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Christine Alencar

&

Joe Messere

Christine Alencar

&

Joe Messere

March 28, 2026

Charlottesville, VA

Schedule

The Wedding Website of Joe Messere and Christine Alencar

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Wedding Ceremony

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church
1901 Thomson Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22903

Garden Attire: sundresses, suits in lighter hues, casual clean and classy.

Reception

3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church
1901 Thomson Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903

Get ready to cut a rug! After "I do", we'll gather in the lower level church fellowship hall for cake, hors d'oeuvres, toasts, and dancing. If you want to change clothes before heading to the cabin around 5:30pm, feel free to use the church facilities. There will also be space at the cabin to change.

Parking for Dunlodge (Camp Wedding Potluck & Afterparty)

5:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Parking will be at the St. Anne's-Belfield School. Once you're on site, follow their signs to the Squash Courts (up the hill to the left). When you park, there will be signage directing you along the short gravel path to the Dunlodge property nearby.

Camp Wedding Potluck & Afterparty

5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Change into your favorite camp sweatshirt and tennis shoes.

The main event: Camp Wedding! Join us at nearby Dunlodge Cabin for a casual, laidback barbeque and bonfire. The setting will be indoor-outdoor. Bring an extra layer for warmth and comfortable shoes so you can mill about the grounds with ease (change at the church at 5:30pm, or you can use the rooms / bathrooms at the cabin). Mains, drinks, music, and games will be provided by Camp Hosts. If you are able, please bring a side that you are famous for or would love to have and share. Sides can be dropped off before the wedding (as early as Thursday evening) or can be brought directly after church events.

RSVP

Please enter the first and last name of one member of your party below.
If you're responding for you and a guest (or your family), you'll be able to RSVP for your entire group on the next page.

Ex. Sarah Fortune (not The Fortune Family or Dr. & Mr. Fortune)

Wedding Party

Our wedding party will be small (in stature and quantity!) but we'd like to thank our friends and family who are helping to pull it all together! Please be sure to thank them for all their support when you see them at the party.

Dougie & Manny Alencar

The WHOLE Wedding Party

Lela Garner

Head Paper Chain Maker

Mimi Fitzpatrick

Lead Cat Herder

Sheena Clift

Organizer Extraordinaire

John Messere

Grill Master

Steve Messere

BBQ Guru

Craig Ellis

Chief Speech Maker

Registry

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Your presence is gift enough, but if you're feeling generous, please donate to one of our favorite charities listed here, or to any charitable organization doing good in the world. Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church: https://wesleymumc.org/giving Special Olympics Virginia: https://www.specialolympicsva.org/ways-to-give Warrior Sailing, wounded veteran sailing program: https://warriorsailing.org/
Park at 2130 Old Ivy Road (St. Anne's-Belfield School upper parking lot) to access Dunlodge.
Wedding Cake Tasting Time!
Best puzzle we ever did together!
Dry Falls, North Carolina
Ask Dougie and Joe why they were laughing so hard in this campfire photo (North Carolina)

FAQs

Question

Are kids allowed?

Answer

If you know us, you know the answer. Please bring your littles. We love them.

Question

Parking at Dunlodge

Answer

Dunlodge will not have sufficient space for everyone to park. For an area map showing parking arrangements, navigate to our PHOTO GALLERY (the very first photo is a parking and walking map to Dunlodge). Written instructions here: To get to Dunlodge, park at nearby Saint Anne's-Belfield School. We have reserved their athletics parking lot at 2130 Ivy Road. Once you have parked, there will be signs to guide you on the 0.18 mile walk to Dunlodge. Remember: change into your comfortable shoes before you head to the lodge, and bring any shared food or changes of clothes / jackets you will want to have.

Question

I am visiting from out of town. Where should I stay?

Answer

We have not blocked rooms at any particular hotel in town. Sonesta ES Suites Charlottesville University and Holiday Inn Charlottesville Monticello are both reliable choices that are close to wedding venues, local restaurants, and amenities. Sonesta https://www.sonesta.com/sonesta-es-suites/va/charlottesville/sonesta-es-suites-charlottesville-university?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb Holiday Inn https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/charlottesville/choso/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-HI-_-US-_-CHOSO

Question

What do I wear?

Answer

Ceremony and church reception will be clean, fresh, and church-y. Dress up but stay comfortable. For the potluck barbeque at the cabin, we highly recommend bringing along a comfortable pair of shoes suited to uneven terrain. If you don't feel like making a full wardrobe change, we recommend a warm sweatshirt, coverup, or jacket. Guests wanting a full wardrobe change are encouraged to use church facilities at the end of the church reception but there are plenty of rooms at the cabin if you prefer changing there. Remember: Camp Wedding will be indoor-outdoor with fire pits, coolers, and picnic areas.

Question

If I want to change clothes between the church and cabin, where can I do that?

Answer

You have two options: Change at the church around 5:30pm before heading to the cabin, or when you arrive at the cabin. There are plenty of rooms at both locations.

Question

Do I have to bring a side dish?

Answer

No. We have lots of guests volunteering to bring food. If you are in charge of kids, coming from out of town, or if you simply don't want to bring food, we got you! Just come and have fun. There will be plenty.

Question

When and how do I deliver my side dish for the cabin potluck?

Answer

We are encouraging food-making guests to deliver their sides to the cabin before noon on Saturday, March 28th. Alternatively, dishes can be kept fresh in your car with a cooler (if needed) and brought directly to the potluck following church celebrations. Luckily, March is generally a cool month in Virginia.

Question

Help! I have a dietary restriction.

Answer

We are pretty confident that among all the food choices, there should be something for everyone, but reach out if you have questions about a specific dietary restriction, especially allergies.

Question

I can't come, but I want to participate. How?

Answer

Easy! First, our church offers live streaming of events in the sanctuary. You can watch the ceremony from the comfort of wherever you're at if you prefer (link coming soon). Second, we're encouraging guests to donate to charitable organizations if their budgets allow. Both are great ways to celebrate.