Wedding of Katie Wiggins and Travis Short

March 31, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Ferncreek Retreat House, Ferndale, Arkansas

Welcome Everyone!
We’re very excited to welcome all of you to our home and to the event of our union, especially the out-of-towners who will be visiting Arkansas for the first time. Here’s to you, and to a great celebration. See you in March!

Tentative Weekend Schedule
Friday, March 30 - rehearsal for the wedding party followed by a welcome dinner for out-of-town visitors
Saturday, March 31 - wedding at 4:00 pm includes dinner and runs through the evening.
Sunday, April 1 - brunch

Casual Attire
The wedding is casual and informal, set in a woodsy spot. We encourage our guests to dress comfortably.

Directions to Ferncreek
From Little Rock: Take I-430 to the Cantrell Street exit. Make a left onto Hwy 10 West. Take Hwy 10 west for 8 miles then turn left on Ferndale-cutoff Road at the nursery. Proceed 5 miles to a four-way stop sign and turn right. Continue approximately 200 yards. Ferncreek Retreat House is on the left and set back from the road.
From Perryville: Go east on Hwy 10 for approximately 30 miles. Make a right on Ferndale-cutoff Road at the nursery. Proceed 5 miles to a four-way stop sign and turn right. Continue approximately 200 yards. Ferncreek Retreat House is on the left and set back from the road.

A Word On Weather
With respect to weather, March is a somewhat unpredictable time of year in central Arkansas. Years past have seen highs in the 90s and lows close to zero. However, we are more likely to see something closer to the averages: 68 during the day and 43 at night, with 30% chance of showers. The wedding will be outside and while we have a backup location for the wedding activities in the event of inclement weather, we recommend preparing for the weekend with layers and a raincoat/umbrella.

Gifts
The gift of your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift you could give us. We don’t want or need anything else. Of course, we know that some of you will insist on gifting something anyway, and for those people we request that your gift come in the form of a donation to Heifer International

Places to Stay
While the country is a scenic place for a wedding, and where we live, it doesn’t provide an abundance of lodging options. Below are some of the most convenient and affordable options.

In Ferndale:

Ferncliff Camp & Conference Center - the site of the wedding - has a variety of accommodation options, from tree houses with bunk beds to standard motel rooms. The wedding will take place on a section of this property that includes rustic bunk cabins, which have access to a communal bathhouse and are free and available Friday and Saturday nights. There are also motel style rooms available in William’s Lodge for about $25/night. Each of these rooms is equipped with three twin beds and a private bath. Ferncreek Retreat House, the site of the wedding, has 4 bedrooms with adult-size bunk beds, as well as a full kitchen and lounging areas. Contact Katie's mom, Cheryl Woodard for more information. 510-527-2666 or Cheryl@publishingbiz.com

In Perryville, about 20 miuntes from the wedding site:

Rupel Lodge, Heifer Ranch
We have made arrangements with Heifer Ranch to open one of their conference buildings for our guests over the wedding weekend. With advance notice, those who stay on the Ranch will also have access to their dining room where meals cost $6 per person. Rupel Lodge features four bedrooms, each with its own private bath. Rooms #1 and #3 have 2 bunk beds, sleeping 4 people and costing $60 per night. Rooms #3 and #4 have 3 bunk beds, sleeping 6 people and costing $90 per night. You can also rent just one bed if you don't mind sharing the room with other people. Bunks are $15 per night per person. There is a large common area and full-size kitchen. To reserve one of the lodge rooms, or a bed in a shared room, call Katie’s mom Cheryl Woodard at 510-527-2666 or email cheryl@publishingbiz.com

Coffee Creek Resort Landing is a lakeside fishing campground, RV park, and motel on the edge of Harris Brake, a local lake. Rooms at Coffee Creek have one double bed each and run $40 per night. Cabins may also be available. Information about Coffee Creek facilities is available online at www.coffeecreeklanding.com Phone 501-889-2745

In Little Rock, about 10 minutes from the wedding site:

Holiday Inn West Little Rock, 201 South Shackleford Road (877) 531-5084
Wingate Inn, 1212 S Shackleford Road (501) 227-6800
Amerisuites of Little Rock, 10920 Financial Centre Pkwy 800-664-6835
La Quinta Inn Little Rock at Rodney Parham Road, 1010 Breckenridge Drive 800-444-6835
Springhill Suites By Marriott Little Rock, 306 Markham Center Drive 800-664-6835
Courtyard by Marriott Little Rock, 10900 Financial Centre Pkwy 800-444-6835

Eating in the Area
You will want to eat something outside of what we can offer at the wedding-related events, and for those hungry periods, these are your options.

Little Rock is a friendly, sophisticated mid-sized city and has many restaurant choices. Some of our personal favorites include Vino’s (pizzaria and microbrewery) and La Palapa (Mexican food on the western edge of the city). Here is a link to the city's tourist offices www.littlerock.com

Restaurants in Perryville, some open from 5:30am -8:00pm others open only for lunch, are all quaint and full of local people.

Things to Do While Visiting Arkansas
Heifer Ranch - Beyond our whole-hearted support of Heifer's mission, the ranch is a special place to us both as individuals and as a couple. We both volunteered there (at different times) for several years, Travis is now the Maintenance Department Supervisor, and Katie raises livestock on Ranch land. Most importantly, we met through the ranch community.

In addition to its draw as a sentimental landmark, Heifer Ranch offers guided and self-guided tours and a variety of educational activities based on Heifer's work and global hunger. Some highlights include exotic livestock species (camels, water buffalo, llamas, wool-less sheep) and the annual lambing-centered educational program.

Clinton Presidential Center and Park – located on the banks of the Arkansas river in downtown Little Rock, the center includes a library and museum. There’s a good café in the basement. www.clintonlittlerock.com

Central High School in downtown Little Rock has an exhibit about school desegregation in the South. September 2007 is the 40th anniversary of the crisis at Central High and there are special exhibits to mark the occasion. www.centralhigh57.org

Historic Arkansas Museum in downtown Little Rock is a museum of Arkansas's frontier days, featuring five pre-Civil War houses restored to antebellum appearances. The museum also houses a collection of decorative art, mechanical art and fine art in Arkansas. www.historicarkansas.org

Old State House is the oldest standing state capitol building west of the Mississippi housing exhibits on Arkansas history. www.oldstatehouse.org

River Market District located along the river in downtown Little Rock is a collection of shops, stalls and market-style stores including a farmer’s market and several good restaurants. www.rivermarket.info

Petit Jean State Park, about an hour west of the wedding site, near Morrilton on highway 154. This is the oldest state park in Arkansas and it offers wonderful hiking, great views, wildflowers, and a decent restaurant. www.petitjeanstatepark.com

Automobile Museum, founded by Winthrop Rockefeller and located near Petit Jean State Park, this museum houses antique cars and motorcycles. www.museumofautos.com

Hot Springs, Arkansas
About 50 miles from Little Rock, Hot Springs is a charming historic town and vacation spot featuring natural hot spring spas, art galleries, shopping, and the Garvan Woodland Botanical Gardens. www.hotsprings.org