Kristi and Will have created this blog for our guests to provide you with important details about our wedding, and also so that you can learn a bit more about us.

Thanks so much for visiting this site, and we hope that you enjoy its contents!  Please feel free to leave us comments (Kristi especially loves to know that people have actually visited the website and really enjoys reading what you each have to say).

We both very much look forward to seeing you in March!

*This photo is of Kristi and Will at Feather Beach in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Kristi is holding Buford, and Will is holding Barney. (Photo taken by the awesome Abigail Seymour of Abigail Seymour Photography.) 

Please note: for most of our registries, we are listed as Kristina (not Kristi) and William (not Will).

Also, I realize that it may seem that we have an extraordinary number of registries.  This is indeed true; however, we are only registered for a few things at most of these stores!

Anthropologie: online

Here, among other things, we have registered for some of our serving pieces, an apron, and a teapot (Kristi loves tea, and has it almost every day).  To access this registry, please go to Anthropologie’s website (www.anthropologie.com), and then click on “wish list” at the top right corner of the screen (directly under “shopping bag”).  Then, please enter my email address “kristi.hartmann@gmail.com” under the section called “find a wishlist.”  (Will’s name is not on this wish list, since it is not a normal registry, and does not allow us to enter two names).

Bed Bath & Beyond: in-store and online

Here, we have registered for our everyday china (Sophie Conran for Portmeirion in sage), formal china (”Trendsetter” by Royal Doulton, listed at the top of the registry), flatware, barware, crystal, kitchen electrics, basic kitchen items, and some serving pieces.  We’ve also registered for beautiful, decorative things like picture frames, candlesticks, and vases at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Belk: in-store and online

There is a bit of an overlap between what we have registered for here and at Bed Bath & Beyond.  At Belk, like at BB&B, we’ve registered for our formal china, our flatware, and our crystal.  We’ve also registered for all of our everyday drinkware and more of our barware.

Garnet Hill: online

At Garnet Hill, we’ve registered for our duvet covers (one for the cooler months and one for the warmer months) and matching shams.  (The wish list is under Kristi’s email address: kristi.hartmann@gmail.com).

Williams-Sonoma: in-store and online

At Williams-Sonoma, we’ve registered for our coffee maker, bakeware, some basic kitchen tools, steak knives, storage canisters for the kitchen, mixing bowls, some barware, and cleaning tools.  While interviewing Georgians about their food traditions as part of her graduate program, Kristi unintentionally offended many sweet, elderly ladies simply because she does not own a cast-iron skillet.  So, she has registered for that at Williams-Sonoma, too.

Costco: In terms of pots and pans, Costco’s store-brand is rated best overall on Consumer Reports!  So, being the Costco fans that we are, but since Costco has no gift registry (at least that I know of), I decided to just post the link to the Kirkland Signature 14-piece Hard Andonized Cookware Set here: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11223005&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=〈=en-US&s=1# The pots and pans set can be purchased either online or in the store, and I believe that you do not need a Costco membership to purchase online.

Greeters at St. Mark’s:

Ms. Elizabeth Lee Paul: Eliza has been a good friend of Kristi’s since they were in high school together at Asheville School, and Kristi adores Eliza’s bubbly personality and her devotion to her friends; Eliza recently graduated with her B.A. from Louis and Clark College (in Portland, Oregon), and now works for Futures Group International, a not-for-profit organization in Washington, D.C.  Before our wedding, as our guests enter the church, Eliza will help Hanna and Emma (see below) to distribute ceremony programs to everyone.  She will then escort the little girls down the aisle, just before the procession of the wedding party.  During our reception at the Biltmore Club, Eliza will also act as our guestbook attendant.  It means so much to both Kristi and Will for Eliza to be part of our wedding!

Kristi’s youngest cousins, Hanna Grace Walters and Emma Katherine Belmonte, have both graciously agreed to help Eliza as greeters!  With Eliza, Hanna and Emma will hand each guest a ceremony program as he or she enters the sanctuary.  Hanna will be nine-years-old at the time of the wedding, and Emma will be five; we know that they will both be beautiful and perfect for the job!

Lay Readers:

Ms. Ripple Narendra Patel: Since attending Asheville School with Kristi and Will, Ripple has remained one of Kristi and Will’s good friends.  We both always enjoy any opportunity to spend time with Ripple and get a kick out of her unique sense of humor as well as her frank commentary on anything and everything.  Ripple recently graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Columbia University (in New York City), and is now pursuing a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology in San Francisco, California.  We are so happy that she has agreed to read a passage from the Bible during our wedding ceremony.

Mr. David Logan Schroeder: Since James introduced Will to his best high school friend several years ago, Logan has been one of Will’s good friends, too.  Whenever all three guys (Logan, James, and Will) are in Asheville visiting their parents, they are sure to be together.  The other members of Logan’s family– his parents Dave and Marcie and his sister Menden– are also very close to Will and James, as well as to Ernest and Shirley; Kristi has enjoyed getting to know the Schroeders, including Logan, over the last several years, too.  Logan graduated with his bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond (in Richmond, Virginia) a few years ago, and is now in his third year of law school at Louisiana State University (in Baton Rouge, Louisiana).  So, both Will and Kristi are so honored that Logan has agreed to participate as one of our lay readers, as well as to be our Crucifer during the wedding processional.

Mr. John Christopher Smith-Ricco: Originally from New York City, John attended Asheville School with Kristi and Will, and was good friends with each of them before Kristi and Will began dating during the summer before our senior year.  Both Will and Kristi have always enjoyed John’s company, his vibrant personality, and his willingness to participate in a fun debate.  After Asheville School, John received his B.A. from Carleton College (in Northfield, Minnesota), and now works as a marketing associate for General Mills in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  John was recognized at Asheville School for his fantastic leadership ability and his wonderful public speaking skills, and so both Kristi and Will know that he will be a wonderful lay reader during our wedding!  Read John’s hilarious and wonderfully-written post on his own blog about the weddings of his peers (including our own): http://jsrreport.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/age-of-the-marriage-blog/

After Ernest made the final tuition payment to Georgia Tech (for Will) in 2007, he retired as a Senior Vice President at Wachovia.  He enjoys spending time with his sons, traveling with Shirley, playing golf, watching college football and Duke basketball, and being involved with various community organizations.

Shirley likes to spend as much time with her children and their friends as they will allow.  During the rest of her time, she enjoys yoga, being with friends, and trying to outwit the deer visiting her garden.  Shirley has also been– and continues to be– an enormous help during Kristi and Will’s wedding planning!

James, Will’s older brother, graduated from Duke University (in Durham, North Carolina) in May of 2006.  Since then, he has worked for a corporate real estate firm in Charlotte, North Carolina.  He enjoys biking, being outdoors, and traveling.  For more about James, please see the “Groomsmen” subsection of the “Our Wedding Party” section on this website.

Kristi has really enjoyed getting to know Will’s parents and brother, and has felt closer and closer to them over the last several months.  The Fergusons are such a wonderful family, and she is both honored and excited to become a part of it in March!

After Tom completed medical school at Emory University and Pilar nursing school, the pair married on June 11, 1980 (a Wednesday).  They had a beautiful, intimate wedding on the waterfront of Pilar’s childhood home in St. Augustine, Florida.  Pilar wore a gorgeous, Grecian-like white gown, carried daisies, and wore a wreath of baby’s breath in her hair.  Tom wore a matching, white, full-leg cast– and stood on crutches– as he had just recovered from knee surgery!  Pilar’s minister presided, and four years later (in 1984), he baptized baby Kristi at the very same spot.  The new family moved from Atlanta to Asheville, North Carolina in 1985.

Tom is a radiologist in Asheville, and enjoys spending time with Pilar and the rest of his family.  He also loves reading science fiction novels, likes to travel, and has fun building and hiking on his trail in the woods behind the family’s house.  He likes to read about history and astronomy; recently, he has begun to read about how to save money during wedding planning, as well.

For the first few years of their marriage, Pilar worked as a Neonatal I.C.U. nurse at Grady.  She has been a stay-at-home mom since Kristi was born, and has been busy raising four children.  She is now finally beginning to have some time for herself, and is an amazing photographer.  Recently, she even worked as the still photographer for the Sundance-winning movie Anywhere, USA.

Lucie was a junior at Asheville School when Kristi and Will began dating.  She graduated from Transylvania University (in Lexington, Kentucky) in May 2008, and was a member of the school’s swim team.  She is currently a first-year law student at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.  Anyone who knows Luc is sure to recognize her infectious laughter anywhere.  To learn more about Lucie, please see the “Bridesmaids” subsection of the “Our Wedding Party” section on this website!

Gracie just finished her high school career (also at Asheville School) in May, and is a freshman at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.  Among many other things, Gracie is known for her crazy, mismatched socks.  To read more about Gracie, please see the “Bridesmaids” subsection of the “Our Wedding Party” section on this website.

Max was only ten-years-old when Kristi and Will began dating, and has used Will as a jungle gym ever since.  He is a sophomore at Asheville School.  He loves to skateboard, and is a charming jokester.  To learn more about Max, see the “Groomsmen” subsection of the “Our Wedding Party” section on this website!

The Hartmanns have been members of the beautiful St. Mark’s Lutheran Church since Kristi’s childhood; Kristi had both her First Communion and her Confirmation there.  Kristi and Will have decided to be married at St. Mark’s, and have been meeting regularly with the church’s pastor, Chris Webb, for pre-marital counseling.  Through these sessions, we have become very close with Pastor Webb, and know that it will be very meaningful for him to marry us (along with Will’s minister).

Will has already truly become part of the Hartmann family, and is very close with Tom, Pilar, and all of Kristi’s siblings.  He visits our home in Asheville regularly, joins us for weekends at the Lake, and even comes along on some of our family vacations.  We are so excited that he will soon officially become part of our family! 

Max Andreas Hartmann: Over the years, Kristi’s younger brother, Max, has truly become Will’s little brother, too, as Will has participated in so much of Max’s youth.  Will and Max continue to spend a lot of time together whenever Will is in Asheville, always enjoying a good wrestling match.  Max is a sixteen-year-old sophomore at Asheville School, and is excited about getting his driver’s license in a few months.  Meanwhile, he loves skateboarding, and hopes to be able to wear skateboarding shoes at the wedding.

Raymond Sullivan Demere, Jr.: Ray is from Montgomery, Alabama.  He lived down the hall from Will in their dorm at Georgia Tech, and they quickly became close friends.  They enjoy spending time together in Atlanta, as well as at Sea Island on occasional trips to Ray’s family’s beach house.  During her college years, Kristi spent a lot of time with the pair, and knows that when they are together, you can be sure that a fiery political debate will ensue, but you can also be sure that they are having a good time.  Kristi considers Ray to be a close friend of hers, as well!  Ray is currently finishing his B.S. in Industrial Engineering at Tech.

Alex Martin Kennedy: Alex is affectionately known simply as “Kennedy” or “A.K.”  Will and Kennedy were in the same pledge class in their social fraternity, Delta Chi, at Georgia Tech during their freshman year.  They continued to spend a lot of time together during college at Delta Chi, and still see each other every day, as they are room mates in Sandy Springs!  Kennedy is very fun to be around, and his friendship means a lot to Will.  Kristi has very much enjoyed getting to know Kennedy more and more over the last several months, and Buford and Barney (the dogs) adore their Uncle Alex!  Kennedy graduated from Tech in August 2008, and now works as a Project Engineer for Johnson Controls in Atlanta.

Kevin James Mann: Kevin is known by most of his friends, including Will, as “K-Mann.”  Like with Kennedy, Will met K-Mann through their fraternity, Delta Chi, at Georgia Tech early in his college career.  During college, they lived down the hall from one another in their fraternity house, and spent a lot of their free time together.  They also worked on various business ventures together, and named their company FergMann, L.L.C.  K-Mann still remains a great friend to Will; he graduated from Georgia Tech in 2008, and now owns his own business in Atlanta.

Daniel Michael Cohen: On January 3rd, Daniel became the wonderful new husband of Kristi’s matron-of-honor, Belle.  He and Belle dated for several years before their marriage, and so both Will and Kristi have become close with Daniel.  Will was one of Daniel’s groomsmen, and so he is very excited for Daniel to be part of our wedding, as well.  Daniel graduated with his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2006, and now works in New York City, where he lives with his new wife.

Asheville, North Carolina

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Ceremony at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (11:30 a.m.)

(10 North Liberty Street).

Reception at the Biltmore Forest Country Club (immediately following the ceremony).

(31 Stuyvesant Road).

Semi-formal attire, please.

• Corner Kitchen: in Biltmore Village.  A nice place for brunch; Kristi and Will go there often on Sundays with Will’s parents.  (3 Boston Way).    
• Marco’s Pizzeria: Kristi’s family frequents the north-side restaurant, while Will’s goes to the south-side location.  Great pizza!  (North: 946 Merrimon Avenue; South: 1854 Hendersonville Road).  
• Frank’s Roman Pizza: if you’re craving good pizza, and are near the mall, then definitely head for Frank’s!  Kristi’s dad took her siblings and her here for years when they were children. (90 Tunnel Road).  
• Tupelo Honey Cafe: one of Kristi’s very favorite restaurants.  Located in downtown Asheville.  Southern cooking, with a twist.  The grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup combo is to-die-for! (12 College Street).  
• Flat Rock Grille: in South Asheville; great steaks and seafood!  (1302 Hendersonville Road).
• Rezaz: in Biltmore Village.  Great Mediterranean food!  (28 Hendersonville Road).
• Steak & Wine: a new steakhouse in downtown Asheville.  Located in the stunning, art-deco, historic S&W building.  Delicious steaks– especially the prime rib!  (56 Patton Avenue). 
• Mela Indian Restaurant: Located downtown; wonderful, flavorful food.  Will and Kristi enjoy going there with Will’s parents, especially in recent months, to prepare for our honeymoon in India!  (70 North Lexington Ave).  
• For more restaurant suggestions, please visit this site: http://www.exploreasheville.com/index.aspx

Lucienne Maria Hartmann: Lucie, my younger sister, has known Will since the beginning of his and my relationship, as she was a junior at Asheville School when we began dating.  Many of my favorite childhood memories involve Lucie, and I still savor any and all time with Luc.  Lucie is so fun to be around, and the sound of her laugh is fabulous.  Lucie graduated from Transylvania University (in Lexington, Kentucky) in May of 2008, and is currently a first-year law student at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.  I am so proud to be her big sister!

Grace Antonia Hartmann: Gracie is not only my youngest sister, but has also become one of my best and dearest friends.  Gracie (sometimes referred to as “G-Funk” by Lucie and me) is wonderfully quirky, and is also very intelligent and thoughtful.  She graduated from Asheville School in May of 2008, and is now a freshman at Rhodes College, in Memphis, Tennessee.  She seems to be enjoying herself there, and I look forward to visiting her and to seeing the sites in Memphis!

Johanna Reade Heskamp-Goode: I first met Johanna as a third-grader at Haw Creek Elementary, and we quickly became inseparable.  Johanna was my best childhood friend, and we enjoyed many trips to the Lake, Christmas shopping sprees, and sleep-overs during our elementary and middle school years.  We spent so much time together that Johanna’s parents, Jim and Becca, practically became my second set of parents.  Although we attended different high schools and colleges, Johanna has always remained someone who I trust and dearly love.  Johanna graduated from Temple University (in Philadelphia) in 2006, and now works for the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center in Philly.

Things to Do while you are in town:

• Biltmore Estate: a favorite of thousands of tourists each year, this is perhaps Asheville’s most famous landmark.  Have fun touring America’s largest home (opened in 1895), its lovely gardens and grounds, and the winery.
• Downtown Asheville: both the locals and the tourists flock to our vibrant downtown, which is filled with fun boutiques and galleries, and great restaurants.  In Pack Place, the Asheville Art Museum warrants a trip, as does the Health Adventure (a fun place for young kids).
• The Grove Park Inn: this historic resort, located on the north side of town, is a must-see, and is one of Kristi’s favorite spots in all of Asheville.  It was built in 1913, and has been the hotel of choice for many famous individuals over the years, including several U.S. Presidents and author F. Scott Fitzgerald.
• Blue Ridge Parkway: enjoy a scenic drive along part of ”America’s Favorite Drive”!  Access to the Parkway can be found in both north and south Asheville (off of Hendersonville Road), and hikers rave about several trails off of the Parkway.  The Parkway is also filled with many overlooks, and Kristi and Will have had several picnics at these beautiful spots over the years.  Please note, however, that the Parkway is not the place to go during inclement weather, and is often closed during periods of ice or snow.
• Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Park: if you have time to spare and the weather is good, a visit to both nearby Lake Lure and Chimney Rock (a 45-minute drive southeast of Asheville) will most certainly prove memorable. Lake Lure is beautiful at any time of year, and great tours (by boat, of course) are available on weekends in March!  Among several other movies, Dirty Dancing was filmed at Lake Lure.  Kristi spent many of her childhood summers and weekends at her family’s cabin at the lake (Feather Beach), and since the beginning of their relationship, Kristi and Will have had many great times there together, too.  The Lake has become such a landmark spot in our relationship that we had our engagement photos taken there in July!  On the way to Lake Lure (from Asheville), is Chimney Rock Park. It is now a North Carolina State Park, and the views from the top of this granite monolith are absolutely breathtaking; people who have difficulty with heights or exercise should steer clear of the Rock, however.  The quaint (and charmingly tacky) Chimney Rock Village is also fun, and several of Kristi and Will’s engagement photos were taken there, too.
• For other suggestions of things to do while in Asheville for our wedding, please visit this website: http://www.exploreasheville.com/index.aspx