For Eric's Wedding Party

I sent this out in e-mail form a couple of weeks ago - I figured it was worth a repost - the only key changes are a few of the e-mails of guys who have moved or for whom I had typos.

Gentlemen and Scholars of the Wedding Party:

The time for planning has come. As ya’ll all know, I will be marrying Miss Sarah Marie Surak on Saturday, November 4^th in Emory, Virginia. Well, after much arranging, work, and re-arranging (my chief problems? Dissertation and then starting again from scratch after loosing all my contact info when my hard drive went south) we’ve come up with some lists . . . some of which are essential, some of which are less essential. Read on.

First, for everybody:

The general here and there of the weekend goes as such. First, on Friday, the rehearsal will be held at Memorial Chapel (http://www.ehc.edu/about/chapel.html) on Emory & Henry’s campus at 6:00 PM. Hopefully it’ll be fairly brief and we can move on with speed to the Groom’s Dinner, which will be held at the Greenway Haven Party House in Abingdon, just south of Emory.

After that, well, I imagine we’ll hit a local watering hole for some color, probably the Tavern or the Baja. On Saturday, well, the ceremony is at 6:30, again in Memorial Chapel. We’re not sure what time we’ll need everyone for photos or what sorts of diversions we’ll enlist in earlier that day, but I’ll get that to you in the near future. After the ceremony, we’ll be moving on to the Martha Washington Inn in Abingdon for the reception for good times.

Other general knowledge? Well, we have room blocs reserved in three hotels in Abingdon. In order of descending costs:

The Martha Washington Inn

http://www.marthawashingtoninn.com/

150 West Main Street
Abingdon VA 24210
276-628-3161

The Holiday Inn Express

940 E. Main St.
Abingdon, VA 24210
276-676-2829

The Alpine Motel

882 E. Main St.
Abingdon, VA 24210
276-628-3178

I’ve personally stayed in all of them at one point or another – they’re all clean, they all have good service, and the Holiday Inn and the Alpine are both just down the road from the Martha Washington.

If you want to fly directly into Abingdon and don't have a private plane, well, yeah. Sorry. I think the word is "unlikely."

That said, you have a couple of real options. One, you can hit the Tri-Cities Regional Airport (http://www.triflight.com). Tri-Cities in, however in Blountville, TN, around 25 miles from Abingdon. Thus you'll probably want to arrange a pick-up or rent a car.

Both Knoxville (McGhee Tyson Airport http://www.tys.org) and Roanoke (Roanoke Regional Airport http://www.roanokeregionalairport.com) have slightly larger airports. The cost-benefit ratio should be obvious. Flying into one of these larger airports might save you money on the ticket (substantial money, even) but you're going to have to deal with the two hours of driving involved in getting to Abingdon, and that probably means renting a car unless you have a definite ride from one of those two locales. If you're thinking about flying in somewhere further away (e.g. Washington, Richmond, Nashville, etc.) know that these are not nearby. That said, if you want to pick up some other regional culture, well heck, go for it. Oh, and drive a lot.

Also, Sarah has set up website for us on the Knot.com, specifically: http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/view/co_main.aspx?coupleid=3266960342220000

It has a lovely color scheme and other assorted data. She’s entered some of it a little off, and I’m gonna’ try to get that fixed in the next couple of days.

Okay, here is the more particular data. Of key importance? I want ya’ll to check out your details – make sure I have your name written the way you want it (titles, etc.) and that your contact info is right. Awesome.

For the groomsmen:

First, the list and contact info -

BEST MAN - Trevor D. Smith, MA – 276-698-5827 soulsownspeech@hotmail.com

R. Lee Campbell – 804-366-3581 dynabodybylee@aol.com

Christopher T. Catron – 276-970-1950 buyardo@hotmail.com

Jason M. Clayman – 276-614-0935 jclayman@radford.edu

Joseph W. Hodge, Jr. – 336-456-1778 joehodge2@msn.com

Robert E. Jones – 804-366-3581 bjones@petroleumtransport.com

Tyler G. Kidd, Esq. – 804-915-7621 tkidd@williamsmullen.com

Robert Schutt, MD – 804-441-4770 rob.schutt@ttuhsc.edu

Robert M. Stallworth, III - 804-402-8122 rstallworth@hotmail.com

Not to mention the ringbearer, my little cousin Brett Baker, and our flower girl, little Emma Hodge. To your adoring parents – Brad and Leslie, we’re going to have tux data here in the next little bit, and Joe, we’re actually checking to see if my step-aunt might be interested in making the dress for us. More soon.

Second, whenever you can get it to me, I need you to get fitted for a tux. Right now I’m planning on getting the tuxes at the Johnson City After Hours Tuxedos – I am, however, checking out the prices on one establishment in Abingdon. Also, I’m trying to get the final approval on some tuxes from the boss (e.g. Sarah) and I’ll let you know more on the costs as soon as I can. I can tell you I’m planning on tuxes with vests and neckties, rather than bow ties or cummerbunds.

Also, we’re trying to get the layout for the groomsmen up-front in the chapel – to do that I’ll need your heights. Awesome.

For the Ushers:

First, the list and contact info -

Capt. Jay S. Burns, Esq. – 423-329-0767 jayburns@gmail.com

Dep. Michael Christian – 540-537-6552 mchristian421@cox.net

Capt. Matthew Davis – 304-290-5851 mattdavis3232@yahoo.com

Dep. John G. Gunter – 304-952-9266 johngunterjr@yahoo.com

C.H. Riley, III, Pharm.D. – 843-971-3612 carnchr@comcast.net

Capt. Richard Schermer – 808-225-4257 richandang@hotmail.com

Sean C. Taylor – 919-225-8591 sctaylor@king.edu

Brian White, MA – 607-351-8429 bwhite@csl.cornell.edu

Your arrangements are a little simpler. Just a suit (preferably black, but gray or brown will work) or, if you’re a cop or military, your uniform. That’s the long and the short of it. I know a couple of you are far, far away and may not be able to come, and I don’t want you to feel over-pressured, but I would dig it if you can be here – just let me know when you know.

The Readers:

Titus Oxley – 540-907-2941 titusoxley@yahoo.com

Rev. Christopher E. Raines – 973-822-3239 ceraines@hotmail.com

The Honoraries & Folks With Other Jobs

Okay guys, here’s the mishmash – I am blessed with entirely too many friends for me to have everyone in the wedding. Its already a little insane, as you can plainly see. That said, dig – you’re invited to the rehearsal dinner. Buya.

Michael Armbrister – 276-685-6031 armbristers@yahoo.com

Sgt. James Atkins – 865-335-5625 jatkins@utk.edu

Wesley B. Boggs – 865-696-0299 wboggs@utk.edu

Chuck Clark – 423-367-2822 ckclark@chartertn.net

Vaughn W. Garland, MFA (Program Designer) – 804-869-0065 vaughnwg@hotmail.com

Brian Gillespie (Rehearsal Dinner Photographer) – 276-614-0267 bgillespie@ehc.edu

Neal Hutton – 276-614-5903 tnealhutton@comcast.net

Seth E. Jennings, Pharm.D. – 423-646-8167 sjennings@charter.net

Adam Kennedy – 276-356-2627 blzlambs02@yahoo.com

Stephen E. Long – 423-341-5839 blzgump@yahoo.com

Michael Mason – 540-230-9409 mmason@swva.net

Hank McCarthy, MA – 919-599-0936 karatecop@hotmail.com

Teddy Warren – 703-403-1912 teddy41@gmail.com

Jonathon G. Whittaker – 423-912-8640 JonathanGWhittaker@hotmail.com

Stephen Wiley – 276-608-0891 blzwiley@yahoo.com

Jimmy Woods – 276-356-2857 jimmywoods@bvunet.net

Allen Worrell – 276-733-4465 aworrell@thecarrollnews.com