Mamey Miami (at Thesis Hotel)

Happy Hour Drop In

Wedding Day

Pinecrest Gardens

Ceremony

Unseen Creatures Brewing & Blending

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Late Night

Crandon Park Beach

Post Wedding Beach Day

Our Wedding

Thomas and Mary originally met in San Diego, where Thomas was stationed with the Navy and Mary was attending physical therapy school. Their first date was at Ballast Point Brewing, which Mary soon learned has more than one location, after going to the wrong place and arriving at their date 20 minutes late. Luckily, Thomas was patient and the two bonded over good conversation and similar interests, including San Diego's infamous high-percentage IPA beers (which probably helped fuel the good conversation). Although Mary graduated and moved away not long after, the two remained friendly and stayed in touch.

The Beginning

Two years later, they reconnected through text and began chatting again. Unfortunately, life at this point found them living on opposite sides of the country - Mary in Northern California and Thomas in Miami. Thomas sent Mary enough pictures of his Great Dane puppy, Zoey, to convince her to fly out for a visit. They decided that, despite the long distance, they wanted to continue to try to see each other and committed to traveling frequently for visits. Over the next 1.5 years, they explored each other's respective regions, with California trips planned by Mary and Miami dates planned partly by Thomas and mostly by his sister-in-law, Beth.

The Trips

In 2019, Thomas was accepted into the University of Miami's MBA program and, more excitingly, finally convinced Mary to join him in Miami. She moved to Miami in February 2020 - just in time to go into lockdown with Thomas and now-145 lbs Zoey. Fortunately, all the time spent together and the vast number of baked goods that Mary stress-baked during the pandemic only served to strengthen their relationship. In 2021, they moved to a house in Little Gables (a suburb of Miami), in order to provide a backyard for Zoey, as all good millenial dog-parents aspire to do. They were lucky enough to have friends move down the street and to discover a new favorite brewery, Unseen Creatures, only a few miles away.

Miami Life

In summer 2022, the two planned a trip to visit friends and Mary's family in California. One of their planned stops was Mammoth Lakes, CA, a small mountain town in the Sierra Nevada range that Mary had grown up visiting. While they were there, Mary planned a visit to the nearby Yosemite National Park to hike Cloud's Rest - a 14.5 mile hike ending in a narrow ridge leading to a spectacular overlook of Yosemite Valley. Little did Mary know that Thomas had been planning to propose for months. He managed to transport a ring across the country and up the mountain, keeping it a complete surprise the whole time. Fun fact - he called the ring insurance company beforehand to make sure it was covered in the event it fell off the side of a mountain (it was). Luckily, there were no such mishaps and Mary happily said yes.

The Proposal

Our Story

Photos

Anna Oberman

Erik Applebaum

Wedding Party

What should I wear to the wedding?Cocktail attire. Since we are in Miami, don't be shy about rocking some bright, tropical colors! For footwear, all the pathways at Pinecrest Gardens are paved, but there are some uneven surfaces so if you plan to wear heels, make sure they are comfortable to walk (and dance!) in.

What is the best way to get around in Miami?Uber/Lyft (or Alto if you're feeling fancy)! They are relatively inexpensive and drivers are plentiful. We highly recommend this option for the wedding reception so that you can enjoy the many beers that Unseen Creatures has to offer.If you are staying for a few days and want to visit different neighborhoods, you may want to look into renting a car.

Where can I park for the wedding?Both Pinecrest Gardens and Unseen Creatures have large parking lots with free parking. For Unseen Creatures, if the parking lot directly in front of the brewery is full, you can park to the left in front of the other stores (it is shared parking).

If I'm coming to the beach on Saturday, where is it?We will be at Shelter 7 at Crandon Park Beach on Key Biscayne. The address is 6747 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149. See below for a map of the beach.

Q + A

We have blocked rooms at the Thesis Hotel, which is conveniently located to both Pinecrest Gardens and Unseen Creatures Brewing. Please use the following link to access the room block rate: <a href="https://reservations.travelclick.com/112938?groupID=3969757" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://reservations.travelclick.com/112938?groupID=3969757</a> That said, there are many, many options for places to stay in Miami, depending on your preferences. Don't feel obligated to stay at the Thesis if you find something else that better suits your taste or price range.

THesis Hotel Miami

FlightsWe highly recommend flying into Miami International Airport (MIA). You can also fly into Fort-Lauderdale-Holleywood Airport (FLL), but we don't recommend doing this unless you are renting a car and have the patience of a saint to deal with traffic on I-95.

Day of transportationUnseen Creatures (the reception venue) is about 15 minutes away from the ceremony location at Pinecrest Gardens. If you plan to drive, we recommend carpooling, as parking at Unseen Creatures may be limited. Uber/Lyft is also a great option - they are plentiful and relatively inexpensive in Miami.

Travel

Where to Eat

Breakfast/Brunch

Pinecrest bakery - 24 hour Cuban bakery (great for ordering pickup/takeout). Try the pastelitos (especially the guava and queso!) and ham croquetas for a delicious, if not particularly healthy breakfast Threefold Cafe - casual breakfast spot in Coral Gables Glass and Vine - for a slightly fancier brunch (or lunch/dinner) in Coconut Grove with a beautiful patio The Daily Creative Food Co. - Our weekly breakfast or lunch pickup during the pandemic. Grab food and coffee and walk to Margaret Pace Park for some people and dog-watching. Amara at Paraiso - If fancy brunch with a waterfront view is calling your name

Happy Hour

Giralda Plaza - home to Cebada rooftop bar, Talavera (Mexican restaurant), and multiple spots for a beer. One stop shopping for getting drinks in Coral Gables. Sushi Garage (Coconut Grove or South Beach) - Fantastic happy hour for cocktails and sushi bites. Thorn - Off the beaten path cocktail bar down the street from Unseen Creatures (our reception brewery) Bulla - Spanish tapas, wine, and sangria. Ask if you can sit on the upstairs patio. Also a great spot for a bottomless brunch on the weekend!

Dinner

Havana Harry's - casual, but a great spot to get some solid Cuban foodAtchana - casual Thai food in Coconut GroveEating House - creative American menu, located on Giralda Ave near some great happy hour spotsCaffe Abbracci- old-school Italian fine diningZucca - modern Italian restaurant and wine bar in Coral Gables. We loved the goat cheese zucchini flower appetizer!Kush (Spillover by Kush or Kush Wynwood) - Casual burger spot - try the Frita burger!

Things to Do

Registry

4178 SW 74th Ct, Miami, FL 33155

From Pinecrest Gardens:1. Turn right out of the parking lot onto Killian Dr.2. Turn right on SW 60th Ave.3. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto SW 104th St.4. Turn right onto SW 73rd Ct.5. Turn left at the second cross street onto SW 1005h St.6. Merge onto FL-826 N7. Exit onto FL-976 E/SW 40th St./Bird Rd8. Turn right onto SW 74th Ct.9. Turn right into the parking lot

Mary & Thomas

Mary & Thomas

Photos