On the night of Saturday 10/12, we are tentatively scheduled to hang out at Rogues' Gallery, 11 South 21st Street, between Market and Chestnut, to continue the wedding celebration! Drink specials will be available. This location is either a walk or short cab ride away from the hotels. Stay tuned for more information.

 

 

HELLO EVERYONE! THE CHIVA BUS IS HERE!

The wedding is twelve days away. We hope you are excited as we are. For your convenience, we will provide two separate shuttles, to and from the wedding site (The Valley Green Inn). The pick-up locations are:

The Best Western Hotel/Center City

501 North 22nd St.

Philadelphia, PA 19130
Departure time-3:45pm (Arrival time- 4:30pm; Valley Green)
Departure time- 10:30pm (Arrival time-11:00pm; back at hotel)

The Hampton Inn Hotel/Convention Center

1301 Race Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107
Departure time-3:45pm (Arrival time- 4:30pm; Valley Green)
Departure time- 10:30pm (Arrival time-11:00pm; back at hotel)

There are other options for getting to the Valley Green Inn (Valley Green Rd Philadelphia, PA 19128). A taxi ride from your hotel, or Center City in general, will be approximately $35. You could take SEPTA Regional Rail, "Chestnut Hill West" line, and get off at St. Martin's station. It is possible to walk down to the wedding site from here, weather permitting. You could always arrange to take a cab from here.  http://www.philadelphia-taxi.com/philadelphia_taxi_service.php

Let us know if you have any questions! But, we suggest you simply be available for the shuttle, as it is the most convenient.

More HOTEL information

We have made your search for accommodations easier and apologize for not getting this information up sooner. 
 
There are rooms available at the HAMPTON INN-CONVENTION CENTER, to reserve for a time period of your choice, between Thursday 10/11 and Sunday 10/13. The discounted rate is $139 + tax. This includes free hot breakfast with onsite parking options (for a fee between $30-$40). When you call to reserve, call 215.665-9100. Please reserve by Thursday, September 26th, and reference the PARSONS/TALERO wedding.This is a great central location, a block away from City Hall, Reading Terminal Market, and China Town. Old City Historic District is only ten blocks away to the east. To the west, the Ben Franklin Parkway and the Museum District is very close. 
http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/pennsylvania/hampton-inn-philadelphia-center-city-convention-center-PHLCVHX/index.html

Another option will be to reserve a room at the SHERATON-DOWNTOWN HOTEL. The date range is the same as above. The rate is $135 + tax. Secure parking for a fee is available. It too is very centrally located, just three blocks west of City Hall. It is one block away from Logan Circle, the Ben Franklin Parkway, and museums. When reserving, call 1-800-325-3535 and refer to the PARSONS/TALERO wedding. You must reserve by Tuesday, September 10th. http://www.sheratonphiladelphiadowntown.com/

There are plenty of hotels in Center City. The link to vwww.visitphilly.com can assist you if you are seeking other options. We suggest you search for a hotel in the following areas that would be more centrally located:  

• Rittenhouse Square
• Convention Center
• Center City
• Parkway / Museum District

 Please let us know how we can help!

Where to stay while you're here...

ACCOMODATIONS

Valley Green, the inn where our wedding will be held, is only 10 minutes away by car from Center City, or "downtown" Philadelphia. If you wish to stay in a hotel that is in the city but not too far from the wedding venue, we recommend you check out hotels located in the "Parkway/ Museum Area." But Philadelphia is a small city, so whatever neighborhood you choose to stay in- Rittenhouse, Old City, Covention Center/Chinatown- you won't be too far away from the party! If you follow this link you can compare prices:

http://www.visitphilly.com/find-a-hotel/

Another option is to rent someone else’s apartment through Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/s/Philadelphia--PA

A "bed and breakfast" located in Rittenhouse might also be to your liking:
http://www.lareservebandb.com/

The Chestnut Hill Hotel is outside of the city, only minutes away from Valley Green. With this option you would be prioritizing proximity to the wedding over easy accessiblity to downtown Philly. This is still a great option, as you would be able to get "downtown," but not by walking.
http://www.chestnuthillhotel.com/
 

Please let us know how we can assist you in finding appropriate accommodations!

Some guests have asked about gifts...

We can honestly say that your presence at our wedding is the most amazing gift for both of us. If you still want to honor us with a present we would appreciate it if you could help support our honeymoon. This poem should explain:
 

A wishing well we thought would be great, 

but only if you wish to participate.
A monetary gift is placed in the well,
then make a wish… but shhh, don't tell!

We don't want to offend but we have it a lot,
cups and plates, a pan and a pot.

Things for the kitchen and living room too,

Mostly we want to celebrate with you.

So no need to shop, sit back and rest,
a gift of currency is our simple request.

Don't go overboard and rob any banks,
any little amount will earn our thanks. 

Now that we've saved you all the fuss,
we'd love for you to come and celebrate with us.

A wedding gift may be hard to find

and stressful on your busy mind, 

so if you please, a penny for our trip, would be ever so kind. 

Dress Code: Come as you are

We have no special requirements regarding attire. Be comfortable and dress for the season. But look as fabulously dazzling or as understated as you wish. We don't want to be the center of attention anyway so the more eyes on you the better! :)  The most important thing to consider is that the weather on October 11th is unpredictable. Autumn will be firmly upon us. In recent years, that has meant a continuation of warm, even hot, summer temperatures. But of course it could be cool, as the ceremony will be starting in the evening. In addition, the event will be taking place in the woods where there will be plenty of forest shading the area. Pamela and I will be "dressed up" but even we will be semi-formal. She will look as lovely as she always does and as no one will be concerned with my costume, I'll just make sure I'm there on time! If you should have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact us.

James and Pam are getting married... again!

Welcome to our wedding blog! We have created it in order to provide information about the wedding weekend and to direct you to websites related to travel, accommodations, and Philadelphia attractions. Periodically we will update you on the progress we are making to create a fun and memorable event and to add any new relevant details you will need to know about. Ultimately, we believe this special occasion is less about us and more about YOU. It is not a celebration of us but rather a celebration of the friends and family that have supported us over the years, as individuals and as a couple, and who have filled our lives with great joy and love. We look forward to seeing you all!

A Wedding in the Woods

After searching the tri-state area for a location, we were pleasantly surprised when the ideal venue was just a few miles from our home. Depsite having been passed it many times- me jogging through the trails and Pam hiking- neither of us thought of Valley Green. But when we visited it as a wedding site it made perfect sense. The historic inn is surrounded by trees which create a wonderful canopy of colors; especially in autumn. With the Wissahickon Creek meandering by on the other side of Forbidden Drive, it creates a perfect natural setting for two people who always envisioned a simple, rustic ceremony. We hope you enjoy it.

Valley Green Inn is accessible by car, with limited parking on the weekends. However, as our event will be on a Friday evening, this option will likely be available. It is also accessible by taxi cab. SEPTA, our public transportation, will get you within close proximity to the park and to the inn, but we would only recommend this option for those willing to walk the "scenic route" TO the ceremony. Based on weather and your cardiovascular level, this could either be a lovely option or a physical challenge. There will be more information to come regarding tranport to and from the wedding.
http://www.valleygreeninn.com/