Please bring...

• A sweater, wrap, or other item of warm clothing, in case the evening gets chilly. We'll be dining in a tent on the south lawn of Sea Cider, and while there's a heater to keep us warm, we want to make sure everyone is comfortable.
• Your iPod or other mp3 player, in case you have songs you would like to request during the dancing portion of the evening. We have made our own playlist, but we welcome your additions!

(It will not be this cold.)

Registry

Thanks to everyone who has so graciously inquired as to where we have registered for wedding gifts! As you know, we have had a home in Vancouver for several years now, and are not in need of toasters, vacuums, blenders, or 300-thread-count bedsheets in ecru cotton.

If you would like to give us a gift, a presentation towards our little honeymoon on the Sunshine Coast would be gratefully and graciously appreciated.

To see where we'll be spending a few days of newly-wedded bliss, check out the Rockwater Secret Cove Resort and have a look at the luxury tent cabins!

Directions

Sea Cider is located at 2487 Mount St Michel Road in Saanichton, north of the city of Victoria.

Whether you're coming northbound from Victoria, or southbound from Sidney or the ferry terminal, you'll be on Highway 17 (also known as the Pat Bay). Either way, the easiest way to the venue is as follows:

- Turn westbound on Mt Newton Crossing Road. (If you're coming from Victoria you'll turn left; from Sidney, you'll turn right.)

- Turn right on Central Saanich Road.

- Turn right on Mount St Michel Road. Watch the signs carefully, as the turn is easy to miss. If you find yourself passing Vantreight Farms on the right, you've gone too far.

- Follow Mount St Michel all the way to the end and drive through the Sea Cider gate. There's plenty of parking at the top of the hill right by the Ciderhouse.

Could it be any easier?

Things to Do in Sidney

The town of Sidney, while it doesn't have much of a thrilling nightlife, is a lovely spot to spend a few days. Seen here from my parents' balcony, it's a fast-growing town with a beautiful location right on the water and plenty of things to keep you entertained while you're in the area.

The justifiably famous Butchart Gardens is about a 20-minute drive from Sidney. Now a National Historic Site, it was the brainchild of Ms Jennie Butchart, who converted a hideously ugly limestone pit into this oasis of floral beauty. There's quite often excellent live music, too.

Small but enthusiastic - and they have a very cool new octopus, as well as a fully articulated orca skeleton - the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is right on the waterfront in Sidney and worth a visit for its displays on the local sea life.

If you're the bookworm type - and let's face it, if you're a friend of ours there's a very high likelihood that you enjoy reading - you could spend most of a day just browsing all the bookstores in Sidney. Designated as "Canada's only booktown" - and no, I don't know what that means either - Sidney boasts a surprising range of excellent bookshops, including a variety of specialty second-hand shops that will supply all your mystery, feng shui, and children's reading needs.

Another excellent way to introduce yourself to our beautiful West Coast environment is to take a whale-watching trip. There are two different companies that both leave right out of Sidney, Emerald Sea Adventures and Sea Quest Adventures. Dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, orcas, humpbacks, greys, minkes... apart from a slightly fishy smell, what's not to love?




And, of course, I wouldn't be my father's daughter if I didn't tell you to visit the British Columbia Aviation Museum, which has some great displays and a lot of fascinating restoration work.

(Please note that the photo is actually from the Science Museum in London, England; but it is me with a DC-3.)

There's lots of other stuff going on in the area, particularly if you're looking for some nice walks, hikes, kayaking, short boat trips, and the like. Check out the Sidney tourism site for more info.

Deals!

If you're looking for a deal on a place to stay, the Emerald Isle Best Western (located right in Sidney, about 10 minutes from our venue) has kindly offered us a deal for our out-of-town guests. Their deluxe queen rooms, which are usually $179 per night, are being offered at $139 for the nights of September 17, 18, and 19 (although of course you don't have to stay all three nights). Breakfast is included in this price.

When you call them to book, please tell them you are coming for the Wehrle-Hammons wedding, and they will get you all set up.

http://www.bwemeraldisle.com/

Magnetic

We're so pleased at the response we've had from our pretty magnets! We deliberately didn't mark them "Save the Date" so that, after the fact, they could continue to function as handsome souvenirs. However, they're really just a preliminary announcement; never fear, a formal invitation with all the information you need (including how to RSVP) will follow.

Places to Stay

You're pretty spoiled for choice in terms of places to stay nearby. We recommend that, unless you actually live in Victoria itself, you stay in Sidney instead. It's much closer to our venue and will involve far less traffic. However, if you'd really rather stay in the city, there are plenty of options for there as well.

Here are some suggestions if you do plan to stay in Sidney and around.

Hotels and Inns

The Sidney Waterfront Inn and Spa
A lovely spot right on the waterfront.

Best Western "Emerald Isle"
Closer to the highway, but still within walking distance of everything in town.

The Beacon Inn
A small, very nice B&B-style inn.

The Cedarwood Inn and Suites
A little further outside of 'town' proper, so not ideal if you don't have your own transportation, but it's quiet and on the water.

Quality Inn Waddling Dog
If you want to stay really, really close by the venue, you can check in to the Waddling Dog, which is literally across the highway and five minutes up the road. There's not much nearby, but if you have a car, this could be a good option.


Bed and Breakfasts

Corbett House
Right in the heart of downtown Sidney.

Alder Road Retreat B&B
A little further out, closer to the ferry terminal.


Really Roughing It

McDonald Park Campground
Part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, with a very nice little campground not far from the ferry terminal.