Memphis Botanic Garden

Wedding Day

Rehearsal Dinner

After Party

Please RSVP by the cutoff date 10/1

Please read our Event Safety Policy as part of caring for us, our family, and friends.

The Knot apparently doesn't have an alt-text option for photos you upload. Maybe too descriptive alt text: Ian and Sam, in an embrace, with their foreheads pressed together. Ian is wearing a beanie with a yarn mohawk and a black coat. Sam is wearing a red sweater. They are on a high point, so the background is Colorado Springs in winter with the Rocky Mountains.

Our Wedding

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Event Safety Policy

Read this as an act of caring about us.

I know it's long. You don't have to read it all at once, but it is really important to us that you read everything on this page once with your full attention before you RSVP. We are asking that you do this as an act of loving and caring for us and what we care about. We got COVID last year, and now Sam has long COVID.Unfortunately, even when everyone is intending to do the right thing, they don't always do it perfectly, and the consequences can be serious (and possibly long-term). We are trying to minimize something like this from happening again. "Having long COVID in addition to my other disabilities and everything else has put a strain on my health this year. It has resulted in long-term and possibly permanent changes to my health, my ability to eat certain foods, and my lifestyle." - Sam Multiple people at this wedding, including ourselves, are disabled. Some people are immunocompromised or at risk.While we want you to be there, we also want to keep ourselves and all of you safe and healthy. What we've done to make this event safer:1. It's outdoors.2. We're asking all of you to read this page we've put together.3. We're requiring masks in certain spaces, up close with us, and up close with anyone else who asks you to wear one in their personal space (such as during a dance or having an up-close conversation).4. We've got a list of other ways you can protect yourself, us, and other guests.

Masking Policy

Because this is an outdoor event, we are not requiring everyone to wear a mask at all times. We require everyone to have a mask with them at the wedding and the after-party. This mask should be a KN-95, KF-94, N95, or better. No cloth masks, mesh masks, or surgical masks without a modifier. If you want to wear a surgical mask, check out ways to modify it for a better fit. Please wear it when requested (see below), when with us (the wedding couple), or if you've got symptoms. We would love it if you chose to wear a mask for this event to protect us, any immunocompromised guests, and yourself. Wear a mask with usIf you want to give us a hug, a cheek kiss, dance with us, or be in our close personal space, we ask that you wear your mask. Also, please wear your mask when we come to your table. Mask when you get food, beverages, or interact with wedding staffWhen you're in line, at any food or beverage station, or if you have to interact with the staff at our wedding, please wear your mask. Mask if you have ANY symptoms of acute illnessIf anyone in your group (you, your partner, plus-one, or kids) has symptoms of a cold, flu, COVID, or any other airborne or droplet-transmissible illness, we ask that you wear a mask the entire time you are at the wedding or after-party, including between bites and sips. We do this literally all the time, and we know it can be onerous, but we are asking you to do this for one day during our wedding, reception, and after-party. ---*We will have some extras, in case folks forget, but please bring a mask.

List of other ways to keep everyone safe

Here are some other things you can do to protect yourself, us, and other guests. Testing before you travelIf you are sick leading up to the wedding, we encourage you to test yourself before you leave home. If you test positive, please stay home and take care of yourself. If you can't come due to illness, we will be sad that you couldn't make it, but we prefer that you rest and take care of your health, and we want to keep all our guests safe. Masked travelWhile we cannot force you to wear a mask when you travel or while you hang out before the wedding, we encourage you to wear one when you travel so that you do not come all the way to Memphis only to miss the event because someone on the plane got you sick, and you end up stuck in your hotel room or worse. Mask if you have ANY symptoms of acute illnessIf anyone in your group (you, your partner, plus-one, or kids) has symptoms of a cold, flu, COVID, or any other airborne or droplet-transmissible illness, we ask that you wear a mask the entire time you are at the wedding or after-party, including between bites and sips. We do this literally all the time, and we know it can be onerous, but we are asking you to love us and our other guests enough to take on this one thing for this one night. Follow the Swiss Cheese Model of risk reduction to prevent illness. This can include:- Getting up-to-date vaccines- Wearing a mask indoors, outdoors with large crowds, or with anyone you don't live with.- Washing your hands- Physical distancing- HEPA filtering, air circulation, and indoor-outdoor air exchange- Sanitary routines when you arrive home, like gargling, saline rinses, washing your face and hands, etc.

We&nbsp;have&nbsp;a&nbsp;room&nbsp;block&nbsp;reserved&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;Double&nbsp;Tree&nbsp;Hilton&nbsp;a&nbsp;short&nbsp;drive&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Memphis&nbsp;Botanic&nbsp;Gardens&nbsp;at&nbsp;a&nbsp;rate&nbsp;of&nbsp;$149&nbsp;a&nbsp;night.&nbsp;Guest&nbsp;payment&nbsp;upon&nbsp;check&nbsp;in.Just&nbsp;click&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;link,&nbsp;and&nbsp;it&nbsp;opens&nbsp;straight&nbsp;to&nbsp;our&nbsp;site.&nbsp;It&nbsp;takes&nbsp;less&nbsp;than&nbsp;2&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;your&nbsp;reservation&nbsp;and&nbsp;receive&nbsp;a&nbsp;confirmation.&nbsp;Reservations&nbsp;can&nbsp;also&nbsp;be&nbsp;made&nbsp;by&nbsp;calling&nbsp;Hotel&nbsp;Reservations&nbsp;at&nbsp;901-767-6666&nbsp;or&nbsp;800-222-8733.&nbsp;

Double Tree Hilton

Travel

WearIn general, we want you to come in whatever makes you feel most fabulous. Come like you wanna be SEEN!Whether it's a gorgeous cultural look, the boldest fit, the nicest suit, the sexiest cosplay, the best drag, or the biggest ball gown, we want you to wear it. Our colors are blue, purple, gold, and white, but if you want to wear dark red, neon green, millennial pink, or Joseph's Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, do it.If anyone comments about you upstaging us with your look, remind them that we told you to come and be seen.Don't WearWe love to be comfy, cozy, funny, and political, but there are a few things we're asking you not to wear:- Cozy outfits: Pajamas, sweatpants, wearable blankets, etc.)- Big logos or product branding: No logo or branding bigger than three inches.- Unmodified T-Shirts: No plain, graphic, text, political, corporate, messy, or basic T-shirts.If you have a modified tee that you want to style as part of your outfit, please text one of us. Let's chat about it.

Dress Code

Things to Do

Wedding Party and Parents11/6 - 7:00 PMLocation: TBD

Memphis Botanic GardenNovember 7, 2026

Arrival Time

You can start arriving at 3:30 PM.Please head to Blecken Pavillion.

Ceremony

4:00 PM - Blecken Pavillion

Reception

Immediately after the ceremony, head to the Rose Garden and Tropical Plant House for the reception. More details to come.

Afterparty

After the reception, head to our afterparty location (TBD) to hang out with Sam and Ian for a bit.

Schedule 

Registry

Intention to attend or decline survey

Wedding planning is overwhelming for anyone. We are two neurodivergent adults with a lot going on. You know this, probably. We are trying to make things accessible for ourselves, and you can help! This is NOT REQUIRED, but would really help us out. Please complete the&nbsp;<a href="https://form.jotform.com/mxsambrandt/intention-to-attend-or-decline" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Intention to Attend or Decline</a> survey and let us know your attendance intentions.

Sam & Ian