it could be a little sunny from behind, so consider sunscreen on the back of your neck!

Question

What are our transportation options for the wedding?

Answer

We are not providing transportation for the wedding or any of the weekend events. Parking is available at the wedding venue and all other events. All events except the Ann Arbor bike ride and picnic are within about a 10-minute drive of the recommended hotels. Uber and Lyft also operate in the area. We strongly encourage carpooling. You can coordinate car rentals or rides throughout the weekend on the guest coordination hub (tinyurl.com/our-guest-coordination-hub) or WhatsApp (tinyurl.com/wedding-WhatsApp).

Question

How can we keep in touch during the wedding weekend?

Answer

Join the WhatsApp community (tinyurl.com/wedding-WhatsApp)! We have a few premade channels, but invite you to create your own as well. You can also reach Sam at 610-405-5433 or Melissa at 248-504-1528, but we won’t be on our phones much that weekend.

Question

Can you help me find…?

Answer

Aha, we thought you might ask! Melissa loves logistics, so you know she has thought of this. Check out our guest coordination hub (tinyurl.com/our-guest-coordination-hub) to connect with our many out of town guests for room sharing, carpooling, and more. If you are local, check it out and see if there is anything you can help with. Anyone can also join our WhatsApp to coordinate with each other and make new friends (tinyurl.com/wedding-WhatsApp)!

Question

How is Allon pronounced?

Answer

You will get a different answer depending who you ask. In our house, we say “uh-lahn,” as in “Sam Allon the Science Mon.”