Five weeks to go!

As it's now only five and half weeks away, there are a few things we thought we'd let you know.

Firstly, the ceremony starts at 5.00pm sharp at the Merchant Adventurers' Hall. The building is open to the public during the day and we only have access to it from 4.45pm onwards, so please do time your arrival between 4.30 and 4.45 - the ceremony starts at five promptly and there will be no reception beforehand. If you arrive very early, we suggest a drink in the Red Lion pub on Merchantgate, which is just around the corner from the Hall.

Please let us know if you have any particular dietary requirements so we can inform the caterers. All the food is going to be vegetarian.

Some of you have been asking about a wedding list, and we do have one at John Lewis: you can find us by entering either of our names and the date (08 August 2008). However, we do want to stress that we are incredibly touched that so many of you are able to be present on the day, and this really is the best and only present that we really want.

Don't forget that stilettos are not allowed in the Hall!

The Merchant Adventurers' Hall

We're getting civilised in the august surroundings of the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, in York. It's gorgeous, it's posh and it's very English. Please to note: because of its beautiful mediaeval floors, stiletto heels are not permitted (please don't look so disappointed, gentlemen. We are happy to offer advice for sartorial substitutions.)

Both the ceremony and the hooley are being held in the one place, so all you have to do is turn up at five.

So where on earth is it?

It's right in the centre of the pretty little city of York, within walking distance of the railway station. (Leave about fifteen minutes for your walk. Alternatively, there are taxis at the railway station.)

But where is York? How am I supposed to get there?

Despite its picturesque location in the heart of the rolling Yorkshire countryside etc. etc., York is not actually hard to get to! Thus:

By train: York is on the main east coast line from Edinburgh to London King's Cross (just across the road from St. Pancras, should you wish to take the train from continental Europe).

It's also directly accessible from Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle via the Transpennine Express, and from Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham via Crosscountry Rail.

(It's also accessible from a host of gloriously named wee English towns in the neighbourhood, but if you live in Poppleton, Kettering or Pontefract Baghill, you'll probably know that already.)

By air: You can of course fly to London, Glasgow or Edinburgh and take the mainline train; however, the most convenient airports are

a) Manchester Airport, which has a train connection directly from the airport to York station and

b) Leeds-Bradford Airport, which has an aircoach service that will take you to York in about an hour.

By car: Erm, driving directions are on the Merchant Adventurers' site. More I cannot tell you. But Mary probably could, were you to ask her!

Accommodation:

Because it's a very touristy city, there is lots of accommodation available in York, for all budgets. If you'd like to make early bookings, York's tourist office is at Visit York.

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Helen and Mary have set a date, and they didn't even realise how cheesy it was until the deed was done!