Wedding Details- Hotels, Registries, Travel Tips

Click here for wedding details!

We want you to truly enjoy your stay in Fayetteville, at our wedding of course, but also while you explore the town before and after.  Visit our wedding page for details.

Can't wait to celebrate with you!

Where to Stay

Ask for the Henry/Storms Wedding block for the best rate at these hotels.

Candlewood Suites
    Near campus, approximately 2 miles from our church
        2270 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
        Fayetteville, AR 72701
        479-856-6262

Inn at Carnall Hall- Sadly this is only available on Saturday night due to a university event
    Built in 1905, Carnall Hall was the first women’s residence hall on the University of Arkansas campus.
        Half a mile from the church
        465 N. Arkansas Ave.
        Fayetteville, AR 72701
        1-800-295-9118

How to Get Here

Flying?

      Flying into Fayetteville (XNA): American Airlines, Delta, Continental and United fly here. Jim's Express Shuttle Service is a reliable way to get to your hotel.  Car Rentals are also available.
             Driving directions to downtown Fayetteville: http://mapq.st/le5nTy

      Flying into Tulsa is also an option (TUL): This airport offers the same airlines as XNA, as well as Southwest.  From Tulsa you have a 2 hour drive into Fayetteville, so I'd only recommend this if you were getting a great deal on the flight.  Car Rentals are available.
             Driving directions to downtown Fayetteville: http://mapq.st/mmeurR

Driving?

      From DFW to downtown Fayetteville: http://mapq.st/mdX9qw

      From Memphis: http://mapq.st/mNcGBP

      From Little Rock: http://mapq.st/jK47Jj

Keep Fayetteville Funky

Fayetteville is such a fun town with an eclectic mix of people.  We hope you enjoy our funky little town.

Our Favorite Places

Fayetteville Farmer's Market on the Square

This is a must for a Saturday morning. You will find a wide variety of locally produced vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants, meats, baked goods, honey, eggs, jams, crafts, and  fine art from the 4 county area.  Grab a coffee and some tasty baked treats then wander around the market.  I recommend one full loop before making a purchase.  I usually buy myself a bouquet of flowers from my favorite booth, Dripping Springs Gardens.

Downtown Square: The focal point for many local activities, Fayetteville's charming downtown square is home to unique shops, restaurants, historic buildings and modern offices. The dazzling display of colorful flowers in the square gardens, carefully tended from season to season, makes this a delightful place to visit.

Wilson Park
Jog or walk with the locals on the .9 mile loop around beautiful gardens, touch football games, and yoga classes. This is a great place for a workout, a picnic, or just relaxing by yourself with a book.

Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
4703 N. Crossover Rd.
479.750.2620



Stroll the Campus
Daniel and I both graduated from the University of Arkansas.  The campus is beautiful, and we highly recommend you take a walk through it. Here are some of the spots we recommend visiting:

U of A Senior Walk- You will find both of our names in the Class of 2006
Nationally recognized as unique, the sidewalks of the university bear the engraved names of all of its more than 100,000 graduates. The walk begins in front of Old Main with the Class of 1876.

Old Main (Picture to the left)
Completed in 1875, this twin-towered brick building is a stately landmark. It housed the first classes taught at the university. Today it contains the beautifully restored Giffels Auditorium and historic displays, as well as the administrative offices of the Fulbright college of Arts and Sciences. Steps to the lawn on corner of Dickson St. and Arkansas Ave.

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Football Stadium

Pi Kappa Alpha House- 320 N. Arkansas Ave.

Pi Beta Phi House- 502 W. Maple St.


Shop til you Drop

Riffraff on the Square
19 S. Block Ave.
479.571.4000

Grey Dog Vintage Boutique

southwest corner of Trenton Ave. and College Ave.in a 1972 Airstream!

Maude Boutique
704 N. College Ave.

479.935.4700

Something Urban
643 W. Dickson St.
479.442.0140


Private Gallery
623 West Dickson St.

479.587.1140


Lola Boutique
West Ave. off Dickson St.
479.443.5535

Cheap Thrills

120 S East Ave.
479.442.7735

Houndstooth Clothing Co. (for a Razorback shirt)

29 N. Block Ave.
479.442.4610



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Lake Fayetteville
The 5.5 nature trail around the lake is a tough workout, but a beautiful view the whole time. 

Mt. Sequoyah
With an elevation of 1,700 feet above sea level, Mt. Sequoyah is the highest point in Fayetteville. It was named for the Cherokee leader who created the Cherokee alphabet and translated the New Testament of the Bible for the Indians. A cross on the west side of the mountain marks a premier view of the city. Looking west from this point, viewers will also see two hills with an obvious gap between them. This is the Trail of Tears route the Indians traveled through Fayetteville on their way to reservations in the West.
Address: 150 NW Skyline Drive Phone: 479.443.4531


See the History...and tell me what I should visit because sadly I've done none of these things.

Arkansas Air Museum
Relive the barnstorming days of early aviation with the Museum's collection of aircraft from the 1920s through the 1940s. See a World War I fighter plane, next to the sleek "Mystery Ship", winner of the 1929 National Air Race and star of two movies. Choose a self-guided tour or arrange for your group to have a guide explain all the exhibits.
Address: 4290 S. School, next to Drake Field Phone: 479.521.4947

Clinton House Museum
This 1930s English-style bungalow was the first home and wedding site of Bill and Hillary Clinton. Showcasing the life and times of the Clintons during their years in Fayetteville, the museum features photographic and memorabilia displays, including vintage campaign materials, and gift shop. Available for public tours, small meetings, receptions and weddings. Address: 930 W. Clinton Drive (formerly California Blvd). Phone: 479.444.0066


Confederate Cemetery
A reflective resting place for some 500 Confederate soldiers from Texas, Missouri, Louisiana and Arkansas. It was established in 1872 by a group of Fayetteville women who founded the Southern Memorial Association and purchased the 3-acre tract. The cemetery is on the Register of Historic Places and welcomes visitors from dawn until dusk.
Address: 500 E. Rock


Ridge House
Fayetteville's oldest standing home. The original, and still visible, one-story "dogtrot" core of this residence was built of native logs by Dr. H.M. Clark in 1836. This house sheltered the wife and children of Cherokee intellectual leader John Ridge after he was assassinated in 1839 for signing a treaty removing the Cherokee to the Southwest.
Address: 230 W. Center St.

Just Dance!

There aren't a lot of places we like to go dancing in Fayetteville, so we usually save our sweet moves for concerts, weddings and trips out of town.  But if you don't get enough at our wedding here are some options for you:

Club FIX

216 W. Dickson St.

479.571.4994

Speakeasy

509 W. Spring St.

479.443.3279

Dickson Street

Dickson Street is a wonderful collection of bars, restaurants and shops that is fun to visit day or night. On sunny days you'll find the patios full and the streets busy with shoppers bouncing boutique to boutique, joggers enjoying the awesome hills and dog walkers headed to Wilson Park.  At night you find couples out for a romantic date, friends meeting up for drinks and dancing, and music lovers ready to see their favorite local and national acts.

Below is a list of our favorite going-out spots:

Sideways (great draft beer selection, pool tables, shuffleboard)

311 W. Dickson St, Suite 201

479.444.7324

George's (great for live music)
519 W. Dickson St.
479.527.6618

Smoke & Barrel Tavern (live music; Make sure to wear your Urban Outfitters attire)
324 W. Dickson St. (behind Jose's)
479.521.6880

Grub's (if they are still serving food, try the pizza dip)
220 N. West Ave
479.973.4782

Kingfish (A new bar with a retro dive bar feel)

262 N. School Ave.

479.935.3443

Dickson Street Pub

303 W. Dickson St.
479.443.4600

Willy D's Piano Bar
216 W. Dickson St.

479.571.4994

The Wine Cellar
509 W. Spring Street
479.966.4383

Common Grounds (Yummy spiked coffee drinks)
412 W. Dickson St.
479.442.3515

Brewski's Draft Emporium (best draft beer selection; Super smokey)
408 W. Dickson St.
479.973.6969

Shotz (fun to break your ice shot glass when you are finished, but watch for the wet floors)
414 W. Dickson St.
479.445.6755

Farrell's Lounge Bar and Grill
311 W. Dickson St.
479.841.8082

z330
330 N West Ave.
479.443.0330

21st Amendment
406 W. Dickson Street
479.856.6686

Where to Eat

Here's a taste of our favorite Fayetteville eats.  No need to wander far; most are downtown.


Breakfast/Brunch


    $ Little Bread Co.
    116 N. Block Avenue
    479.527.0622

    $ Rick's Bakery   
    1220 N College
    479.442.2166
    (Closed on Sunday)

    $$ Common Grounds Gourmet Espresso Bar and Restaurant
    412 West Dickson Street
    479.442.3515


Lunch

    $ Flying Burrito
    503 W. Spring St. #220
    479.521.3000

    $ Kosmos Greek Kafe
    540 W. Dickson Street
    479.521.PITA (7482)


    $  Slim Chickens
    2120 N. College Ave.
    479.443.7546   

    $$ Hammontree's Gourmet Grilled Cheese (Scarlet Cheddar & Tomato Basil Soup)
    326 N. West Avenue
    479.521.1669

     $$ Penguin Ed's BBQ
    230 S East Ave
    479.521.3663
   
    $$ Momma Dean's Soul Food Kitchen
    1701 S. School Avenue
    479.251.1210


Dinner
   
    $$ Hugo's (Our favorite! Best Burgers)
    25-1/2 N. Block Avenue
    479.521.7585
   
    $$ La Huerta Mexican Food
    2356 North College Avenue
    479.521.990

    $$ US Pizza
    202 W. Dickson St.
    479.582.4808    

    $$ Thep Thai
    1525 S. School Avenue
    479.443.0029

    $$$ Cafe Rue Orleans (Our first date)
    1150 N. College Ave.
    479-443-2777

    $$$ Pesto Cafe (Best Italian)
    1830 N. College
    479.582.3330

    $$$ Powerhouse Seafood and Grill (Beware of the Kilowatt)
    112 N. University Ave.
    479.442.8300
   
    $$$ Bordinos
    310 W. Dickson Street
    479.527.6795

Sweet Treats 

    Bliss Cupcake Cafe (a mouthful of happy)
    112 W. Center Street
    479.575.0575   

   
    Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt
    609 W. Dickson Street #201
    479.582.2200

    Rick's Bakery (Try the big sugar cookies)
    1220 N College
    479.442.2166

Debate of the Night: Channel One vs. Square One

Tonight D and I had a debate.  It all started when he accidentally changed the channel to 1, and said "who watches channel 1?" to which I responded, "Schools do."  Remember Channel 1?  He said it wasn't Channel 1, it was Square One.  We turned to all-knowing Google for the answer.

Turns out we were both right.  I truly did not remember Square One until D pulled up this gem.  Remember Mathnet?  "The names are made up but the problems are real."

Click Here for Fantastic Educational Memories

You will also remember this great song. Square One Theme Song 

After watching these, D drew a picture of an AV cart being wheeled in to the classroom so we could get the full effect.  Lots of laughs!

D's House is Bugged!

Last night, D and I were having a flashback moment, and watched a bit of Honey I Shrunk the Kids.  We were laughing at the super 80's names and thinking how entertaining it would be to see what names were the most popular in movies through the past decades. 

We think the house is bugged because yesterday my friend, Amanda, who is expecting, posted the link to a baby name website on her blog.  It is such a cool site and is the total answer to our ponderings from last night.  Weird!

Click on "Graph a Name: Name Voyager:", and type your name in the field to see when your name was most popular and what it ranked in name popularity at the time your parents chose it for you.  Mine was most popular in the 80's and was ranked 714. 

Check it out: http://www.babynamewizard.com/

A note to all pocket call offenders

Pocket calling and hip hop music lead to mayhem...

Buttdial-leads-to-swat-team-response

This sounds like something that would happen to my mom and sisters....I'm reminded of the tanning bed incident.

Say "Hello!" to the creepy baby.

The grocery store near our homes has a table of day old goodies that D likes to explore.  He usually picks up a big cookie with a lot of frosting.  On one occasion he came home with a cookie topped with this baby.  Interesting choice.  Apparently it had the best frosting, but we think the baby is kind of creepy.

Since the baby was so creepy, I thought I should definitely hide her in D's bag to creep him out at a later date.  Soon after, I found her creeping around in my purse.  In Paris, D found her in the pocket of some jeans he had packed in his backpack.  In Germany, I found her in my day pack.  And so on.  This baby is now a world traveler. 

The creepy baby is currently residing in my laptop bag, but watch out D. She will strike again soon.

Choosing the Date

The date is set: October 22, 2011

Razorback fans know you cannot plan your wedding the weekend of a home game for many reasons.  The hotels would be full, the traffic would be awful to deal with, and worst of all, all your guests would choose the game over your wedding.  So, deciding a date for a fall wedding took a little research. 

The official schedule wasn't posted yet, so 3 of the 4 weekends in October were still showing to be open.  The one that was scheduled was an away game.  We chose security in an away game over potentially choosing a weekend that would end up being a home game.  Yes, it is still a game weekend, the Ole Miss away game.  But Razorback fans, don't fret, if the game is the same time as our reception we will have the game on. Woo Pig Sooiee!

Last Stop, Dublin

We arrived in Dublin at 6pm and found our hostel very easily.  Our room was awesome!  It was Saturday night, so we quickly got ready to head out.  I really enjoyed the nice shower in our ensuite bathroom.  While I showered D went to get us beers and dinner.  Dinner was delicious and consisted of a baguette and Babybel cheese.  Bread and cheese are our weaknesses and luckily super cheap!

We were told to go to Grafton Street by a local we met on the bus.  She said the Temple Bar District was too touristy.  I guess we like touristy because Grafton Street was pretty quiet and Temple Bar was much more our style, full of music and dancing.  Just what we were hoping for!  We had a blast!  The bars all had live music, mostly American songs, especially Sweet Home Alabama.  Along the streets there were performers all over.  Some sang, some did magic tricks, some weird competitions like a bike that had all of the pieces on backwards so it was too hard for anyone but the performer to ride.  He won every time.  It was pretty funny to watch.  Quite a fun night!

The next day we decided to go on a free walking tour at 10am, so we slept in as long as we could, missed the free breakfast, grabbed a snack to eat on the tour, then joined the group back at our hostel.  Our guide walked us for about 30 minutes to meet up with the others on the tour.  We got to the main meeting spot by the castle and before the tour actually started we decided we weren't in the mood.  We bailed when no one was looking and walked through the castle grounds on our own.  You had to have a tour guide to go into the castle, so we just wandered the perimeter.  It wasn't really like a castle, more like a group of buildings.  I would recommend a tour guide because I don't think we grasped the signifcance on our own.


Christ Church Cathedral

  

 Next, we headed towards the St. Patrick's Cathedral.  We ran across the Christ Church Cathedral on the way, a very pretty church.  We followed the sound of the Sunday bells chiming and found St. Patrick's. We sat on a bench in the park outside and enjoyed the beautiful church in the background, green grass, and St. Patrick's Holy Well. 

St. Patrick's Cathedral





After this peaceful break, we headed to the Guiness Storehouse.  It was a little early for a beer tour, but we were in that part of town so we went ahead and headed there.  It was a great tour.  We really liked that it was self-guided.  At this point in our Europe adventures we had had our share of guided tours, as you can tell. The building was built in the shape of a pint glass, 7 stories high.



 

At the beginning of the tour, you recieved a ticket good for 1 freshly poured pint of Guiness.  You could turn your ticket in on the 4th floor and learn how to pour your own Guiness or you could save it for the 7th floor Gravity Bar for an amazing 360 degree view of Dublin.  We chose the Gravity Bar where they poured mine and drew a shamrock in the foam. It was pretty crowded up there, so we wandered around looking at the view until we found a group getting up.  We enjoyed our Guiness and our view.  It truly was a lovely day for a Guiness.

 

After the tour we headed to the oldest chipper in Dublin for fish and chips.  The order, which we split, came with "chips" a.k.a. fries, and a huge piece of cod, at least a foot long.  We ate it on the steps of an old building since it was all "takeaway" a.k.a. "to-go."



We were planning on going to see the Book of Kells at Trinity College, but the admission price was higher than our desire to see it.  Instead we wandered around Grafton Street and did a little souvenir shopping, then headed back to our hostel to rest up for our last night out.

We enjoyed another night out in the Temple Bar District. We had planned on having Bangers and Mash, but instead the Irish stew sounded much better.  Great decision.  Even on Sunday night the bars were lively and full of music and people. It was a little hard to be in a great mood, though, as this was our last night in Europe.



 

The next morning we woke up at 5:30am to be sure not to miss our 10:30 flight home. We were both kind of down that morning, sad to leave Europe.  We became so much closer over the length of this trip, not just because of the engagement, but because we experienced so many amazing things, which made our bond even stronger. We enjoyed each other's company more than we even expected. It was an amazing vacation, truly the trip of a lifetime.

 

Now time to head home to start planning a wedding!









My Incredible Tuscan Birthday

Night 1

We arrived in beautiful Florence around 6pm having really enjoyed the Tuscan views on our train ride....vineyards, lush, green fields, beautiful cottages and villas.  We met a really nice couple from Dallas on the train and talked the entire time.

We found Ciao Hostel pretty close to the train station and got settled in.  We stayed in a 4 bed room, but only had one roommate, a really nice guy from South Africa.  We headed out to explore and found the best little cafe on a street full of Tuscan restaurants.  I ordered the best lasagna I've ever eaten in my life and even the house wine was amazing, contrary to what we found in Rome.  After dinner we wandered a bit and found some seats at a beautiful lawn in front of Basilica di Santa Maria Novella.  There were lots of other couples sitting around enjoying the lovely night with a majestic view. 

We headed back to our hostel and struck up a conversation with our hostelmate.  He very excitedly pulled out a bottle of cherry cordial he bought in Poland and wanted us to share.  It was so strong, but pretty tasty.  I only had a couple of sips, but our roommate drank like 2/3 of the bottle!  I don't know how he was standing!  We had some really interesting conversations about politics, travel, cultures, etc.  Then our neighbors knocked on the door and we thought we were being too loud, but instead they were inviting us to their "party" in the kitchen.  We ended up staying up until 2am!

Day 2

I was happily awakened to a sweet "Happy Birthday" from D.  We quickly got ready and headed to Mercato Centrale, the coolest market we'd been to.  It was rows and rows of leather, scarves, ceramics, jewelry.  I, of course, loved it and bought an amazing leather jacket for my birthday.  Thanks Mom and Dad!

We had a delicious lunch at this tiny little shop near the market.  We each ordered paninis which were made behind the counter for us by the 2 workers at the shop.  I ordered the gorgonzola, pear and nut and D ordered the spicy salami with pecorino cheese.  While we waited we each ordered a crostini.  I'm going to try to make the one I got because it was incredible, ricotta and pumpkin cream.  Yum!

After some souvenir shopping we headed to Il Duomo.  It wasn't as extravagant on the inside as the outside.  The architectural design, patterns of color, and stained glass windows were amazing from the outside.  We did 2 laps around...not actually on purpose.  I was trying to get us to the bell tower and misread the signs.  We climbed up the hundreds of steps of Giotto's Bell Tower for an amazing view of Florence and beyond.  It was so cool to see the Tuscan villas on the mountains in the background.  What a great birthday experience!

We made the long way down from the tower, much easier than going up, and headed to the Galleria dell' Academia to see Michelangelo's David.  Wow!  It was so much larger than I expected, and the detail was amazing.  I don't know how you can carve stone into a piece so huge, making everything proportional and so anatomically correct down to the veins in his hands and the curves of his ears.  Worth the 30 minute line, for sure.

We stopped in the Basilica Santa Maria Novella on the way back to the hostel.  It's a beautiful church inside and out.  We both took a short nap when we got back to the hostel and took our time getting ready for the birthday celebrations to come, drinking some wine while we got ready. 

First, we headed towards Ponte Vecchino, the Old Bridge.  I was expecting a regular bridge across the water, but this bridge was full of shops from one side of the bank to the other with some arches in between showing off the beautiful view mid-bridge.  The sunset created the most beautiful sky, the musicians were playing romantic music, I was with my fiancé and it was my birthday.  I just couldn't help but tear up!  Incredible!

We headed to the Piazzale Michaelangelo next.  Such a cool walk up the hill, then wow!  Another beautiful view of the city.  We picked a seat on the steps overlooking the city and drank our wine along with everyone else on the steps.  We ate our delicious snack we found at a grocery store, bits of cheese topped with spices and bell pepper.  It even came with little toothpicks!  We sat relaxed and happy for a long time, then realized it was getting late and we needed to head to get dinner.

Our receptionist had recommended a restaurant but didn't remember the name of it.  She showed us where on the map and said it had a small door and pictures of famous people on the walls.  She was so passionate about the amazing atmosphere and food, I wanted to try to find it.  After winding the road down from Piazzale Michaelangelo we actually found the restaurant!  We found out we had to have a reservation, so we scheduled ours for 30 minutes later at 10:30.  While we waited we went to have wine and bruschetta at another cafe.

At 10:30 we headed under the arch out of the neighboring plaza back to our restaurant.  Wow!  The best meal and dining experience I've ever had!  The restaurant was candle and twinkle lights lit, narrow and intimate.  I expected the pictures of famous people to be of famous Italians; however they were all of famous Americans...Brad Pitt, Chevy Chase, John Travolta, and so many more.  Apparently this was THE place in Florence to eat.  In all of the pictures there was a man who we had also seen walking around the restaurant.  He was very eclectic with bracelets all the way up his arms and a crazy outfit.  We found out from our waiter he was the current owner, son of the original owner. 

Our waiter brought us champagne on the house and an antipasto platter.  He recommended the pear ravioli which I fell in love with.  D ordered the recommended truffle angel hair pasta, buttery deliciousness.  Oh so good!  We had a bottle of the house white wine and were just finishing it off when our waiter and the owner came over with a huge chocolate cake with birthday candles!  I was so surprised!  They didn't know the birthday song, so D sang it from start to finish all by himself with the owner pitching in a word here and there.  What an amazing night!  I don't imagine I could ever have a better birthday!

 

Day 3

Sadly, it was time to leave Florence and head to the last city on our trip, Dublin.  Since we had to fly, we had to take a train back to Rome to get to Ciampino airport.  From the Termini bus station we had to find a way to Ciampino.  We stopped a police officer to ask where to buy a bus ticket.  He told us the newspaper stand.  The newspaper stand told us the tobacco shop next door.  The tobacco shop told us the newspaper stand.  Ok, thanks for the help!

At another newspaper stand we were told to go to platform 1.  At the platform we walked into an office along the end of the building.  They told us to go next door.  Next door was a cafe, so we skipped that door and went to the next where we overheard someone telling a group of guys also to go next door.  So back to the cafe.  The lady behind the counter pointed us to a desk where we finally found the help we needed!  We bought tickets for the shuttle, and sat down for the 40 minute wait, so happy to put our bags down!  Everything is so much more difficult when you don't speak the language!

D went out to get a doner kebab and I ordered some pasta...we were back in Rome, so it wasn't the best.  While D was gone a little Italian nun took his seat.  How can you say no to a nun?!  She also cut to the front of the line once the bus got there.  Funny little lady.

We made it to Ciampino airport about 2 hours before our flight.  We got in the check-in line and waited for 30 minutes only to find out, along with half of the line, that we were in the wrong room/line for Dublin or London check-in.  So we all rushed to the other room to find we had an even longer line to wait in there.  At this point we had about 45 minutes to check-in and get to the gate.  We started to get nervous.  "We cannot miss another flight!"

The boarding time got closer and closer and people kept cutting in line.  Finally we made it to the desk about 5 minutes before boarding time slightly relieved.  Then we saw the security line!  Oh no!  I asked if there was any way to bypass the line since we were about to board.  Apparently there was a fast lane, but you could only use it once your flight actually started boarding...so that then you could run to your gate.  Geez!  So much disorganization.  We made it to the gate, waited in another line, got on a bus to get to our plane, then finally relaxed once we got in our seats. 

I highly recommend only taking trains between countries.  It is so difficult to fly.  They make you check in online to print your own boarding pass but also require you to check in at the desk at the airport.  It may be cheaper to fly, but definitely not worth the stress. 

Anyway, we made it to Dublin! 

Click here to view these pictures larger