You got your invitation, and you RSVP'd that you're coming. Now you need to book a room? Relax, friends...but not for long. Blocked rooms are available in limited quantities. Last year, we set up blocks at two hotels: McMenamins and the Four Points Sheraton. (Visit the hotels’ websites via the links on the left margin of this site.)

Here's the breakdown of what remains within our blocks as of today:

At McMenamins, for the night of:

• Friday, 8/29/08, 7 rooms remain available (in the Main House)
• Saturday, 8/30/08, 4 rooms remain available (in the Power Station only)
• Sunday, 8/31/08, 17 rooms remain available (in the Main House)

At the Four Points Sheraton, for the night of:

• Friday, 8/29/08, 14 rooms are available
• Saturday, 8/30/08, 13 rooms are available
• Sunday, 8/31/08, 19 rooms are available

Where do you want to stay? That depends on you.

You want to stay at McMenamins if:

• You find character and artistic charm appealing.
• You don’t mind walking down the hall to use the loo in your complimentary terrycloth bathrobe.
• You want to get all pruny in the outdoor, heated soaking pool for overnight guests of the hotel and patrons of the hotel’s spa services.
  
• You think it’s cool to stay overnight in a hotel that is rumored to be haunted.
• You want to drink with wild abandon at the wedding knowing that afterwards you’ll only have to stumble (and not drive) to your hotel room!
• You don’t mind having to change rooms three times in a row because the available rooms are in different buildings on alternate days. (Just leave your packed luggage in your room by checkout time, and the desk staff will move it to the next evening’s room for you.)
• You find the absence of in-room televisions refreshing.

You want to say at the Sheraton if:

• You want modern conveniences. (To quote from their website: “All . . . oversized deluxe guest rooms feature . . . two 2-line speaker phones with dataport and voicemail, large work desk, refrigerator, microwave, iron and ironing board, hairdryer and cable television. The Hotel features a 24-hour business center, indoor pool/spa and fitness center.”)
• You want use of the toilet facilities without having to walk down the hall.
• You plan on drinking responsibly at the wedding and driving safely back to your hotel afterward.

Tips on how to reserve rooms in our block
You get a price break for reserving rooms within our room block. Here are a few tips to make your phone call to the hotel an easy one.

At McMenamins:
Ask to reserve a room in the “Matern/Broman” wedding block.

If the representative from the reservation desk tells you that there are no more rooms available, make sure that he/she looks for rooms available in the Power Station. Our wedding guests are the only people who can reserve rooms in the Power Station for the night of Saturday, August 30th. Apparently, McMenamins’s personnel must scroll over to view the rooms that are available in this venue, and they can be easily missed.

I will post a message to this blog when all our rooms are taken at the McMenamins Edgefield. If you learn that there is really no room left in the Inn, we’d appreciate your contacting us to let us know.

At the Sheraton:
Ask to reserve a room in the “Broman” wedding block.

(I have not heard of any hassles experienced by anyone else when reserving rooms in our block at the Sheraton. Contact us to let us know if you’re the first.)

Happy thoughts, All. I'm nearly done with my nine-month school effort, so I'll be catching up on loose ends. Keep checking for new updates coming soon.

Cheers!

Labels: hotels, irene

Indeed, bienvenue! I am late on making my contribution to this, our outlet on all things Us.

First, all appreciation to everyone in our lives expressing support and well-wishes. It was truly a delight meeting the members of Ken's family who came out for Nick's Bar-Mitzvah. Shortly after, my sister's family arrived and briefly rubbed elbows with a few friends of ours and family of Ken's. It was a great precursor to how smashingly everyone is going to mesh at the wedding.

You are, of course, checking this site for details. They are as of yet, still rather nebulous - but this much is confirmed. Ken and I look forward to an intimate (read: small), casual, and fun evening shared with those closest in our lives.

As for speculative gossip, there's plenty of that. Two weekends ago we checked out the Attic at the Edgefield McMenamins Hotel.
It's not confirmed, but we've both envisioned the ceremony and reception happening in this space. It's a lovely vision. Ken and I love this hotelier - And we're goaling to stay at all of the McMenamins in and around Portland during our successive trips likely to take place in the next year. They're historical sites retouched with strange artistry and excellent hand-crafted beer. I'm really excited at the prospect of getting hitched in Portland if for no other reason than it gives us an excuse to return to the city. Portland has so much to offer as a destination. If/When we verify this as the location, we'll send out travel information on the city and surrounds. There's loads for everyone to do and discover in Seattle's sister NW city.

There will be more rumors posted, denied, and clarified. This will have to do for now. Cheers, All.

Labels: irene, journal_entry