Travel is and always has been a key part of our relationship. From Aruba to Beijing, we’ve been so lucky to get to explore some amazing parts of the world with each other, and these trips are some of our favorite memories together. In thinking about our special day, we wanted to incorporate the spirit of travel and adventure that we love. We recognize that Spain is not an easy destination for many people to get to, and truly appreciate any efforts to come celebrate with us. We would love to see you all there, but completely understand for those of you who can’t make it. We chose Toledo and specifically Cigarral de las Mercedes because they provided exactly what we were looking for: a beautiful venue and space to celebrate in many different ways, and the ability to travel and experience a unique city with our favorite people. Most importantly, we wanted a location where we could spend quality time with our family and friends outside of just our wedding day and give our guests a truly unique experience. We can’t wait to travel with you all, and hope you all enjoy the opportunity to explore a new part of the world with us!

Expect it to be hot. As Toledo is in Spain’s dry plains region, the area can get quite hot in the summer months, and there is very little rain to cool things off. Temperatures stay pretty consistent in the upper 80’s but can jump into the high 90s. We plan to hold the day of wedding events in the evening to capitalize on the cooler temperatures as the sun goes down. If you plan to explore during the day, please pack accordingly for hot temperatures and bring plenty of water and sunscreen with you as you explore!

Everyone is invited to our welcome party/rehearsal dinner in the evening of June 12th. The wedding will be in the evening of June 13th, and then we will host a brunch the morning of June 14th. We recommend everyone arrive on or before June 12th to attend the welcome party - we’d love to see everyone there! If you’d like to explore some of Toledo, though, you are welcome to arrive earlier and spend some time sight-seeing. Brandon and Anna will be arriving in Toledo on June 9th, and the wedding party will arrive on June 11th. If you’d like to travel after the wedding, everyone is welcome for brunch the morning of June 14th before heading out.

Toledo is one of Spain’s top tourist destinations, so many people throughout the city speak English. Most of the sites and restaurants we’ve recommended on the site have brochures and menus in English to accommodate English-speaking guests. If you ever encounter a place without English, however, we recommend downloading the Google Translate app - its photo feature is great for quickly translating menus! In major cities like Madrid and Barcelona, you should have no problem finding English. As Spain’s two biggest attractions, you’ll find English spoken almost as commonly as Spanish. In smaller cities, however, we recommend a Spanish phrase book to help you get by!

Toledo is very accessible from many major Spanish cities, but the easiest ways to get to Toledo are from Madrid. Toledo is an hour’s drive from Madrid, or a 30 minute train ride. For more details on how to get to Toledo and general travel to Spain, see our Travel Page!

As far out as you’d like! We recommend that you secure flights sooner rather than later, as the summer is Spain’s high tourism season, so flight prices can increase if purchasing closer to the travel date. **However, please note that flight prices are generally HIGH when they are first released. We recommend using a flight tracker, like Google Flights or Hopper to keep an eye on your preferred routing.*** If you plan to travel outside of Toledo, we recommend securing hotel rooms early, as June can be busy for major cities like Madrid and Barcelona. Travel within Spain is very easy to arrange, however, so train tickets between cities can be acquired later on, or even while in the country!

Only your passport! If you are from outside of the European Union, you may have heard of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). This travel authorization program was originally set to start in 2024. However, the European Union has pushed the start date back to mid-2025. Consequently, you do not need to obtain an ETIAS authorization to attend our wedding. ***Please note: Spain does require that your passport be valid for 3 months beyond the date of entry into Spain, so please be sure to check your expiration date before travel. For specific requirements regarding entry into Spain, please check the Spanish Consular’s website for updates closer to your travel date.

Toledo will be on Central European Summer Time, which is 6 hours ahead of the American East Coast. We recommend allowing a day or two to adjust to that jet lag after arrival! If you need any tips to beat jet lag, reach out to Anna - she’s a pro!

Whether you’re traveling around Spain or jetting off to somewhere else in Europe, your first step will likely be to return to Madrid for transport to your next destination. In Madrid, you’ll have easy access to the Madrid Barajas Airport, which has many direct flights to other major European capitals and cities, and to the extensive Spanish rail network, RENFE, which you can take for access to Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, or Bilbao, depending on your itinerary! The fastest way to get back to Madrid is via the high-speed rail. It runs multiple times a day direct between Madrid and Toledo, and takes about 30 minutes in total travel time. If you’re heading to the airport, you can transfer in Madrid for a local train out to the airport for an easy connection.

We are planning to provide transportation between the venue (Cigarral de las Mercedes) and the AC Hotel Ciudad de Toledo. We will keep you posted as we get more details. Cabs are readily available to take guests back to the city. The front desk at Cigarral will be available to call a cab for you after the party, if needed.

The dress code for the wedding is cocktail attire. Keep in mind, it will likely be in the mid to upper 80's during the wedding. Please wear something comfortable in the heat. Lightweight fabrics are ideal for the Spanish summer!

The bridesmaids will be wearing eucalyptus and the groomsmen will be wearing a light brown/beige.

We will be serving a Spanish style dinner after the wedding ceremony. Each person will receive their own five-course meal which includes: soup, salad, fish, meat, and dessert. We are making the entire meal dairy-free. Other food allergies will be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. Please let us know any food allergies you might have when you RSVP.