WE'RE GETTING MARRIED IN CHINA!

April & Steve

Saturday, December 19th, 2026, Guangzhou, China

Join us in a historic yard in Guangzhou to celebrate the joining of two families and friends from all across the globe over a weekend of joy and merriment.

April and Steve

Our Story

We met in a mansion in the Costa Rican jungle, staying with friends for Envision — a festival of music, art, and spiritual wellness. We quickly found we shared a love of music, art, and festivals, and that we had already been to many of the same places.

To our surprise, we had both been living on 26th Street in San Francisco for years — just blocks apart. We had crossed paths countless times; it took Costa Rica for our orbits to finally collide. Our connection blossomed there, and as soon as we returned to San Francisco we left for Mazatlán, Mexico, for a small solar eclipse festival on the beach. After some weeks traveling in Mexico, we came home as lovers.

2014 / The Beginning

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2024 / The Proposal

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2025 / The Venue

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Venue & Place

JOYARD Guangzhou — Riverside Shipyard Heritage Hotel
Guests arrive
3–4pm
Ceremony & Reception
JOYARD Guangzhou - Riverside Shipyard Heritage Hotel
No. 4 Longzhou West Street, Shangjiao Village, Luopu Subdistrict, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Amap (China) Hotel website
Attire
Semi-formal, comfortable wear

About

JOYARD Guangzhou is a riverside heritage hotel set in a former shipyard — a calm, characterful place for us to gather. Placeholder text you can edit later.

Travel & Accommodations

Guest rooms

Hotel rooms are available at JOYARD. If you’d like to book a room there, please let us know — we have discounted rates.

Travel to China

Flying in from abroad? Open the guide below for visas, apps, payments, and getting around Guangzhou.

Travelling to China — full guide

A short guide for guests flying in from abroad. These are practical pointers — always double-check official sources for your nationality and travel dates.

Visa

  • Most visitors need a Chinese visa in advance. Apply through your local Chinese embassy or consulate; processing can take weeks.
  • Do not plan the wedding stay around the 144-hour transit visa-free policy — it is limited, airport-specific, and easy to misread.
  • Confirm your passport validity (usually 6+ months) before you book.

WeChat

  • Download WeChat before you fly — App Store / Play Store access can be awkward once you arrive.
  • Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and many Western apps are blocked on local Chinese networks and hotel Wi‑Fi. International roaming (see Connectivity) keeps them working like normal.

Payments

  • International cards work at some hotels and larger venues, but everyday life runs on WeChat Pay and Alipay.
  • Cash is uncommon for daily purchases. Ask us in the WeChat group if you need help linking a payment method.

Flights

  • Fly into Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN).
  • The wedding is Saturday, December 19th, 2026 — we recommend arriving at least a day early so you can settle in. (Exact arrival window TBD.)

Getting around

  • The venue is in Panyu District. Ride-hailing (Didi) and most taxis expect WeChat Pay or Alipay.
  • Guangzhou Metro is excellent if you are comfortable with maps; have the venue address ready in Chinese.

Connectivity

  • Before you leave, turn on international roaming on your cellphone plan if your carrier supports it. On roaming, your phone works like normal — Gmail and other services stay reachable instead of being blocked by China’s Great Firewall.
  • A China eSIM or local SIM is still an option, but roaming is much simpler when your carrier offers it. Check the daily rate and data allowance before you fly.
  • Hotel Wi‑Fi is usually available, but it uses the local network, so blocked services may still fail there. Use roaming data for email, maps, and WeChat on the go.

Maps

  • Google Maps is often blocked on a local SIM or hotel Wi‑Fi. It works normally on international roaming. Keep a screenshot of the venue address as a backup.
  • In China, Amap (高德地图) is the reliable option.
Amap (China) Hotel website

Recommended China apps

Download these before you fly — App Store / Play Store access can be awkward once you arrive.

  • WeChat — essential. Messaging, the wedding group, and WeChat Pay.
    App Store Google Play
  • Alipay — also essential. Everyday payments; many shops take WeChat Pay, Alipay, or both.
    App Store Google Play
  • Amap (高德地图) — very useful. Maps and transit that work reliably in China.
    App Store Google Play
  • Didi — very useful. Ride-hailing. Get “DiDi China: Ride Hailing,” not the overseas DiDi Rider app.
    App Store Google Play

Registry? Gift?

Contribution to our journey. Cash is always welcome, never pressured.

Looking for your invite? Check the invitation you were sent — each guest has a personal link.