We're getting married!

How to Reserve Your Room for Sunday Night: 💻 Use this direct link:
https://reservations.travelclick.com/115799?groupID=4589275 This link is in "Lodging and Travel." Please use a desktop computer, not your iPhone, to access the booking page. 📅 Wedding Weekend Timeline 🌟 Saturday, March 29, 2025 We'll see you Saturday afternoon if you’re part of the rehearsal crew.✨
 _______________________________ 🌅 Sunday, March 30, 2025 ✨
 Morning | A Mikveh Polar Plunge early Sunday morning. ||||||| ✨
Afternoon |
 Ceremony: 4:00 PM at Tower Hill 🌄 ||||||| ✨
Evening |
 Reception: 5:00 PM at Mable’s🍴 There will be food, there will be dancing, and yes, there will be cake. ____________________________________ 🌞 Monday, March 31, 2025, Farewell coffee & pastries🌞 One last chance to see your face, hang out, and eat. ____________________________________ 🏡 Additional Details https://lodgeatmarconi.com https://www.mablesrestaurant.com So pack your fancy clothes, bring your dancing shoes, winter clothes, walking shoes, rainwear (just in case), and prepare to celebrate our love. ✨✨✨💖Katie & Ezra💖✨✨✨

* First date- May 4, 2021 * First trip October 1. 2021– A weekend in Calistoga * First Sunset Together – On New Year’s Day 2022, we watched the sunset at Bodega Bay, * Meeting the Family – Ezra introduced Katie to his parents and sister on March 2, 2022. * First “I love you” on April 25, 2022

1913: Once upon a time, an Italian genius named Guglielmo Marconi, the father of modern wireless communication (won a noble prize in 1909), looked at the scenic hills of Marshall and thought, “This is the perfect place to beam messages across the globe.” Thus, the Marconi Wireless Station was born, connecting continents long before Wi-Fi was even a twinkle in anyone’s eye. 1920s-30s: RCA Takes Over
. Fast forward a few decades, and RCA snatched up this tech marvel. The station continued to hum with activity, sending telegrams and maritime messages while the hills remained blissfully unaware of their budding legacy. 1940s: War and Waves
During World War II, Uncle Sam joined the party and used the site for military communications. 1964: Enter Synanon—The Cult of Communal Living
. And then things got interesting. In 1964, a charismatic, chain-smoking visionary named Charles Dederich brought his Synanon organization to the Marconi site. What started as a drug rehab program quickly spiraled into a full-blown cult. Complete with head-shaving, child-rearing by the group, and “The Game”—a bizarre form of verbal therapy that was equal parts roast battle and group confessional. 1970s: Peak Synanon. 
By the 70s, Synanon had gone from feel-good rehab to paranoia. Members lived communally, wore uniforms, and enforced wild rules like mandatory vasectomies for men. Synanon was also not shy about their enemies—infamously placing a rattlesnake in the mailbox of a lawyer who dared to sue them. 1978: Bye, Synanon
. As cults tend to do, Synanon imploded. With lawsuits, criminal investigations, and public scandals piling up, they packed their bags and left Marconi. The dream was over, and the site returned to a quieter existence. 1980s-90s: From Chaos to Calm
The State of California swooped in, transforming this once-cultish compound into a serene historic state park. Gone were the rattlesnakes and shouting matches; peaceful conference-goers, hikers, and history buffs came in their place. 2023: The Lodge at Marconi
. Today, the site has been reimagined as a luxury retreat where guests can enjoy the views and ponder its wild history. 2025: Ezra David Herzog and Katie B Brody will Marry!

Katie and Ezra’s wedding at the Marconi Lodge isn’t just a celebration of love—it’s a tribute to resilience, bravery, and deep family ties to this historic place. Long before the Marconi site became the beautiful retreat it is today, it was the headquarters of one of California’s most infamous cults: Synanon. And Katie’s grandfather played a critical role in helping children escape its dangerous grasp. In the 1970s, Synanon, which began as a drug rehabilitation program, devolved into a violent and controlling cult under the leadership of Charles Dederich. Families were torn apart as children were separated from their parents and subjected to harsh, authoritarian rules. Some children, desperate to escape the oppressive environment, risked everything to find freedom. For many of them, Katie’s grandfather was their lifeline. Living just up the road from the Marconi site, Katie’s grandparents offered refuge to these children. Her grandfather, a quiet hero, would pick up the escaping kids under the cover of night. He provided them with food, clothing, and—most importantly—a path to safety. With bravery and compassion, he drove them out of the area, all while fearing retribution from the cult, which had grown increasingly violent and paranoid. Synanon had a reputation for retaliation, including attacks on critics and perceived enemies, and Katie’s grandfather knew the risks of his actions. As Synanon spiraled into chaos, its leadership resorted to shocking levels of violence. Members were instructed to assault outsiders and dissenters, culminating in infamous incidents like placing a rattlesnake in the mailbox of a lawyer who had filed lawsuits against the cult. The community that once promised healing became a nightmare of fear and control, with children trapped in the middle. Katie’s grandfather’s efforts were not just acts of kindness—they were acts of courage in the face of a hazardous organization. Today, as Katie and Ezra prepare to say their vows at the Marconi Lodge, they carry the legacy of resilience and hope that Katie’s grandparents embodied. What was once a dark chapter in the area’s history has been transformed into a place of love, celebration, and new beginnings. Their wedding serves as a poignant reminder of the bravery it takes to stand up for what’s right and the enduring power of community and connection. While Katie and Ezra embrace the history of the Marconi site, they’re also creating new memories filled with joy, laughter, and a celebration of the people they love most.