Kerri Houston & Mike Toloczko

Kerri & Mike

June 7, 2008

Kerri Houston & Mike Toloczko

Kerri & Mike

June 7, 2008

Dear friends and family,

Although we met back in April of 2004 at the Middleburg Spring Races in Virginia, it seems like just yesterday that our journey together started. It is fitting that Middleburg is known as "hunt" country as that's where ours ended ... the best "finds" happen when you're not even looking!

We will always be grateful for Debi and Brian for inviting Mike out that day, and to Cynthia and Larry for dragging Kerri - kicking and screaming - out to Middleburg for an adventure in meeting new people.

Who knew?

We've gone through a lot of changes in that short time -- dating from 1700 miles apart, figuring out how to vacation as an extended family, surviving three collective moves in two years, and purchasing our first home.

Now we are looking forward to our wedding in June, and we can't wait to be married with our wonderful family and friends surrounding us, and are especially thankful to many special people who will be traveling to Virginia from far afield to share our special day.

We have discovered that together, we own four coffee pots, three microwaves, two sets of pots and a partridge in a pear tree. Well, maybe not a partridge exactly, but we do have a few doves in the Christmas stuff.

What we look forward to collecting in our married life are not appliances, but wonderful memories of special times spent together, starting with our honeymoon. We hope you will help us celebrate our wedding by allowing us to share some special moments in a beautiful place that we can look back upon with laughter and joy in years to come.

Toasters come and go; but beautiful memories last a lifetime and we are so glad that you are helping us build these moments together. Rome, Capri, Sorrento ... get ready ... here we come!

With much love and appreciation,

Kerri and Mike

We're going to Rome, Capri and the Amalfi Coast!

After spending a romantic wedding night at an undisclosed location, we will fly off to Rome and spend two days and nights touring the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, St. Peter's Basilica and all the piazzas and alleyways that make the Eternal City such a fascinating place.

On our last night, we will be having dinner at the Hotel Hassler at the top of the Spanish Steps. Although Rome is known as the City of Seven Hills, there aren't many left, and the Hassler has the only restaurant that provides a panoramic view of Rome -- a great place to watch the sun go down behind the Vatican as the lights come up around the Victor Emmanuel.

Then ... off to Capri ... four nights at the Casa Morgano in beautiful Capri ... the hotel is situated high on a hill overlooking the beautiful coast, but within walking distance of the famous Piazzetta (SHOPPING!!)

We look forward to a day trip to the Blue Grotto -- a beautiful sea cave used as a private bath by Roman Emperors. So you have to lie down in the boat to get into the grotto ... its still worth the trip. There are a number of restaurants with breathtaking views to choose from - Terrazza Brunella, de Paolino, da Gemma or maybe just Pizzeria Isadora - a great spot in La Piazzetta to people watch.

Next comes a few days on the "mainland" on the coast south of the Bay of Naples -- a beautiful apartment will be our pied a terre as we explore the Amalfi Coast from Positano to Ravello. Beautiful churches, sea grottos and gorgeous vistas - whether a foot or on horseback (well, okay a mechanical horse) we can't wait to be intrepid explorers.

When we fly out of Naples to return to DC -- Kerri has a special treat for Mike. Back in the 1970's, Mike lived in Germany for several years. So as a little wedding SURPRISE of her own, they will be spending two days and one night in Munich so Mike can revisit some of his old haunts. But he really doesn't know ... so ... SSSHHHH!! ... don't let the katze out of the sack.

Our Registry

  • $0-$50
  • $50-$100
  • $100+
  • All
Well, first we have get there ... we are flying United (literally and figuratively)
$10000
23/26
$100
Giving Portions
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Two nights at the Hotel Santa Chiara in Rome ... right next to the Pantheon and within walking distance of all the good stuff.
$10000
4/5
$100
Giving Portions
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Two tickets to the Coliseum ... (note to self: check for lions)
Gift Fulfilled
Dinner at La Campagna ... favorite restaurant of our friends the Ledeens. (rightfully so)
$3000
3/5
$100
Giving Portions
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A guided tour of the Roman Forum ... making history come alive.
Gift Fulfilled
Dinner at the Hotel Hassler ... the best view and most romantic spot in Rome.
$5000
3/5
$100
Giving Portions
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The little Italian engine that could whisks us off to the Bay of Naples and provides vistas of the Italian countryside along the way.
Gift Fulfilled
From Naples to Capri via Hydrofoil. And back.
Gift Fulfilled
Four nights at the beautiful Casa Morgano.
$10000
8/8
$100
Giving Portions
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Visit to the Blue Grotto. Don't forget to duck.
Gift Fulfilled
Glass of wine at L'Olvio overlooking the Blue Grotto. Must relax after lying down in that little boat.
Gift Fulfilled
Dinner at Terraza Brunella.
Gift Fulfilled
An afternoon of jet skiing for the outside-in view of Capri.
Gift Fulfilled
Breakfast at the hotel. (At some point you have to get up before noon!)
Gift Fulfilled
Light dinner at at Pizzeria in Capri town. Need to eat light after the crazy jet ski ride.
Gift Fulfilled
Full day guided boat and walking tour of Capri, on "Gozzo" (typical Capri boats) and our own feet.
Gift Fulfilled
A tour through Anacapri and the Villa San Michele.
Gift Fulfilled
Dinner at in Anacapri at Add o'Riccio overlooking the Ligurian Sea.
Gift Fulfilled
Five nights at Honeymoon central -- a beautiful apartment in Sorrento overlooking the Bay of Naples
$20000
5/5
$100
Giving Portions
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Touring the Amalfi coast, one little village at a time.
$5000
3/5
$100
Giving Portions
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Eating our way through the Amalfi coast, one little Trattoria at a time.
$4000
7/10
$100
Giving Portions
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Day trip and tour of Pompeii and Herculeum -- a must see from Sorrento's home base.
Gift Fulfilled
We have to go through Munchen to get home anyway ... why not stay overnight? (After providing the airline with a small fee of course)
$7500
4/4
$100
Giving Portions
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Last night of the honeymoon? Go out First Class with a stay at the extraordinary Munich Hotel Mandarin Oriental.
$10000
5/5
$100
Giving Portions
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Relaxing at the Mandarin Oriental Spa before our last honeymoon dinner ... $160 ...
Gift Fulfilled
Bringing our honeymoon to an end with dinner in the Marienplatz ... oh, about $100 ...
Gift Fulfilled
... flying back to Virginia and thinking of all the friends and family who made our dream honeymoon possible? ... Priceless!
Gift Fulfilled
$000
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