FAQs
Question
What do I need to attend this wedding?
Answer
As mentioned on the "Itinerary" page, please, bring wedding attire and additional clothing for moderate hiking adventures. We have had friends complete all the planned hikes/activities in sandals, but closed-toed shoes are likely ideal for comfort. Additionally, the trail out to Lake Ann follows along Swift Creek and is often quite wet. Thus, waterproof shoes may be the best option and/or bringing enough (extra) socks. We will provide appetizers, dinner, and dessert during the Wedding Day and a picnic-style lunch for Post-Wedding Day trip to Artist Point. Please, pack additional food as needed, most notably breakfast for the morning following the wedding ceremony and snacks for hiking in/out of Lake Ann. A basic packing list is as follows: -Hiking boots -Backpack (30 to 50 L) -Warm clothing, including a jacket and a hat -Hiking poles -Headlamp -Tent -Sleeping bag (average nighttime is 50F in August at Lake Ann) -Sleeping pad - Inflatable pillow -Backpacking stove and fuel -Lighter -Cookware (bowl, spoon, mug, etc.) -Water bottles and/or reservoir -Snacks (e.g., bars, gels, chews, trail mix) -Sunscreen/lip balm -Sunglasses -Sun Hat/bandana -Charge block for electronics -Toiletries -Personal first aid kit (we will have a master kit) -Toilet paper and Wag Bag (we will have homemade WAG bags to share -Swimming attire for the bold of heart -Note: If you want to freshen up but don't want to cold-water plunge, we will have our rudimentary, backcountry shower setup somewhere. A more comprehensive packing list can be found here: https://www.rei.com/dam/backpacking_checklist_printable.pdf Use personal judgement too when packing :) Please, call us with any questions.
Question
What if I cannot spend the night on Friday after the wedding?
Answer
No worries! Thank you so much for hiking out to Lake Ann to spend our special day with us! Anyone is welcome to hike back to their car at any point. However, please, be prepared to make the return hike independently of the bridal party (e.g., download trail on AllTrails, Gaia, Garmin, etc.) and maybe an emergency beacon (e.g. InReach) even though the trail is regularly frequented, relatively safe, and only moderately difficult. Cell service is questionable in the area. As always, reach out to us if you have additional questions or need help.
Question
What if I need additional gear?
Answer
Yeah... This is definitely a different kind of wedding that requires a bit more than a dress/ suit and a quick drive to the banquet hall. There are multiple options for navigating this question. 1. Start by reaching out to us to make a personalized plan 2. Maybe check with an outdoorsy friend to see if you can borrow needed gear. 3. There're multiple places that rent gear in WA, i.e REI (Seattle), AAI (Bellingham), etc... https://shop.alpineinstitute.com/pages/rentals) 4. Maybe you can share an item with another attendee, depending on the item, of course. 5. Possibly this is a sign that you need to purchase this item for this event and future adventures :)
Question
What happens if the weather is terrible, the surrounding forest burns, and the sky falls?
Answer
In fact, we are planning on the sky falling. The Perseid Meteor Shower will be approaching its apex (08/12), and it may be possible to see dozens of shooting stars an hour the night of our wedding. Regrettably, the moon phase will be Waxing Gibbous (Illumination: 100%), which likely will prevent good visibility for seeing many of those shooting stars. As for the myriad of other unfortunate events that could crop up, life does happen and we ask our limited number of invitees to be flexible. Assuming that it is still "worth it" to hike out to Lake Ann (e.g chance of showers or intermittent light rain), we will likely follow the original plan. Assuming the worst, an alternative location may be utilized, such as Artist Point, the shores of the Puget sound, or somewhere else mountainy in Washington. We will be closely watching the weather and providing updates leading up to the wedding! Again, thanks for flexibility and making our day special!
Question
I have another question!
Answer
Given the nature of this event, we expect that there will be additional questions. Please, don't hesitate to call, text, e-mail, or send a carrier pigeon. We will continue to update this tab with answers to questions that come our way. So, stay tuned.