Times, Dates, & Places

Drumroll, please.

The Rehersal: The rehersal will begin at 6PM on Friday, November 3rd at Memorial Chapel in Emory (more details on the Chapel below). For those participating, think business casual. Afterwards we're off to the Greenway Haven Party House in Abingdon. The Greenway is where my fraternity (Beta Lambda Zeta) used to hold its fraternity rushes and is home to some of the best food I've ever put in my mouth (when I called Ms. Janson to reserve the facilities and mentioned I was a Lamb, she laughed and said, "well, I know what you'll want - homemade macaroni and cheese and hot rolls." The latter are so good that we developed a reputation for pilfering them. . . but that's a different story. . .). After the rehersal, well, there's always the Tavern. . .

The Ceremony: At 6:30PM in the evening on Saturday, November 4th we'll be strolling through Memorial Chapel (which is the home of Emory United Methodist Church) for the Wedding. The chapel is physically and metaphorically in the center of Emory & Henry College's campus. Consider this quote from EHC's website:

Although Memorial Chapel is not old enough to be labeled historic, it is considered by many people to be one of the College's most handsome buildings. Constructed in 1957-58, the building was made possible by numerous gifts, large and small, from alumni and friends of the College. The building was named so as to be a memorial to everyone who has been connected with the life of the College. Memorial Chapel is perfectly aligned with Wiley Hall, reflecting the College's dual commitments to intellectual attainment and religious commitment. The entrances of the two buildings are lined up, and the Chapel steeple reaches a height exactly equivalent to the top of the Wiley Hall bell tower. The Chapel is the focal point for many of the College's religious life activities, many of which are aimed at service to the community beyond the College campus. Students take part in retreats and youth programs off campus and in Habitat for Humanity, a nationwide program that constructs housing for low-income families. Other religious life activities include Bible studies, Campus Christian Fellowhip, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Christian Weekend, and Kerygma.

Did you get all of that? On a personal note, its special to me personally because not only has it played a key role in numerous events of my life (my graduation, uncounted cultural experiences, the emergency location for my Non-Western Religions class with Dr. Kellogg after the great leg-breaking, etc.) but it is the home to a piano (which will be incorporated into the ceremony)dedicated to my mother's memory. . . having it there is kinda' like having my Momma' right in the middle of things.

Reception: We're going to be having the reception at the Martha Washington Inn in the Ballroom (and East Parlor) immediately following the ceremony. That's right, we'll be celebrating right where Sarah and I got engaged. The Martha is absolutely gorgeous; all stars and columns. To quote their home page:

Originally built in 1832 as a private residence by a Virginia General, The Martha Washington Inn has seen many different uses. From private residence it evolved into a finishing school for young ladies. When the armies of the Civil War battled in and around Abingdon, the building served as a hospital for wounded soldiers, and romantic stories of nurses and soldiers still endure to this day. After the Civil War The Martha became a women’s college and today is an elegant hotel, paying homage to its gracious Southern roots and enduring historic legacy.

If you're wondering, my Great-Grandma' graduated from ol'MaWa in 1904. Kinda' cool