Dearest Friends and Family,
Today begins the final countdown to our wedding! Joel and I are elated that we are coming to the finish line and can now appreciate the couples who chose to elope. All joking aside though, the time, money, and travel that you are doing to be there with us on this special day is a wonderful gift-THANK YOU.
Here are a few updates for our inquiring guests:
~Invitations: As with all well planned things, something has to go wrong for memory sake. Invitations were our "memory"! They went out last week from San Diego so you should be getting the formal envelopes within the week. Don't fret if you don't have yours in time, we will have information awaiting you at the hotel for the weekend's festivities. We do ask though that you please email an rsvp to eckhoffpalmaswedding@gmail.com so that I can prepare the final headcount for the caterers.
~Weather/Clothing: Tucson is shifting from Summer heat to our more comfortable Fall weather. Please check local weather for packing but its safe to plan to dress in layers. Daytime temperatures still reach the upper 80's, with the nights cooling sometimes with a light breeze. Please remember that at Eckhoffia (our hilltop ranch) the terrain is full desert which means: uneven surfaces, loose rock/gravel, and indigenous plants. Flat, closed toe shoes are helpful and business casual dress for the wedding reception is strongly encouraged. This means slacks, dressy shirt and a sweater or light jacket.
~Athena, our lovable American Staffordshire Terrier:
Joel and I rescued our loveable blockhead two years ago. During her extensive training in the hopes to become a therapy assist dog, she has learned the Cesar Milan method of "no talk, no touch, no eye contact" for the first ten minutes of you meeting her. As our guests, we respectfully request that you observe this form of training.
What does this mean? In order to make greetings less of an "event", we do not recognize Athena, pet her, or allow her to jump onto visitors within the first 5-10 minutes of a first or second meeting. She is not allowed to jump on people at all. This seems harsh, but the reality is that its much safer for both the dog and human. We thank you in advance for helping to keep our dog safe and well behaved.
With all of the new people to meet and love on during our wedding weekend, Athena will have her share of interaction and stimulation. By avoiding pitched/raised voices or high energy around her, this ensures that she's able to stay around us off leash the entire weekend-which we very much look forward to. And despite her waggle-butt (for those who don't know pits they tend to show their love through a very waggle tail!) Athena is on a strict diet for her allergies and overall health. As cute as she is, please refrain from giving Athena table scraps or human food.
If you are nervous/afraid of dogs please let us know via email at eckhoffpalmaswedding@gmail.com so that we can discuss proper introduction and show you how much of a difference proper training, ample exercise, and responsible ownership makes in a dog's life. So far, Athena's great behavior and quiet nature has won over even the most dog-fearful!!
~Sacrament of Matrimony-a Catholic Mass Celebrated by Bishop Kicanas: Understanding that not all of our attendees are Catholic, Joel and I welcome all faiths and have tried to make the Mass less confusing. A mass-aide will be given out by the Groomsmen as you enter the Church, and Joel and I will be seated in the front for all to see. When in doubt just follow us! If you are unsure when to sit/kneel/stand please know that its perfectly polite to stay seated if you are more comfortable. While we have many honored celebrants, the Catholic Sacrament of Matrimony is actually "celebrated" by the Bride and Groom. Joel and I are so happy that you will be there as our witnesses.
Communion is for active Catholics and occurs about 45 minutes into the Mass. If you are Catholic you know what to do. For our other guests who may want a blessing, we encourage you to join the group in line, cross your arms over your chest, and slightly bow your head once you reach the Priest. This is the universally understood "sign" to receive a blessing. Both children and adults alike are invited to be blessed. Again, if you prefer to remain in your seat at this time that is perfectly fine!
Please consider travel time. The Mass will start promptly at 2pm and those who arrive late will be asked to sit in the last two rows or in the separated Chapel.
Our parish has a regular Mass for parishioners beginning at 4:30 pm, therefore we encourage our guests to save their hugs with us for the reception later in the afternoon back at Eckhoffia. Our contract with the church asks us to expedite any pictures within the church so we want to be able to complete this as soon after the mass as possible.
~Cocktail hour begins at 5:30 pm: With the Mass concluding between 3 and 3:15 pm, guests are invited to return to their hotels to change into more comfortable attire and rest a bit. The property will be open for visitors beginning at 5:30 pm for the cocktail hour. Due to catering preparation we kindly ask guests to refrain from arriving earlier than 5:30 pm.
~Parking: More information about parking will be provided. Due to the terrain and limited space, carpooling when available is highly recommended.
~Safety: Joel and I have done our best to safety-proof our ranch for kids but we ask our guests to please watch over them, especially if they will be using the pool during the weekend. We are in desert terrain. There is natural wildlife so please keep all screens/doors closed to the house when possible. Terrain is uneven at times, please watch your step.
And as always please drink responsibly. Joel and I will host an open bar the entire weekend so no need to "tip" the bartender. Please plan to take a cab or other car service to and from Eckhoffia if you plan to drink as our roads are not lit and windy.
Thank you again for joining us for this very monumental life event. Joel and I are elated to share our experience and home with you,
D+J
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