Link to Picasa with all photos from our official photographer

Hello!
We got all the lovely photos from our wedding photographer www.hochzeitsfotografen.at and we have published them on Picasa.
Here is the link: http://picasaweb.google.de/xis.fawkes/WeddingOfficialStuAndXis#

They are really great. Stu and Xis love them!

You can also see them on the slide show on the right hand side of this blog page.

Links to Photos from the Wedding

Here is the link from some photos from our wedding photographer (Die Hochzeitsfotografen, www.hochzeitsfotografen.at):
http://www.greenlemon.at/proofs/wedd_alexandra-stuart/hochzeitsfotos_alexandra-stuart.html


Further more Felix has done a lot of great photos at our wedding and made a selection available on picasa:
http://picasaweb.google.com/felixbing/WeddingXisAndStu?authkey=UpbGlkyk7yE#

And Gabi and Andi have published some on picasa as well:
http://picasaweb.google.com/f6ckoala/HochzeitVonAlexandraUndStuartAm23808?authkey=kAewUEIr2XM

And there are many on facebook too.

We will make other photos accessible as soon as we have them and had time to upload them to picasa, photobox or.......

Thank you for making all the photos and sharing them with us and other friends and family.

Xis arrived in Vienna

The day is getting closer and closer. I made it to Vienna with my luggage and Stu's outfit.
I did try the dress and it seems that my weight and the dress are matching. Ufff.

Xis is going to Vienna today!

Xis is already going to Vienna. Getting ready for the wedding day!
It is soooo exiting! And I am afraid to forget something important in England.
Fingers crossed that all important things are in Vienna or with me.

See you there in less than a week now. :-)

Stu collected his outfit today

Stu is nearly ready! His tasks today included collecting the wedding outfits for himself and 'the boys'. Now we just have to get it all to Vienna!

Airport transport - pre-book for price and convenience

The date is coming close and some of you will soon be flying to Vienna - like the bride!

If you arrive at Vienna airport you have two main options:
1. Airport train to the city center
2. Taxi

or a combination of the two.
....and there would also be a bus (which I have never used).

ad 1. CAT = City Airport Train
This is a very convenient way to go to the city center.
The latest offer now includes a combined ticket train and afterward taxi from the train station in the city center to the final location. That seems to be a good value for the price.

CAT is convenient, clean and takes only 16 minutes to the center. It goes approx. every 30 minutes.

Especially for going back to the airport it is great if you are flying Austrian Airlines. It allows you to check your luggage in at the city center train station (between 24 hours and ~1.5 hours before the flight).

One person city train ticket would be EUR 8,- or a combination train/taxi for 4 people would be from EUR 24,-.

Here is the link: http://www.cityairporttrain.com/flashon/

I would recommend taking the train/taxi combination because the walking distance to hotels 'Am Stephansplatz' or 'De France' is too long to walk with luggage (for me at least, 10 min, or 20 min approx). With the U-Bahn (Vienna tube), you would have to take 2 different ones.

ad 2. Taxi
The other option is pre-booking a taxi only. The cost is EUR 27 (for up to 3 people).
For Emma and Rob is more like EUR 29 because they are staying in the 13th district.

Here is one of the providers of the taxi airport service providers:
http://www.airportservice.at/airport.htm

If you don't pre-book and take a taxi in front of the airport to the city center, prices will be only a bit higher, approx. EUR 33,-, not double or so.

The Xis approach would be:
Arriving...... pre-booking a taxi if I am with one or more other people.
Leaving ...... taking the CAT if I fly Austrian Airlines, I check my luggage in at Wien Mitte in the morning, have time without luggage for the rest of the day, take only one hour before the flight the CAT and arrive convenient at the airport. If not flying with Austrian you can still use the CAT but without the ability to check in your luggage or get your boarding pass.


PS: Vienna Airport is called 'Schwechat' and is the only airport in the city.

Do you know 'My baby just cares for me?'

If not well, maybe you would like to learn it ......
Nina Simone 'My baby just cares for me'

The song on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYSbUOoq4Vg
(hmmm, not sure that Stu can live up to the red dotted short)

A link to the lyrics...
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/n/nina+simone/my+baby+just+cares+for+me_20100661.html

Wedding List - english

It is tough - we have already too much with two full equipped households......
We found some things we like to add and have now two small wedding lists and the option to contribute.

Wedding List in Vienna:

• Haardt & Krüger
  1010 Wien, Schottengasse 3A, Tel.
  +43 1 533 73 29, Fax +43 1 533 49 97
  Opening hours: Mon – Fri 9.30 – 18.00 Uhr und Sat 9.30 – 17.00 Uhr.

The name of the list is: Habicht and Fawkes (what a surprise :-) )
It includes Ritzenhoff Glasses and Silver Cuttlery.
What are Ritzenhoff Glasses? http://www.ritzenhoff.com/
What is Silver Cuttlery from Robbe and Berking Old Chippendale 150g? http://robbeberking.de/

There is no internet shop available, only a phone line.

Wedding List in the UK:

• John Lewis Department Store
• Eva Solo kitchen goodies and bed linen
• Our JL Gift list is available through most John Lewis Stores, over the phone via their Guest Line on 0845 600 2202 or online at http://www.johnlewisgiftlist.com/
• Click the link to 'Buy a gift' and enter our reference number which is 328286 (list opens 18th July).
  

Contributions at the wedding:

• Contributions to our Honeymoon
  (e.g. a night safari, day safari, massage, dinner, flight miles, ....)
• Contributions to our Terrace in the garden
  (deck with built in lights, solar lights, and a waterbutt)
  

Some people asked to have an opportunity to contribute to an account (without being locally at the wedding). Therefore here some bank transfer options:

For contributions in British Pounds:
Alliance and Leicester, account no. 19 73 77 86, sort code 72-50-06

For contributions in Euro:
EASY Bank, Name Alexandra Habicht, account no. 20010 009 635, Bankleitzahl 14200
BIC: easyatw1 IBAN: AT931420020010009635

(Bankleitzahl is like sort code)

Eating Viennese specialities

It has to be said Vienna is better for meat eaters than people who prefer to eat fish or vegetarian.

Typical specialities are

• Wiener Schnitzel (the real one is from Veal not pork)
• Tafelspitz (cooked beef in a beefsoup)
• Kaiserschmarren (either as sweet main dish or as huge dessert)
• Apfelstrudel (Apple strudel in coffee houses or as dessert)
• Sachertorte (no doubt the most famous cake, in coffee houses with a 'Melange' coffee)
• Buchteln (speciality of Cafe Hawelka)

Wiener Schnitzel you will get most likely in every restaurant or pub (which is not specialised for other cuisine like Italian, Chinese, ...... food).

One place which is famous for Wiener Schnitzel is Figlmueller. You need to make a reservation at Figlmueller (one of their two restaurants) otherwise it will be difficult. The Schnitzel here is very big but at the same time very thin - so it looks more than it is but it is definitely enough for hungry people. The one in Wollzeile is the original, whereas Backerstrasse is a newer place around the corner but the food is the same. To do it right, you need to eat a Kartoffel-Vogerlsalat (Potato-Field salad) with the Schnitzel.

http://www.figlmueller.at/

Figlmueller is a place for meat eaters only. There is nearly nothing for vegetarians.

If you want to experience the 'Tafelspitz' there is one very special (also a bit touristy) place to go. Restaurant Plachutta is specialised on Tafelspitz and the oldest restaurant is in Wollzeile (easiest to reach for you as in the city center). Tafelspitz is boiled beef and people really like it - not only Viennese people but guests usually really like it and want to go again if they visit Vienna the next time.

Again reservation will be necessary and in some cases you might even only get slots of 2 hours or so.

http://www.plachutta.at/

I am not sure how well served non-meat eaters will be.

Kaiserschmarrn, Apfelstrudel, .... there are no special places to recommend.

Kaiserschmarren (sweet dish with plum or appel compots- the dough is a bit like for pancakes) is something which you will get in many Viennese restaurants and pubs.

Viennese people might select it as a sweet main course too. If you eat it as a dessert, I would highly recommend to share it with somebody or ask for half a portion.

Apfelstrudel you will get in most coffee houses where you sit read newspaper or plan the next move to the next sightseeing place.....

Sachertorte - hmmm, you can get it everywhere and definitely in all coffee houses. For sure the famous 'Hotel Sacher' has the one which you can also buy in wooden boxes to bring home or send to people somewhere in the world.

Buchteln - I need to search the web to describe it...... and it is described as sweet dumplings with plum jam ..... I can understand the translation as the closest possible match, not sure I would call it dumplings. It is the speciality of Cafe Hawelka - which is a famous coffee house, where artists and students spend their time.

http://www.hawelka.at/

More hints and tips to come......

Special pub for meat eaters - a unique experience

The Schweitzerhaus in Prater.
This is a very special Viennese place to go for 'Stelze' and drink draft beer.
A Viennese would go there on a warm summerday - because in the Schweitzerhaus you have to sit outside. There are inside tables but that does not feel like Schweitzerhaus.

What is a Stelze?
If you click on Menu on the link http://www.schweizerhaus.at/1024/eng/index.html, than you see immediately a picture of the very crispy speciality.

The Stleze is the rear nuckle of pork grilled!
I am not the biggest meat eater in the world and I hate everything what can be considered fat meat but I love Stelze. It is on the exception list.

As you can see on the Menu that there are many other things to eat (including vegetarian stuff) but the reason why people go to the Schweitzerhaus is THE STELZE.

You share a Stelze between 2 or 3 people, get bread and horse radish with it and you stop the waiters to get your next beer. They are carrying lots of them constantly around.
If you drink something else, it needs ordering and sometimes patience.

Not sure if reservations can be made (not always possible) but give it a try it is much easier than fighting for a place to sit and eat.
No credit cards.... but cash machines close to it.

It is a unique experience and people love or hate it. I would say more love it .......

I can see that Phil, Gin, Mark, Anne would be on the 'love it' side.
I am not sure that Dave or Leighton would love it.


If you want to visit the 'Riesenrad' (equivalent to London Eye, but from old days and a sight of Vienna), you could combine it with a visit in Schweitzerhaus. Both are in Prater.

Opening hours - shops and museum

Talking to Anne I realized that opening hours are different in Vienna and it might be a good idea to spell it out.

For people who want to go to any of the Museums. Check their opening hours first!
Many museums are closed on Mondays. So if you want to go plan another day or at least check. Sundays are generally good days to visit Museums.
I would also assume that all close at 18.00 and early/late evening is also no option.

Shopping otherwise......
Sunday is basically a day where every shop is closed. Even some Restaurants and Pubs are closing. You should not worry about the restaurants/pubs - enough will be open and you will find something to eat. No doubt.

Shops are often closing at 6pm with exceptions on big shopping streets like Mariahilferstrasse where shops may stay open until 7 or later (especially on Thursdays or Fridays, very unlikely on Saturdays).

Supermarkets the same...... no food shopping on Sundays. Water, juices etc. for the room (to avoid mini bar prices) you need to buy before Sunday and before 6pm on Saturdays.

Hen do's

Finally the decision is made.... I can not live without Hen do's.
So I make the most out of it......

1. In England the weekend of Aug 1/2/3
2. In Austria the weekend of Jul 25/26/27

Exact timings and activities are unknown.
Any ideas? Add a comment....

Details get organized as well.....

Today I managed to book the hairdresser for the wedding. A test / consultancy appointment and the final appointment on the big day.
The day is coming closer and closer. Time is really flying.

Not all answers arrived yet

Yesterday was the RSVP date and we have a lot of POSITIVE answers!
Most of responses told us that you will be able to make it!

Not all answers arrived yet. We are hoping that you all can join and will celebrate with us.

So far only two invites have been declined and we hope the number of declines stays as low as of today!

Wedding Ring Workshop

It was a great experience and fun! Today we made our own wedding rings.

It was a much harder process than expected (at least from me [xis]). We started with a block of metal and had to go through many manual processes before there was a small sign that it could become a ring at the end.


In between we got Champagne to distract us from the heavy work but not too much that our 'teachers' were sure that we will manage a good end result. Two rings which fit on the fingers, are round, regularly shaped!

After the last polishing steps we had amazing rings in our hands.
It was a great experience and so much fun!


You can see the end result at the wedding. And YES, we made the rings, they were not exchanged after the workshop to rings from a jeweller.

PS: At the end of the day I had no finger nails anymore, I filed them away (accidentally) while I was filing the shape of Stu's ring.

All formalities are finalized - ceremony is formally booked

Today was the big day. Equipped with all documents I went to the registry office to finally turn the reservation into a final booking. The famous certificate of no impediment, certified copies of passports, birth certificate (the long one!) with all affidavits and the official translations have been handed over and have been accepted!!

The ceremony is booked, paid, ........

We are ready!

Wedding list - will be posted soon

There are many questions coming in regarding our wedding list. We will have one - may be a short one but there will be one. Otherwise we will provide an opportunity to contribute to something specific at our wedding.

The list(s) will most likely be in England - otherwise we have a transport problem.

Things like the one below will be on it:

• Ritzenhoff Glaeser (Champagner, Beer, Schnaps)
• Eva Solo Karaffe etc.
• Silver cuttlery
• and other things.........

Our contributions will be towards

• Honeymoon - something specific like one morning or evening drive or a walk at the safari
• .............

Wedding insurance

Today we decided to cover the worst case scenario and paid for a Wedding insurance.

Do we get cold feet? Nooooooo!!!!!
I think the reason was my shoulder and arm that I thought you never know what happens.

But be re-assured, we will do everything to go ahead as planned and celebrate our big day on August 23rd, 2008.

See you at our wedding on August 23rd!

A list with links to potential activities in Vienna

My parents have been active and collected a list of links to potential activities in Vienna.

Here it is....

http://www.imagevienna.com/ Konzerte / Concerts in Schönbrunn MOZART und STRAUSS

http://www.hgm.or.at/ Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, ~Museum of Military – Homepage auch Englisch

http://www.drittemanntour.at http://www.thirdmantour.at/ eh klar, a given

http://www.karlsplatz.org Übersicht diverse Veranstaltungen, Overview of different activities and events

http://www.khm.at/ Kunsthistorisches Museum Art History Museum – Homepage auch Englisch

http://www.albertina.at A Museum and special Cinema (where the Third man is playing quiet regularly)

http://www.wienmuseum.at Link zu „anderen“ Museen, z.B. Uhrenmuseum - link to a variety of museums, e.g. the clock or watch museum

http://www.wien.gv.at/ma53/museen/museen.htm#a Alphabetische Linksammlung aller Museen in Wien (unglaublich viele) - alphabetical selection of links to all museums in Vienna (unbelievable how many)

http://www.tschauner.at/ Original Wiener Stegreifbühne ist wohl eher nichts für Engländer, ad hoc Viennese Theater, but most likely not for English speaking people (even non Viennese might struggle)

http://www.bodiesvienna.at Die präparierten Original Menschen Körper - brrrrrrrrr gruselig, nix für mich , original human bodies 'prepared' (??) - brrrrrr awful, not for me

http://www.alte-musik.co.at Musik für Insider in der ältesten Kirche von Wien St. Ruprecht, Music for Insiders in the oldest church in Vienna, Church St. Ruprecht

Jetzt brauchen sie nur noch einige Monate da bleiben und schon kennen sie Wien besser als wir.

Now you need only to stay some months in Vienna, and you will know Vienna better then the Viennese people.

Certificate of no impediment - we have it!! Finally

Today we finally got THE document to ensure that we can get married.
The famous 'Certificate of no impediment'.

The envelop looks very nice - we think to frame it - the document itself is sooo legal. The text is nearly amusing. Things like on the 6th day of May (instead on May 6th or 6th May) and even more legal text which I can not even understand easily.

That is obviously to ensure that translators have a job. Monday is translation day in London for Stu.

Today in 3 months is the big day!

Hihihi, it is only 3 months from now.
Then I am Mrs. Alexandra Fawkes.

How exciting is this?

Most of the invites are gone!

Long, long story with the invites. The good news is that most of them have been sent now.

First response cards - all positive!!!! - have arrived and we are happy.

Change of rules to get our legal documents

Hahaha! The rules have changed! After we invested quiet some money in our advertisment in the newspaper, the rules have changed. This announcement did not necessarily fall into the category 'romantic' - the text was clearly given by a public authority. Therefore you can imagine that it was not the one thing we wanted to do. We would have found better ways - more fun, more exiting - to spend our money.

Now in the middle of the process, they changed the rules. This means unnecessary spending on a strange advertisement but even worse we start from the beginning and adding another x weeks to get our papers.

I could highly recommend change management and project management courses to improve the process of changing the rules.

We can not even find out easily what has to happen after step 1 - because website says on top of the page step 2 has changed and is NOT xyz anymore, if you look for details further down the page, step 2 describes what it is NOT anymore according to the top of the page.

As my new manager always says 'Hi Ho' we will find a solution.
Hi Ho ..... we will see.

Wedding traditions Austria / Hochzeitsbräuche Österreich

I found some wedding traditions for Austria on the internet. I knew most of them but not all.

Gin told me an Austrian tradition that the bride has to sew a wedding shirt for the groom . It's not included here because I did not find reference to it. (I am not sure if Gin invented that particular tradition to scare me :-)

1. Chattering and clattering
To chase off bad ghosts and other evil creatures, and to protect the bridal couple, it was tradition to make noises - chattering and clattering.
Other countries adopted this tradition leading to the practice of tying cans behind the bridal car as the couple drive away.

2. Distributing petals
Children distribute flower petals after the ceremony to wish the bridal couple many children.

3. Lancing
Stemming from Tournaments in the middle ages. The Bride hangs a wreath from a nearby tree and the male guests try to pick it up with their 'Lance'. Oo-er. They then give it to their favourite Lady - the wreath that is.

4. Penny in the brides shoe
The bride has a penny in her shoe to ensure that there will always be at least some money in the marriage.

5. Four things for the bride
Something old (Traditions), something new (Optimism), something borrowed (Luck), something blue (Saucy [Stu?])

6. First breaking test
The young marriage has to prove that it is stronger than a barrier. Therefore a rope or a sheet is placed at the door of the ceremony room as an obstacle for the bridal couple.
It is a symbol that the marriage can over come all barriers.

7. Throwing rice
Bridal couple get rice thrown at them (or over them unless your feeling very mean). This dispels those mean ghosts again and ensures that nothing can go wrong in the marriage. This tradition ensures children, happiness and money.

8. Carrying the bride over the door step
The evil ghosts live under the door step outside the house and they might want to disturb the bridal couple. Therefore the groom carries the bride over the door step.

9. Cutting a tree together
Groom and bride saw the trunk of a tree after the wedding as a sign of handling things together.

10. Cutting the cake together
Bride and groom cut the cake together as sign of their union. The one who has the hand on top while cutting the cake is the one who has the greater say in the marriage. (hmm [Stu].. I think we're going to need two knives! )

11. Control of the key
The bridal couple gets two glasses of wine on a tray together with the house key. Both need to quickly grasp a glass, finish the wine and seize the key. The one who gets the key first, holds the power in the marriage (and falls off their chair sooner!).

12. Dancing off the veil
Friends of the bride try to catch a piece of the veil every time the music stops. The one who gets the biggest piece of veil, is the one who will get married next.

13. Throwing the bridal bouquet
The bride throws her bouquet. The one who catches the bouquet will be the next bride.
(and if you do the veil and the bouquet, which tradition is overriding the other?)

14. Morning gift
The bridal couple gives each other presents in the morning following the wedding.
Tradition says that if the groom places the gift under the pillow of the bride he will have many happy days in the marriage.

15. Highjacking the bride
During the party of the wedding, friends will highjack the bride and her bouquet. They go to a pub / bar which is not too far away to drink sparkling wine or champagne. The best man and the groom hunt for the bride and have to pay the bar bill of all the drinks consumed by the kidnappers to get her back. (Yikes!)

16. The Veil
The Veil should not be pined to the hair of the bride before the wedding day - not even by her mother, or best friend. That could be a bad sign for the marriage.

17. The journey into bad luck (misfortune)
An old superstition says that the groom is not allowed to drive the wedding car, otherwise he will drive into misfortune.

18. The false bride
To outmanoeuvre any evil ghosts, a second bride will be dressed as bride before the wedding. The false bride stays at home while the groom gets married with the real bride. (Bit mean on the false bride.)

19. Bridal crown (or wreath?)
The bridal crown (or wreath) will be taken away from the bride around midnight. This is a symbol of the transition from the old life to her married life.

20. Bridal dance
While the bride dances with her husband, people collect money (coins) in a basket as an initial aid for the bridal couple.

********************************

Ich habe einige Hochzeitsbräuche im Internet gefunden. Ich habe nicht alle gekannt, aber doch einige.
Gin meint über einen österreichischen Brauch Bescheid zu wissen, dass die Braut dem Bräutigam ein Hemd (Hochzeitshemd) nähen muss. Ich habe das nicht gefunden und bin mir nicht sicher, ob Gin diesen Brauch erfunden hat. :-)

Klappern und scheppern Der Brauch, zur Hochzeit zu klappern und zu scheppern, ist jahrhundertealt. Man will damit böse Geister und sonstige Unholde von der Hochzeitsfeier fernhalten und das Brautpaar in der bevorstehenden Ehe schützen. Die Amerikaner haben diesen Brauch übersetzt und binden alte Dosen an das Hochzeitsauto!

Blüten streuen Blumenkinder, meistens ein Mädchen und ein Junge, tragen kleine Körbchen mit bunten Blüten, die zu Ehren des Brautpaares nach der Trauzeremonie gestreut werden. Durch diesen Brauch sollen die Fruchtbarkeitsgötter angelockt werden, die für einen reichen Kindersegen sorgen. Wenn die Kinder sehr klein sind, solltet Ihr das Blumenstreuen mit den Kindern vor der Hochzeit einmal üben, denn gerne wird das ganze große Körbchen von den Kleinen auf einmal ausgeleert.

Kranzl stechen Diese Tradition lässt sich aus den mittelalterlichen Ritterspielen ableiten. Der von der Braut abgelegte Jungfernkranz wir an einem Baum aufgehängt, und die männlichen Gäste versuchen hoch zu Ross mit dem Degen den Kranz aufzufangen. Der Sieger darf die Dame seines Herzens mit dem Kranzl ehren.

Geldstück im Brautschuh Eines kleines Geldstück in den Brautschuh stecken, und schon ist gewiss, dass das Geld in der Ehe nie ausgeht.

Vier Dinge für die Braut Jede Braut sollte an ihrem Hochzeitstag vier ganz spezielle Dinge tragen um in der Ehe glücklich zu werden: etwas Altes - etwa ein altes Familienerbstück, um die Familientradition weiterzuführen etwas Neues, z.B. das Brautkleid, als Zeichen für Optimismus etwas Geliehenes, eine Kette einer Freundin, als Zeichen für Glück etwas Blaues, oft ein blaues Strumpfband

Erste Zerreißprobe Die junge Ehe soll sich stärker erweisen als alle Hindernisse, die sich Ihr in den Weg stellen. Deshalb wird vor die Kirchentür ein Seil gespannt, dass von dem Brautpaar überwunden werden muss.

Reiswerfen Wenn die Jungvermählten beim Verlassen der Kirche mit Reiskörnern beworfen werden, kann in der Ehe wirklich nichts mehr schief gehen. Die bösen Geister, die das junge Glück stören könnten werden besänftigt und auch dieser Brauch sichert reichen Kindersegen, Glück und Reichtum.

Die Braut über die Schwelle tragen Der Stammplatz der bösen Geister, die das Eheleben der Jungvermählten stören wollen, ist laut diesem Brauch unter der Schwelle des Hochzeitshauses. Deshalb wird die Braut vom Bräutigam mit Schwung über die Schwelle getragen.

Gemeinsames Baumsägen Braut und Bräutigam zersägen nach der Trauung einen Baustamm als Zeichen für gemeinsames Handeln voller Glück.

Gemeinsames Anschneiden der Hochzeitstorte Braut und Bräutigam schneiden gemeinsam die Hochzeitstorte an - als Zeichen für ihren Zusammenhalt und Einigkeit in der bevorstehenden Ehe. Wer beim gemeinsamen Anschneiden der Hochzeitstorte die Hand obenauf hat, der soll der Herr bzw. die Frau im Haus sein auf ewig.

Schlüsselgewalt in der Ehe Das Brautpaar bekommt bei der Feier auf einem Tablett zwei Gläser Wein und den Haustürschlüssel serviert. Die beiden müssen zum Glas greifen, schnell trinken und dann den Haustürschlüssel schnappen. Derjenige, der den Schlüssel zuerst in der Hand hat, dokumentiert damit symbolisch die Schlüsselgewalt in der Ehe.

Schleierabtanzen Bei diesem alten Brauch versuchen die Freundinnen der Braut beim Abklingen der Musik ein Stück des Brautschleiers zu bekommen, denn wer das größte Stück des Schleiers ergattert, würde die nächste Braut werden.

Brautstraußwerfen Die Braut wirft ihren Brautstrauß in die Menge der nicht verheirateten Frauen der Hochzeitsgesellschaft. Diejenige Frau, die den Brautstrauß fängt, würde die nächste Braut werden

Die Morgengabe Das Brautpaar schenkt sich gegenseitig am Hochzeitsmorgen ein ganz persönliches Geschenk. Wenn der Bräutigam seiner Auserwählten das Geschenk unter den Kopfpolster legt, heißt es, werden ihm noch viele glückliche Ehetage beschert.

Brautstehlen Das Brautstehlen findet immer während des Hochzeitsfests statt. Freunde der Brautleute lenken den Bräutigam und den Trauzeugen ab, um die Braut mit dem Brautstrauß zu entführen. Dann geht´s zum Sekttrinken in ein nicht all zu weit entferntes Lokal. Der Trauzeuge und der Bräutigam müssen die Braut suchen und die Rechnung bezahlen, sozusagen als Auslöse für seine Braut.

Der Brautschleier Der Hochzeitsschleier darf selbst von der Mutter oder besten Freundin der Braut nicht vor dem Hochzeitstag ins Haar der Braut gesteckt werden. Nach altem Aberglauben könnte dies das Paar schon bald wieder auseinander bringen.

Die Fahrt ins Unglück Ein alter Aberglaube besagt, daß der Bräutigam nicht selbst das Hochzeitsauto lenken darf, wenn er nicht direkt ins Unglück fahren will.

Die falsche Braut Um die bösen Geister zu überlisten, kleidet man noch vor dem Kirchgang eine zweite Braut ein. Diese bleibt dann zu Hause während der Bräutigam mit der echten Braut getraut wird

Hochzeitskranz Der Braut wird um Mitternacht der Brautkranz abgenommen, als Symbol für den Übergang von ihrem alten Leben ins Eheleben.

Der Brauttanz Während die Braut mit jedem Mann tanzt, werden in einem Körbchen Münzen gesammelt, als kleine Starthilfe für das Brautpaar.

Our announcement in the newspaper

We had to announce our wedding in the newspaper to get the legal papers for our wedding.
Here you can see our advertisment:


And with more detail that you can read the text which was given to us - romance did not have room for a legal requirement:

Click on the picture to enlarge it and be able to read it.

Things to do, things to see in Vienna

Hmmm, being born in Vienna and having lived in Vienna for all my life (beside the last year),
it is actually quiet hard to say what people should see or must see in Vienna.

I start with some of my selections:

1. City hall (Rathaus) by night
   You need to see the city hall (Rathaus) by night! It is on the Ringstrasse (street around the very centre of Vienna) at Rathausplatz.
   In the night it looks like from a fairy tale with its lights.
   It is one of my favorite places in Vienna.
   While you are there, there will be the summer festival infront of the city hall. That means every evening when it gets dark, an opera or concert will be presented on a screen and the whole square is full of huts with drinks and food. The only disadvantge is that it is very crouded (full of tourists - hihi).
   
2. The Secession
   It is very close to Naschmarkt - one of the oldest and famoust markets (food). It is an art gallery related to art nouveau.
   It is different and I like the gold cauliflower roof.
   It has the famous Beethoven Fries from Klimt.
   
3. Karlskirche
   My most loved church is Karlskirche at Karlsplatz. If it would have been possible, we would have get married there.
   I like the style and it is close to where I lived as a child.
   
4. Buildings along the Ringstrasse (Theaters, Opera, Parliament, .....)
   A good way to see a lot of impressive and famous buildings in Vienna, is to go via the tram (either line 1 or 2, or you walk) along the Ringstrasse.
   
5. Museum of Natural History and/or Museum of Fine Arts At Maria Theresienplatz
   (also along Ringstrasse) there are both museums opposite each other - I find the buildings (inside) impressive. I personally don't like the the Rubbens and Rembrandts, but I think the stairs and the whole building is impressive. Therefore I think it is worth a visit!
   
6. Heurigen
   You need to go to a Heurigen - which is a pub / restaurant related to wineyards.
   Traditionally the wineyards did open when the new wine (Heuriger) was ready to drink and they were only allowed to sell their own wine and food they produced themselves.
   Today they are selling their wine but also other things and a variety of food - typlically you have to collect it yourself from a kind of buffet.
   Good places are Grinzing and Neustift (I prefer Neustift).
   
7. Schloss Schoenbrunn
   And if you visit Schloss Schoenbrunn it is a must that you go to Gloriette and have a view over Vienna.
   
8. Schloss Belvedere
   Another Schloss in the middle of Vienna - with paintings from Klimt (even if some are gone - big scandale 2(?) years ago.
   
9. Hundertwasserhaus
   A museum and appartment house in the unique style of Friedrich Hundertwasser. Everything is wonky (on purpose), nothing is straight, a lot of colours, .... unique as I said.
   
10. Just walking through the city centre .....
    There are all kind of buildings and squares and ..... like the Albertina, the Looshaus, .....
    
    

And there are 1000 other things,

more to come......

Finallly we ordered the stationary!

Today is the big day of stationaries!
After a lengthy decision process, we have decided which invitations we want to order and send.

For sure we don't share any details here, but the good news is that by next week you all should have your formal invitation to the wedding.

Information about Vienna on the web (Wieninformation)

There is a website with information about Vienna.
It includes link to a map (city map) where you can also select to see public transportation etc.
It has some links to sight seeing and other things - a lot of them you will not need.

I thought it might be useful and I provide you with the link:
Vienna information website

And I found a second website - via Vienna for Tourists - and here you have some hints and tips too: Viennainfo

And here is the link to the map where you can select e.g. the address of the venue (Freyung 4):
Map

Public Transportation in Vienna

Public transportation in Vienna is easy, inexpensive and convenient.

You have different options:
You can buy single tickets (one trip) for EUR 1,70.
You can buy a 24-hour ticket so you don't need to buy a ticket everytime for EUR 5,70.
You can buy a day ticket (so called shopping ticket = Einkaufskarte) for EUR 4,60.

You can buy a 72-hour ticket for EUR 13,60 and you have your ticket for (most likely) the whole time you are in Vienna.

Or you buy a 'Wienkarte' (Vienna ticket) for EUR 18,50 - which is valid for 72 hours, can be passed on to other people and is your entrance ticket for some museums.

All of these tickets are valid for both Underground trains, Trams and Buses.
If you use the underground, remember you need to stamp your ticket ('the time stamp' is typically in a blue post) the first time you use it, before you go to the platform.
In case of buses and trams, you stamp your ticket immediately after you entered the vehicle.

Here is a link to the Website of the public transportation in Vienna (Wiener Linien):
Wiener Linien

What to wear?

You're wondering what to wear at a wedding in Vienna?

Here is our dress code description:

The dress code is semi-formal/formal by which we mean anything from suits and dresses to black-tie and evening gowns. To promote an English touch, Hats are very welcome on the ladies.

Wedding Venue 'Palais Daun Kinsky'

Our wedding venue 'Palais Daun-Kinsky' is an old Palace in the centre of Vienna. It is a very traditional location and is very close to the Freyung. It is also close to (and belongs to the same company as) the famous 'Cafe Central' which you will find in most guide books of Vienna.

Here is a link to the location: Palais Daun-Kinsky

The wedding venue does not offer any overnight stay options because it is not a hotel. It is a palace which can be rented for festive occasions.

The whole wedding festival will take place at Palais Daun-Kinsky.

The ceremony starts at 15.00 and will be in Ovaler Saal - you have to go upstairs to find the 'Ovale Saal'.
After the ceremony we will go down to the 'Kuppelhalle' for the 'Agape' and for Photos.

Early evening - around 18.30 - we will go back to 'Ovaler Saal' where we will have the wedding reception (dinner).
As we have limited space, some people will not be with us for the dinner and will rejoin us for the dance and party which will take place from 21.00 onwards.

If you want to know more about the location, you can also check wikipedia which provides some background via the Freyung which describes the palaces as well.
Here is the link: Freyung

General Hotel Information & Overview

There are many hotels in or close to the city centre of Vienna (although some that claim to be close on sites like Opodo are, in fact, not so near!)

At our last visit in Vienna Xis and her Mum visited some hotels and asked to see the bedrooms. From all hotels we have visited, the rooms were in good condition and the furniture was new, rooms had a good size, hotel staff were friendly, etc.

We finally made arrangements with two hotels which are close to the location.
For both hotels there will be posts in this blog with all details:

1. Hotel am Stephansplatz (we will stay there too, I find it just great)
2. Hotel de France

Other hotels we have seen where we think they might be a good place to stay too:

1. Hotel Ananas (http://www.austria-trend.at/en/?id=wan)
   This hotel is directly at the U-bahn (underground) U4, only 3 stations from Karlsplatz, so 5 min. from the city centre.
   The rooms looked all new and comfortable, the people in the hotel were very friendly and the description of the breakfast did sound great.
   The overnight rate will be approximately around 20-30 EUR less than Hotel Stephansplatz or Hotel De France. Prices for August were not available yet.
   
2. Hotel Mercure Biedermeier Wien (http://www.mercure.com/mercure/fichehotel/gb/mer/5357/fiche_hotel.shtml)
   This hotel is very close to U-Bahn U3 and close to U-bahn U4.
   The rooms looked all new and comfortable, the people in the hotel were very friendly.
   The prices will be approximately the same like Hotel am Stephansplatz.
   
3. Hotel Radisson SAS Style Hotel (http://style.vienna.radissonsas.com/)
   This hotel is the closest to the location and very stylish and absolutely nice.
   The room rates start at EUR 225,- per night and breakfast is not included.
   It is a luxury hotel with prices to match but if you want to stay at one of the finest hotels in Vienna, this may be just what you're looking for!
   
   

Hotels other people have recommended to us or are used by IBM Business Travellers

1. Hotel Pension Lumes (www.hotelpensionlumes.at)
   It is very good located, might be available at a lower rate than hotels mentioned above and was recommended to us by a friend of my parents.
   
2. Hotel Mercure Wien Zentrum or Mercure Wien City
   (http://www.mercure.com/mercure/fichehotel/gb/mer/0781/fiche_hotel.shtml or http://www.mercure.com/mercure/fichehotel/gb/mer/1568/fiche_hotel.shtml)
   Both hotels are regularly used by IBM Business travellers. They are very central and people are typically satisfied.
   Both hotels are in walking distance from the wedding location (around 15 minutes).
   
3. Hotel Hilton
   The Hilton Vienna and Hilton Vienna Plaza are both in the centre of Vienna and are good locations as well as Hotels IBM business people liked to stay in.
   The Hilton Danube is a nice hotel to our knowledge but not very convenient with public transportation and a bit far out.
   
4. Hotel Marriott or Hotel Intercontinental are also booked from business travellers
   
   Some of our guests got a good deal at the Levante Parlamente but this is fully booked already (as far as we know).
   

For Hotel am Stephansplatz (you can not be more in the centre of Vienna than with this hotel, and we will stay there too) and for Hotel de France arrangements see other entries.
If you find another very special deal (package flight and hotel) and you are not sure where the hotel is, please ask us, and we will be glad to help.

'Hotel am Stephansplatz' - special agreements for us

Hotel am Stephansplatz is the most central location you can have in Vienna. This hotel is opposite the famous Stephansdom (Stephans cathedral) and you might have a view on the Stephansdom from your room.

Here is the link for some pictures and impressions:
http://www.hotelamstephansplatz.at/en/home/index.html



If you book the room referencing 'Habicht/Fawkes',
you will get a special price of EUR 187,- per night and room, incl. breakfast etc.
In case of single usage of the room it is EUR 137,-- per night incl. breakfast etc.

For details of the conditions and bookings, please see below the details:

It is a double room and includes breakfast, bathrobe, fitness area, a bottle of water and free internet access.

Bookings must be secured with credit card and cancellations will be accepted until 2 days prior to the arrival date. In case of later cancellations or no show, the first night will be charged.

Check-in: 14:00 & Check-out: 12:00 Uhr, payment at departure.


German:

Gästezimmer (Rooms)
22. August 2008 bis 24. August 2008
Doppelzimmer >Economy<>Sport-Sauna-Relax<;
Bademantel während Ihres Aufenthaltes.

Buchungsbedingungen
Definitive Reservierungen müssen mit Kreditkarte garantiert werden.
Stornierungen werden bis 02 Tage vor Anreise kostenlos entgegengenommen.
Im Falle einer zu späten Stornierungen oder No Show wird die erste Nacht als Stornogebühr in Rechnung gestellt.
Check-in: 14:00 Uhr & Check-out: 12:00 Uhr Bezahlung erfolgt bei Abreise.

Die Zimmer sind unter den Kennwort "Fawkes/Habicht" für Ihre Gäste buchbar.
Bezahlung der Zimmer erfolgt direkt vor Ort bei Abreise.
Als Buchungsgarantie benötigt das Hotel eine Kreditkartennummer mit Ablaufdatum.

Vereinbarung
Die Gästezimmerbuchungen erfolgen individuell und
direkt von den Gästen unter dem Kennwort "Fawkes/Habicht".

Hotel de France - Offer

Hotel de France is only 3 minutes away from the wedding location.
It is close and the rooms we have seen were nicely furbished and had good space.
These kind of rooms are blocked for us.

Here is the link to Hotel de France: http://www.austria-hotels.at/de/hotel-de-france/index.html

If you reference to 'Habicht/Fawkes', you will get following conditions which are better than the standard prices. Some internet offers are sometimes better but do not include the same features and you might get less good rooms.

Currently in German, English will be provided later.

ÜBERNACHTUNG:

Anreise	Abreise	Gesamt	Kategorie	Personen	Preis pro Zimmer/Nacht
22.08.2008	24.08.2008	10	EZ		160,-- pro Nacht
			DZ		180,-- pro Nacht

Der oben genannte Preis versteht sich pro Superior Zimmer und Nacht, inklusive Frühstück, Minibar, Breitbandinternet sowie allen Steuern und Abgaben , netto Hotel.

Eine Buchung ohne Fruehstueck ist zu EUR 139,-- fuer das Doppelzimmer möglich.

Buchung:

Gerne können Ihre Gäste auch direkt bei uns reservieren unter dem Code "Habicht"
Wir schicken dann jedem Gast eine Reservierungsbestätigung zu.

Stornierung:

Wir halten das Zimmerkontingent von 10 Zimmern bis zum 20.07.2008 aufrecht
Bis dahin können die Reservierungen um den vereinbarten Preis gebucht werden
Die Einzelnen Reservierungen können bis 3 Tage vor Abreise storniert werden

Bezahlung:

erfolgt bei Abreise durch die einzelnen Gäste

Unsere Superior Zimmer vereinen perfekt gemütliche Gastlichkeit mit bester Wiener Tradition. Geschmackvolle dunkle oder helle Möbel, die angenehme Raumhöhe sowie stilvolle Kristalluster, sind nur einige der Annehmlichkeiten die Sie in diesen traditionellen Zimmern genießen können.

Address of the Wedding venue

The address of our wedding venue is:

Palais Daun-Kinsky
Freyung 4
1010 Wien

and here you can see where it is .... if you have extremly good eyes.

Otherwise you might want to find it via Google Maps or Vienna maps.

It all started on February 11th with a big question

The story about our wedding started in February while we were in South Africa on vacation.

After we have been a week in Cape Town at our friends, Gary and Briony, place, we travelled a bit further East. We did fly to Ports Elisabeth and our first destination was 'Addo Elephantpark'. There we had booked a nice hotel with some massages and luxury dinner. The hotel had a very romantic terasse and after our luxury 5-course dinner, Stu asked the big question (in English) and I said 'YES'.
It was February 11th, 2008.

The next day we went to Knysna and stayed in another lovely hotel 'Alexander' which had a terasse and we could see the most amazing night sky - with stars you have never seen before - and here Stu asked me in German. This time the answer was 'Ja'.

And this is the beginning of our story of our wedding.