F.A.Q.'s
Many people have been calling & emailing with questions. We thought it would be best to share these with everyone...
What should we wear to the wedding?
The wedding is going to be rather casual, as we'll be outdoors and moving around from place to place. We are suggesting "business casual" wear as we want people to be comfortable. The boat is docked a short 10 minute walk from the Rowing Club, so it's probably best to wear comfortable shoes that you don't mind walking around in. Additionally there are stairs on the boat, and the boat does sway a bit, so Vicki suggests leaving the stiletto heels at home (that means you Phil!)
Are kids welcome to attend?
Absolutely! We are planning to set up a kids area on the boat with some toys & games to keep everyone entertained and happy. The Rowing Club party after may not be "child appropriate" so we're passing along the contact information for a babysitting service that works with the Fairmont Hotel.
Nannies On Call offers sitting services for mulitple children of the same family. They can come to any venue and the rates are quite reasonable (not that I know how much babysitters charge these days!)
What will the weather be like?
Beautiful and sunny...it never rains in Vancouver :)
Seriously though it is Fall in Vancouver which means that it tends to be chilly in the mornings & evenings, and nice and warm in the afternoon. In looking at the farmer's almanac it has ranged from the mid 50's to high 60's on October the 10th. Ladies you may want to have a shall or a sweater for on the boat as there is an open patio on the top deck. The deck will be open rain or shine as it has a retractable roof.
What's the deal with the guestbook page?
We thought it would be fun to give people some time to be creative with their guestbook entry. The sheets we've mailed will be assembled into a scrapbook. Please only decorate one side of it, as it will be glued down onto a book page. The book is "landscape" in shape, but you're welcome to design it any which way you'd like.
Here's a picture of the actual book itself...
What other events & activities are planned over the weekend?
Currently there are only 2 events planned.
Friday October 9th, Welcome Party...
This is just a get together to welcome everyone to Vancouver, as most guests will arrive Thursday night or Friday. Our plan is simply to get everyone together at one of our local hangouts. The venue will be downtown, close to the hotel.
Saturday October 10th, The Wedding...
Everyone will gather at the Vancouver Rowing Club for 3pm on Saturday. We're having a quick civil ceremony on the outside deck (weather permitting), followed by some drinks and appetizers in the Trophy Lounge. During that time the wedding party will do some quick photos throughout Stanley Park. From 4:30 on guests will start to make their way over to the Westin Bayshore to prepare for departure. We sail from 5pm-8pm and enjoy a sunset dinner cruise. Afterward we'll make our way back to the Rowing Club where the party continues!
Many people have inquired about trips to Whistler, Victoria, Seattle, etc. For now Vicki and I plan to stay in the city Friday-Sunday to spend time with those guests who can only stay the weekend. We'd be more than happy to help with planning excursions...just email or call!
Should we rent a car?
The short answer is no. If you are not planning on using a car for day trips, etc. then a car is not needed in the city. Parking rates downtown are rather atrocious, and if you are not familiar with the lay of the land it's not the best city to navigate.
For those of you flying to Vancouver there is a Skytrain line that runs from YVR to downtown Vancouver. It takes 22 minutes which is much faster than driving or a taxi. Cabs are about $35 to get to downtown.
While in the city almost everything you'll want to see can be easily accessed by foot, water taxi or Skytrain.
We sold our car 2.5 years ago because we found that this city is not conducive to driving. Parking is sparse & expensive, one way roads are annoying and traffic is brutal (especially on long weekends).
Enjoy the great outdoors while you're here!
What's on the menu?
Pre and post cruise appetizers and snacks are a selection of our favourite foods. There's quite the variety.
Dinner on the boat is a buffet and includes fish & chicken options, as well as a variety of sides.
If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, please let us know so that we can pass this information on to the caterers.
