FAQs

Question

What are your wedding colors?

Answer

The bride will be wearing a gown in shades of cream, pink, and purple, beaded and embroidered in silver and gold, that she created herself using her years of experience working in a dressmaker's studio. She also sewed a matching vest for the groom. The bridesmaids will be wearing pink/gold and blue/gold floral velvet dresses with velvet shrugs, and the flower girls will be in soft gold and blue dresses with beads and velvet shrugs. The groomsmen will have floral brocade pocket squares and ties that shine, in pink and blue. If there is a theme, it is metallics and the glow of light!

Question

How long will the ceremony be? There seems to be a big gap between ceremony and reception.

Answer

The ceremony will be held at a traditional, Slavic-style church (honoring some of the heritage of both the bride and the groom), which is why we request that women cover their hair (such as with a scarf or mantilla) to honor its culture, as the bride and most of the parishioners do weekly. There are many other elements not seen in many modern weddings, including the crowning of the couple being married! So yes, it will take a long time to complete, about 1.5 hours -- but at least you have pews to sit in! The early church meetings were all standing, and many traditional Slavic churches still follow this tradition!

Question

Why are there pictures all over the walls in the church? Why is there a screened-off area?

Answer

The pictures are of Saints in church history. They are called "icons", and you may see people bowing or kissing them. This goes back to cultural norms still seen in the Mediterranean, where family and friends greet each other with a kiss. Many Bible verses also mention greeting with a kiss, sometimes called "a holy kiss". The screen is called the iconostasis, and it separates the nave (the main area of the church) from the sanctuary, which is where the priests and deacons prepare all the liturgical elements, such as the Eucharist, the incense, etc on the altar or tabernacle. Being able to see through it into the sanctuary is a rare treat!

Question

Why are there crowns in the ceremony? Is that some modern trend?

Answer

It is true that the crowns are not present in the Latin Rite traditions for marriage, so many people have never heard of them. But in Eastern Christianity, the history of the crowns actually goes back so far (approx. 400AD), the entire ceremony is often called "The Mystery of Crowning". (Mystery is another word for Sacrament (the Latin means Holy Mystery), meaning a Holy Ceremony/Ritual.) Originally they were vines or flowers but they have developed over time to different materials unique to their regions. In Greece the pair wear vines or laurel wreaths; in northern Europe they wear crafted fine metal; in Slavic regions, they are large and often have red velvet. One of the things the crowns signify is that the couple is king and queen of their home. They are leaving their parents and joining together as one. In Catholicism and Orthodoxy, marriage is seen as a holy vocation, which you are called to by God, to live a life of holiness and service and to raise a family in the Church. A quote about another meanings behind the crowns: "The crowning is not some sort of mock celebration of how the newly wedded spouses might feel on top of the world but instead the “crowns of glory and honor” placed on their heads symbolize the honored martyrs who shed their blood and gave their lives for Christ and their neighbor. Like the crown of martyrdom, the crown is a prize of a marriage well-lived: a crown of sacrifice and self-giving." A great article about the significance of Eastern Catholic/Byzantine weddings: https://www.spokenbride.com/blog/2019/9/23/the-mystery-of-crowning-byzantine-catholic-marriage-ritual

Question

Why doesn't the father of the bride walk the bride down the aisle and give her away?

Answer

The tradition of a father giving away the bride is often still performed, to some extent; the father walks the bride from the outside (or from the entrance) and through the foyer/narthex to the entrance of the nave (the main part of the church), where the priest and groom will be waiting. From there the bride and groom proceed together to the center aisle and up to the front, following the priest. This is so that the father can still perform the role he has been proudly expecting for so long. However, while the tradition of giving away the bride is today seen as a beautiful gesture, historically it stems from when the daughters were sold with a dowry, with often little choice in the matter. In Catholic and Orthodox tradition, full knowledge of whom you are marrying and the free-will choice you are making is valued so highly, there is no "giving away" of the bride. The bride and groom give themselves to each other, together. Fortunately, we are able to combine both traditions, as the narthex at Saint Anne's has windows between it and the nave. You will still be able to witness the father guide the bride in and offer her to the groom, even though it is not at the aisle!

Question

Is there parking for the ceremony or reception?

Answer

There is plenty of parking at both venues! There's even a gated parking lot at the church. If the gate is closed, just drive around the street to the back entrance!

Question

Is there a hotel block reserved at the Madonna Inn?

Answer

No, the Madonna Inn did not have availability for a room reservation block, or offer a discount to the guests. Due to the small size of the wedding and the various needs of the guests, no other hotel rooms were pre-reserved. We hope you do not have too much trouble reserving a room!

Question

Are there any other events that I should know about around the wedding?

Answer

We chose the earliest available time of day to hold the wedding ceremony and reception, so that guests may return to Monterey, if they prefer not to stay the night afterward in San Luis Obispo. However, for anyone staying overnight, we invite them to come with us to Mass at 9am the next morning (at the beautiful, historic Mission San Luis Obispo), and/or to meet us for brunch following the Mass (location TBD). We would love to visit with you some more before we return to Monterey area Sunday afternoon/evening!

Question

Can I bring a plus-one? What about children?

Answer

Due to date conflicts and a very limited venue capacity, our "the more, the merrier! with dancing!!" dream was set aside. We were forced to cut our desired guest list by more than half. We have still included the children we could. However, if you were not given a plus-one on the invite, ask Megan if there is space available; there may be some guests that have declined, to allow us to squeeze them in!

Question

Are you registered?

Answer

Since our first home together will be Will moving into Megan's place in Pacific Grove (500 sq ft!), we don't have much room to put more things. So we're saving for our honeymoon -- and, hopefully, little babies! -- with two monetary funds you can contribute to, if you wish: one uses credit card, the other Venmo. We will also be providing Asian red envelopes at the reception that can be used to contain your blessings and well-wishes. We actually mean that literally -- for many of you, it's quite a long trip, and we are just happy if you can join us!! -- so we will have paper available for you to write down a message, a prayer, or maybe a Bible verse, that you can put inside the red envelope instead. <3

Question

Will there be alcohol served, perhaps even an open bar?

Answer

We're pleased to be able to have a full-service bar within the reception room, featuring wine, beer, and cocktails available for purchase. For those who prefer sobriety, we will also have a punch station, allowing us to offer something festive to you as well. Whether or not you're imbibing spirits on this All Souls' Day, we're glad your spirit will be with us!

Question

What food will be served? Is there vegetarian options?

Answer

We wanted as much variety as possible for our guests, so we chose to serve a buffet with salmon and prime rib, accompanied by several vegetable dishes. If you have dietary restrictions such as allergies, etc. please let us know so we can request a special dish for you!

Question

Will there be dancing?

Answer

Due to limited available space in our venue, we cannot offer time or space for dancing within the room we have reserved. However, in the main building of the hotel, there is a dance floor and bar (open to all guests). After the cake and the bride & groom go to each table greeting the guests and handing out the confetti/favor boxes, we expect that while some depart to Monterey, others will join the couple on the dance floor for awhile!