WEDDING INFORMATION
CEREMONY
RECEPTION
TIME:
5:30pm - 6:30pm
location:
Dinner, Drinks and Dancing
to follow at the same location.
LOCATION:
Scribner Bend Vineyards
9051 River Rd, Sacramento, CA 95832
TIME:
7:30pm - 10:30pm
hotel info
click here
Hampton Inn & Suites Sacramento-Elk Grove Laguna I-5
2305 Longport Ct, Elk Grove, CA 95758
(916) 683-9545
Please book by March 10, 2022 to ensure block rate
Hilton Garden Inn Sacramento Elk Grove
9241 Laguna Springs Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95758
(916) 691-1900
Booking Code: HUG
Please book by March 24, 2022 to ensure block rate
click here
Extended Stay America - Sacramento
- Elk Grove
2201 Longport Ct, Elk Grove, CA 95758
(877) 701-3383
Please call by March 10, 2022 and refer to the Roberts-Hugghis Wedding to ensure block rate rate
click here
click here
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Elk Grove Central - Hwy 99, an IHG Hotel
9175 W Stockton Blvd, Elk Grove CA 95758
(916) 478-9000
Booking code: HRW
Please book by March 8th, 2022 to ensure block rate
venue info
ENGAGEMENT GALLEry
Eli + Alexus would like to share their engagement photos with you all. These images were captured at Capitol Gardens in Sacramento, CA by uvVisions Photography.
ENGAGEMENT SESSION
gALLERY
CLICK HERE
their STORY
GET TO KNOW their STORY
They were young freshmen at Purdue, just beginning their many adventures and starting to make college memories. On a cloudy day amid Indiana’s extended winter season, Alexus and Eli were invited to attend a leadership conference on campus. Little did they know, this would be the day that shifted the trajectory of their lives forever. Alexus and her friend were waiting for Eli and his friend so they could walk to the conference building together. Eli and his friend were running a little late as they were ensuring their appearance was fashionable and well-suited for the event. Once they finished getting ready, they met up with the girls -- that was the beginning of Alexus and Eli’s friendship.
With each passing year at Purdue, Eli and Alexus grew closer, and more and more people hinted at a possible relationship. At the end of freshman year, Eli met Alexus’ parents at the Annual Black Caucus Leadership and Service Awards Program. Eli caught her mother’s attention after winning an award for having an outstanding academic record in the College of Agriculture. Her mom kept talking about him that afternoon, but Alexus paid her comments no mind -- she wasn’t impressed by a few good grades at the time. At the end of sophomore year, Eli had landed a summer internship in West Lafayette with one perk being housed in an off-campus apartment. Before some of his friends went off on their own summer adventures, he had a group over for a dinner party. This was the first time that Alexus and Eli cooked together for their friends and the first time they danced together -- he taught her how to bachata!
Junior year is when things really took a turn! Alexus and her roommates were hosting their very first Christmas party and she and Eli ended up going to AJ's for a midnight burger run. They stayed out til 2 or 3am just talking about everything! Family, traveling, school, food, their relationships with the Lord… literally everything. Eli was gearing up for a semester long study abroad in the Spring and, at the time, Alexus was planning to study abroad in the Fall. This meant that they wouldn’t see each other for about a year so, in their minds, they were just enjoying time together before graduation! The next day, Alexus’ roommates asked her all about their time together and if she had any feelings for Eli. She remembers smiling and saying, “I don’t know if I have feelings for him right now, but I can tell you that he is the type of man I want to marry”. They kept in touch while Eli was abroad that next semester and their friendship continued to grow.
By senior year, Alexus and Eli were both in prestigious organizations, leading on-campus outreach and diversity initiatives, and they were figuring out what was next. Alexus was applying to graduate programs across the country and Eli was deciding between going into industry or graduate school. All the while, they were starting to hang out and talk more and more. By Thanksgiving, they both realized that they had grown very close and that they wanted to consider dating. This was all complicated by the fact that Eli was considering spending a year working abroad in Ghana, so no matter where Alexus went to school, they would be an ocean apart. They spent some time over winter break just praying for clarity and wisdom on how to move forward. Pretty sure you can guess what the answer was to all those prayers!
About 6 months after they got together, Alexus moved to California to pursue her Doctorate at UC Davis and Eli moved to Ghana for a year long AgriCorps Fellowship. After Eli had spent another 2.5 years at Michigan State getting his Masters, they finally moved him out to Davis, CA. After 3.5 years of long distance, they were FINALLY living in the same city. They decided to have a fancy dinner at his new home to celebrate their 4-year anniversary -- this was the first time they had been able to celebrate their anniversary in person since they started dating. Eli cooked an immaculate 4-course meal (with some help) and had his sister and her husband challenge them to a couple’s puzzle assembly competition. For the challenge, they had Alexus and Eli film the puzzle assembly to “show progress” and confirm that the challenge was done fairly. Sidenote: Alexus is very competitive and loves doing puzzles, so this was perfect for her! Alexus really thought it was just something fun to do. As they began, the picture on the puzzle appeared to be one from a Christmas family shoot in 2019. She thought that it was just a super cute anniversary present, but little did she know the surprise that was to come. A few weeks prior, Eli had photoshopped the ring onto Alexus’s hand in the photo! To throw Alexus off his trail, Eli had removed a few pieces of the puzzle including the one that had the ring on it. As soon as they began, Alexus was locked in, so much so that she did not notice Eli toss the “missing” puzzle pieces behind her chair. After completing the puzzle with the pieces they had, Alexus began to assert her victory claiming that it was not her fault that a few pieces were gone. Eli began to look around frantically and once they "found" them, they finished putting the puzzle together. Alexus let out a giant “BOOM, We FINISHED! We WON!”. She was so hype that she didn’t notice the ring on the puzzle until she went to exclaim a second “BOOM”, but she stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes got big and when she looked at Eli, he was down on one knee!
THEIR FRIENDSHIP AND HOW IT BECAME MORE
The proposal
how they met
REGISTRY
eli + alexus REGISTRY
Dearest Family and Friends,
We are honored to have you share in our special day and look forward to celebrating with each and
every one of you. Below you may browse wishlists where you can contribute to some household items, fun stuff and other goodies that we love! We want to thank you for your continued love and support and we can’t wait to see you on our BIG day!
theknot.com
PLEASE RSVP
Eli + Alexus need RSVPs in order to properly plan for their Big Day! Please assist in the planning by RSVPing through a site they created to hopefully make the process a little bit easier. Click below to be redirected to their RSVP site.
THANK YOU!
virtual rsvp
Please rsvp
THANK YOU
We would like to thank so many people for their support throughout our relationship, but we have to extend a special thank you to our parents and siblings. You all have been there through it all -- you have celebrated with us, comforted us in hard seasons, showered us with your generosity, provided us with Godly wisdom and advice, and you have continuously prayed over us. We would not be who we are today as individuals or as a couple without the love and strength that you have continuously poured into our lives.
THANK YOU
THRILLED!
WE COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW AMAZING THE IMAGES ARE. WE ARE GOING TO HANG THEM ON THE WALL.
Frequently asked questions
FAQs
Are there any concerns about COVID-19?
As of January 2022, California and our venue are fully open! We are excited to celebrate with you all at our entirely outdoor wedding, but we understand that Covid-19 is still a concern for many. We encourage all of our guests to get vaccinated and boosted before attending. If you are planning to travel around Northern California during your trip, please know that many restaurants, bars/clubs, and other venues require proof of vaccination to enter. If you are not vaccinated, we kindly ask that you please receive a negative covid test within 72 hours of attending the wedding. There is FREE testing available through Healthy Davis Together and other organizations in the Sacramento area. If you feel that it is not safe for you to attend, we welcome you to watch the ceremony via zoom and ask that you update your RSVP by Friday, March 4th.
are kids allowed?
You are welcome to bring your kids to celebrate our big day! However, the venue is not well suited for children under 10. The ceremony and reception areas are surrounded by vineyards with limited lighting outside of the immediate event spaces and they are located just off of a major road that runs along the beautiful Sacramento River. Therefore, please be mindful that children must be fully supervised for the duration of all wedding festivities. Please also note that wine and beer will be available for your enjoyment throughout the evening, and we ask that you consider how this may impact your ability to watch the little ones. Whether you decide to celebrate with us as a family, or turn your trip into a couple’s getaway, we are excited for you to join us!
What is the dress code? What will the weather be like?
Please dress in semi-formal to formal attire appropriate for a California spring day! In early April, we typically see highs of 65°- 80° and lows of 40°- 50°. We encourage you to bring appropriate layers given that all wedding festivities will be in completely open or partially covered outdoor spaces. When considering which shoes to wear, please note that our venue grounds include pebbles (parking area), grass (ceremony), as well as cement and brick/stone (reception). We will also be dancing all through the night, so please wear shoes that allow you to comfortably enjoy this venue!
What Hashtag should I use when posting on social media?
Please use #HugghisAndKisses when posting wedding photos on social media. Using this hashtag will allow us to easily find any pictures and well wishes you may post.
When Should I buy My flight? How much should I expect to spend?
Depending on when you buy, your flying preferences, and your location, flights can cost between $250 and $400 per person. We encourage you to start looking at flights around 6 months before the big day (November) and to buy no later than 2 months before (February). As frequent flyers, we always buy tickets on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and we keep an eye out for airline promotions and price drops!
Which airport should i fly into?
Sacramento International Airport is the closest airport to all wedding festivities. It is roughly 30 minutes from our venue and 15-20 minutes from the hotels where we have room blocks. Depending on your travel plans, you may also consider the Oakland International Airport (~1.5 hours from Sacramento) or the San Francisco International Airport (~2 hours from Sacramento).
What are my Transportation options?
Because the airport, wedding venue, and hotel accommodations are all within 20-30 minutes of each other, you can easily use Uber or Lyft in the area. If you are looking to travel outside of the Sacramento area, you may want to consider renting a vehicle. You can, however, travel to and around the Oakland/Berkeley/San Francisco area using the Amtrak and the BART.
What major cities are near sacramento?
Sacramento is about 1.5 hours from Oakland and Berkeley. Traveling another 20-30 minutes southwest from there, you can visit San Francisco. Napa Valley and Sonoma are about an hour away from the Sacramento area. Monterey and Los Angeles are 3 and 6 hours south of Sacramento, respectively.
Are there any planned Activities?
Yes! Everyone is welcome to join us for the following events:
Gentlemen’s Golf Outing – Join the guys for 18+ holes at the Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course in sunny Sacramento at 10am on Friday, April 8th! Cost per player is $55, not including club rentals; cost per ride along is $20. Please contact Tony Roberts (586-703-8424) by Friday, March 25th to RSVP!
Game Night – Come out for some fun and fellowship on Saturday, April 9th at 7pm in the lobby of Holiday Inn Express & Suites Elk Grove Central - HW99. We will have games for the whole family and encourage you to bring your own beverages and snacks. Contact Alexus Roberts (260-409-4014) with any questions.
Sunday Service – Join us at Midtown Church Sacramento on Sunday, April 10th as we set the tone for our wedding day! We will be at the 10:30am service, but you are welcome to attend any service at Midtown Church Sacramento or Elk Grove throughout the morning. Contact Eli Hugghis (301-875-2451) with any questions.
Farewell Lunch – Before heading home, share one more meal with us from 1-3:00pm on Monday, April 11th at the Oak Park Brewing Company! Food and beer at this popular Black-owned brewery is on us! Please RSVP to Constance Roberts (586-703-8425) by Friday, March 25th.
We hope you all can join us for the festivities and encourage you to coordinate other small group activities based on your arrival and departure times.
what can we do in the area for fun?
Northern California has a plethora of activities and adventures! We have thoroughly enjoyed several hikes, wine tasting in Napa, Saturday mornings at the Davis Farmers Markets, and more. Below are just a few highlights of activities we enjoy and links to more exhaustive lists.
Activities in Sacramento – Sac has a little bit of everything for everyone! We recommend checking out the Crocker Art Museum, walking around Old Town, biking the American River Trail, or trying out one of the many excellent restaurants and breweries (listed below).
Activities in Davis + Yolo County – Davis and the surrounding areas are full of outdoor activities! We have spent many afternoons on scenic walks through the UC Davis Arboretum or the beautiful bike trails, and Saturday mornings shopping in the Davis Farmers Market.
Activities in the Bay Area – The Bay (San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley) is the place to go for sightseeing, a true Californian experience, and even more great food! We love attending “First Fridays” in Oakland; hanging out at Baker Beach, Golden Gate Park, or Mission Dolores Park; and we always make a stop at Cupcakin’ Bake Shop on our way home!
Wine Tasting in Napa – We are just an hour away from wine country! Our favorite spots include Brown Downtown Napa, Sterling Vineyards, and Mum Napa. We also enjoy a quick bite at Gotts or a fancier meal at The Charter Oak Restaurant before heading home!
Any food reccommendations?
Sacramento and its surrounding cities are a farm-to-fork hub, so there are many delicious eateries and breweries! Try a few or try them all!
• Tower Cafe – Great brunch and desserts amidst a quirky garden ambiance
• Cafeteria 15L – Outdoor patio featuring brunch and other American classics
• The Porch Restaurant and Bar – Sac’s best farm-to-fork southern style brunch spot
• Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse – Black-owned brewery and smokehouse
• BAWK! – Black-owned featuring southern foods with a twist and fun drinks
• Fixins - Soul Kitchen – Black-owned upscale soul food restaurant
• South – Black-owned southern food joint with California’s best fried chicken
• Sauced BBQ and Spirits – Authentic slow smoked southern BBQ and craft beers
• Queen of Sheba – Casual little joint with incredible Ethiopian food
• Midtown’s Cantina Alley – Great Mexican food in a lively setting
• Slim & Husky’s – Black-owned with unique pizzas and cinnamon rolls
• Federalist Public House & Beer Garden – Wood-fired pizza in a communal setting
• Shoku Ramen House – If you try anything while in town, try ramen!
• Binchoyaki - Izakaya Dining – Modern Japanese style BBQ spot (small plates)
• Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine – Upscale Japanese sushi bar
• Paragary’s Midtown – Upscale, farm-to-fork French cuisine
• The Boiling Crab – Small mom n’ pop franchise with boldly flavored seafood
• Mendocino Farms –Seasonal farm-to-fork sandwiches and salads
• Burger Patch Midtown – Vegan burger joint with eco-friendly fast food classics
• In-N-Out Burger – Not one of our favs, but animal-style burgers are a California staple
• Gunther’s Ice Cream – Excellent spot that has served Sacramento since 1940
• Faria Bakery – Delicious fresh bakes in Oak Park near Slim & Husky’s
• Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates – All the fancy desserts you could ever want
• Bad Bakers – Unique donut shop with top-notch senorita bread
• MILK MONEY – Gourmet donut shop near Shake Shack and Mendocino Farms
• The Rind – Cheese and beer/wine bar plus some delicious full-course meals
• FIZZ – Outdoor champagne and wine bar near a Sacramento shopping center
• b-side sacramento – Fun dive bar that keeps records and classic movies on loop
• Alaro Craft Brewery – Cute brewery with root beer float flights for the whole family
• The Bank Sacramento Food Hall – Renovated bank building with a lively bar
www.visitsacramento.com/things-to-do
www.visityolo.com/listing_cat/activities/
www.oaklandfirstfridays.org/
www.visitnapavalley.com