Frequently Asked Questions...

Got questions?  Emily’s got answers!  Let’s hear a little more about the details from the bride herself.  If you have additional questions not addressed on this page, please feel free to email us at wedding@emilylovesmike.com.

Q.  Where is this shindig taking place?
A. The ceremony will be taking place in McCord Park, located within Indianapolis’ Historic Watson Neighborhood.  Street parking will be available throughout the neighborhood.  The reception will be taking place in our backyard (542 Powell Place, Indianapolis, IN 46205) and our wonderful neighbors Kathy & Jim’s backyard.  We share a driveway.  You’ll understand the set up better when you see it.

McCord Park is just across the street from Kathy & Jim’s home, so both destinations are well within walking distance.  You will be able to spot the ceremony in the park easily, but there will also be a few folks around who can direct you to available parking, seating, etc.

Q.  What should I wear?
A. The ceremony and reception will be taking place outside in September…in Indiana, so dress comfortably :)  Mike and I will be dressed up.  Feel free to join us in feeling fancy! No need to break out the tux though.  Keep in mind when selecting footware that we will be walking on multiple terrains during the ceremony and reception (pavement, grass, gravel).  We will also be outside during sunset, so don’t be afraid to bring sunglasses for your own comfort. 
Bug spray and sun block will be available at both the ceremony and reception.

Q.  Are cell phones/cameras ok at your wedding?
A.  The short answer:  at the ceremony, no.  At the reception yes :)  Thanks for asking! 
The long answer:  Mike and I are having an unplugged ceremony, meaning we are requesting that folks put their cell phones and cameras away and leave the photography up to our awesome photographer/neighbor, Brenda Havens.  Feel free to break those cell phones and cameras back out for the reception…just be sure to give Brenda space to get the shots she needs. 

Q. What’s the deal with food?
A. We recommend that people try to eat dinner before arriving for the 7:00 pm ceremony.  Around 7:20 pm we expect to be heading to the backyard for the reception.  Plentiful hors’doeuvres, dessert, and drinks will be available (see Menu tab for more details), but no plated meal will be served.

Q.  Can I get a run-down of the schedule?
A.  Sure thing!  Keep checking back, because the schedule may evolve with time ;)

Time	Event	Location
7:00 pm	Ceremony & vows, officiated by Kelly George	McCord Park
7:20 pm	Recessional (Mike & Emily go for a “Just Married Lap” around the neighborhood in Mike’s newly restored 1977 Volkswagen Bug; guests who feel comfortable doing so can grab their chair and make the walk over to the reception—no worries if you do not feel comfortable carrying a chair—there will be a few folks available to pack up extra chairs—clean up just goes faster with help :)	McCord Park
7:40 pm	Toast led by Heidi Reynolds-Stenson	Backyard Areas
7:50 pm	Cake cutting & thank you to cake provider, Aunt Lulu	Backyard Areas
8:00 pm	Food, fun, & festivities!  Enjoy drinks, snacks, and yard games	Backyard Areas
9:00 pm	S’mores bar around the fire pit!	Mike & Emily’s Backyard
10:00 pm	Sparkler send-off	Backyard Areas

Q. What’s the alcohol situation?

A.  We will have an open bar at the reception with wine, beer, and two signature cocktails (see Menu tab for details).  A licensed pourer will be checking IDs and serving the drinks.  Feel free to bring bottles of your own preferred drink if you wish to have more selection than what will be provided.  Be smart and plan ahead—make sure you have a sober way to get home, whether it’s a designated driver, taxi, or uber ride.  I’m kind of a stickler on this one…I will pull out crazy bridezilla ninja moves if you try to drive home from our wedding drunk.  I don’t foresee anyone having issues with this :)  Just putting out a fair warning!

 

Q. Talk to me about bathrooms…how will you accommodate all these people with your single restroom that happens to be at the top of a somewhat steep staircase?

A. Great question. We will have an outdoor handicap accessible porta-potty and hand wash station available at the reception. We recommend folks use the porta-potty, as it is more safely accessible than our indoor loo.

Q. So you’re telling me there’s no plated meal, no religious aspect, no bouquet toss, no wedding party, and no dance floor…but there WILL be a porta-potty? Your wedding sounds weird…

A. Well, to be honest, we are a little weird. But deep down inside we think that’s part of the reason you love us so much :) Truth is we are all a little weird…even if we’re weird only in the way that we’re not weird. Feel like you’re going in circles yet? Bottom line: we love you for embracing our offbeat nature. If after reading through this site you decide that perhaps our event is a little too offbeat for your comfort, no worries. We don’t want you to be uncomfortable! Just like we know you wouldn’t want us to be uncomfortable on our big day. Let us know on the RSVP section of the site that you won’t be able to make it, and we will figure out another way to celebrate together…AND we will still love you like crazy. It’s part of our weirdness ;)

To check out the amazing wedding blog that has inspired much of our offbeat wedding planning, go to www.offbeatbride.com. I’m kind of obsessed.

Q. Ok, so I read the registry section of this wedsite and see that we are not expected to give a gift…but seriously though, what should I get you?

A. We are 100% serious when we say gifts are not expected nor required. And just to show you how serious we are, Mike and I will abstain from giving you a wedding favor. (We know you guys love us, but no one needs a beer coozy imprinted with our faces :p) Instead, Mike and I will be making donations—in your honor—to the two charities listed on the registry page of this wedsite. If you are just absolutely uncomfortable with the idea of not giving a wedding gift, feel free to join us in contributing to one of our preferred charities. Alternatively, you could contribute to our honeymoon fund. But again…your awesome company on our special day is the real gift. You guys have helped us grow into the people we are today. Thank you for that.

Want to learn more about the significance of these charities to the bride and groom? Check out the registry tab!

Q. Hey! How come I wasn’t invited?

A. Chances are you won’t find this site unless specifically directed to it by an invitation…but if by some strange chance you have stumbled across this page and are not invited, please know that we still love you very much! We had to limit our guest list based on our budget and venue space. We would still love to get together and celebrate, so let us know when you are free!

Q. I’m a millennial (by birth or in spirit). Everything I do ends up on Facebook. Is it ok if I post photos of your wedding to social media?

A. Mike and I will be having an unplugged ceremony. This means we are requesting that folks leave the photography up to our wonderful and gifted neighbor, Brenda Havens (you’ll recognize her when you see her…she’ll be the one with the camera ;). Please put away your cell phones and/or cameras during this time and be fully present with us in the moment. The reception is a different story! Feel free to help us capture the fun by uploading your photos to Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag them with #emilylovesmike so we can check them out too!

Q. Where did this amazing website come from?

A.Well, thank you for asking... I, Mike, came up with the entire thing, it's hand coded in PHP and HTML... I know, mad skills. Emily helped with most of the content and all of the proofreading. I can be a bit of a bull in a china shop, Emily brings refinement, completeness, and detail to create a finished product. We both used this project as a team building and problem solving project and we are very proud of it. As long as I'm around to maintain it it will be here for all of the world to see. I came up with the domain name quite a while ago. I knew it would come in handy someday. We're almost at that day! Woohoo!