Oliver Wight Tavern

Rehearsal Dinner

Zukas Hilltop Barn

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Our Wedding

Summer, 2013; Highland Park, CA. 

 



An almost chilly night in early August... 

 











Meet Michael: 5’9”, curly hair, wanton disregard for proper punctuation. He’s standing outside a rambling, one-story house that grips barnacle-like onto the side of one of Highland Park’s many scrubby hills. No doubt he’s smoking a Marlboro Red. No doubt he’s speaking very emphatically about something or other. Let’s say Kant, to be generous. 

 











Some miles away.... 

 











Meet Rachel: shorter, riding in the air-conditioned backseat of a friend’s car, coming from some show deep in a south-western suburb of Los Angeles. No doubt she’s smiling politely. No doubt she’s nodding along to whoever is speaking emphatically about something or other. 

 











These are our protagonists...

 











How they met doesn’t matter. Like every story, it’s filled with inconsistencies, lies, misremembered details, and&mdash;of course&mdash;a Rashomon bit in the middle where Michael says one thing happened and Rachel another. What matters is that they did meet (in fact, they met many times, but that’s a story for another place). They met and, by some crazy-random-happenstance, decided to give each other a chance. It matters that, in a few weeks, Rachel is going back to Manhattan and Michael is flying to Gambier, Ohio for one of the last times. 

 











Rachel doesn’t want to do long distance. Michael agrees, at first. Rachel gets her wisdom teeth taken out, Michael makes the rash decision that he should be the one to take care of her. Michael may or may not have said he loved her very early in the relationship (it’s another Rashomon thing, no one really knows). 

 











Time passes...

 











Michael graduates. Rachel graduates. Michael gets jobs. Rachel gets jobs. Grad school. They move to Amherst. 

 











A freezing afternoon this past March...

 











Michael has a plan. He’s worked it out. The Cloisters, all their friends, a ring they chose together; it’s perfect. Minus the fact that two friends (I’m looking at you, Lana and Pete) are spotted as they get close to their destination. But it doesn’t matter. He has a speech he’s written (duh), he gets on one knee, there is crying and...

 











That’s where you come in: 

 











Come rain, come snow, come whatever the weather gods of New England choose to bless us with, on November 3rd, 2019, there will be a wedding. But that’s not all! There will be friends; family members (including&mdash;but not limited to&mdash;aunts, uncles, cousins, second-cousins, second-cousins-once-removed, quantum-cousins removed and not removed, simultaneously); a band; assorted beverages; a fireplace; a never-before-seen piece of performance art wherein one Jew watches another Jew crack a glass in front of dozens of clapping relations; likely an overlong set of vows with no less than two spelling errors; fine leather goods; silk ties; dresses of assorted colors; complaints about the music; a fortune teller?; lots of love; laughter; generational miscommunication; and, most importantly, our now older-but-no-wiser protagonists, the intrepid duo, Michael and Rachel. In a shaggy, rustic bit of Central Massachusetts, on that perfect (it’s going to be perfect, trust us, we consulted an augur) Autumn afternoon, you are invited to join them in making a memory that will be spoken about for years to come.

Once Upon a Time

Thank you to everyone who celebrated our wonderful wedding with us on Sunday, November 3rd! We had the best weekend of our lives. You can view and download professional photos from the wedding day <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17T6pU-_X4wlJNRccw8ftMXzi_iDTsx4T?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>!

Our Wedding Photos

Our Story

Rehearsal Dinner (Open to All Out of Town Guests)

Rehearsal Dinner at Oliver Wight Tavern

When: Saturday November 2nd, 2019,&nbsp;6:30pm

Where: Federal Ballroom, Oliver Wight Tavern&nbsp;(1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA 01566)



Come celebrate with us the evening before our big day.&nbsp;Eat, drink, and be merry!

Post-Wedding Brunch (Open to All Guests)

Brunch at Publick House Historic Inn

When: Monday November 4th, 2019; 10:30am-1:30pm

Where: Craft Hall, Publick&nbsp;House Historic Inn (277 Main St, Sturbridge, MA 01566)



Still around Monday morning? Not too hung over to move?&nbsp;Enjoy a scrumdiddlyumptious&nbsp;post-wedding brunch with us!

FAQs

Can I Bring A Guest? Please limit the attendees in your party to those listed on your invitation. We wish we could accommodate all our friends and family, but venue capacity restricts this.

Can I Take Photos During the Wedding and Post Them to Social Media? Take as many photos during the reception as you'd like, and post them to your hearts content! We kindly ask that you keep your phone in your purse/pocket&nbsp;and&nbsp;refrain from taking photos or videos during the ceremony. We will have&nbsp;photographers&nbsp;and videographers during the wedding, and&nbsp;the&nbsp;professional video&nbsp;and photos from the ceremony and reception will be made available to all guests!

What Should I Wear?Cocktail attire! Weather permitting the ceremony will be outside, so bring a warm layer just in case.

Are Salon or Spa Services Available the Day of the Wedding?If you would like any beauty services on the day of the wedding (mani/pedi, hair styling, etc.),&nbsp;contact <a href="https://www.simpleindulgencedayspa.com/" target="_blank">Simple Indulgence Day Spa</a>&nbsp;in Fiskdale, MA&nbsp;to schedule an appointment.&nbsp; Please do this as soon as possible as the salon will only open on Sunday by appointment!

Details

Wedding Party

Photos

Q + A

Registry

Free shuttles to and from Publick House,&nbsp;Southbridge Hotel, and Zukas Hilltop Barn will be available the day of the wedding&nbsp;from 2:30 until 9:30.

A A Transportation Co Inc

Use code:&nbsp;1911BURTEN or say you're booking for the&nbsp;&nbsp;Bell-Burten Wedding&nbsp;Rooms.&nbsp;

Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center

Bradley International Airport is a little over an hour away from Zukas Hilltop Barn, and only an hour away from great hotels (see accommodations).&nbsp;

Bradley International Airport

Use online group code 1119BE, or ask for the Bell-Burten Room Block when calling to book!&nbsp;

Publick House Historic Inn

Boston Logan International Airport is about an hour and 10 minutes away from Zukas Hilltop Barn and our hotels of choice!

Boston - Logan International Airport

Travel

"Old Sturbridge Village, the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast, depicts a rural New England town of the 1830s. Step inside more than 40 original buildings, and explore homes, meetinghouses, a district school, country store, bank, working farm, three water-powered mills, and trade shops – all situated on more than 200 scenic acres. Talk with authentically costumed historians and see heritage breed farm animals. Discover the endless ways to immerse yourself in the Village."

Old Sturbridge Village

"Surrounded by a 150 acre orchard and our own disc golf course, our brewery occupies a historic 1940s apple barn nestled in the center of Massachusetts. Enjoy our truly fresh and small batch beers by flight, pint or pitcher in our tap room or in the intimate seating areas in our brewhouse or cellar lounge. Catch a free weekend tour (Sundays at 2pm), weekly live music or one of our seasonal festivals. Try our food truck menu, bring your own food or have a pizza delivered. Dog-friendly and family-friendly!"

Rapscallion Brewery

Things to Do

Link to Wedding Album

Thank you to all of the guests who celebrated our wedding with us!&nbsp;November 3rd was a truly special day. We've received the professional photos, which can be viewed and downloaded <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17T6pU-_X4wlJNRccw8ftMXzi_iDTsx4T?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp; Love,Rachel and Michael