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While you may not be as photogenic as us, we have to admit you humans cleaned up nicely. And we know a thing or two about saying cheese.
Our humans knew weddings could sometimes be full of awkward small talk, so they teamed up with the folks at Spy Brunch to create an intro video that broke the ice and set the tone for the evening.
At each place setting, guests discovered a booklet featuring the evening's menu and program of events. Inside was a mysterious letter from a detective named Lily Benjamin asking for help.
This served as the kick off for the puzzle hunt that would allow guests to learn more about Marlee and Tommy. Hidden around the venue were nine case files, each exploring a unique aspect of the happy couple's life, waiting to be solved.
The 9 case files are below. Try your hand at solving them yourself - but don't worry, we made sure to include walkthroughs and answers if you humans get stuck.
Marlee's love for singing and barbershop is a testament to the beauty of harmony in both music and life. Joining her chorus a decade ago, Marlee was blown away by the community that inspired her. She grew into a leadership role and was supported through good times and bad. Through singing, she discovered that each of the four parts, while distinct on their own, creates a sound that is more than the sum of their parts.
Identify which part is singing which phrase to reveal the hidden word.
After scanning the QR code, you'll hear Marlee's quartet, four different voices, singing the melodies and harmonies of one song. Using the description in the explanation, figure out which voice is singing Lead, Baritone, Bass, and Tenor. Then take the word each part is singing to spell out the final instructions.
For people newer to Barbershop and hearing harmonies, it can be hard to pick out which part is which (even with our superior cat ears, we must admit these harmonies are tricky), so some players may have had to seek out a Barbershopper at the party to get some help!
LOOK
During his four years at Washington University in St. Louis, Tommy delved deep into a myriad of interests, from Psychology to Classics, ultimately finding his passion in creative realms. Just as many students undergo a metamorphosis, transitioning from wide-eyed freshmen to seasoned seniors, Tommy recognized the profound changes within himself with each passing year.
His journey symbolizes the growth that so many experience: entering as one identity, and, through discovery and growth, emerging as another.
Below, each "entering" word undergoes a single transformation and then joins the full mixed student body, having been changed in some way. By figuring out what the 16 words were transformed into, can you determine the change each class offers, and, using the same logic, predict the transformation of our prospective new student as they pass through all the grade levels?
This puzzle features four sets of words, each representing a different year of college. Each year has its own unique rule for how words transform. The puzzle includes two columns: the "Entering" words on the left and the "Full Student Body" on the right.
The "Full Student Body" column contains all the transformed versions of the "Entering" words. Your job is to figure out how each "Entering" word transforms and match it to its correct counterpart in the "Full Student Body" column. By doing this, you’ll uncover the secret transformative rule for each year.
For example, in the freshman year set, you might notice that the word "hello" in the "Entering" column corresponds to "bonjour" in the "Full Student Body" column, along with a few other French words. A quick recall of high school French (or a bit of Googling) will reveal that all four freshman words have French counterparts. Following this process for each year will help you identify the transformation rules.
Here’s how the transformations work for each year:
Freshmen: English → French
Book → Livre
Fall → Automne
Hello → Bonjour
Thanks → Merci
Sophomores: Shift the first vowel to the next one in the sequence A → E → I → O → U → A
Ball → Bell (A changes to E)
Liver → Lover (I changes to O)
Long → Lung (O changes to U)
Tender → Tinder (E changes to I)
Juniors: Remove the first letter
Aisle → Isle
Bride → Ride
Groom → Room
Smile → Mile
Seniors: Opposites
Cold → Hot
High → Low
Late → Early
Short → Long
Now that you know the transformation rules for each year, you’ll need to apply them to the prospective student, "winter," as they progress through all four transformations.
UNDER
Found on activity asking guests to leave notes for Marlee & Tommy:
Marlee’s love for theatre blossomed when she was a young girl and her grandma would perform plays with her in the living room, the two of them finding costumes from her stocked closet.
In 2016, Marlee created an immersive theater company, Shine On Collective, discovering her love for narrative and creating characters that came to life through the empathy of an audience.
The characters she’s helped create over the years have become so real that they've written advice, a fond memory, and a date idea for Marlee and Tommy. Can you match the characters to their stories to reveal the hidden word?
Guests were invited to leave a post-it note for Marlee & Tommy with good wishes and advice. However, on closer examination, players noticed that three of the post-it notes were written by characters from Shine On Collective’s shows. Guests matched each show’s description to know which character was writing which post-it note. Each post-it note mentioned an object:
The Truth The Dancer > Lamp
Devoted Cara > Typewriter
Welcome Home Eli > Box
These objects were nearby and on each of them was a series of random letters. Players used the underlined number from each show’s description to know which group of letters to use, spelling out the answer.
TABLE FOUR
Growing up, Tommy was deeply influenced by his older sisters, Tanya and Tammy. They played a huge role in shaping who he is today as a person, everything from his love of the arts and entertaining people and eclectic sense of humor to love of travel and animals.
For better (or sometimes worse), he’d copy them. The words below have followed a similar pattern. Each clue yields a pair of words with one word copying the other in some fashion. Some words copy their siblings well, while others haven't quite gotten the hang of it. Once you complete a column, you'll discover a pattern as to why those words were sorted together.
The numbered clues haven't been sorted. Solve the clues and assign them to their correct column. Then, follow the instructions below the clue and take the specific letter from the second word of the answer pair based on which column it went into. For example, if the answer to clue 1 goes into column A, take the third letter of the second word of the answer. You’ll get a single letter each time.
As the instructions explain, each clue will give you a pair of words that involve some element of copying, with some being more direct copies and others that are imperfect. Each column (A, B, and C) follows its own rules. Solving each clue and determining its column will reveal the rule for that column.
Column A
Visually discern and a wood-cutting hand tool
Saw Saw
Temporarily stop a tree-filled public area
Park Park
Liquid-pouring container exclusively for ball throwers
Pitcher Pitcher
A new and unusual book
Novel Novel
The words in this column are spelled and pronounced the same.
Column B
What those in Warsaw and Krakow use to keep their poles shiny
Polish Polish
Deep singing fish known for its large mouth
Bass Bass
Create fruits and vegetables from a farm
Produce Produce
To rip sad eye liquid
Tear Tear
The words in this column are spelled the same but pronounced differently.
Column C
The upper part of a room that closes tightly
Ceiling Sealing
Armored one who only comes out after sunset
Knight Night
Consumed less than 9 but more than 7
Ate Eight
Naked grizzly
Bare Bear
The words in this column are spelled differently but pronounced the same.
Summary of Rules
Column A: Same spelling, same pronunciation (homonyms).
Column B: Same spelling, different pronunciation (homographs).
Column C: Different spelling, same pronunciation (homophones).
Now that you know each clue provides two words that are spelled and/or sound the same, it should make solving the next section easier. For clues 1–7, take the second word of each pair and extract the letter indicated, based on the column it belongs to according to the rules.
Rough route
Coarse Course
Different spelling, same pronunciation → Column C
To officially document music album
Record Record
Same spelling, different pronunciation → Column B
Bland aircraft
Plain Plane
Different spelling, same pronunciation → Column C
Doubt about booked plan
Reservation Reservation
Same spelling, same pronunciation → Column A
Lightweight Italian motorbikes wandered around sadly
Moped Moped
Same spelling, different pronunciation → Column B
Horizontal lines of towering flowers
Rose Rows
Different spelling, same pronunciation → Column C
Find an equal fire starting stick
Match Match
Same spelling, same pronunciation → Column A
By applying the rules associated with each clue and taking the respective letters indicated after sorting each solved clue into the correct column, you will arrive at your final answer.
CONVERT
In May of 2011, Tommy adopted Tetra, a two-week-old kitten abandoned by her mother and requiring bottle feeding every few hours. Tommy, unfamiliar with caring for a kitten, embraced the challenge. A few weeks later, believing Tetra needed a sister, he adopted Cece, who was promptly rechristened Oedipus.
In July of 2017, a visit to the West LA animal shelter led Marlee to bring home Shorty, named for her short tail. Quickly renamed Violet, Marlee and her new
companion experienced a few restless days, adjusting to newfound responsibilities before settling into a comforting routine.
The kitties met when Marlee and Tommy moved in together in 2020. Despite the challenges of cat cohabitation, they are deeply loved, providing endless entertainment and, inevitably, cat hair.
Each cat boasts a distinct personality. Violet loves to eat, Pus can’t stop playing, and Tetra prefers boxes. Try to discern which food, toy, and box is their relative favorite. (It’s often easier after a drink or two.) Then, intertwine the letters on the tags of your three selected items to unravel the answer.
Naturally, there had to be a puzzle about the most important beings in their lives (that would be us, obviously, even though we weren't invited).
Your task is to figure out which can of food, toy, and box each of us preferred. Our humans were clever enough to have Nick Rheinwald-Jones work his mixology magic to create three signature cocktails in our honor, complete with stunning artwork by Katelyn Schiller. By examining these cocktail menus carefully, you can figure out which items belonged to whom.
Once you've matched each item, take the letters from the respective tags and weave them together, as the instructions state. Start with the first letter of item one, then the first letter of item two, then the first letter of item three. Keep going with the second letters, and so on.
ALL WORDS AND
Marlee grew up on Tully Lake in NY where she spent summers with family and friends riding bikes, jumping into the lake, and roasting marshmallows by a bonfire.
One of Marlee’s favorite memories of her street was the annual carnival that happened every August. The day would start with a themed parade, where groups of all ages would march down the street in homemade costumes and floats. Later, neighbors would face off in competitions and races on the lake and then move on to traditional carnival games. The night would always end with a big community square dance where a live caller and band would have everyone
dancing late into the night. Being part of a community that came alive with creativity, dance, and games would become a core part of Marlee’s future.
Step back in time and participate in the square dance to find the hidden word.
With one person as the square dance caller and a group of dancers in position, players used the instructions to recreate the square dance from Marlee’s childhood. Everytime the starting player landed on a space as they danced, they would use the corresponding position’s letters to spell out the answer.
VISIT
Marlee and Tommy, both transplants to the bustling city of Los Angeles, quickly made it their home. With the city's endless array of activities and conveniences at their fingertips, they established their routines and favorite spots, be it for travel, entertainment, or mere necessities. The names of some of these frequented locales are listed below.
Beyond the places, the people have made the City of Angels feel special. In particular, the 7 guests seated at Table 23 tonight can especially shine a light on Marlee and Tommy's favored stomping grounds.
The instructions mention Table 23 - at the reception, the seating chart was arranged, not by table, but alphabetical order, so guests had to scan for everyone sitting at table 23. To be nice, we've placed those sitting there in alphabetical order of last name. (And, just because you might be curious, these guests were not really present and there was no actual table 23.)
When you look at these names, something seems off. Try sounding them out and seeing if the punny names align with anything on the Los Angeles grid.
Deux Canofish = "Can of Fish" → Points to Pet Food Store
Forrest N. Bloom = "Forest in Bloom" → Points to Huntington Gardens
Sixtus Boardingate = "Boarding Gate" → Points to LAX
Sevyn Sun Dae = "Sundae" → Points to Fair Oaks Soda Fountain and Ice Cream Parlor
Trey Lin Guine = "Linguine" → Points to Pasta Sisters
Uno Col Edge = "College" → Points to USC
V.S. Capeplace = "Escape Place" → Points to Stash House Escape Room
But what order do the letters go in? Look at those first names again:
Uno = Spanish for one (1)
Deux = French for two (2)
Trey = Sounds like tres, Spanish for three (3)
Forrest = four (4)
V.S. Roman Numeral = five (5)
Sixtus = six (6)
Sevyn = seven (7)
Now sort the letters taken from each location in that order, and you'll get your answer
WEBSITE
Found at each location:
When Tommy was a child, he and his sister discovered, on what was a seemingly normal trip to the park across the street, a card flapping in the breeze under a bench. It was the first clue to a mysterious scavenger hunt. They pursued the path until directed to a location too distant by the clues, so instead of completing it, they hurried back home and crafted a scavenger hunt for their neighbors. Their game ended in candy, a treat the neighbors weren’t allowed to have. Watching them follow all the clues and receive their prize was a foundational moment.
Tommy’s Aunt and Uncle would also dabble in scavenger hunts, games and mysteries, concocting personalized Easter egg hunts for him and his cousins each year. These profoundly impacted Tommy’s life, prompting him to write and create experiences that would entertain and inspire others as well.
Tonight, you’ll be playing a mini version of the scavenger hunts that inspired Tommy. He still believes the world can be wondrous.
In following the scavenger hunt, players had 3 locations to find around the venue, as shown in the photos:
A sign reading "THIS IS NOT AN ELEVATOR"
A garden archway
A sitting area
At each location was a note containing text, and beneath it, a mysterious set of blank lines with some circled in red. The lines were laid out in very specific patterns. Each note also had specific ink blotches or pigment stains on both the top and bottom portions.
After finding all 3 notes, players could see that the bottom halves of the notes actually connected to the OTHER notes - matching both the stains and the word length and layout of the lines.
By focusing on the red circled lines and filling those words by matching them to their respective texts (and ordering them by the locations 1, 2, and 3 from left to right in the photos), players would get these words:
RETURN TO THE START
EACH LINE
LAST LETTER
But what's the "start?" Looking back at the case file that began everything and following these instructions on the text will give you your answer.
PASSWORD IS
On May 13, 2018, Marlee and Tommy embarked on their first escape room escapade. Since that thrilling initiation, 1,989 days have passed, and the duo have conquered 342 escape rooms, traversing the globe and making memories. From exhilarating games with friends to bonding experiences with family, these adventures have provided more than just entertainment; they've inspired growth, sharpened their communication skills, and unveiled hidden talents—like Marlee's uncanny ability to swiftly flip binary switches or her knack for evading monsters.
Every escape room ends with a snapshot—a chronicle of their journey. With zany props and distinctive backdrops, each photo is a cherished memory.
Yet, in this vast gallery of captured moments, a few items stand out. Can you spot these 4 distinctive props scattered amongst their escape room memories? What could they spell out?
Four items stand out in the collage of escape room photos from Marlee and Tommy's many games:
Typewriter
Globe
Suitcase
Banana
By finding these items eye-spy style in the collage and examining the letters on them in the order given on the case file:
Typewriter (Upper right, by blue window): REA
Globe (Center, near chalk outline on floor): DRE
Suitcase (Lower left side, orange background): DSI
Banana (Upper left, under clock on red table): GNS
When you put these letters together, you get your instructions: READ RED SIGNS
Following these instructions by reading the four red signs on the poster from top to bottom will present you with a question that has a simple, one-word answer.
DETECTIVE
Phew. After solving all 9 puzzles, there was just one final step...
When all the puzzles were solved and read in order, the final instructions appeared:
LOOK UNDER TABLE FOUR. CONVERT ALL WORDS AND VISIT WEBSITE. PASSWORD IS DETECTIVE.
Sure enough, beneath table four, a mysterious conversion chart was securely taped in place. The guests seated there were deliberately chosen for their sense of humor and willingness to share their dinner space with adventurous puzzle-solvers crawling under the tablecloth.
By converting the solved words using the chart under the table, players revealed a website to visit that would be unlocked with the password DETECTIVE.
MysterySolved.love
Visitors to the site were rewarded with the truth about the mysterious detective agency and given a chance to openly predict Marlee and Tommy's future. Go ahead, click it and see what's in store for the happy couple!
The night concluded with a singalong of "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane - a song that holds special meaning for Marlee & Tommy. The room, filled with voices and love, created a moment they'll treasure forever.
Venue
The Mitten Building | Amy Wickliff
Producer
Officiant
Gina Polesetsky
Photography
Sound
Austin Quan | Circular Rhythm Productions
Opening Video
Nick Rheinwald-Jones, Katelyn Schiller, Weston Gaylord, Shoshanna Green, Reed Sights
Puzzle Testing
Spencer Beebe, Greg & Rebecca Hartnett, Christian Haunton
Performers
Troubadour Quartet
Linda Borg, Marlee Honton, Leah Tanzy, Carolyn Yoshida
Board
Stephanie Pereida
Cat Art
Katelyn Schiller
Collage Design
Logo
Pottery
Among the Wildflowers | Liz Goldenberg
Mixology
Nick Rheinwald-Jones
Princess Cake
Copenhagen Pastry | Karen Hansen
Cupcakes
Flowers
Makeup Artist
Hair
Acapella Arrangement
Rowena Harper
Acapella Learning Tracks
Special Thanks
Doug Delia & Liz Goldenberg
