Final Thoughts

We can't wait to see everyone tomorrow! Just a reminder, the ceremony begins at 5:00 p.m., but you can arrive a bit earlier (around 4:30) if you want to tour the farm. You can find excellent directions here:

http://www.celebritydairy.com/inn/inn_directions.htm

And if you get lost, call the Inn at (919) 742-5176 and they'll point you in the right direction.

So far the weather is looking a bit iffy, but we've got a back-up plan and an umbrella just in case.

See you soon!!

Every picture tells a story don't it

A little bird, let's call her "Mom", told me that they wanted to see more pictures of our mugs on the website. I present for your viewing pleasure some of our engagement pictures taken by Kristen Overbay at the Knoxville Arboretum, an extremely thoughtful gift from our friends Chrissy and Steve (who just got married last month!)

So, besides the goats, what else is there to do?

Chapel Hill and the surrounding area is a fun and beautiful place! We've lived here for almost three years and we're still finding new things to do. Here's a not-so-brief list of our favorites:

Activities and Attractions

Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill- One of our favorites, check out the Carolina Skies show if you can.

The Durham Bulls - For all of you who believe in the Church of Baseball. Hit the bull, win a steak!

Fearrington Village in Pittsboro - in case you don't like goats, this farm/cutesy village has cows that look like Oreos, really!

The Carrboro Farmers Market - Join all the hippies and yuppies and local farmers for a favorite Saturday morning tradition with the most beautiful fruits, vegetables, and flowers you've ever seen.

The Carnivore Preservation Trust in Pittsboro - Tours for all those whose favorite animal is "pretty much a liger." Gotta make advance reservations!

The Duke Primate Center in Durham - Because those Dookies are always up to some monkey business! Make reservations in advance.

The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill - "I'm a Tarheel born, I'm a Tarheel bred, and when I die, I'm a Tarheel dead!" Walk around to see the Old Well and the new basketball museum or even the Botanical Gardens. Stroll down Franklin Street for the full experience.

And you can always make a hop, skip, and a 2 hour drive on I-40 East to Wilmington and the beaches!

Stuff Your Face!

Maple View Farm - best ice cream in town. You can even go eat it fresh at their farm. Deelicious!

The General Store Cafe - in downtown Pittsboro, a classic.

Locopops! - Jessie's favorite frozen treat and a must-try for all those coming to town. Mexican style paletas (popsicles) with funky flavors like mango-chile, mojito, chocolate-rosemary, guava-mint, avocado, and brownie. For $2 a pop, you can't go wrong.

Weaver Street Market in Carrboro - co-op grocery store, bakery, deli, sushi and hot bar. Super Sunday brunch served cafeteria-style, and cheap!

Crook's Corner - an institution in Chapel Hill, famous for their shrimp and grits.

Tyler's Taproom - just what everyone needs, a bar within walking distance! Has a great selection of beers, and the Speakeasy section stays open late.

Southern Rail - a restaurant and a bar... but inside an old train! There's a beer garden in the back, also the famed spot where Nick's sister Cassie got engaged to Matt!

Carrburritos - all house-made chorizo, huge burritos, and fresh salsas. Yummy, but closed on Sundays.

Allen & Son's Barbeque - famous for a reason, but Eastern-style BBQ only, so put down the tomato sauce and pick up the vinegar. The hours vary, so call before driving over.

Top of the Hill - restaurant and brewery in the heart of Chapel Hill with fantastic beers.

Carolina Brewery - Nick and Jessie's favorite place to go for beer, and also our brew supplier for the reception! Locations in Chapel Hill and Pittsboro.

A Southern Season - The biggest, most decadent "grocery" store you've ever been in. Kitchen supplies, wine, coffee, fine foods, candy, and cheeses galore! Also known as "Jessie's favorite store ever."

Trader Joe's - There's not one in Tennessee yet, so you'd better make your pilgrimage to the store in Chapel Hill while you can.

Addressing your inquiries

Well it's been a while since we have posted anything new on our wedding website, so we wanted to take the time and address some questions that we have recently been asked.

Where's my invitation?

Invitations are in the midst of being assembled and will be sent out soon. You should receive them by early April.

When are you having babies? Where are my (great)grandchildren??

Not any time soon. We do however have 2 adorable kittens that we adopted in December 2006 that we love very much. We hope one day to have their picture on Cuteoverload.

Where are you registered?

We have put links to our registries on the left side of the page. Kitchenworks is a fabulous store here in Chapel Hill that Jessie adores. It's easy to order from them either online or on the phone. You could even talk to our neighbor Louise who works in the store and has a good knowledge of our cooking needs as she and her husband often join us for dinner.

We have also registered for our dishes through Anne Dabbs Interiors. She can be contacted by phone at 865 207-2754 or via email at annedabbs@gmail.com.

Here are pictures of the dishes:

What are you two up to, besides planning a wedding?

Jessie has been busy working as a Government Relations/Legal Coordinator at the VIF Program in Chapel Hill. She does a lot of research, but if she told you any more than that she'd have to kill you. Not really. Nick is working on his PhD in applied mathematics at UNC. Nick is doing a lot of research too, but if he told you about it, you'd have to kill yourself. Also, not really.
We love living in the Triangle area of North Carolina, just a couple hours from both the beach and the mountains. It's a great location for local organic food, ACC basketball, and has a great bar scene. Whenever we can get tickets, we'll be at a UNC basketball game cheering on the Tarheels. Or if Duke is playing, we'll cheer for the opposing team. Other than that, we play a lot of cribbage and backgammon, do a lot of cooking, and ride our bikes around town.

Fun Goat Video!

These goats aren't bred at Celebrity Dairy, but they are hilarious!

Accomodations, lodging, and shelter

So now that we've dragged you out to a goat farm in rural North Carolina, where are you going to stay??

We've reserved rooms at three hotels in the area. Each will have a special rate for our wedding guests (because y'all are so special!), but only if you mention that you're there for the Gray-Moore wedding. Please reserve a room as soon as possible as lodging in the area can be limited.

Country Hearth Inn
1515 E. 11th Street
Siler City
(919) 663-2511
Rate: $54 for a single room (1 Queen bed) and $72 for a double room (2 Queen beds)
The Country Hearth is the hotel closest to the wedding, but furthest from the action that Chapel Hill has to offer. However, it does have excellent rates. Be sure to call them by June 1st. Their website is not set up for easy group booking online, so calling will be the best way to get the discount rate.


Holiday Inn Chapel Hill
1301 N. Fordham Blvd.
Chapel Hill
(919) 929-2171
Rate: $90 for either a king suite or 2 queen beds
The Holiday Inn in Chapel Hill is an easy 30 mile drive from the wedding and is located in the downtown business area of town. And it has a pool which will be lovely in June. And it's right across the street from our new Trader Joes! Also call them by June 1st... now extended to June 13!


Residence Inn by Marriott in Chapel Hill
101 Erwin Road
Chapel Hill
(919) 933-4848
Rate: $139 for the studio king suites and $159 for a room with 2 queen beds and a sleeper sofa
Also located in the Chapel Hill business district, the Residence Inn has a lot to offer if you don't mind staying 30 miles from the wedding site. There's breakfast, a pool, a hot tub, and a putting green. Book with them by May 26th... now extended to June 2!


The B&B at Laurel Ridge in Siler City is another option should you decide to stay closer to the Dairy.

If the hustle and bustle of downtown Chapel Hill sound more appealing (and if you'd like to really spoil yourself) check out The Carolina Inn or the new Franklin Hotel.

What? We forgot about your favorite hotel? Check out the Chapel Hill Visitor's Bureau or the Siler City Visitor's Bureau websites for additional options.

A wedding on a goat farm? Really?

Yes really!

It may sound extremely rustic, but the Inn at Celebrity Dairy in Siler City is quite elegant, in a casual sort of way. We love the fun and relaxed atmosphere at the farm. And did we mention our love for their delicious goat cheese?



Both our ceremony and reception will be held at the Inn at Celebrity Dairy. The ceremony will take place on the lawn at 5 o'clock in the afternoon (weather permitting), and for the reception we will move to the tent and porches. We invite you to come a bit early to explore the farm and meet some of the goats, they're very friendly!



Some answers to questions you're probably asking:

What should I wear for a (mostly) outdoor June wedding in NC?
Natural materials (linen, cotton, light silks) will "breathe" and only add to your comfort. And as far as formality goes, this is more of a suit and party dress wedding than a tux and gown shindig, but be festive! And for shoes, comfort is key!

Where will I park?
Parking is plentiful, but will require a small walk from your car. Please let us know if you have special needs and we will save you a spot close to the inn.

What will the weather be like?
Hopefully lovely, but you can find info on that at www.weather.com.

How do I get there?
Of course we will provide directions in the formal invitation, but if you just can't wait, you can find them here.


I hope this has allayed some of the concerns and puzzled looks we've received when announcing our plans to marry on a goat farm. Any other questions please leave them in the comments and we will respond in kind. We can't wait for everyone to come and share this event with us!