Westenhanger Castle

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Evening Guest Arrival

Evening Reception

Spring

Our Wedding

Above the Sea

Shanghai, China. Twenties tearooms and soaring skyscrapers. A dark pulse of river splitting the old of the Bund and the new of Puxi. Annabel and Alex, both new to Shanghai and to China, were among the group of four teachers selected to teach at Xin Qing Hua Pacican International School, located at the end of one line of Shanghai’s sprawling metro system. The senior foreign teachers at the school suggested the quartet get an apartment downtown together. “Don’t commute to fun.” Annabel and Alex, along with Connor and Caitlin, thought “Why not?” * Shanghai’s strange, wild rhythms enticed Annabel and Alex into a second year. Both changed jobs and, with them, apartments, but they remained together: they’d fallen in love under the twisted plane trees of Shanghai’s French concession, one of the old districts into which the colonial city had been divided. It was on the fringes of this cosmopolitan, high energy place that they’d lived during their first year and where they’d spent a lot of their time. Hot pot and Yang’s dumplings. One of the oddest and most fun St Patrick’s Days you’re likely to have. Bicycles with seemingly whole worlds strapped to carts that trailed in their wake.

Around the world

Leaving China. Annabel and Alex, having finished up in Shanghai, pursued their passion for travel together, moving around east and south-east Asia. Their trip began as news of a newly emergent virus was beginning to sweep around the world. After stops in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Singapore, and Taiwan it seemed like COVID was catching up to them in Japan. Here came the realization that it was going to stretch everywhere. On the final days of their travels, museums started to close their doors. Initially planning to spend some time with Annabel’s family in Pennsylvania before returning home, Alex, having joined Annabel on the last day of flights out of Japan, spent the first extended lockdown in Stroudsburg, getting to know the Hughes family. He did make it home eventually, to spend the rest of the summer with his own family before Annabel and Alex would move in together again: this time, as a couple and just the two of them. (Cats would follow).

By the Lake

Chicago. Back to school. Alex secured a place in graduate school, to do a PhD in Theatre at Northwestern University, while Annabel embarked on a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at the nearby Elmhurst University. They moved into an apartment: their friendly and vibrant neighborhood of Andersonville has proved a great fit for the two of them. Their apartment is about fifteen minutes from Lake Michigan, which Alex’s parents mistook for the sea when pictures were first sent back home. In summer, few cities can better it: even in winter, when things slow down and people stay indoors, there is an icy beauty. It was in Chicago that they affirmed their lifetime commitment to one another, when the sun was shining and the weather warm.&nbsp;

to be continued...

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

Hotels

Here is a list on Google Maps of the hotel options and the venue. We will not be having a hotel block so choose what is most convenient for your party. https://maps.app.goo.gl/h3zDDzwyHXLXcK3W7

Canterbury Hotels

ABode Canterbury

The Corner House

House Of Agnes

Millers Arms

Victoria Hotel

Hotels Outside of Canterbury

Most of these were provided as suggestions from our venue but we have not stayed at any of them.

Ashford International Hotel & Spa

Burlington Hotel | BW Premier Collection

Hampton by Hilton Ashford International

Holiday Inn Ashford - North A20, an IHG Hotel

Holiday Inn Express Folkestone - Channel Tunnel, an IHG Hotel

Hythe Imperial Hotel

Premier Inn Folkestone (Channel Tunnel) hotel

Rose & Crown

Seabrook House Bed and Breakfast

Travelodge Ashford

The View Hotel Folkestone, a member of Radisson Individuals

Accommodation

Trains

The venue is located next to Westenhanger train station. At the time of writing, trains between Westenhanger and London run directly to and from London Bridge station. For a quicker journey, you can take a high speed service from London St. Pancras International station and change at Ashford International station. The last trains from Westenhanger station to London are currently at 22.49, although schedules are subject to change. There are also direct trains between Westenhanger and Folkestone West station. These take under 10 minutes. The last train to Folkestone is currently scheduled at 23.38.

Taxis

All taxis must be booked in advance. Uber/Lyft are available but may need to be booked in advance also.

Elegance TaxisPhone: 07526 957953Website: https://www.eleganttaxis.uk/folkestone-taxi*book at least 24 hours in advance JJ TaxisPhone: 01303 244442Website: http://jjtaxis.com/*book at least 2 days in advance Premier TaxisPhone: 01303 270000Website: https://www.premiertaxisfolkestone.co.uk*book at least one week in advance Prime Taxis AshfordPhone: 01233 367075Website: http://www.primetaxisashford.uk/*book one to two weeks in advance

Transportation

Visa Waiver - *Required*

US citizens will require an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to travel. This costs about $13. More information can be found below. Annabel applied through an app. The waiver was approved within 10 minutes of completing. You need to take a picture of your passport and a picture/scan of your face. The process took about 10 minutes. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.htmlhttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

Airports

There are no airports in Canterbury, Folkestone, or Hythe. It is highly recommended that you fly into one of the London airports. If you plan to make a holiday/week of your visit, it may also be more convenient to stay in London for a few nights, and then come down for the wedding. If flying into Heathrow, you can take the Elizabeth tube line, the Piccadilly tube line, or the Heathrow Express train service from the airport into central London. Other London airports also have train services that take you into central London. The London train stations St. Pancras International, Stratford International, Charing Cross, Waterloo East, and London Bridge, all run trains that travel directly to both Canterbury and Folkestone. The Castle Westenhanger is next to Westenhanger train station. See "transportation" for more information.

For American Travellers

Canterbury

Alex's family enjoyed coming here for picnics and walking around the cathedral when he was growing up.

Canterbury Cathedral

Franciscan Gardens

St. Martin’s Church, Canterbury

Alex's parents lived in their first house together in Harbledown. Alex's mom grew up here too! The Old Coach and Horses is a restaurant to visit if you're in the area.

The Old Coach & Horses

Westgate Towers Museum & Viewpoint

A good place to eat or have a drink.

Parrot

Westgate Gardens

Alex's favorite book store in Canterbury :) buy yourself a book in his honor!

Waterstones

Alex's family's favorite choice for fish and chips.

Marino's Fish Bar - Canterbury

The West Gate Inn - JD Wetherspoon

The Pound at One Pound Lane

Alex had a brief stint working at the bar here.

The Marlowe

Alex's favorite secondhand bookshop! Buy another book :)

Oxfam Bookshop

The Unicorn Inn

Visit one of the many charity shops in Canterbury. For the Americans - they're like mini thrift stores each dedicated to a specific charity.

Age UK Canterbury

London

Shakespeare's Globe

Annabel's mom worked here when she lived in London.

The Grenadier

This is where Annabel's parents met! Her mom worked at the pub. When they met it was called the Shepherd's Tavern.

Chesterfield Arms

Annabel's mom used to get afternoon here for a treat, try it for yourself!

The Dorchester

Annabel's parents had a house in Twickenham when they lived in London. The address is 17 Popes Grove, Twickenham.

Annabel & Alex

Annabel & Alex

A&A

Wedding Day

2:00 PM

Ceremony

7:00 PM

Evening Guest Arrival