FAQs

Question

Where is the wedding taking place?

Answer

The venue we fell in love with, and compared everything to, is Hacienda de las Flores in Moraga, California. It is a historic property owned by the Moraga Parks and Recreation department, with a beautiful mansion, pavilion, lawn and parkland with blue atlas trees, willows, palms and flowers. It is tranquil and secluded, and perfect for nature lovers like us. The Spanish details remind us of our Junior Journey trips to Spain during our time at Florida Southern College, married with the beautiful surrounding Bay Area nature.

Question

What time is the ceremony? What time is the reception?

Answer

Our event will take place from 4:00-9:00pm. The ceremony starts at 4:00pm, so please be at the venue and seated by then. Both the ceremony and reception which will be onsite, at the same venue. Cocktail hour will immediately follow the ceremony, with dinner and dancing to follow.

Question

What is the dress code? What should I wear?

Answer

The dress code for our wedding is Cocktail Attire. Our ceremony is outside, and the reception will be tented with heaters, but it will be December, so you may want a jacket, sweater, pashmina, etc.

Question

What weather should I expect?

Answer

Of course, we can’t guarantee anything, but we are generally blessed with mild winters in the Bay Area: temperatures are usually in the 50s and 60s during December. Our reception will be tented, with heaters (which are very common here for outdoor dining, beer gardens, etc.). We will keep an eye on the weather here in the weeks leading up to the wedding, and will update our website accordingly.

Question

Will the wedding be indoors or outdoors?

Answer

Our ceremony will be outside, in the afternoon. Cocktail hour will be steps away with an indoor-outdoor situation. The venue has a beautiful, small 1920s style bar inside with glass, mirrors, and a round leather booth: this building has French doors that will be open, with standing room inside, and standing cocktail tables outside. The reception will be outside of the Hacienda in a tent with heaters and lights.

Question

What should I expect after the ceremony?

Answer

After the ceremony, the wedding party and immediate family of the newlyweds will be taking pictures for around an hour. Guests can head to the cocktail hour, just steps away, where snacks and drinks will be flowing. Dinner will be served soon after, with dancing to follow.

Question

Will transportation be provided? Is there easy parking at the venue?

Answer

We are not providing any formal transportation for the events, but our ceremony and reception are taking place at the same location. We are the only wedding onsite for our date, so there is ample parking for those who feel comfortable driving, and Lyft is a great option for those who don’t. Please stay safe and default to a ride service or carpooling if you plan to drink.

Question

How do I RSVP?

Answer

We hope you’ll be able to join us for our special day. Formal invitations will be distributed closer to the wedding. You can return here (to our wedding website) to RSVP closer to the wedding as well.

Question

When is the RSVP deadline?

Answer

Please get us your RSVP by November 11th, so we have time to secure the proper amount of food, alcohol, etc. You can RSVP on our website’s RSVP page, or with the stamped postcard that was enclosed in your invitation.

Question

I can’t attend the wedding in person. Will there be a virtual wedding celebration?

Answer

We will miss you! We have decided to have an “unplugged” ceremony, without phones or devices, so we will not be live-streaming our special day.

Question

Do you have a hotel block for guests? Where do you recommend I stay?

Answer

We have reserved a room block at the Walnut Creek Marriott. We blocked Double Queen rooms (which can accommodate 4 people, in 2 Queen beds), which the hotel is offering at the discounted rate of $159, with discounted $20 parking. The room block is for December 9th, 10th and 11th, with checkout on the 12th. Rooms must be reserved by November 10th for this rate. The hotel has also agreed to have their cash bar open until midnight after the wedding, if you’d like to continue the celebration with us. Airbnb is also a great option if you’d like to stay in San Francisco or Oakland, and explore the area over the weekend. This is our favorite way to stay when we attend weddings, but heavy fees have been added to most Bay Area Airbnbs since the start of the pandemic, so pay close attention while booking.

Question

Are the ceremony and reception location wheelchair accessible?

Answer

There are separate entrances with ramps to the ceremony area, which will also be used to access the reception.

Question

What type of food will be served during the cocktail hour and reception?

Answer

We’ll be serving hors d’oeuvres (such as canapés and skewers) during cocktail hour, followed by a delicious dinner with salad and rolls, a duet entree plate with potatoes and seasonal vegetables, and cake.

Question

I have dietary restrictions, what’s the best way to communicate that with you?

Answer

We definitely want to make sure you enjoy your time and meal on our wedding day, please let us know when you RSVP about your dietary needs.

Question

Will there be an open bar?

Answer

We know, we know: this is important to us too. Our wedding will have served wine with dinner, included champagne (or non-alcoholic sparkling cider) for toasts, and a full bar with beer, wine, and liquor.

Question

Are you registered? Where should we ship your gift?

Answer

We have had the joy of living together for 3 years, which means that we don’t need to register for traditional wedding gifts such as dishes, linens, and decor. Even for our own birthdays and holidays as a couple, we tend to gift experiences, like concert tickets, ball games, or nice meals so that we can enjoy them together. We have elected to create a honeymoon registry instead, to help send us on our first vacation in wedded bliss. Our registry has excursions, meals, cocktails, and transportation broken down into smaller packages which can be purchased on the registry. Thank you in advance for your generosity. The cash funds on our website can be paid by credit card, but have a 2.4% service fee; if you'd like, can reach out to us, and Venmo us instead, which will go directly to our honeymoon fund.

Question

Can I take and post pictures of the wedding on social media?

Answer

We love photos! We do ask that you refrain from taking photos during the ceremony, we’d like that time to be unplugged so that our photographer can capture the moment without phones in frame, and so that everyone is present in the moment. For the rest of the wedding, we encourage guests to post pictures using our wedding hashtag #SydAndPitchGetHitched so we can see them, too!

Question

What COVID health and safety measures will you be taking during the event?

Answer

Getting married in the midst of a global pandemic means that everyone’s health and safety is a top priority for us, especially our immunocompromised family and friends. Vaccines are highly encouraged, and we are both vaccinated and boosted. We can easily contact trace (we have everyone’s contact information for Save the Dates and Invitations…we know where to find you). As of right now, we do not plan to mask for our wedding day; however, please do whatever makes you comfortable. The entire event is outside (the reception will be tented). We will update our website with the current San Francisco, Alameda County, and Contra Costa County (where our venue is) requirements and guidelines closer to the wedding. Sydney is also regularly tested at work as a public school teacher, and Ryan works from home: there’s no way we want to postpone our wedding due to having covid, and we hope that you take precautions so that you don’t have to miss it either.

Question

How do I know if I have a plus one?

Answer

We strongly considered eloping, and now want to keep our wedding as intimate as possible with the friends and family who are most important to us. Your invitation will indicate how many seats we’ve reserved in your honor.