Welcome to our wedding blog!
The idea is to answer some of the questions you may have about our impending ceremony. The fact that you are here means that you have received your invitation - hooray! We hope to see you on October 6. Please be sure to send back your response card to let us know whether or not you'll be joining us. Of course, we are hoping you'll say YES!

Welcome, Children of All Ages!

A couple of people have inquired as to whether or not they can bring their kids. Of course!! It's a family affair!! We'll even have a couple of fun crafts for kids to make. :) You should also feel free to bring things that will help to keep your little camper happy, because we will be on a boat for a 3 hour tour (hopefully, not like Gilligan's!) There's no TV on board, but there's plenty to see. On our last voyage aboard the Dutch Apple, we saw bald eagles and great blue herons. There are cool sites along the river. It's a fun trip! Kids of all ages will have a good time!

Registry?

So, after being together for 15 years, we don't really need anymore toasters or blenders or towels. Thanks. In fact, we are considering giving away some of the appliances we have around the house as wedding favors... just kidding. Maybe.
Seriously though, your presence is truly gift enough. We are so honored that you want to celebrate this major milestone in our lives. If you feel that you want to honor the occasion with a gift, we suggest that you make a donation to one of the following charities that we support:

WAMC Public Radio - You know I love NPR and that I often volunteer for the fund drives at our local station. As it happens, the fall fund drive will be going on while we are getting married, so a donation would be a fitting tribute since I won't be able to answer phones that Saturday morning. In the comment section, you can enter "In honor of Jaye and Judy's wedding". You can also call in to the station during the drive, which starts on October 1. The number is 1-800-323-9262. And if you leave a comment about our wedding, they will read it on the air!

Hudson Mohawk Animal Shelter - Judy loves supporting the local animal shelters and, of course, we both love our critters! In addition to cash donations, our local vet collects returnable cans and bottles for the shelter. As it turns out, being green is a major fundraiser for them! The link allows you to make a "tribute donation" so that you can fill in "In honor of Jaye and Judy's wedding"

AIDSWalk 2012 - As you know, I serve on the board of In Our Own Voices. This year, because of wedding planning, I won't be able to walk in AIDS Walk, but that doesn't mean that I don't want to help raise money for this important cause.

National Breast Cancer Foundation - As the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, this is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. October is breast cancer awareness month, so donating is a wonderful way to celebrate our wedding.

If none of these floats your boat, feel free to pick a different, worthy charity. I would encourage you to choose one that advocates for causes that Judy and I support.

Thanks so much!

Where to stay?

We have reserved a block of rooms at the Towne Place Suites Albany Downtown/Medical Center. The rooms are studio suites for $116 per night if you make your reservation before September 27. You can reach them at 518-860-1500 and request the group "Jaye Holly Wedding Block." Click here for the website for the hotel. One of the nice things they've thrown in is a shuttle to the launch site on the day of the wedding, so no worries about getting lost (it is a tad confusing to get there!) and if you have one glass too many of pinot, you'll get home safely.
Of course, there are other hotels in downtown Albany. The one that is the closest to the launch site is the Holiday Inn Express Downtown. We went to see it and it is quite lovely.
If you have questions about hotels, please feel free to shoot us an email or give us a call. (I'll try to watch out for comments on the blog, but I can't guarantee that's a reliable way of getting in touch.)

What to wear?

Several folks have asked about what one wears to a wedding ceremony on a boat. Well, remember that it will be on a boat, in upstate New York, on a river, in the fall. It could be 85 or 35 degrees.We could have sunshine or monsoons. Wear what makes you comfortable. Layers may be beneficial. I would suggest that you wear shoes that add to your sure-footing... and that allow you to boogie!
Ultimately, we don't really care what you wear. We just care that you come!