Wedding Weekend Itinerary

We are a little late on getting this out to everyone, but we've been getting a lot of questions about the what's and when's and where's of the weekend, so we're posting the following rough schedule of events!  We're getting so excited to see you all, and we really hope that you can make as many of these events as your schedule allows!

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24^th

Paul and Lia arrive in Big Bear early in the day and unlock the ranch!  We know not many of you are arriving this early, but for those of you who are, you're all invited to JackRabbit Ranch for evening cocktails and eats.  It will be a casual evening, just welcoming folks to the mountain and getting some laid-back hang-out time.

When:	Anytime!  Just call us when you're en route…
Where:	JackRabbit Ranch: 949 Baldwin Lake Road, Big Bear City, CA 92314
What:	Beer/wine/some eats (feel free to bring a bottle of wine or some beer if you'd like!)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25^th

If you're up in Big Bear by Thursday daytime, our hope is to do some lake activities: swimming, boating, jet-skiing…maybe just some hanging out in one of the many lake-side parks.  There is so much to explore in Big Bear…if you're not a lake person, there are tons of hiking trails in the big San Bernardino National Park, and if you want a little small-town vibe, just a walk through "the village" can be a great way to spend a day.

We know most of you are arriving late in the day on Thursday, so our first big group event will be happening on Thursday evening…our plan is to have dinner at a local BBQ joint and then bowling at the Bowling Barn in town!  Both these places are very kid-friendly, so feel free to bring the whole family!

DINNER:

When:	6pm
Where:	B's Backyard BBQ 350 Alden Rd Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 (909) 866-5400 http://www.bigbeardining.com/bsbackyard.html

BOWLING:

When:	7:30pm (reservations under Lia's name)
Where:	The Bowling Barn 40625 Big Bear Blvd. Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 (909) 878-2695 http://www.bowlingbarn.com/

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26^th

This may be optimistic, but we're really hoping to get some lake time on Friday as well, so stay tuned for that.  But there's also a possibility that during the day we'll be gathered at the Ranch, prepping for Saturday.  If that's the case, we'd still love to have folks come over, hang out…just know we'll probably put you to work if you're there!!

Friday night is the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, so for all those folks not involved in the ceremony and/or taking part in the rehearsal…it's a free night in Big Bear!  There are a ton of great restaurants in the village, there are even two movie theatres, and if we're not mistaken…Friday night is bingo at the Elk's Lodge!  Woo-hoo!

ACTIVITIES IN TOWN TO CHECK OUT

The Alpine Slide.  This is a cool windy slide built into the side of a mountain that you ride down on a little metal sled with wheels.  Paul and I checked this out, and it was super fun!  A great kid activity, and you get to take a short ride on a ski-lift up the mountain.  http://www.alpineslidebigbear.com/.  There's also a waterslide here…we didn't try it, but it looks fun!

Another one for kids…the Big Bear Fun Plex.  It's a big arcade with games and lazer tag and pizza and all kinds of fun stuff for the little ones.  http://www.bowlingbarn.com/funplex.htm

Ziplining.  I really hope we get a chance to try this out.  We hear the zipline course in Big Bear is pretty great…and I'm sure the views are amazing! http://www.actionziplinetours.com/

If you're going to be doing any hiking (http://www.bigbear.com/things-to-do/recreation/trails/), or just want to learn more about the Big Bear area and the national forest, I would definitely pay a visit to the Big Bear Discovery Center, http://www.nationalforestassociation.org/bigbeardiscoverycenter.php, you can find out all kinds of great info and get parking passes for the lake, etc., etc.

There's also a golf course, and parasailing, and all kinds of great stuff to explore…

RESTAURANTS TO CHECK OUT:

Get the Burger...best. burgers. ever.  Seriously...this place is amazing.  Go there, go there, go there!

Sweet coffee shop in Big Bear Village...the Copper Q.  We've been here several times.  They've got good espresso and teas, cute kitchen ware gifts, and lots of little snacks and baked goods.

The Log Cabin...this place is a little far on the west side of town, but without question the best breakfast we've had in Big Bear. Sooooo good! And really sweet little place...decorated like an old-timey German pub.

You can also get a great breakfast at the Teddy Bear Restaurant or the Grizzly Manor Cafe.  

For Mexican, check out El Jacalito.  The food is good, not amazing...but good.  A pretty decent margarita can be had here, as well, and the location is great. 

And lastly, if you're in the mood for some fine dining type fare...I would recommend checking out the Sweet Basil Bistro (it's small, so reservations are recommended), the Peppercorn Grille (we've not eaten here, but we've heard great things, and it's always packed) and the Captain's Anchorage (we've been in here, but not eaten...it's got a great dimly-lit steakhouse vibe, and the food is supposed to be great). 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27^th

The Big Day!!!

Obviously the morning and afternoon on Saturday will be dedicated to wedding prep, so Saturday before the wedding will be another opportunity for exploring Big Bear and checking out some of the activities listed above.

All the wedding festivities are happening at the Ranch, and please make note of the new ceremony time (we pushed it back a little later, so as to avoid having our outdoor ceremony in the afternoon sun!:

Ceremony Start Time: 5:30 PM

Reception to follow…

(And lots of dancing, campfire-ing, and late-night revelry to follow that…)

JackRabbit Ranch
949 Baldwin Lake Road
Big Bear City, CA 92314


SUNDAY, AUGUST 28th


After we've all woken up and recovered from the prior evening's festivities...if you're not leaving too early for the airport, you're all invited back to the ranch for a day-after brunch.  It will be a pretty laid-back affair...probably just eggs and pancakes and the like.  The bride has already decided that she will be having brunch in her PJ's...if that gives you any indication as to the formality of the morning!  Come sleepy-eyed, sleepy-headed, we don't mind!

We imagine we'll serve up the grub around 10 or 11am-ish...?  I'm sure we'll make a more concrete decision on timing the night before.  So, stay tuned for details!

Big Bear Wedding FAQ...

Big Bear Wedding

FAQ

What airport should I fly into?

The Ontario Airport is the closest airport to Big Bear.  It’s still about 75 miles from the wedding locale, but all the locals say it’s the most direct way into Big Bear.

How do I get to Big Bear from the Airport?  

Well, don’t rely on Google Maps.  For some reason, the default direction sends you around the mountain.  The simplest way is to take 210 East, to Highway 18, and follow it up to the mountains, all the way to Big Bear.  It’s an amazing drive.

Speaking of driving—do I need a car for my visit?

Yes.  Renting a car will definitely make things easier. However, if renting a car isn’t possible, you might want to consider a carpool.  If you don’t know anyone else coming to the ceremony, let us know and we’ll try to put you in touch with someone with a car.  The JackrabbitRanch is a bit off the beaten path, so walking isn’t an option.

Where should I stay?

Big Bear is chock-full of hotels, bed and breakfasts and rental homes, so there are accommodations to fit all tastes and budgets.  We’ve stayed in a few places around the area and so we can give personal recommendations for a few of them:

Hotels and B&Bs:

The Robinhood Resort - this is the first place we ever stayed in Big Bear...it's right in the heart of "the village" (the downtown of Big Bear) and we got a super cheap room WITH a jacuzzi tub and a fireplace.  A really great (and affordable) place to stay. 

The Marina Inn - this is the second place we ever stayed in Big Bear and it is also right near the village, in a great location, right on the water.  We stayed in a room that looked out over the lake, a little more expensive than the Robinhood, but still reasonable.   A great place to stay if you want some lake time.

The Edgewater - also right on the lake, the Edgewater is a sweet little hotel, just 8 rooms, and each room is big and spacious, most of them even have little kitchens and dining tables.  A great place to stay as a family.  There's also a little park right out back of the hotel, right on the lake, with BBQs and a boat launch.   If you get a room here, be sure to tell Nick or April at Destination Big Bear (the company that rents the hotel) that you're with our wedding, and they should give you some kind of discount on the room!

Gold Mountain Manor - we didn't stay here, but we toured all the rooms, and it is a super sweet little BandB!  The owner is a lovely, lovely woman, the rooms are all unique and spacious, and there are fresh-baked cookies in the lounge all year round!  I just looked on their booking site, and it looks like there's still plenty of availability for the weekend of our wedding, so if you're looking for something serene and home-y for your stay, I would highly recommend this place!

The Inn at Fawnskin - this is another super charming BandB that we toured (but didn't stay at).  The rooms are lovely, as are the owners/staff at the Fawnskin.  The only downside is that it's at the far end of the lake, so it's going to be further from the wedding festivities, but it's a lovely little Bed and Breakfast and would be a relaxing place to come home to at the end of the night!

The Best Western Big Bear Chateau - again, we didn't stay here, but we toured the rooms...and for a Best Western, it  is really nice.  The building is old and beautiful, and all the rooms we looked at were very clean and roomy.   There are a ton of room options here, and in terms of hotels, it's the closest to Jackrabbit Ranch.  A good and affordable option.

Areas to look for Rental Homes/Cabins:

Big Bear City - this is the area of Big Bear that is going to be closest to the Jackrabbit Ranch...it's on the far eastern side of Big Bear Lake.  Everything in Big Bear is relatively close, but if you want to be near the reception site, looking in Big Bear City is the way to go.

Big Bear Lake - this is where the action is at.  If you want to do lake activities while you're in Big Bear, or if you just want to be able to walk out your front door and be near to lots of restaurants and shops, then Big Bear Lake is the way to go.  "The Village" is the area in Big Bear Lake that has the highest concentration of shops, so if you see a home for rent that boasts it's closeness to The Village, you'll know it's right in the heart of Big Bear.

Moonridge - this area, like Big Bear City, is going to be a bit closer to JackRabbit ranch.  Moonridge is basically southeast of Big Bear Lake.  There are lots of beautiful homes and cabins to rent out in this direction, but just know that if you rent a home in Moonridge, you're not really going to be able to walk anywhere.   What you will get, however, is a lot of peace and quiet and natural beauty! 

Homes/Cabins Rental Companies:

Destination Big Bear - this is the rental company that is renting the Jackrabbit Ranch to us.  They have a lot of great homes and cabins for rent (as well as rooms in the Edgewater hotel, mentioned above) and they are offering a nightly discount to anyone from our wedding who rents through them!  So make sure and tell them you're coming to Paul and Lia's wedding...ask for Nick or April, if you have any trouble. 

Big Bear Luxury Properties - we went into the office at this place and had a long talk with one of the rental agents when we were looking for wedding venues.  They were very helpful and accommodating, and they have a lot of great properties for rent at pretty reasonable prices.  They seem to have high standards about what kind of property they offer for rent, so I feel like a home or cabin rented through them would be a pretty safe bet.

Big Bear Cool Cabins - this place has a lot of properties for rent in Big Bear.   We had some dealings with them, and they don't really give the most personal touch, but they have some good properties on offer and the rates are very competitive. 

Hope that's helpful!  Just be sure you don’t wait too long to book something, things fill up fast in Big Bear!

What should I wear to the wedding?
We’re going to go with a “ranch formal” dress code, which means: summer wedding/semi-formal, but in the spirit of the great outdoors.  The dance-floor will probably be either on hay or grass, so just choose your footwear accordingly! Weather can be between 70-80 but will cool down after sundown.

When are people getting there?

Well, Lia and Paul are arriving on Wednesday, August 24^th, along with most of the bridal party and family. You’re welcome to arrive anytime thereafter.  We plan on having folks over to Jackrabbit on Weds evening for some food and beers…so if you’re in town come on over. Thursday will be the lake day with an evening gathering for all. Friday is wedding prep for some, leisure day for others and Saturday, of course…

Where should I go if I have other questions?

We’ll be updating the blog regularly, with information about lodging and activities and all things wedding, so go there first.  If you have a burning question that only we can answer, you can email us at willisaprile@gmail.com.

We love you all, and can’t wait to see you!

Xoox

Paul and Lia

The Invites Are Out!!

Look for it in your mailbox in the days to come!  And please be sure to RSVP at our RSVP link to the right!

More Big Bear Info!

Big Bear Lake, Juniper Point

We've received a few emails already about which airport is closest and where exactly the venue is located so you can find hotels/lodging nearby.   Good questions all...so here is some more information that we hope will be helpful.

Let's start with the airport!  The closest airports to Big Bear are the Ontario International Airport [ONT] and the San Bernadino International Airport [SBD]. Looks like both are about 1.5 hours away by car. Ontario might take you an hour and 45.

The venue is called Jack Rabbit Ranch and it is actually about 15 minutes east of Big Bear Lake, where most of the lodging can be found.   Jack Rabbit Ranch will be the site for the wedding reception and possibly the ceremony and will also be where we and much of our family and wedding party will be staying.

If you are doing searches for lodging in the area we recommend focusing on Big Bear Lake.  On the south side of the lake is where most of the small inns, hotels, motels, lodges, rentals, and general social activities are located.  On the north side of the lake you'll find a few really nice bed and breakfasts as well as walking paths and a generally more tranquil vibe.  There's a little mini-town called Fawnskin on the northside of the lake that is also worth looking into for lodging.  We've stayed at several hotels in Big Bear ourselves over the last few months, and we've included some recommendations on the map in the right-hand column of the blog.  We will continue to add to the map as we get closer.

If you're trying to map stuff out yourself and want to know the distance from where you are staying to Jack Rabbit Ranch...use this address:

Jack Rabbit Ranch

949 Baldwin Lake Road

Big Bear City, CA 92314*

*this zip is now correct!

Also, we encourage you to check out Destination Big Bear Properties while you're searching for lodging.   They are generously offering a 15% discount to anybody coming for our wedding.  We have a small hotel called the Edgewater on hold through them from the 24th-28th so if you're interested in one of those rooms let us know.  (You can find those rooms on the Destination Big Bear site labeled as Edgewater #1, Edgewater #2, etc.)

Oh yeah...and if you didn't get it from the Save the Date...we are going to be arriving on the afternoon of the 24th and staying all week.  So, please, come join us as early as you can for a a few long summer days of hanging by the lake, bbq, seeing old friends and breathing crisp clean air.

stay tuned...

xo
paul and lia

SAVE THE DATE!!

From Mar 20, 2011