This is a queer wedding, and guests will include people who identify as non-binary and are gender non-conforming. If this makes you uncomfortable or you are offended that there are people who live their lives differently than you, might be best if you do not come. With that being said...
Your admission is free on the day of our ceremony. You can arrive to the Botanical Garden earlier in the day to explore the grounds if you wish. There will be a bounty of beautiful blooms! The ceremony starts at 4:30 PM! The Botanical Garden will provide trams from the Visitor Center (where you will arrive initially) to Renaissance Court (ceremony location) 45, 30, and 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony. In other words, trams will leave the Visitor Center to escort folks to the ceremony at 3:45, 4:00, and 4:15 PM, respectively. Guests are strongly encouraged to use the restroom at the Visitor Center before heading to the ceremony!
Yes! We will be providing shuttle service between the Sheraton Hotel and the Botanical Garden. More information on our shuttle can be found in the "Travel" page.
Other than the shuttle, you can take an Uber/Lyft or you can drive your rental car. The Botanical Garden has a large paved parking lot for you to park in. At the gate you just need to tell the attendant you are there for our wedding, and they will let you in without having to pay.
We are happy to have you in any color outfit! However, we are going with Autumn colors (imagine you are going on a walk through a forest at the peak of fall) if you would like to coordinate a color. Think maroon, burnt orange, yellow, ivory, copper, gold. Consider earthy tones like terracotta, amber, mustard, soft pink, camel, cream, olive/sage/forest green, or ochre for a more rustic feel. You can also embrace jewel tones (fuchsia, emerald, plum, or burgundy) for a touch of sophistication. And of course, black will look good in any situation.
Dress code is semi-casual to formal. This means tuxedos and floor length gowns are not required, as this will be less formal than black tie. Think more in line with a nice jacket and tie, an elegant cocktail dress, or stunning pantsuit. Keep in mind that the ceremony and reception will be in grassy areas, so choose your shoes accordingly. Since the wedding is in a botanical garden, feel free to mix in some fun florals in your outfit as well! Just make sure to look hot and be proud to serve it! This is a fun opportunity to get dressed up and capture fun memories while looking your best! Save the t-shirts and shorts for the afterparty. Or else!
Our afternoon ceremony and cocktail hour will be held outdoors, while the reception will take place indoors. Trams will transport guests to the ceremony from the Visitor Center and also to the reception from the cocktail hour. In the unfortunate event that it rains, we will move the ceremony inside.
Yes! You can check out our registry under the "Registry" tab. There are two options to choose from. The first is our honeymoon fund (the Zola option), the other is a link to our MyRegistry page which contains items that we have included in our registry.
Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift we could ask for! If you would like to honor us with a gift different from what is on our registry, you can have it delivered to our home (contact us for our address). A wedding card box will be at our reception.
There will be an open bar for guests to enjoy throughout cocktail hour and the reception. There will also be a coffee bar for our non-alcohol drinkers. We do recommend bringing cash or a credit card along if you plan to attend the after-party, as drinks after the reception will not be covered. And for both the wedding and after party, remember to tip your bartenders!
We'll be serving hors d'oeuvres at cocktail hour followed by a buffet dinner with choices for everyone! There will be salad, beef, chicken, and vegetables available. There will also be late night snacks to refuel so you can dance the night away!
We are not allowing additional plus-ones to our wedding, as we'd like to keep the guests list just to those who know us well. Please message the Grooms if you think we forgot someone from our invite list.
Absolutely! Your children should have been on the invitation. If not, please make sure to note their attendance when you RSVP.
The temperatures in Norfolk in October are comfortable with low of 59°F and and high up to 71°F. Sunrise is anticipated at 7:00 am and sunset at 6:30 pm. Nice!
If you miss the deadline to reserve a room in our block, reach out to the hotel and mention our wedding anyway—they may be able to accommodate you with our discount in a room outside of our block. If not, you can find additional nearby accommodations on our travel page. Then let your Grooms know so they can take your transportation needs into consideration.
If you do not want to book a room at the Sheraton Waterfront, then there are other hotel options in downtown Norfolk you can choose from. There are also plenty of hotel options close to the airport which is a short drive from the Botanical Garden.
There are 2 events after the ceremony! On the night of the wedding we plan to go out to the Waterside District building to keep the party going. We'll likely go to PBR because they have a mechanical bull, and you can't say no to that! Yeehaw! On Sunday, October 12th, around 1:00 pm we will be at Elation Brewing for beer and pizza if you'd like to join us! This is a casual no-host event.
Only if you meet the following criteria: 1) The picture isn't ugly 2) You tag the grooms
Please RSVP as soon as possible! This will help us get a better understanding of food, drink, and transportation requirements. You can RSVP on this Zola website on the RSVP link.
Please book your room at the Sheraton Waterside Hotel no later than September 8th, 2025. The earlier the better, or else you might miss out! This would also help us figure out other details for the wedding day.