FAQs

Question

Why are there separate wedding events in May and June?

Answer

The May event event is the “real” wedding with the ceremony and everything, however, it is taking place in a remote location at a private themed costumed event called Detonation. The June reception is in La Jolla and is a more accessible and “traditional” option for those who cannot attend the ceremony or simply don’t wish to. It will be more formal and feature food, a cocktail hour, and champagne toast. All are welcome to attend either celebration, or both, if they like. If you wish to attend the ceremony in May, please read all the FAQs here before RSVPing and make sure you understand the venue and environment. We look forward to seeing you! Note: we request that all guests take covid tests prior to either event to verify that we are not putting Kat at risk for a fourth covid infection. Please RSVP to either celebration with this request in mind!

Question

Why are you getting married at Detonation?

Answer

Because it’s bitchin’ duh No, but seriously: it’s a cool wedding venue, it’s one of our favorite places to be in general, most of our friends will already be there, and who WOULDN’T want to shoot a flamethrower at their wedding?

Question

A flamethrower?

Answer

Yes, there will be a flamethrower at the wedding

Question

Do I HAVE to wear a costume?

Answer

Yes! We are being married at a private event called Detonation, which takes place in a fake post-apocalyptic town in the painted desert, and the event is fully immersive. This means that all attendees must be in some form of passable costume to be allowed through the gate.

Question

How do I get/make a costume?

Answer

If you’re handy, watch the Mad Max movies as a jumping off point for costume inspiration. Think lots of leather, dirty/torn fabrics, stains, and hand-repaired items. Your costume does NOT have to be fancy or a showstopper—just passable. If you do choose to go all-out we’ll love it! But it’s not required. If you would like a recommendation on artists you can hire to make you a costume, reach out directly and we can point you in the correct direction. We also recommend searching for Nuclear Snails Studios on YouTube for tutorials on how to make a costume quickly, easily, and on the cheap.

Question

Will it be hot?

Answer

The desert in May is warm, but not scorching. In early May, this could mean daytime temps from the 70s-90s, but usually will be on the cooler side of that spectrum. After sunset, the temps drop quickly, down into the 40s-50s typically. Dress accordingly! We advise bringing extra layers!

Question

How do I get there?

Answer

You can find the map to the site at detonation.us USE THE MAP ON THIS WEBSITE. PRINT IT OUT. The dirt roads to our wedding venue are primitive and your GPS WILL get you lost. You’ll likely want to travel in a vehicle that’s got some high clearance for safety, but a tall vehicle and 4WD are not required. I did it (very slowly and carefully) in a Nissan Sentra more than once. Those staying in Holbrook may wish to coordinate with one another on carpooling into the site. There is a parking area outside of the gate, and all vehicles must stay there. If you have mobility issues, you can be dropped off closer to the venue itself, but your vehicle must be moved to the designated parking area immediately once you are dropped off and unloaded. The “roads” around the venue are also narrow, and if you’re driving through the town to get to the venue, please be cautious and go slowly.

Question

What should I bring?

Answer

You don’t have to bring anything, but if you’d LIKE to bring something— Things you probably should bring: -a folding or camp chair -a parasol or umbrella because shade can be limited -sunscreen! -a gallon of water per person in your party (the site is dry) -snacks and food for yourself for the day -cash for a day pass at the gate ($50) You CAN bring: -food or snacks to share (doesn’t need to be fancy) -a bottle of liquor or mixer for the communal bar (there will be a free bar, but it’s stocked with donations, so the bartenders will be mixing drinks with whatever they have) -cash for tipping the bartenders (not required or expected, but will make them smile) -your costume -cash if you want to purchase any art or food that’s on offer at the event

Question

What are the rules and expectations?

Answer

The full complement of rules can be found at detonation.us For our purposes, the most important rules we ask y’all to follow are these: 1. No firearms are allowed on your person. The event does allow people to possess them and use them at designated times and areas, but they MUST be locked securely in your cars or left in your hotel rooms during the wedding. They cannot be a part of your costume. You can be removed from site for breaking this rule. Fake firearms are allowed and even encouraged if they are part of your costume. 2. Absolutely zero discussions on real-world politics and religion are allowed in this space. Example of political discussion: “what did you think of [recent election results]?” Example of non-political discussion: “I think gay people should be allowed to exist.” Human rights aren’t political, here. Referring to your own religion in passing is fine; we just do not allow religious discussion, and definitely no proselytizing/evangelizing of any kind is acceptable. This is not our rule, but we like this one. 3. Personal safety: this event has a qualified medical team on site but is in a very remote location and has basically no cellular service. Please act accordingly and be very careful. If you’re hot, cool off. If you need water, speak up. If you’ve had too much to drink, stop drinking. The site is at an elevation of about 6k feet, so your tolerance WILL be affected by the lower oxygen level. Be! Careful!

Question

What can I eat?

Answer

For the reception we are providing a keg of PBR and an assortment of cupcakes. Why, you may ask? We are very poor and also very trashy. The rest of the wedding is kinda a potluck so we have no idea what will be on offer to eat, or how much. The site has a few food vendors, but their ability to feed you depends highly on demand, how much they’ve made that day, etc, so it is best to plan ahead and bring yourself something to eat for dinner in the event that you can’t purchase anything. You probably won’t need it, but bring a sammich or something just in case.

Question

What if I want to check out the whole event?

Answer

Please visit detonation.us for all information about the event if you’re interested in just attending the way we do. It has pricing, a way to purchase your tickets, and all other relevant info. If you stay on site, you will need camping gear. I recommend those ONLY attending for the wedding to book a hotel in Holbrook—you will be much more comfortable.

Question

What other amenities does the venue have?

Answer

We have: compost toilets! If you’ve never used one before, they’re pretty simple. They are a bit tall and you will need to climb up stairs to access most of them. There is one toilet on site that has ramp accessibility, so if you’re not light on your feet, don’t worry. It is prudent to bring your own roll of SINGLE PLY toilet tissue, in case one or the stalls you are using is not currently equipped. The crappers have a list of rules for how to use them posted inside of the stalls. NOTHING BUT HUMAN WASTE, SAWDUST, AND TP CAN GO IN. Bring a small discreet plastic bag or container for any menstrual or other hygiene products you need in the restroom. Also, bring hand sanitizer.

Question

Can I still come if I’m not feeling well?

Answer

While you will be sorely missed, we beg that you please not attend this event if you’re feeling unwell. Kat is immunocompromised, and is not the only member of this small post-apocalyptic fan community with chronic health concerns. Please test yourselves for covid prior to traveling, and again before leaving your hotel rooms for the wedding. We can’t force you to do this. It’s an honor system. But we are trusting you, as people who love us very much, not to put Kat and others at serious risk by attending. We thank you in advance for your cooperation with this requirement.

Question

What if I can’t come/don’t want to?

Answer

That’s fine! We are also doing a small, less formal reception in La Jolla in June, and we’d love to see you there! You can also attend both parties!

Question

What sorts of behavior might I see at this event?

Answer

Uranium Springs events are adults-only. Alcohol and other substances are consumed casually on site, but obviously not by everybody. We have teetotalers and heavy users. It’s a festival environment. Clothing is optional. Sometimes people hang from hooks and play with fire as part of the stage shows. Lots of wild stuff goes on, and a good number of our folks are queer, so if any of that offends you, we invite you to either look away, or instead see us at the La Jolla reception in June.

Question

What do I do when I get there?

Answer

Pay for your day pass at the gate, get your wristband, and sign your waiver first. You’ll need your photo ID as well. Once you’re checked in at the gate, you can park and walk into the site. If you cannot walk that far, it is ok to have somebody in your party drop you off. It’s also ok to drive in to unload chairs you’ve brought with you. The location you are looking for is called Aftermath Drive-In. The volunteer at the gate should be able to direct you there. If you’re parking and simply walking in, there is a map board of the whole site located on Maim Street, or you can simply ask anybody you see where to go for the wedding, and they’ll gladly direct you. Everybody here is friendly and welcoming and wants to be your friend!

Question

Can I bring my dog or child?

Answer

No. You cannot bring your dog, or your child. This is not our rule.

Question

Do you have a handy checklist for me?

Answer

I do! -1 gallon of water per person in your party. You likely won’t need that much, but the painted desert is harsh and we advise all who come this far to come prepared. -sunscreen!! We can’t emphasize enough how important sun protection is in this environment. The elevation means more aggressive UV damage -charging banks and cables for your devices. We advise that you bring both. The site has no electricity, so you will need to independently charge your devices. We do not recommend charging them in your vehicle. -shade of some kind—a big hat or a parasol. All hats and parasols must be appropriately weathered to blend into the immersive post-apocalyptic environment -A folding or camp chair to sit on. We don’t have enough chairs on site for all, and we don’t have a way, logistically, to get a ton of chairs there. Please bring your own seating if you’d like to sit, as seating at the actual venue is somewhat limited -chapstick with SPF -liquor or mixer for the communal bar (NOT REQUIRED, just nice!) if you’d like to drink and enjoy. -cash for the gate pass ($50 per person) plus any small bills for tipping bartenders or purchasing art or food on site if you wish -your photo ID -2 covid tests—1 for testing before you start traveling, and another for using in your hotel room on the morning of the wedding, please -your costume -enough food/snacks for yourselves for the afternoon and evening—you’ll likely get fed on site but food offerings are limited, so bring enough to survive just in case, please! -something to share at the reception: not required or expected, but nice. Even a family size bag of chips will go over like gangbusters -electrolyte packets for your water -a cup: we will have red party cups available but they look terrible in pictures, so most at this event have their own cup. We like the metal camping mugs they sell in just about any outdoor/camping section because they clip easily onto bags and costumes and are easy to wash out

Question

Why am I staying in Holbrook?

Answer

The wedding venue is in Sun Valley—Holbrook has the closest hotels and motels.

Question

Is the site wheelchair accessible?

Answer

No. We have had attendees successfully enjoy the event with a wheelchair, and there is one accessible restroom on site. But our advice would be not to bring a chair here unless it is outfitted and equipped for off-road applications.

Question

What’s with the pronouns thing?

Answer

Kat has been out socially as transgender since 2019 and has been using both they/them and he/him pronouns interchangeably since then. He has been on hormone replacements since 2023. On their big day, the very best gift you can give him is to honor who they are. It’s all they’ve ever wanted, especially from those they love. If you need help practicing, you have months to do so. You can practice with a friend or whoever else. It won’t feel right if you don’t practice beforehand—this advice is meant to help you and help make Kat’s big day smooth and joyful. It’s ok to pick one set of pronouns (he/him, or they/them) and just use those, too. But those two sets are the correct ones to refer to Kat, so please use them. Additionally, a high number of our guests are also transgender and non-binary. Familiarizing yourself with asking for people’s pronouns before addressing them is something you also have months to prepare for, if you’re not used to doing this. Think of it as no different from asking for somebody’s name—it’s always ok to ask again if you forget! If you’re totally confused, we recommend a google search to familiarize yourself with transgender and non-binary people as a concept before the wedding. In this family, we do not assume things about who people are based on their bodies, how they dress, or how we perceive them, and we would like our family values to be reflected by all of our wedding guests, please. We thank you in advance for this gift.

Question

What dates should I book for my hotel?

Answer

We advise you to book both Thursday and Friday nights, May 8th and 9th. Most of you will have long journeys via car on Thursday. Stay at your hotel the night before, then come to Uranium Springs anytime the next day. Stay in Holbrook after the wedding and then go home Saturday.

Question

Can I stay for the afterparty?

Answer

Yes! If you would like to stay after 6pm, the party will continue. Uranium Springs boasts multiple stages, live music and DJs, burlesque shows, a casino, an operating drive-in theater, and many parties going well into the night on Friday. All wedding guests are welcome to stay for as long as they like and continue the party with us. If you choose to stay, we won’t have anywhere to house you when it’s time to sleep, so please either bring camping gear, be prepared to sleep in your car, or consume responsibly before hitting the road back to your hotel. Please bring warm clothes if you’re staying past sundown. The elevation means warm days and chilly nights. Costumes and theming mean less at night than they do during the daytime, so err on the side of warmth if you are not sure.

Question

Are you being serious about covid testing before the wedding?

Answer

Yes. Very serious. Kat has been hospitalized multiple times over the past 4 years with severe health concerns, and has severe autoimmune reactions to covid infections. These are serious, and this boundary is very firm. Please don’t come if you’re sick or testing positive. Please, please do not.