Secret Ceremony info!!!

Hi friends.

Many of you have asked Sam and me, "When is your actual ceremony? We want to see you say vows and cry and the like!"

Now, we didn't include this information in our general party invitation, but they are indeed happening on the same day. Please come and watch us kiss on stage!  Our 5pm party is a concert with lots and lots of friends and a happening sing-song-y good time; a real celebratory dance party (not your traditional wedding fare with a three-course meal served by folks you don't know). We'll hoot and holler and munch on bahn-mi and popcorn and drink from kegs of local brews.

The intimate romantic part will happen just before high noon, in nearby Liberty Lands Park.  We'll only have seats for our close family (who are coming to a private lunch in between events), so please bring a picnic blanket / folding chair / parasol, etc if you want to sit down. The park is shaded on the periphery but full-sun in the middle, so be prepared! It's a public park, so there may be people there who aren't there for the wedding. There's a playground and picnic tables at the South end, also.

Sam will have everyone assembled and excited at 11a and I will arrive with my gaggle of girlies shortly thereafter, setting everything into motion. After the ceremony is complete; Sam and I will lead a parade of merry followers through the neighborhood to the Latvian Society, where our family will be waiting for us for lunch. (If you decide to come to the park, we can suggest an alternative lunch spot for you; there are lots of great places nearby!)

The WEDDING CEREMONY of Kate & Sam:

Sunday, July 29th, 2012
11am-12pm
Liberty Lands Park, 961 N. 3rd St. Ceremony will be on the stage at the north end.
featuring musical accompaniment by Mary Lattimore & Jesse Sparkhawk
officiated by Victor Allen Crawford (aka Lord Whimsy...)

***If you come to watch us wed at the park, please be aware that parking in this neighborhood is very limited! Locals; try to take the El or ride your bikes or walk. If you're driving in from out of town, there is a free parking lot at 2nd Street and Germantown Ave. The park is a short walk from there.***

Hotels

Hi friends and family.  Some of you may have noticed that Sam and I did not include information for a hotel in our invitation. Simply put, in a city with so many options, we couldn't fathom making that decision for you.

If you are planning on booking a hotel while you party with us, we're happy to help you choose one. Also, here is a handy link to the ten closest hotels to the Latvian Society. Since we live here, we don't have too much experience in hotels here, but can help you find one for your budget and comfort level.  If you ask me, I will probably tell you that Penns View Hotel seems like the coolest.  It's a small, independent hotel in the Historic District, and still not too far away.

If anyone coming to our wedding has already booked their hotel, or has stayed in Philly before and has a recommendation to make, or a hotel to avoid, please share your experience in the comments, so anyone can benefit.

Thanks!

Our Officiant

An interview with our officiant, who as he quotes, "accidentally talked to the press again."

In order to have the ceremony of our dreams, we're planning to obtain a Quaker wedding license, which allows us to marry without an ordained minister or judge, instead surrounded by only our friends and family. Thanks, Philly, for being full of Friends!

Registry

http://www.myregistry.com/public/Katie-VanVliet-Sam-Cusumano

           Hello to our friends and family. 

                         We love you!

Thank you for being a part of our celebration and for finding us here. We have made this little registry of items to share with you a little bit of what makes our material lives most pleasant.  While many typical things may not be here, we've tried to have some fun and also think creatively about what we might like to have in our home, to help make 1221 Oxford St a place where others can easily visit and enjoy themselves also. 

We used this site rather one store so Katie can include things from Etsy.  These are handmade goods from artists and artisans like us, and mostly are made to order.  Our stoneware place settings are here, and we've worked closely with the ceramicist to design them.  She is glazing and firing the plates and bowls to order. Other things on Etsy are vintage items; we are attracted to their timelessness, style, and quality of craftsmanship. Think of these items as inspiration, as often the vintage things will sell to other people in the world with keen eyes, and we may not see things like them again. 

We wait in anticipation of the big day! We can hardly wait to see you, too!

Much love,

Katie & Sam

http://www.myregistry.com/public/Katie-VanVliet-Sam-Cusumano

Better Late than Never! Engagement Photo Session!

We had a great time exploring Northern Liberties yesterday with our wedding photographer, Katrina Ohstrom, of LittleRedFoxes Photography. We're so lucky to live in a part of Philly that boasts the artists' touch all over the streets, fences, and public spaces. Without much planning,we found so many charming picture-perfect nooks and crannies. Sam wore grey, to test how photogenic the color will be on our big day, and I wore a 1920's cotton batiste dress over a 1940's silk slip, because why not, that's awesome.

Also awesome: Katrina's original post on her own tumblr blog.

Lying in the sun on Liberty Lands Park's stage.

Moss-covered shady alley in No. Libs.

Perfect guerilla mural on Wildey Street.

Sharing a pot of Moroccan Mint at the Random Tea Room!

Gazing at the infamous 1980's artist-made log cabin. 

Edgar Allan Poe House has a great herb garden.

Invites headed out this week!

As artists, Sam and I have decided to go DIY on many aspects of our upcoming wedding.  While the image above is a design we made on an iPad app called LetterMpress; ( that replicates traditional letterpress printed images) we did decide to hand print our invitations, that we also designed and drew.  

I finally took the plunge into screenprinting and had Lauren at BYO Print teach me how to use photo emulsion to burn a silkscreen.  Now, I have handprinted invitations plus a new skill. I finally know how ALL of the equipment at the printshop works! Yippee! 

Also, PaperSource is a dangerous place for a printmaker on a craft mission. $$$ paper....