Family portrait
August 22, 2026

Liliana's Christening
& Our 5-Year Anniversary

Tbilisi, Georgia

We will be updating this website between now and the event w/ more details
RSVP Now

We can't wait to celebrate together

Our daughter, Liliana Carola Tamar Jolia-McAndrew, was born on 10 September 2025. In Georgian culture, an Orthodox christening is a very special milestone, and we'd love to share it with you. At the same time, we're finally getting a chance to celebrate our wedding anniversary with many that we weren't able to invite 5 years ago due to Covid!

We have friends and family all around the world, and many of you haven't visited Georgia yet. This is our excuse to bring everyone together, to explore this beautiful country with us, and for our friends and family to meet.

Panoramic view of Tbilisi Old Town with traditional balconies and Narikala Fortress

Discover Georgia

We know it's a long journey, but totally worth it! Check out ancient churches, the imposing Caucasus, legendary hospitality, delicious food — and the birthplace of wine.

Georgian monastery

21 – 22 August 2026

We'll be in Georgia for a few weeks around the event — we'd love to see you before or after the main day too. Whether you're passing through Tbilisi, doing a trip around the country, or just want to grab dinner, let us know your dates and we'll make it happen.

Friday, 21 August
Evening

Welcome Drinks in Tbilisi

Casual get-together for those already in town — location TBA

Saturday, 22 August
Morning

Christening Ceremony

Udzo Monastery of the Fathers (pictured above). Exact time to follow.

Midday

Break

A chance to rest and refresh before the evening celebration

Evening

Celebration Dinner & Party (Tbilisi)

Food, toasts, dancing, and a proper anniversary celebration

Some considerations

Getting Around

We generally don't recommend renting a car, depending on the length of your stay and number of destinations. Drivers (see below) are affordable, generally safer, and more convenient. Apps such as Bolt are also a great way to get around, even for longer trips.

Family Travel

We know there are many families in our group, and would love to welcome everyone. We will do our best to make the celebration child friendly, and we've made sure to include a few family-friendly options in our itinerary.

Safety

Some of you may have read about the "recent" political unrest. Protests tend to be concentrated in a very specific location at specific times, and have also died down in recent months. We will happily address any questions or concerns.

Gifts

We mean it when we say that you celebrating with us and making it a special day for Liliana would be the biggest gift we could ask for.

Weather

It's gonna be hot hot hot!

Accommodation

THe Christening and celebration will be taking in/near Tbilisi, so we recommend staying in Tbilisi, from which you can do lots of day trips easily. AirBnBs can be great value for money - and often give you a bit more of a taste of local culture - but there is no shortage of comfortable hotels and guesthouses in all major destination.

Our Trusted Driver

GMT Tour

Lasha Esioashvili

+995 557 171 007

Lasha can arrange a driver for you, as well as specific trips or even multi-day tours. Tell him you're with our group!

Places We Recommend

Click on a region to see our hotel recommendations

Tbilisi Old Town

Tbilisi

The vibrant capital — cobblestone streets, sulfur baths, incredible food, and nightlife

Where to Stay
  • Stamba Hotel — Boutique luxury in a converted Soviet printing house
  • Rooms Hotel — Design-forward, great restaurant and bar
  • Paragraf — Stylish and central
  • Telegraph — Historic building, modern comfort
  • Courtyard Marriott Tbilisi — As central as it gets
  • Bioli Wellness Resort — Serenity, outside of the city. Travel required.
Jvari Monastery overlooking Mtskheta

Mtskheta

UNESCO World Heritage site, just 20 minutes from Tbilisi — the spiritual heart of Georgia

Getting There

Easy day trip from Tbilisi. Most visitors stay in the capital and visit Mtskheta for a half-day. Ask Lasha to combine it with Jvari Monastery for stunning views.

Kakheti vineyards

Kakheti

Georgia's famous wine region. Discover the birthplace of wine, and the unique qvevri winemaking. Signaghi are both beautiful cities, with sites in between such as the Tsinandali Estate and many wineries.

Where to Stay
  • Lopota Lake Resort — Lakeside resort, great for families with many pools, activities, and some good food and drink for the parents.
  • Radisson Collection Tsinandali — Beautiful grounds, wine estate
  • Château Mere — Boutique winery hotel
  • Vazisubani Estate — Authentic wine estate experience
  • Ambassadori Kachreti — Golf resort with spa and pools, great to kickback.
Gergeti Trinity Church with Mt Kazbek

Kazbegi/Stepansminda

Dramatic mountain scenery along the Georgian Military Highway. A bit of a drive but with impressive scenery along the way, with notably cooler temperature to reward those that want to escape the summer heat.

Where to Stay
  • Rooms Hotel Kazbegi — Stunning views, excellent restaurant, the place to stay
Borjomi Central Park

Borjomi

Famous for its mineral water — forested gorges, spa town vibes, and access to Bakuriani. Good getaway for some fresh air in the summer

Where to Stay
  • Crowne Plaza Borjomi — Best option in town, spa and wellness facilities
Batumi Black Sea coast

Black Sea Coast

Batumi and surroundings — beach vibes, botanical gardens, and Adjarian cuisine. Given th distance from Tbilisi, and the many other sites GEorgia has to see, we generally DO NOT recommend the coast as priority destination.

Where to Stay
  • Paragraf Shekvetili — Beachfront design hotel
  • Georgia Palace Kobuleti — Family-friendly beach resort

RSVP

Please RSVP by 31 March 2026 — sooner is always appreciated. Let us know if you're coming alone or with partner / kids — everyone is welcome.