Hello, Wedding Guests! Please note that Saturday, September 6th will be on the "chilly" side (although some of us may consider it "beachwear" weather). High of 62 degrees F. Getting colder from there. Please wear WARM wedding attire. Bring extra layers and have them handy. We will be providing hot coffee (regular and decaf) as well as hot tea and cocoa options to help guests stay warm prior to the ceremony. Please also note that the "Ironman 70.3" event is taking place Downtown Madison and South of the City. Bike and run courses may impact your travel, if you are intending to pass through those areas. Bike Map here: https://www.ironman.com/races/im703-wisconsin/course#bike Run Map here: https://www.ironman.com/races/im703-wisconsin/course#run Also, UW Badgers are kicking off at 3 PM against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Camp Randall, so there will be traffic impact around the Stadium. Plan your travel accordingly and Go Bucky! Lastly, there is construction along Co. Rd M (a.k.a. Century Avenue) from the corner of Branch St. through Cty. Q (Hedden Rd.). Also impacts where Allen Blvd meets Century Ave. There may be other construction along your route, as well. Please allow extra time to get to the venue prior to 4 pm. Looking forward to celebrating with you tomorrow! Cheers, Kirsten and Matt

A block of rooms is reserved for the "Buvala-Hill" Wedding at the Madison Marriott West Hotel, located at 1313 John Q Hammons Dr, Middleton, WI 53562. NOTE: This is also the weekend of the "Ironman" Triathlon, as well as a UW Badgers Home Football Game. If you will need accommodations, we recommend making a reservation sooner rather than later by calling (608) 831-2000 or using the link below: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1743626285518&key=GRP&guestreslink2=true&app=resvlink

January 2nd, 2024 - American Red Cross - Madison, WI. Two hours of furtive glances across a crowded room found two mild-mannered platelet donors seeking cookies and, eventually, conversation in the recovery Canteen. Kirsten, having not donated in years, was shivering (possibly from the icy citrate solution sent into her veins or the icy drafts blowing in from outside each time the doors would open). Matt saw potential for an icebreaker. "Hey, there's a coffee and hot cocoa machine over there," he said. It was then, Kirsten realized this handsome stranger was no dummy ;) "Happy 2024! Anything fun planned in your year ahead?" he asked. She smiled wryly as she sipped the liquid warmth... "Well, I'm thinking of going to see the total solar eclipse in April". It was then, Matt knew, this woman was enchanting. “I’ve always wanted to see a total solar eclipse! Maybe we can chat more about that sometime. You should put your number in my phone… it doesn’t even have to be a real number, if you would prefer.” Thankfully, despite shaky, shivering hands, Kirsten typed in her actual phone number. After many coffee dates, dinners and other outings, we witnessed that total solar eclipse together. The experience was mind-blowing and sublime. Many other adventures followed, making 2024 one of the greatest years of our lives. And, we would love to share many, many more years together. Not all of them may be as "magical" as the first, but as long as we are together in them, they will be perfectly "Us". It’s funny and fascinating to note what kind of ripple effects such a simple decision, like donating blood, can have in one's life. Kirsten often asks: “What brought me in that day? On any other day we never would have crossed paths”. Matt usually responds: “It must be written in the stars, my Love.” We would like to thank our family and our friends for all the love and support you have shown us. And, a very special thank you to the American Red Cross Marketing Dept. for frequent (if not incessant) encouragement for our donations.