We're getting married!


Nestldown
22420 Old Santa Cruz Highway
Los Gatos, CA 95033

Friday, July 21, 2017
3:45pm start time (please arrive early)

Cocktail attire requested
Dancing and merriment to follow
#NewLeeBordens

Our Story

How We Met

It all began at work in the spring of 2012 (we know, how romantic!). Mark had been working at Zappli for a year and a half, and it was Wendy's first day at Apsalar (both of our startups shared the same office space). Mark's first thought as she took over the desk 10 feet to his right..."Don't stare." Wendy's first thought after he introduced himself..."Who's this mysterious guy?"
 
Two months later (and without much interaction), we joined our co-workers after work for happy hour at Tradition, which led to an evening of dancing at Little Baobab. We started chatting and emailing at first. One evening after exchanging eight emails over the course of 10 minutes, Mark slyly recommended that "This might be easier next time if I had your number." (smooth...) A few weeks later, Mark finally worked up the courage to ask Wendy to go on a date. Mark even convinced his family to cut their camping trip a day short, so he could make it home in time (thanks, family!).

The Proposal

Fast forward four years... It happened on Memorial Day 2016. We had a lot planned for that day: meet our new realtor in Oakland, see friends for a BBQ at Crissy Field, and have dinner with Wendy's brother, sister-in-law and niece to celebrate Wendy's belated birthday. But first, brunch at our favorite cafe, Crossroads. Two blocks away from Crossroads is South Park, a place where we shared our 2nd date, and where everything started almost 4 years before. Mark thought it would be the perfect place to propose.
 
Long story short: Plan A failed to launch. South Park was coincidentally under construction so Mark proceeded with Plan B, which was to propose in the garden of Crossroads Cafe. We arrived at Crossroads to find that it was closed for Memorial Day. Mark turns to Wendy, out of options and flustered, "So, do you still wanna get brunch?" Wendy quizzically replied, "Yeah, why not? Let's just go somewhere else." Mark responds with a frenzy of questions, "Ok, yeah, do want to find a place around here... or somewhere in Oakland... or... what do you want to do?" Wendy, confused by all of the questions, responds "Let's just find a place nearby." Mark realized he was acting weird, and trying to recover, suggested Townsend, a brunch spot around the corner from Crossroads.
 
We found parking and got out of the car. Mark debated whether to propose then and there, or wait for another moment. He decided that he couldn't wait, and proposed right outside of Townsend before we walked in. He mutters a few beautiful words and recites this haiku (Mark is an expert haiku writer): "The love of my life, the rest of my life with you, will you marry me?" Wendy was surprised! She happily says yes! The second thing out of Wendy's mouth: "Here?" Mark explained the ordeal over brunch at Townsend. It was the perfect imperfect proposal. Needless to say, we stole each other's hearts, and the rest is history. <3

The Bridesmaids

Helen Chi

Victoria Kaniuga

Linh Le Tjian

Heather Memarian

Julia Dumceva

Danielle Wu

The Groomsmen

Scott Borden

Brenner Gerry

Jake McCollum

Vishwas Sastry

Jake Richardson

Grant Luchsinger

The Little Helpers

Caitlin Lee
Flower Girl

Peyton Lee
Flower Girl

Miley Lee Borden
Honorary Flower Girl

Liam Lee
Ring Bearer

Connor Lee
Ring Bearer

Andrew Borden
Ring Bearer

Schedule

Ceremony

FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017
3:45 pm start time (please arrive early)

Nestldown Chapel
22420 Old Santa Cruz Highway
Los Gatos, CA, CA 95033 
Get Directions »

We are so excited to celebrate our special day with you! If you are staying in the downtown Los Gatos area and decide to take Uber/Lyft to the venue, note that return shuttle service will be provided back to a central downtown location at the end of the evening. Just let us know the # of seats we should reserve when you RSVP.

If you are driving or carpooling to the venue, follow the directions provided on this website. There is plenty of parking onsite. You can opt to leave your car at the venue and take the shuttle at the end of the night, but you must pick up your vehicle the next morning before 11am.

Sign the guestbook as you arrive, then make your way down to the chapel.

Cocktail Hour

FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017
4:15 pm - 5:45 pm

Nestldown Garden
Have some appetizers and drinks, play some lawn games, and enjoy our favorite saxophonist, Justin Ward  (hands down, love this guy). Don't forget to explore the grounds. Nestldown is full of whimsical surprises. 

Reception

FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017
5:45 pm - 7:15 pm

Nestldown Main Lawn
Sit down, relax, and enjoy dinner on the Main Lawn. The evening will continue in the Barn, where we'll have our first dance, bouquet toss, and dessert (thanks, Lilian!). Yes, there's an open bar, with beverages hand-picked by Mark. 

Dancing

FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017
7:15 pm - 9:40 pm

Nestldown Barn
It's party time! We encourage everyone to get out on the dance floor. Don't be shy. We're all family and friends.

After-party

FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017
10:00 pm - 12:00 am

Downtown Los Gatos
The night's still young! Join us in downtown Los Gatos for drinks and a wind-down. Those taking the return shuttle will be automatically dropped off in downtown Los Gatos. Our first stop is Loma Brewing, then we'll head over to CB Hannegan's!

Travel

Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Gatos lies at the western edge of Silicon Valley. Numerous airports, both private and international, serve the thriving, technology-focused region. Travelers can fly into any of the three main airports—San Jose, San Francisco or Oakland—to reach Los Gatos. Please allow ample time for traffic as the wedding starts at 3:45pm on a Friday during rush hour.

• San Jose Airport (SJC) is 20 miles from Nestldown (~26 min drive without traffic)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 48 miles from Nestldown (~52 min drive without traffic)
• Oakland Airport (OAK) is 52 miles from Nestldown (~57 min drive without traffic)

Accommodations

We suggest staying in Los Gatos (15 min from venue), Campbell (20 min from venue), or even San Jose (25 min from venue). Santa Cruz (20 min from venue) is on the south side of the venue, but also an option if you'd prefer to stay near the beach. Check out a few Los Gatos hotel options below. We do not have hotel blocks, but we have reserved several rooms at all three hotels. Email us if you're interested in taking a room. Airbnb options are also tagged on the map.

Best Western The Inn of Los Gatos ($)

Best Western The Inn of Los Gatos is where luxury lodging meets affordable pricing. The newly-renovated hotel delivers amenity-rich guestrooms, personable service and such nifty niceties as free continental breakfast, fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, business center and free Wi-Fi.

innoflosgatos.com

Toll House Hotel ($$)

Toll House is the seamless blend of an intimate small-town hotel and the modern character that embodies the Silicon Valley. At the heart of beautiful Los Gatos California, at the base of the serene Santa Cruz Mountains, this charming hotel perfectly captures the ambiance of the historic South Bay town.

tollhousehotel.com

Hotel Los Gatos ($$$)

Mediterranean sophistication blends with California charm to create a hotel reminiscent of a private villa. Hotel Los Gatos is Silicon Valley’s premier luxury hotel address. Enjoy the sparkling pool, outdoor jacuzzi, tranquil patio areas and warm hospitality. Guests are also welcome to make a dining reservation at Dio Deka, a popular restaurant located on property.

hotellosgatos.com

Directions

Things to Do

Los Gatos is a great town with lots to do, and it's in a wonderful location. Below are just a few ideas for those guests who want to do a little exploring, or maybe make more plans for the weekend! Los Gatos is 15 minutes from San Jose, 20 minutes from Santa Cruz, 1 hour from San Francisco and 1 hour and 45 min from Napa/Sonoma. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Restaurants

Los Gatos has many nice cafes, coffee shops and restaurants. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Manresa, 320 Village Ln. - high-end New American tasting menu, coveted 3 Michelin star rated. Expensive. 
  • The Bywater, 532 N. Santa Cruz Ave. - Alternative to Manresa (founded by same chefs), New Orleans-inspired dishes and southern staples
  • Purple Onion, 26 East Main St. - great for breakfast and lunch, nice selection of sandwiches, salads, pastries, etc.
  • Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, 101 West Main St. - good for coffee, pastries, snacks etc., also next door to Los Gatos Gourmet which has a nice selection of local wines, cheeses etc.
  • Tandoori Oven, 133 North Santa Cruz Avenue - casual Indian fare, good lunch option
  • Willow Street Wood-Fired Pizza, 20 S Santa Cruz Ave - popular lunch spot for pizza, pasta, salads etc.
  • CB Hannegan's, 208 Bachman Avenue - Los Gatos' only Irish Bar, offers casual pub fare and breakfast
  • Los Gatos Brewing Company, 130 North Santa Cruz Avenue - lively casual brewpub with good burgers, steaks, rotisserie and a full breakfast menu
  • California Café, 50 University Avenue (in Old Town Center) - upscale but reasonably priced California cuisine, nice dinner option
  • Steamers Grillhouse, 31 University Avenue - good dinner option for seafood and steaks
  • Dio Deka, in Hotel Los Gatos - Greek restaurant in Hotel Los Gatos, convenient location, but expensive

Shopping

Los Gatos boasts a bustling retail district of specialty stores, including smaller boutiques as well as more recognizable names. The downtown is very pedestrian-friendly and loaded with historical character. From clothing and furniture stores to jewelers and gift shops, Los Gatos provides a friendly small-town shopping experience along with the quality selection of retail goods.

Attractions

1. Wine tasting: If you don't want to go as far as Napa/Sonoma, there are lots of hidden wineries in the Santa Cruz mountains, and Los Gatos is a great springboard for this activity. You'll want to rent a car and check out this map of wineries in the area.

2. Vasona County Park: 151-acres of trees, grassy knolls and meandering waterways. A popular spot for picnics, hiking, sports and recreation. Vasona Lake is open for non-power boating year-round; paddle boats and row boats can be rented.

3. Museums: There's a history museum, as well as an art museum in downtown Los Gatos.

Santa Cruz

Craving some California beach time? Rent a car and drive 20 minutes south of Los Gatos to the cool city of Santa Cruz!

Check out this website to get some ideas.

San Francisco

If you want to make a long weekend out of our wedding, we recommend that you stay in San Francisco. There are so many wonderful things to do there, we can't choose what to list. It's one of the best cities in the world (okay, we might be biased). We promise the travel time is worth it and would be happy to give you recommendations!

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Nestldown?

Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps will take you through Los Gatos/Saratoga city streets. Many of these streets will be blocked off causing unbearable traffic. Please stay on the freeway until the final…

How should I dress?

Nestldown is a magical place and it’s very rustic.  Getting to our ceremony location on the property will involve walking down a dirt road with slight inclines/declines, and walking up/down…

What else should I know?

We can’t wait to share our wedding with you! For planning purposes, and to get you excited, below are additional details: 1. Nestldown is in the heart of the Santa Cruz mountains.…

Registry


https://tendr.com/wendyandmark
                           

"The love of my life, the rest of my life with you, will you marry me."
Mark Borden

RSVP

Kindly reply before May 15, 2017

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