Join us in our celebration of love!

Aloha party people! The countdown is ON, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you all in just a couple of weeks here in Hawaiʻi! Thank you for making the trip to join us for this unforgettable wedding weekend—we’re beyond excited! We wanted to send a quick note with some important details for Saturday, February 22, 2025, so you’re fully prepared to enjoy the festivities. WHAT TO BRING – Stay Warm & Cozy! We know “Hawaiʻi” makes you think of beaches and sunshine, but our wedding venue is up on the mountain, which means it gets cold—especially in the evening. Temperatures could drop to 50s or low 60s after dark. We want you to be comfortable, so please bring: 🧥 A warm jacket 🧦 Pants/Leggings, socks & closed-toe shoes 🧢 Hat & gloves (just in case, but hopefully won’t need them!) 🌿 For locals: Bring clothes like you’re heading to the top of Mauna Kea. ❄️ For visitors: Think light winter wear—layers are your best friend! We love a good party outfit, but warmth and comfort come first! Let’s hope for beautiful, sunny weather during the day, but be prepared to bundle up and dance the night away without freezing. HOW TO GET THERE – Follow the Road to Love & Celebration! Our venue is up the mountain, so here’s what you need to know: 📍 Starting Address: 81-6580 Mamalahoa Hwy, Kealakekua (Put this address into Google Maps, when you get there, you'll be following the road that goes up the mountain.) 🚗 Drive time from 81-6580 Mamalahoa Hwy to the wedding venue: ~25-30 minutes (~8 miles up) 🛣 Road conditions: Mostly paved, with a gravel stretch at the end. Any vehicle should be fine. 🚌 Shuttle available (limited seats): One trip up at 1:15 PM, one trip down at 8:00 PM. Please contact Eric (eric.e.gottesman@gmail.com) or Aviva if you haven't already said you want to take the shuttle. 🅿️ Parking: Available at the wedding venue and off the highway if carpooling up. GATE ACCESS – VIP Entry (a.k.a. The Code) To get through the first gate: 🔢 Enter code: 1121, then press “open.” 🚫 Please do not share this code unless the person is invited to the wedding. Follow the paved road up the mountain—you’ll pass through an automatic gate (drive slowly, it opens toward you), then another gate where you need to press a button on a black box (right-hand side). Look for yard signs that say “Aviva & Grant” along the way! 🚩🚩🚩 After about 15 minutes, the pavement turns to gravel—stay on the same road the whole way up. The wedding venue is at the VERY top! You’ll see parking in front and our tent to the right. ✨ Enjoy the stunning views of Hualālai, Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa as you ascend to 4,500ft elevation (unless it’s cloudy… in which case, just trust us, the views are great). GOOD TO KNOW 📵 No cell service at the venue—but we will have limited WiFi and can be reached via WhatsApp or iMessage if needed. ⏰ Timeline for the day: 💍 Ceremony: 2:00 PM 🍽 Early Dinner: 4:00 PM 💃 Dancing & Fun: 6:00 PM Staying the night? 🌙 Bring extra blankets & camping gear if you’re planning to camp out! There’s also a cozy cabin to hang out in. GOT QUESTIONS? 📧 Email: aviva.j.gottesman@gmail.com 📞 Call/Text: 802-291-2284 📧 Email: eric.e.gottesman@gmail.com 📞 Call/Text: 802-681-6589 We love you all and can’t wait to celebrate together soon! 🎉 Big hugs, Aviva & Grant — To ensure everyone arrives smoothly, here is a link to the exact location of the turn-off from the highway for Apple Maps: https://maps.apple.com/?ll=19.512598,-155.919982&q=Marked%20Location&t=h Look for signs, balloons, palm trees, and a big wooden gate—that’s how you’ll know you’re in the right place! We can’t wait to see you all and are so excited to celebrate together!

In May 2020, Aviva and Grant matched on a dating app. When Aviva put his number in the message, a few old text messages popped up. She realized that they had already connected back in January after finding each other on a different dating platform, but nothing came of the conversation. This is probably because they were both busy with sibling weddings! Grant's brother Dylan and Aviva's sister Rosie each married their lovely partners in Kona at the end of February 2020. After their friends and families left, COVID quarantine hit hard and everyone was isolated at home for a couple of months. With time on their hands and a desire for companionship, Grant and Aviva found each other for the second time and an instant spark was formed. Living an hour away from each other, they spent a month chatting, Grant diligently sent "good morning darling" messages, and the first date was arranged. Aviva pulled up to Keʻei beach with a truck full of forest inventory gear and met Grant and his pup Barbara. Grant was with a group of friends - a community of eclectic, silly, kind friends - and they all sat in the sand and watched the sunset. Quickly, the two lovers knew their lives would never be the same......

Grant proposed to Aviva in Honolulu at the E Komo Mai music festival. Their friend was on the decks playing house beats to the dance warriors that were still awake. They embraced on the dance floor and celebrated all weekend long. Upon returning to the Big Island, Grant was working on carving a ring out of koa from the forest where Aviva works. Once the koa ring was complete, he proposed to her once again, this time with the ring he had made. The answer was and will be yes every time!