The Reception

We have booked Minniewasta Golf Club for the wedding venue and the reception. It's a lovely venue, overlooking the golf course....which we're praying will still be green once Autumn has kicked in in Manitoba (Let's hope Global warming works in our favour ;)

We're particularly pleased that it has a lounge area as a second level that overlooks the dancefloor and reception hall.

We also found out that the building was featured on a TV show because it used to be a few miles down the road, before the Golf Club bought it and then paid out for the building to be moved. It takes some seeing to believe. (view clip)

Wedding Gifts

Well, we all knew this topic would come up sooner or later, so we thought we'd be pro-active and bring up the subject ourselves.

Melissa and I have set up a gift registry at Home Outfitter's* here in Canada, and a second list at John Lewis** in the UK .

We will be moving to a furnished house in the UK upon getting married, and therefore, will need to travel relatively light. That said, I'm sure we'd find a way to fit big fat cheques, cash or gift cards into our suitcases.

We are very aware that many of you attending the wedding will be incurring major costs already and therefore, please don't feel obliged to get us a present, but know that failure to do so may put our relationship with you in jeopardy ;)

* input surnames Wieler and Whitcombe
**list number 325757 only available after 30th August 2008

Places to stay

Many of you attending the wedding are strangers to 'these them parts' and therefore we thought we'd put together a few options for places to stay in, or very close to, Winkler (The Reception will be held in the neighboring town of Morden).

Please get in contact with either of us about your plans for accommodation as it would be useful to know who will be staying where over that weekend...

Winkler:

Days Inn
Heartland Resort

Morden:
Super 8

The Guest Book

Along with the invitations that we'll be sending out, we'll include a blank piece of card (5"x 7") which will form a page of our Wedding guest book.

This page is for you to decorate as you wish, but below we've listed a number of possible ideas from which you can find inspiration;

• a prayer for our marriage
• a message of friendship and/or love
• song lyrics
• a bible verse that you feel appropriate
  
• photos and captions
  
• a doodle, plus insightful interpretation :)
• an appropriate anecdote
• a fond memory including one of us
• advice on a good marriage
• a picture that means something to you
  
• the story of our first meeting
• a cartoon strip that's appropriate in some way?

Anyway, this is just meant to be a gentle nudge down the road of creativity :)

Have fun!

Where's Winkler?

Okay, so because this is such an international event, let me just tell those out-of-towners among you about our chosen venue.

Winkler is officially a city (albeit a very small one... 8,000 people!!) and it is the home-city of our bride, Melissa. Located about an hour and a half's drive south of Winnipeg (the nearest international airport), Winkler is about is a 10 minutes drive north of the US border.

Click on the following link to find out a bit more about Winkler.