Family, Friends and Friends that may as well be Family,

We can't wait to see you in Lake Tahoe for our wedding on August 25th! This has been an incredible year for us and we are looking forward to seeing everyone and enjoying our summer with you in Tahoe. Matt and I, being from different sides of the pond, are only too excited to have so many friends and so much family together at once. You each mean something special to us and this will be a rare and significant treat to have you all together! We really truly believe that your effort, time and cost to share in this event with us are a gift and we are already so grateful. Because we've had repeated requests for more detail on gift giving, we thought it best to address it through this honeymoon registry. This was created as an opportunity to share our interests with you, not as a wish list or checklist. It is expansive because Matt and I thought we would ask our loved ones to help guide our trip a bit, not because we will have time to do it all.

We will kick off our marriage with 29 hours of travel to the infamous Zanzibar Island. After unwinding, soaking some sun, swimming, snorkeling and taking in all the water we can we will head to the interior of the continent to Tanzania, yes, SAFARI. I know, it sounds like something only swaggering aristocrats do on a big game hunt, but Matt is British, it only makes sense. He was really hoping to sneak in a face off with at least one of Africa's Big Five and leave with a trophy. The consolation prize is us in Pith Helmets, sipping our morning tea, under an acacia tree with Kilimanjaro in the background. It'll have to do...

We have a fantastic itinerary worked out taking us through Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, and Lake Manyara National Park. Each of these parks is known for at least one of Africa's most attractive and intriguing species: giraffes, elephants, a variety of big cats, hippos, a plethora of bird species and there is a chance we may catch a glimpse of the migrating wildebeests or a nearly extinct rhino. We have yet to travel to the African continent and it is something equally exciting and adventurous for both of us. Having squared away some of the details, we are so excited and really looking forward to starting off marriage with such a wild adventure, as if life as a passenger with Matt and I isn't full of enough activities and excitement.

Please remember we are not asking for everything on this very full list, we wanted those interested in giving to have a variety of choices and the opportunity to give something that is meaningful to them. If you have another idea or budget in mind there is a "General Gift" at the bottom of the list that allows you to determine the amount you'd like to offer. If you have experience with Tanzania or Zanzibar we would love to hear your recommendation! Again, please do not feel obligated, your trip to Tahoe is a gift in itself. We are just happy to have you with us!

Our Love and Gratitude,
Matt and Mandi... Dowdeswell