Wedding information for out of town guests

When we got engaged, I was convinced that I would have no problem ticking through the various to-do lists provided to every engaged couple by every entity seeking to make a buck off the process. I would have no problems with planning this party because I love planning parties, and I've done some notable ones. Our guests would be well-informed, welcomed, nay, coddled, and shown the city that we love and call home.

And then we put an ocean, international calling codes and five hours' time difference between ourselves, our friends and family, and the companies that we needed to contact to pull off the wedding.

The good news is that there will be a wedding; I finished the most vital tasks that I needed to be in Atlanta for. The bad news is that we've just finalized the hotel arrangements, two days before our RSVP date. So, for our out of town guests there are two options.

Sean's mom Fran has booked a block of rooms at the Wingate in Buckhead. It's
here. Buckhead is where I grew up, and the Wingate is just north of the main drag on Roswell Road. The traffic seems to be getting worse and worse, but it's a short drive from the Buckhead MARTA station, the High Museum, two large malls, lots of restaurants (especially for mid-high end fare) and about 15 minutes from Buford Highway, where you can get any kind of ethnic food your heart desires. It also offers shuttles to and from the airport. We haven't confirmed if there will be shuttles to and from the rehearsal dinner and the wedding itself, but if not, both sites are about 10 miles, or a $25 cab ride from the hotel. The room block code is "Fran," and rooms are $99 a night.The website is here. The phone number is 866-649-5798.

The other hotel is the Holiday Inn in Decatur.
It's here. Decatur is close enough to practically be in Atlanta but has always been a separate town with a cute, aging-hippie vibe. The Decatur MARTA station is two blocks from the hotel, and there are multiple restaurants, an acoustic music venue, a couple of bars--including a great brewpub--the historic Decatur Courthouse and square, and lots of funky galleries and shops within walking distance. It's a half-mile to the rehearsal dinner site, and 4.5 miles to the wedding site, and they will be providing a shuttle to both events. The shuttle will run until 10:30 pm, and you may be able to arrange it to go to nearby places like the Fernbank Natural History Museum. They do not provide an airport shuttle, but you can take MARTA north to the Five Points station, then change trains, and ride eastbound to Decatur. Just make sure that you take the Avondale or Indian Creek trains, unless you feel like waiting in an open-air station for a train that goes all the way to Decatur. They also recommend the Atlanta Airport Superior Shuttle. You can make a reservation by calling or emailing 770-457-4794 or atlantasuperior@aol.com. The room block is listed under the Browning-Dillard wedding, and rooms are $99 a night. The website is here. The phone number is 404-371-0204.

A word of warning: traffic in Atlanta is bad, and is getting worse by the day. There are multiple roadworks projects that regularly close part or all of major thoroughfares. Having used it to get to school and work for two years, I cannot recommend MARTA strongly enough. The trains are regular, clean, and will take you to within walking distance of the High Museum (where the terracotta soldiers exhibit is currently on), the Georgia Aquarium, Lenox Mall and Phipps Plaza, Little Five Points (a funky little retail district in Inman Park), and a short cab ride from Virginia Highlands. A 10-trip pass is $17.50, far less than a car rental.

That said, I understand that some people will prefer to drive. Information about picking up a rental car at Hartsfield-Jackson is here. Taxi rate information, and the numbers to several cab companies are here.

Now for the fun stuff! Atlanta is a great town. There are some wonderful restaurants, museums, bars, clubs, and music venues. There's even a local brewery that offers tours on Fridays, but if you're going to the rehearsal dinner, you probably won't get the chance to enjoy it. There are a couple of multiplexes, and smaller theatres that offer accesible limited-release films--nothing without dialogue or with the word "Fin" at the end. Check out the links below.

Access AtlantaA good clearinghouse of entertainment options, provided by the AJC.
Creative Loafing Atlanta's free weekly with a good listing of events.
The High Museum The newly massive art museum.
The Civic Center
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Georgia Aquarium
Watershed Restaurant
Taqueria del Sol
Twain's
The Brick Store Pub
Holeman & Finch
Atlanta Brewing Company
Eddie's Attic
Variety Playhouse
Dad's Garage
Georgia Shakespeare Tavern
Buckhead Backlot
Midtown Art Cinema
The HighlanderDive bar where our friends hang out, next to the Midtown Art Cinema. Decent food.
Little Five Points
Inman Park The neighborhood where Sean and I used to live, and where the wedding will be held.