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Wedding Details

Information and FAQs (leave notes in guestbook with which Qs you want answered ASAP)

  • FINAL Schedule: What's happening when?

    Here's our finalized schedule.
    Please note that guests can visit the zoo as early as when the zoo opens (9am). Just make sure you're at the Africa picnic site by 1:45pm or so, at the latest.

    • 1:00pm: Kyle and his boys at ceremony site (Africa picnic site)
    • 1:15-1:45pm: guests arrive at ceremony site
    • 2:00-2:30pm: ceremony
    • 2:45pm: photos + pre-dinner reception (guests mingle and visit the zoo exhibits)
    • 5:00pm: people should arrive at the Atrium for a surprise
    • 6:00pm: dinner served in Atrium
    • 6:30pm: speeches (during dinner)
    • 7:00pm: activities, card games, music and mingling
    Note that once you leave the Zoo main parking lot to go to the Atrium (dinner location), you will not be able to re-enter the Zoo without re-paying for parking.

    Added on Sun, May 17th 2009

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  • Ceremony: Location & Date

    September 12, 2009, 2:00pm

    Toronto Zoo: Africa Picnic Site

    We will be having our wedding at the Toronto Zoo on September 12, 2009. The ceremony will be on the Zoo site in the Africa picnic area. After the ceremony, there will be some time to walk around and visit the animals.

    Directions to the zoo: Take the 401 E to Meadowvale Rd. Go north on Meadowvale Rd. until you see the signs for the zoo parking lot. Note that if you are carpooling, you'll want to drive past the main zoo parking lot to the Atrium.
    The Africa picnic area is 2P in the map below. It's a 5-10 minute walk from the front gate.

    Added on Sun, May 17th 2009

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  • Reception: When and Where

    September 12, 2009, 5:15pm

    Toronto Zoo: Atrium (361 Old Finch Ave)

    The reception will be in the Atrium of administration building of the zoo, which is a 1 minute drive from the Zoo parking lot. It makes sense to park in the admin building parking lot first, and arrange to carpool to the zoo main entrance for the ceremony and zoo visit. Then you carpool back to the administrative building for the reception.

    Dinner will be served around 6:00pm, but please try to arrive in the atrium around 5:15 for a pre-dinner surprise.

    Note that you can scroll around this map to get a better view of it. You can also click "view larger map" at the bottom to view it outside of our wedsite. The Zoo main entrance parking lot is located off of Meadowvale Rd, which is the road running roughly North-South in the below map.


    View Larger Map

    Added on Sun, May 17th 2009

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  • Tell me more about this "zoo" thing

    Because we have the Africa picnic site reserved starting at least at 1:30 (possibly earlier, depending on when it is set up), please feel free to visit the Zoo earlier in the day on the Saturday, and you can relax or eat a bagged/purchased lunch in privacy at the picnic site. Be prepared to let people know that you are from the Barker-Swiston wedding :)

    Zoo Hours: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Additional information, from the Zoo's website:

    Toronto Zoo Vision: The Toronto Zoo will be a dynamic and exciting action centre that inspires people to love, respect and protect wildlife and wild spaces.

    Location: The Toronto Zoo is set in the beautiful Rouge Valley. The Main Entrance is located on Meadowvale Road, Scarborough, north of Highway 401 (Exit #389 eastbound and westbound). The Zoo is accessible by car and public transit.

    For T.T.C. information call (416) 393-4636 or visit ttc.ca.
    For Go Transit call (416) 869-3200 or visit gotransit.com.

    Animals: The Zoo has over 5,000 animals representing over 500 species.

    Attendance: Approximately 1.3 million visitors per year.

    Walking trails: There are over 10 km (six miles) of walking trails.

    Size: 287 hectares (710 acres). One of the largest zoos in the world.

    Zellers Discovery Zone*: Explore Zellers Discovery Zone, featuring the Kids Zoo, a dynamic, interactive children's wildlife experience, Splash Island, an exciting two-acre water play area and the Waterside Theatre, home of exciting family entertainment.

    Food: Open daily - Peacock Café (variety of hot and cold light fare, assorted snack foods and frozen treats), Africa Restaurant (Harvey's). Open seasonally - Americas Restaurant (Harvey's, Mr. Sub and Yogen Fruz) including our outdoor Polar Patio (draft beer, coolers, Pizza Pizza) and Beavertails (hot pastry), Africa Restaurant (Pizza Pizza), Simba Safari Lodge (North American and African fare), Simba Patio (draft beer, coolers), Twiga Duka snack bar (Pizza Pizza). A variety of snack bars and frozen treat carts are located throughout the site.

    Gift Shops*: There are seven gift shops and kiosks located throughout the Zoo site.

    Exhibits and Layout: The Zoo is divided into six zoogeographic regions: Indo-Malaya, Africa, the Americas, Australasia, Eurasia and the Canadian Domain. Animals are displayed indoors in tropical pavilions and outdoors in naturalistic environments, with viewing at many levels.

    Must Sees: Visit the award winning African Savanna, Great Barrier Reef, our award-winning Gorilla Rainforest, Eurasia outdoor exhibits, home to our Prezwalski foals, and Zellers Discovery Zone* featuring Kids Zoo, Splash Island and Waterside Theatre. 2009 Special Exhibit - Sharks at Stingray Bay-A Touching Experience - This unique and interactive exhibit runs May 15 to October 12 2009, $3.00 per person (children 3 and under free)*.

    Guest Services: Strollers, wagons and lockers are available to rent at the Main Entrance. Wheelchairs are available at no cost. ATM bank machines are located outside the Main Entrance and in the Africa Restaurant.

    Added on Sat, Aug 15th 2009

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  • Do I need to RSVP? Where?

    Yes, please do RSVP, as soon as possible please (try to do so by the first week of August).

    The location to RSVP is the RSVP page on this site. Please note that there are two events to be RSVP'd for. This set up is to allow for the possibility that you can attend the ceremony but not the reception, or vise versa. So if you plan on attending both, please RSVP to both events. This will allow us to count how many people we need to feed, as well as who needs to receive their tickets.

    To help us keep track of our guestlist, please include the names of those RSVPing, if possible. Including a phone number and/or email would also be great, if you feel comfortable doing that, because it allows us to update our address books!


    Added on Sat, Jan 24th 2009

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  • Can we bring guests that are not named on the invitation?

    Unfortunately, due to our unique venue and small reception site, we have planned for only as many people as named on the invitations. As per our contract with the Toronto Zoo, we were required to purchase entrance tickets several months ago, and we have only enough tickets for exactly as many people as we have invited by name. We apologize and hope you understand, but guests who are not named on your invitation have not been included in our calculations and are thus not invited.

    Added on Sat, Jan 24th 2009

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  • Is there a backup plan if it rains?

    Generally speaking, yes. It's called "everyone brings an umbrella".
    OK, no really:
    If there is light rain and only a day or so notice, the ceremony will be likely taking place outside, but underneath the picnic shelter at the Africa Picnic site. So everyone will have to squish in there. The ceremony will only be 10-20minutes or so, so hopefully it won't be terribly unpleasant. For those of you who haven't been to the Toronto Zoo, or went so long ago that you don't remember much: the Zoo actually has quite a few pavillions, where they keep reptiles and birds and monkeys, etc. So if its raining and you still want to visit the animals, you'll likely be spending a lot of time in the pavillions. Note: the pavillions are HUMID - dress appropriately!

    If there is a downpour and we have a few day's notice, we will probably move the ceremony to the Atrium. If the rain is too heavy to visit the zoo exhibits, we'll likely have some activities planned to keep things from getting boring while you wait for dinner.

    If there are any major change of plans (i.e. the downpour option), we will do our darndest to get ahold of everyone and inform you of the change of plans. We'll also post information near the Zoo's Main Entrance and somewhere in the Atrium. So, if it is raining, you could always drop by the Atrium and check for a message about where the ceremony will be.

    Note that the photo is from Costa Rica, not our ceremony site.

    Added on Tue, Aug 4th 2009

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  • What should I wear?

    Fairly casual, relaxed, cocktail-party, laid-back, down-to-earth, functional.

    Guests should wear/bring comfortable shoes so they can walk around the Zoo. A warm covering and umbrella would also be good in the case of bad weather. Sunscreen in the case of good weather!

    The bridal party attire, FYI:

    • Bride: fairly traditional wedding gown
    • Groom: Black tux
    • Bride's ladies: cocktail dresses
    • Groom's men: black suits w/ white shirts and ties matching the bride's maid dresses
    • Fathers: suits
    • Mothers: dresses

    Added on Sat, Jan 24th 2009

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  • Parking

    Please think of the environment and consider carpooling.

    If you have a full car, drive straight to the Zoo main entrance parking lot to enter the Zoo for the ceremony and zoo visit. The main entrance parking lot is located off of Meadowvale (see map, below).

    If you have room in your car and would like to pool, visit the administrative building parking lot to meet up with people and carpool to the Zoo's main entrance parking lot (note that you'll have to coordinate returning from the Zoo to the Atrium). You can then head to the main Zoo entrance by making a right-hand turn out of the administrative building parking lot and turning right again onto Meadowvale Rd. There will be plenty of signs leading you to Zoo parking once you are on Meadowvale.

    Once the ceremony is over and you have seen as much of the Zoo as you wish to see, you can head over to the Atrium around 5:15pm for a pre-dinner surprise. Exit the Zoo parking so that you are headed North on Meadowvale Rd. Make a left-hand turn onto Old Finch Ave and then turn left into the administrative building parking lot. There will be some signs indicating the location of the Atrium once you are at the administrative building.

    Parking at the administration building (where the reception will be) is free.
    Parking at the zoo's main entrance parking lot is $8/car.

    Added on Tue, Aug 4th 2009

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  • Where can I stay?

    UPDATE (Aug 4): The rooms are sold out. If you still require accomodations, please contact Karen Swiston who has been (very kindly) organizing the accomodations with the hotel. If you don't have her contact information, please contact Nicole or Kyle (info on your invite) and we'll connect you.

    The Swiston family will be staying at the Delta Toronto East. We have negotiated a block of rooms with a of rate of $110.00/night, for a standard room. There are a few rooms available for $98.00 but this must be booked on-line with certain restrictions. There is no guarantee what part of the hotel your room will be, booking online, but please feel free to do so, if you like. Gary and Karen Swiston have booked a hospitality suite for September 11th and 12th. This room will be used as a gathering area for anyone interested in stopping by for a few "pops". It will also be used as a place for our guests staying at the hotel to continue the celebration following the reception.

    ADDRESS:
    2035 Kennedy Road
    Toronto, ON M1T 3G2
    Phone: 416-299-1500 Fax: 416-754-6953

    Guests calling the hotel are asked to make reservations under the Barker & Swiston Wedding account. A credit card number will be required at the time of booking in order to guarantee the room. Reservations are to be made prior to August 11, 2009; after this date, rooms will be quoted the current selling rate for SEPTEMBER 11,2009 - SEPTEMBER 13,2009. Guests can call our Reservations department at 1-800-663-3386 to make their accommodation arrangements.

    Added on Sat, Jan 24th 2009

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  • Are kids invited?

    Yes, of course. It's at the zoo! It would be cruel to not invite children.
    Maybe they'll love the zoo so much they'll end up as animal biologists like Nicole and Kyle, muahahaha.

    Added on Thu, Jun 4th 2009

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  • Shall I bring a camera?

    Please do, and take many many many pictures of animals (both those in the zoo and in the wedding party, har har) and of the wedding. If you have a digital camera, it sure would be nice if you could send a CD/DVD of your photos to the newlyweds.

    Added on Wed, Aug 5th 2009

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  • Will there be dancing?

    There will not be any scheduled dancing at the wedding (but don't let us stop you if feel the uncontrollable urge to bust-a-move). As Kyle put it in one of our updates: "We aren't going to have any dancing because I can't dance, and attempting to makes me feel like an idiot and look like a drunken giraffe." I, Nicole, really enjoy dancing but I don't think that most people will really want to shake their booties to Metric ("Help, I'm alive"), the Bravery ("Honest mistake"), Arcade Fire ("Keep the car running"), and Passion Pit ("Sleepyhead") at a wedding.

    We will have music, of course. And those who stick around at the end to tear down decorations will experience the above music (as we switch to the "clean-up playlist") and the sight of me trying to dance to indie-rock music in a wedding dress.

    Added on Tue, Aug 4th 2009

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  • Do you have a registry?

    Why yes we do, thank you for asking! Try clicking here, and if that doesn't work, click on the "Gift Registry" link at the left.

    Added on Sat, Jan 24th 2009

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  • What are my transportation options?


    Added on Sat, Jan 24th 2009

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  • What should we do with gifts?

    During the ceremony, and while visiting the zoo, it would be best to leave any gifts in your car. There will be a gift table at the reception site (zoo atrium) and you can drop off any gifts you have there when you arrive. If for some reason you are unable to attend but wanted to send a gift you can either ship it, or drop it off if you happen to be in Windsor.

    Added on Sat, Jan 24th 2009

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  • What is the bar situation?

    We will be having an open bar during and after dinner at the reception. We will have an assortment of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages.

    Added on Sat, Jan 24th 2009

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  • Can we do anything to help at the wedding?

    If you'd like to help out, bring your camera and take some pictures. We would love to get pictures from as many perspectives as possible. Oh, and have fun! That usually helps.

    Added on Sat, Jan 24th 2009

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  • What is near the hotel?


    Added on Sat, Jan 24th 2009

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  • What else should I see and do in town?


    Added on Sat, Jan 24th 2009

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  • Why the Toronto Zoo?

    We picked the Toronto Zoo for many reasons:

    1) Animals are cool
    2) We would rather spend a few thousand dollars at the zoo, where at least some of the money will go towards conserving endangered wildlife, and to improving public awareness of the importance of nature, than spend it at a wedding hall that charges $50 for $15 worth of food, and keeps the cash for themselves.
    3) We are both biologists, and aside from a research station in the middle of the wilderness, the zoo is as fitting a setting for a biologist's wedding as they come.
    4) Animals are cool

    Added on Sat, Jan 24th 2009

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  • Where's the honeymoon off to?

    Our honeymoon will be in lovely Quebec City, where we will participate in fun activities that include box moving, funiture assembly, organizing our belongings, and improving our broken French. This trip should last somewhere between 3 and 5 years before we depart for places unknown.

    Added on Sat, Jan 24th 2009

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  • Will there be any name-changing going on?


    Kyle will be keeping his name (Kyle Avery Swiston).
    Nicole will be adding Swiston to her current name (Nicole Kristen Barker) to become Nicole Kristen Swiston Barker. Say it out loud; it'll make you giggle. Fun fact: Nicole has already started publishing as Nicole K.S. Barker.

    Added on Sat, Aug 1st 2009

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  • What's up with your rings?


    Added on Sat, Jan 24th 2009

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