In October of 2008, Daniel, who was living in Richmond, VA, was in DC for business and met Amanda, who was living in DC and working on Capitol Hill. We dated long-distance for 8 months, battling gridlocked I-95 and train trips to see one another, before Daniel transferred up to his firm's office in DC in June 2009. We rented a nice little rowhouse in Capitol Hill for the first year before moving to the 9th floor of an apartment building near Dupont Circle. In May 2010, Daniel orchestrated an elaborate and romantic marriage proposal (full story) in Paris. In June 2011, we were married in Amanda's parents' backyard in Topeka, Kansas and thus began this website to provide information about of the wedding. In December of 2011, we went our honeymoon, an epic 3 week adventure through India, Cambodia, and Thailand, also chronicled under the honeymoon tab.

June 11, 2011

Our wedding took place on Saturday at the home of the bride's parents in Topeka, Kansas. It's the home that Amanda grew up in and holds many memories that are precious to her, including helping her dad in the garden, the setting of the ceremony. Our wedding day was perfect in so many ways. Although Kansas is known for its fickle weather, June 11th 2011 was a beautiful day. All of the logistics went off without a hitch, the food was delicious, the music was delightful, and the 1965 VW Bug/get-away car started without fail. We are so lucky to have had a wedding day more wonderful than we'd ever dreamt possible. Most of all, we appreciated the many guests and family members who were able to attend - your presence was what truly made the day special.

Kansas, Land of Ahs!

What most people forget about The Wizard of Oz is that Dorothy wanted to go back to Kansas. Like Dorothy, it's home for me too, and I think it's beautiful. Most people believe that Kansas is flat. Flatter than a pancake. It's true that there are flat parts of Kansas, like Southwest Kansas where my Dad's family is from. But Kansas is also home to the Flint Hills, a gently rolling tallgrass prairie. Here is National Geographic's coverage.

• Our gorgeous flowers were provided by University Flowers in Topeka. Steve Gleason, 785.232.4012
• The delicious cupcakes and cake-pops came from Billy Vanilly in Topeka. 785.228.2300
• Music was provided by Michael Paull and "The Hobbit Toes" of Lawrence, who went above and beyond to learn our favorite song at the last minute. email or 785.979.8840
• Our amazing photographer, who captured the day so artistically, was Brian Goodman from Lawrence. email or 785.424.3579
• Dinner and catering was provided by Hy-Vee in Topeka. We are especially thankful to Ken for customizing the balsamic pear and blue cheese tarts into a bite-sized appetizer and making sure there were some saved for us. email or 785.273.3026
• The beautiful tenting and dance floor were provided by John Cavendar and his team at Cavendar Rentals. email or 785.845.7514
• Guest accommodations and shuttle service were provided by the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka and were managed expertly by Allison Connell and Verna Dowding. 785.232-8379
• Our officiant, who performed the service with grace and allowed us the flexibility to craft our own ceremony, was Judge Nancy Parrish.
• For day-of coordination we turned to Jessica and Amy of Hitched Weddings + Events in Kansas City. They were a delight to work with and made the day run more smoothly than we could have imagined possible. Contact information: website or 913.909.1194

• Our parents - Our most sincere and heartfelt thanks goes to each of you, which this small tribute can't even begin to fully encompass. Thanks to Ken and Marion for the countless hours put into making the yard and house look like a fairytale setting for our wedding. Thanks for all the planning and worry and errand running we subjected you to. Thanks for allowing us to use the family home for the wedding - a perfect place to honor and celebrate the merging of two families and the beginning of another. Thanks to Steve and Cathy for all your work in coordinating and facilitating the family trip out to Kansas. Thanks also for helping us find a way to celebrate with those who couldn't make the trip out.
• Lori Wilson and Molly Aichele, the best bridesmaids a girl will ever have. You ladies went above and beyond the call of duty, working tirelessly to help me execute and improve the vision I'd had of my wedding day, and elevating DIY to a whole new level. You made the day so much more beautiful and your love and support made my heart so much happier.
• Ibarra Family - Huge thanks go to Gustavo for all of his work to make the Cott family home look the best it ever has. You've worked tirelessly to encourage a family known for being resistant to changes around the house, to make sure that every bit of craftsmanship was of the highest quality, and have treated the house like your own home. Daniel and I are especially thankful for the beautiful signs you made for our wedding day - we will always treasure the carving of our initials in a heart and have it hanging in our living room now. To Jennifer and Gustavo Jr., thank you for your work on the wedding day. Jennifer, you were such a lovely and gracious guest book attendee and Nene, thank you for your assistant in managing the gifts.
• Sara & Andy Schafer - Thank you for all your hard work on the big day. From tending bar and bussing tables to moving chairs around, you were the perfect support crew - anticipating needs and "making it work" without ever making it look like work.
• Our wedding day work crew (you know who you are) - Thanks for taking a to-do list and getting to work. Painting, hanging pictures, assembling crepe paper decorations, covering trash cans, setting up tables... and a million other tasks that made for a beautiful and perfect wedding day.
• Adeline Saia - Thank you for customizing my wedding dress on such short notice and all by hand. You've managed every alteration for as long as I can remember - I simply couldn't have trusted one of the most important dresses I'll ever wear to anyone else. It was perfect!
• The Aunties: Raylene Hinz Penner, Pat Booth, Karen Ray, and Susan Zuber-Chall. Thank you for all your invaluable assistance and advice along the way and for throwing us a fantastic welcome party. You were such gracious hosts and everyone sincerely appreciated the opportunity to meet each other, visit, and reconnect.
• David Chall - Thank you for all your research and assistance in helping us acquire and set up a quality PA system. We owe the great time we had dancing to your hard work.