So… is this technically a wedding or not?

It’s a wedding reception, just without the bridesmaids and bouquet toss and all that jazz. If you know us well, you know we’re not much for the spotlight, nor for convention. So, instead of a traditional ceremony and reception, we’re gettin’ hitched privately at City Hall and throwing our best friends a feast.

The place we chose for dinner has a ton of history behind it and is one of the coolest places either of us has ever had the pleasure of hanging out in. Palazzo Lavaca, as it’s now called, was Austin’s first firehouse, and was later used as a saddlery that catered to clients like Gene Autry and Al Capone, plus plenty of normal people via the Sears & Roebuck catalog of yore. Now, it’s the home of a writer who rents it out for parties, but the old Capitol Saddlery sign still hangs out front in the shape of a giant boot. Amy thinks the interior looks like Jimi Hendrix, the Mad Hatter and Marie Antoinette all got together and designed some sort of love nest, while Branislav thinks it looks like the backdrop in the Nine Inch Nails video for “The Perfect Drug.” Any way you slice it, it’s rad, and it’s ours for the night.

Now, on to the nitty gritty:

Date/Time – We’ll gather for cocktails at 6:30 pm on Saturday, November 7, followed by a catered, family-style dinner around 7 pm. After dessert, we’ll head upstairs to the living area and bring our open bar with us. Up there, we’ll kick back, spin some tunes (maybe Nine Inch Nails, maybe not), and essentially have an epic house party with all of our favorite people. We’ll boot you out (GET IT? BOOT?) around 11 pm, and then you’re welcome to join us again on Sunday for brunch.

Parking – Street parking is available on Lavaca Street and almost every adjoining side street. Lavaca Street’s meters are mostly old-school coin slots, but if you park on a side street, be sure to swipe your credit card at a nearby digital street kiosk (look for the blue and white “P” signs that designate public parking); then, display the parking sticker it gives you on the inside of your dashboard on the side of your car that’s closest to the sidewalk. There’s a UT game less than a mile away, so give yourself some extra time to find parking; it might be kind of a jungle out there.

Menu – We’ve chosen an awesome caterer who will be serving up a family-style dinner. Since Amy has the culinary tastes of a five-year-old, it will, in fact, involve mac & cheese and chocolate cake, among other things. Because if you can’t eat what you want at your own damn wedding dinner, when can you?

For the full menu, click here. We’ve got plenty of delights for our vegetarian friends to choose from, but if you have specific allergies or other requests, please email us. We like you a lot and don’t want you to have to hit up CVS like Hitch.

Kids – Bring ’em! As long as you don’t think they’ll be bored, that is, since this is a dinner-party-turned-house-party and there won’t be the usual wedding stuff to keep them entertained. Let us know a couple of weeks in advance if you’ll have them in tow so we can make sure there’s enough food for everyone and Branislav can have ample time to perfect his Dora the Explorer impression. (If your kiddos are terrified by grown-ass men doing Dora the Explorer impressions, however, let us know and we’ll help you find a sitter who won’t make them cry.)

Gifts – Nope! Just bring yourself and your favorite dinner companion. We want your presence, not your presents. But if you’re a staunch traditionalist who won’t be able to sleep if you don’t give us something, we’ll make you a deal: please consider making a small donation to the charity:water fund we’ve set up instead of a registry, and we promise — we pinky swear — it’s plenty enough gift for us.

Attire – We’re gonna tell you the same thing we’ve told everyone who’s asked us what they should wear: Amy’s werkin’ a cocktail dress, Branislav’s rockin’ a blue suit, and we want you to wear whatever makes you comfortable and happy. Wear a towel or a Teletubby costume, a ball gown or a burlap sack. Just bring your face (and maybe some dancin’ shoes).

Travellers – Ooh, you’re gonna have a good time in Austin. Check out the page we’ve created for you; it’s brimming with tips from us on where to stay, play, eat and drink. We’d love to personally help you plan your trip if you want some customized recommendations, so don’t be a stranger between now and November.

Questions? Let ’em rip!

~

“May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.” -Irish toast