FAQs
Question
When should I RSVP by?
Answer
August 15th! If you require a hotel, we encourage you to book your hotel room as soon as possible. Our wedding falls on the same weekend as an annual music festival in downtown Raleigh so hotels may fill up!
Question
Are you registered? Where?
Answer
Gifts are not required! Your presence at our celebration is the only gift we need. If you must, however... see links on this page for items off our registry. We have built a home and welcome upgrades to items as listed or simply cash support for our upcoming honeymoon.
Question
What time should I arrive at the ceremony?
Answer
The ceremony will begin promptly at 4:00pm. The gardens are open to the public all day, however, so we encourage you to arrive early and wander a bit before joining us in the Rose Garden at 4:00pm.
Question
I noticed there is no end time for the wedding. How late do you plan on celebrating?
Answer
Dinner will be served around 6:30pm. Please stay as long as you'd like for drinks, dancing, and socializing. We will be closing up no later than 10:30-11:00pm but plan to take the party elsewhere! Find a groomsman at the reception to learn more.
Question
Is there a dress code?
Answer
Please no white (obvious faux pas) or black (we are not in mourning!). Otherwise - please dress comfortably for early September in North Carolina. It will be warm!
Question
Can I bring a date?
Answer
We totally understand wanting to bring someone, but we’re trying to keep the wedding small and have only invited specific guests due to space and budget. We hope you understand!
Question
Are kids welcome?
Answer
We love your kids, but our priority is for mom and dad to have a stress-free time. We ask our guests to find a sitter for the night! (Please note we have made a couple of exceptions for members of our wedding party, so there will be a small handful of little ones).
Question
I have a food allergy, can I make a special request?
Answer
The reception will be catered by local Mediterranean eatery, Neomonde. We have accommodated for vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options but please reach out if you have more specific needs.
Question
Is there parking for the ceremony or reception?
Answer
JC Raulston Arboretum has a parking lot on-site with accessible parking options. You are also allowed to park on Beryl Road just outside the gates. Please do not park in the circle just past the parking lot.
Question
Is there transportation to and from the hotels to the ceremony?
Answer
No, we have not pre-arranged any transportation to or from the ceremony. Please celebrate responsibly! Lyft is a viable option in Raleigh if you will not have your own vehicle or do not want to drive.
Question
Are there any other events that I should know about around the wedding?
Answer
Yes! Our wedding falls the same weekend as an annual music festival in downtown Raleigh, so please plan accordingly (Hopscotch Music Festival).
Question
Anything else I should know about the venue?
Answer
JC Raulston Arboretum is an NC State University-owned property and has its own rules that we will follow. Of note: -No smoking of any kind is allowed on the Arboretum grounds, including vapes, cigarettes, or whatever else the kids are doing these days. -Alcohol will be limited to beer and wine and can only be served for two hours. We will be breaking this up over the course of the evening so please respect our bartender if they are not able to serve you upon request. There are no rules to how many drinks you can request at once, though, so do what you will with this information. -Please respect the gardens and limit your outside time after dark to the space immediately surrounding the reception hall. Please visit their website for more guidelines: https://jcra.ncsu.edu/visit/visitor-information/index.php