The Shire is a two hour drive north of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. We recommend renting a car in the Cities (or carpooling!) and staying at lodging nearby on Mille Lacs Lake. We are also helping to organize carpools from Minneapolis - if you're interested in offering rides or getting a ride, put your information in this website.
The shuttle will depart from the large parking lot behind the main office at Appeldoorn's Sunset Bay Resort.
2:30pm - Early shuttle departs Appeldoorn's (bound for the Shire)
3:45pm - Late shuttle departs Appeldoorn's (bound for the Shire)
8:30pm - Early shuttle departs the Shire (bound for Appeldoorn's)
10:30pm - Late shuttle departs the Shire (bound for Appeldoorn's)
*There is no shuttle on Friday 9/22! Please plan accordingly. Dogs/pets are not allowed on the shuttle.
Please park along the side of 220th Street and walk up a couple hundred feet to the Shire. There will unfortunately not be room for additional vehicles inside the Shire itself.
There are no reliable Ubers/Lyfts in the McGrath area! There is a local taxi company (Attaboys, Inc) but it will probably take them a little while to get there so plan ahead! Please be safe and don't drive while intoxicated. We encourage guests to take the shuttle from Appeldoorn's or carpool with friends.
Yes! We will supply beer and some sausages, but it will be a very casual roast-your-own sort of thing. Make sure to layer up, as we plan to hang outdoors by the fire.
Kids are very welcome! Heads up, there will be open fire and alcohol on the premises. Dogs are also welcome, but please let us know if you intend to bring your pet and keep in mind that there are other dogs, horses, swans, chickens, and more at the Shire, so it may be a very stimulating environment for them. For more information, check out the Shire's very cute list of all their animals. Per Shire dog policy, their vaccinations should be up-to-date, and they should be free of ticks and fleas, bathed, and groomed before arrival.
We're encouraging our guests to wear whatever fancy outfit makes them feel best, and most importantly, warm! It will be a crisp fall weekend, with likely temperature highs in the 60's. We'll have plenty of bonfires and a heated tent, but the ceremony and reception will be outside in the woods, so dress accordingly! Flats, and not heels, are very much encouraged.
There's no dress code, but if you have fun dressing for a general theme/color palette, here's what we're going for: general vibes are fall, woodsy, and fae - we'll be wearing velvet, corduroy, and plenty of glitter.
Thanks for asking! Our ceremony is outdoors/open-air, and our reception is inside a tent that will be closed in the evening. We are asking all guests to be vaccinated. Please check back here for the latest updates as COVID-19 continues to evolve.
It sure is! Mel's pronouns are they/them, and Zach's are he/him. As for language, "people getting married" is generally a safe bet, though we also don't mind the word "groom" used for both of us. We refer to each other as "partner," and will continue to do so after this party. Also, we're skipping most of the American wedding traditions you might be familiar with. If we haven't told you that we're doing a particular tradition, then we are probably not doing it.
Yes please! Take many! We'd love to collect everyone's photos and videos in a google photo album that Mel will share closer to the event.
We have more answers! Probably!
Email your questions to Zach & Mel at meln.zachg@gmail.com