EMILY & BRAD
MAY 27, 2016 — ENCINITAS, CA
Our Story
A philosophy major from the Midwest and a preacher’s kid from Los Angeles met at a wine bar in San Diego. Within minutes they figured out that they share the same love of life and the same birthday… Christmas in July (7/25). She’s a little younger, he’s a little wiser (or so his version goes).
Brad finds fulfillment in computer science, coding, and user interface design. His love of the arts has grown strong over the years. Emily finds her passion in philosophy, leadership, and volunteering. She has nurtured a devotion to all things Oprah, founded in deep respect and admiration.
Back at the wine bar they talked effortlessly about family, philosophy, Yoda, and all the best parts of life. True love it was. By the end of that first night they knew they had found something special.
Highlights of their journey have included birthday celebrations in wine country Sonoma, family and friends in Missouri, Minnesota, Edmonton, Iowa, and Arizona, adventures abroad in Austria, and plenty of art and culture back home. They’ve enjoyed caring for their cat Samantha and creating a comfortable home together. Now they’re ready to joyfully join hands and dive into the next chapter of their lives surrounded by loved ones.
Where to Stay
There are many options for lodging in and around San Diego and we anticipate that our friends and family will approach the wedding weekend with a variety of plans. Some may wish to take advantage of the extended Memorial Day weekend to enjoy a mini family vacation in the San Diego area. Others may wish to drop into town just for the wedding event. With that in mind we have elected not to secure a block of rooms at a specific hotel. However, we do provide some suggestions below with places and options we think might work well for most people. Please also feel free to search on your own and find something that works perfectly with your plans and budget.
Hilton San Diego Resort
Hotel Site ∙ Map
For those looking to explore San Diego over the wedding weekend the Hilton San Diego Resort may be a good choice. Centrally located on Mission Bay in the heart of everything, it’s close to major attractions including Sea World, the zoo, and Balboa Park. It’s both kid and couple friendly with a beautiful pool and bay-front beach access. There are even boat and bike rentals and plenty of running and walking paths. This hotel is a 20-25 minute drive to the wedding site and traffic on Friday evening can be rough, so take this into consideration. Overall, this would be a fantastic “home base” for a mini San Diego vacation.
Best Western Encinitas
Hotel Site ∙ Map
This hotel is just a 5 minute drive from the wedding venue and is a bit more budget friendly than the Hilton. There are fewer amenities on-site but it’s just a short walk or drive to the main strip of Encinitas which has great shopping, dining, and nightlife. Encinitas is a small community about 25 miles north of downtown San Diego so it’s a bit farther away if you’re planning to explore the city. This hotel could be a great choice if you’re looking to spend a little less and/or prioritize convenience on the day of the ceremony.
Airbnb
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Airbnb is a fantastic way to experience San Diego like a native. People rent out properties of all sizes at almost every price point. Got a group of friends coming to the wedding? Join forces and stay in a big luxury beach house. Family on a budget? Get a modest place near the city center. Solo flyer? Rent a single room in someone’s home. Romantic cottage for you and your boo? Airbnb has you covered. There are a wide variety of options available so just give the search a whirl and try some of the filters. We’ve used Airbnb both in the U.S. and abroad and have had some great experiences.
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RSVP
Welcome guests! We hope that you can celebrate with us in May, though we do understand that won’t be possible for some. Either way, we kindly ask that you let us know by Friday, April 29th. Fill out the form below and make sure to click ‘RSVP’ to send your response.
Children at the Wedding
We love children and we especially love your children. Sadly we won’t be able to accommodate them at the wedding. The families of our invited guests include more than 40 children and we simply aren’t able to balance the budget and manage the logistics of so many kids. We’re asking that children in attendance be limited to immediate family (nieces and nephews) and those children participating in the ceremony itself. We appreciate your understanding.
We know some of you would like to bring your children for a family weekend in San Diego, even though they won’t be able to attend the wedding on Friday. To help make this possible, we’ve compiled a list of babysitting resources for Friday night. See the Child Care section below for details.
Registry
Sharing this moment with each of you is the best gift we could ask for. We truly appreciate the effort you’re making to be there with us as this chapter of our life begins. For those who would like to give an additional gift, here are some options.
Information
Transportation
There is plenty of free and easy parking at the venue. Driving yourself is certainly an option. Friday evening traffic on a holiday weekend can be heavy so plan plenty of extra time.
We also wanted to provide an alternative for people who prefer to leave their car behind. So we’ll be providing our guests with discounted Uber rides to and from the wedding venue.
Use the code EBWEDDINGEVENT to get $10 off each ride to or from the wedding site. Just enter the code in the Uber app when you book your ride and the discount will be automatically applied. Each guest can use the code twice so you’re covered coming and going.
However you choose to get there and get home we hope everyone has a safe, fun, and hassle free night!
Weekend Activities
Thursday — Welcome Party
Join us at welcome gathering the night before the wedding. Everyone is welcome including local and out-of-town guests, as well as children of all ages.
We’ve reserved a private room and we’ll provide heavy appetizers. Solace and The Moonlight Lounge is located in the heart of Encinitas near the wedding venue. For those looking to continue the fun afterward, there is plenty of dining and nightlife within easy walking distance.
Saturday — Hiking
Saturday will include a group hike at Torrey Pines State Reserve. This stunning family friendly trail is the spot where Emily and Brad got engaged. Come relive a piece of their story. This hike will be led by good friend and sporty nature enthusiast Soraya Sherwin. Check back soon for details.
Sunday — Safari Park
Another good friend and Southern California native, Wendy Douglas, will be organizing a trip to the world famous San Diego Safari Park on Sunday. Located 25 miles east of Escondido, this sprawling 1800 acre extension of San Diego Zoo is one-of-a-kind and well worth the trip. More info coming soon.
Child Care
For those who may need a babysitter on Friday night during the wedding, we have compiled a list of UCSD students who have expressed interest. All of the students on the list participate in a community service program at UCSD called Alternative Breaks. We thought it would be a win-win to offer caring and responsible babysitters for our guests and a fundraising opportunity for the student volunteers. Feel free to contact the students on this list directly about the possibility of caring for your kids on the night of the wedding.
About Alternative Breaks
Alternative Breaks is a year-long community service program in which college students learn about a particular social or environmental issue and volunteer their spring break on a national or international community service trip. The goal of the program is to inspire lifelong active citizenship. Emily participated in Alternative Breaks as a college student and later started the Alternative Breaks program at UCSD, which now sends over 250 students each year on service trips. Each student fundraises throughout the year to be able to participate in the program. Your babysitting money will help a student pay for their community service trip.