There are two rules that should guide your choice of attire for the weekend of festivities (including the ceremony itself):
1. Be Comfortable
Since you know at least one of us, you probably know that forced formal wear isn’t our idea of a good time. If you’re most comfortable wearing jeans, wear jeans. If you’re most comfortable wearing a purple lamé jumpsuit, be our (favourite) guest. Seriously, bring comfortable clothes that you like wearing. If you want to put on something special for the ceremony, please wear whatever that means to you in your world, be it your best silk tux and pashmina scarf or your special ripped jeans with tuxedo print t-shirt (hey, “I like to picture Jesus in a tuxedo T-Shirt because it says I want to be formal, but I’m here to party”). Remember though: don’t be afraid to go fabulous.
Bring layers!
September is one of the most reliably beautiful months in the Bay Area and in Mendocino – warmest that it gets, almost no chance of rain. Still, it’s rarely hot and the weather can be changeable, so the key to comfort is to bring layers. In September, the average high/low temperature in the town of Mendocino (which is a little cooler than where we’ll be because it’s right on the coast) is 64/49° F or 18/9° C. In San Francisco, the September averages are 70/55° F or 21/13° C.
Bring sensible shoes!
As much as you normally may want to wear your leopard print stilettoes all the time, you won’t at the camp (no stiletto or spiked heels are allowed on the dancefloor, FYI). Make sure you bring shoes that are good for walking around on uneven ground, going up and down hills, and walking on forest paths. You might want flip flops for communal showers for the dash out to your middle-of-the-night pee in the bathroom.
2. Be Fabulous
Since you know at least one of us, you probably know that we like our glitz and glamour in the form of magnificent costumes. If you’ve always wanted to don a shockingly bright orange zoot suit, you go girl. Boys, if you’ve been searching for an excuse to slip into a silver sequined flapper dress with magenta wig, we’re honoured to give you the opportunity to live your dream. Hell, wear a fluffy white wedding dress if you want − neither of us will be wearing one. There are no overall themes, but keep in mind there will be a squaredance on Friday night.
Yes, this rule applies to the ceremony. Especially to the ceremony.
We wanted to ask everyone to wear costumes all weekend, but realized that for some people, that might violate rule #1 (be comfortable). So instead we’re enthusiastically encouraging you to go as fun and wild as you want, with no pressure.
If you don’t know where to start on your personal path to marvelous, think about adding a boa or a fun hat to your outfit. Remember, there’s enough time for several costume changes a day!
Stay tuned! Fantastic photos of fabulous to appear here very soon…