Attire

Let's start with some facts. 

1. We are getting married on October 12th. I have done some research: In 2008, the high was 82 degrees. In 2009, it was 52. In 2011, it was 88, and last year it was 62. Crazy. 
2. We are getting married outside in a tent with removable sides and heaters 
3. But, we still have lovely indoor bathrooms on the property and a covered bar 
4. There will be wicked games of badminton, croquet, bocce ball, and possibly a potato sack race. 
5. We would love you to stay as long as you like, even if it means changing out of your awesome dresses and suits and into jeans when it gets dark. 

Quincy has dreams of a Gatsby-esc suit and vest, am me, I am wearing a long white dress, but YOU? You on the other hand have endless possibilities. I have, in recent years, used several of your weddings as excuses to add fabulous dresses to my collection and highly encourage you to do the same, but maybe a fabulous jacket or sweater to match? It is in a field, so high heels may be discouraged... so wedges? flats? cowboy boots? And plan B outfit for when you accidentally fall in the pond and need to change before you get on the trolley back to the hotel.

Think picnic or garden party, but more than anything think something comfortable so you can have fun.

** An added note on shoes! Quincy and I recently attended our friend Jessica's beautiful wedding in Long Island at a golf course overlooking the ocean. I, smartly, decided to wear by 3 inch tall black suede heals, not realizing just how much of the event would be taking place outside. I looked awesome, but the golf course received and unscheduled aerating as I noticeably sank inches into the ground with every step.  Our entire wedding will be happening out of doors. I would suggest flats, boots, and wedges!  

Long Distance Travelers!

Greetings out of towner friends! I am aware that a home town wedding may not be the friendliest location for flying, so we wanted to make some suggestions and offer some help to make sure nobody felt restricted by travel. 

The easiest, cheapest, and closest airport to get to Springfield is actually St. Louis, not Chicago. Only 90 minutes from my parents' house, it has a southwest terminal and quite a few direct flights. 

If you are flying in on Friday October 11th, Quincy/my brother Sam is planning provide "trolley service" ie, rental van from St. Louis to Springfield to give everyone a lift up. I know if may take some coordination of travel times, but aiming to arrive around lunch time or early afternoon would be ideal. Let us know what your ticket options look like and we can help you figure something out! 

We will also be working out the best option for transport back to St. Louis Sunday. We are hoping to host breakfast, but we understand everyone has busy lives, and perhaps not Columbus Day off, but you are still welcome. 

Speaking of welcome! As we are having anything but a "conventional" ceremony... there isn't too much of a purpose for a rehearsal dinner Friday night. Regardless, we want to see as much of our out of town friends as possible while you are here. My parents have offered to host everyone to their parents house for beer, bbq, and fun Friday night. No speeches, minimal jokes about the binding ties of matrimony, just a bonfire, homebrew, and time together in more comfortable clothing (at least for me... not that my wedding dress isn't AWESOME)

It's a card? It's a ticket? It's a Coaster!

Yay! Save the Dates are finally in the mail! Not only will these awesome coasters help you save the date for our big day, but they will also save your table tops! We wanted something fun and tried to include a couple in each envelope... because you never need just one coaster. 

It is starting to seem so close and exciting! Enjoy!!! 
 

 See?! Functional! Thanks Sam for sharing! 

Location and Hotels

         We are getting married at the Schnirring family farm near Chatham, Illinois. Bill (Willie as I have always heard him called) is a childhood friend of my grandfather and his lovely wife was a close personal friend of my grandmother Martha. They played bridge together once a week, every week for more years than I have been alive.

It is really 1 big shindig, party in the tent, wedding in the tent, games and fun in the field surrounding and hopefully nobody falls in the pond. (My money is on Derek.)

 It is a little bit of a hike from the hotel, so we will be ordering trolleys from the hotel for those who are concerned about making the drive after a day and evening of festivities, but there is plenty of parking too.

We have secured a block of rooms at the Drury Inn and Suites, information below. It is a central location from my parent's house, the farm, downtown Springfield, and my parents' "club" on the lake where the prewedding party Friday night will be held. Since we are not having a ceremony per say, the traditional night before rehearsal dinner has been scratched for another opportunity to spend time with our out of town friends.

It is quite possible we have not reserved enough rooms, but can easily add more to the block if necessary. Let us know if you have any issues with your booking and we can help you take care of it! 

https://wwws.druryhotels.com/Reservations.aspx?groupno=2181987

 3180 S Dirksen Pkwy Springfield, IL 62703               

(217) 529-3900

Reservations under the Pettyjohn/Miller Wedding

Hats?

Many of you who have known me for years (and Quincy too!) may be wondering to yourself... was she really serious when she said I should wear a hat to her wedding? Or was is just some sort of ruse? Well, please let me assure you that I was COMPLETELY serious and if you were not fortunate enough to get to go here.... 

You should now use my nuptials as a terrific excuse to purchase something like this: 

 Or perhaps something even more flamboyant?

 Or something more classic?

 Or something more manly? 

 

Quincy and I will be wearing hats to better pose with our croquet mallets, crystal whiskey tumblers, badminton birdies, and oh, friends. Please see links below to some of our highly suggested haberdashers and milliners. Or just google the derby for more inspiration. You would be amazed at the amount of retailer on etsy who want to make your head adornment dreams come true. Happy shopping! 

Goorin Brothers Hats
Brooks Brothers
Anthro 

Registry

Registering for gifts is awesome. It is like shopping with an unlimited budget. I actually felt guilty afterwards like I had just purchased tons of things I shouldn't have, like when I get my bonus paycheck in June... but then remembered what Nicole Cooley told me. If you don't register for lots of things you want, you just get a whole bunch of chip and dip bowl sets. I think she has at least 3. Quincy and I registered at: 

Sur La Table

Williams Sonoma

REI 

So far, these are my favorite items on the list:

 

You will not be surprised that a majority of the stuff is for our kitchen. You set Quincy and I out in Sur La Table and tell us to ask for whatever we want it's like kids in a candy store. Nobody NEEDS that many different baking variety pans, but they are so pretty and have so much potential! I think Quincy may have gotten a little carried away with the collapsible salad spinner and the carrot spiral cutter... but I definitely need those mini cupcake and tart pans. 

More than anything though, we would love to have you THERE. My we signed the contract for our tent, tables, chairs, twinkle lights, and dance floor in March and my family is eager to welcome you to my home town. We are so excited to have so many people we love in the same place at once. xoxox

Save the Dates

This weekend, Quincy and I finally got down to making our save the dates. Quincy has been experimenting with screen printing in the past year and was convinced it would be an awesome DIY project. It all seemed to be working so well in the intital stages, but about 30 coasters into printing and only 1 we could use, I went online and submitted his awesome design to a print company. Expect them in the mail soon, but until then....

Our date is October 12th, 2013. We can't wait to see you there!