Wedding Day

Ceremony

Grandparents

Reception

Our Wedding

Our Love Story

One Halloween night would later become one of those memories we laugh about now. Amanda had recently had knee surgery and was very much supposed to still be on crutches. Instead, she was out walking the neighborhood anyway, pulling a wagon so Ari could ride while collecting candy. She was tired, sore, and a little cranky from the pain but determined to make Halloween special. Aiden had already called it a night and stayed home with the grandparents. Ari, however, was not ready to stop and wanted to keep going for more candy. At the same time, Kevin was out trick-or-treating with his two daughters. As they walked down the same street, Kevin noticed Amanda and told his girls that he knew who she was. They didn’t believe him.

So as the two families walked past each other, Kevin smiled and said hello. Amanda smiled and said hello back, but also gave him a slightly puzzled look that clearly said, “Do I know you?” She kept walking, focused on pulling the wagon and keeping up with Ari’s candy mission. In her mind she briefly wondered who that guy was… then went right back to enjoying the night. Meanwhile, as Kevin and his daughters kept walking, one of them looked at him and said, “I don’t think she knows you, Dad.” They were right. But sometimes life has a funny way of bringing people back together when the time is finally right. And for us, it would take just one more try.

That next moment came through something neither of us expected...a Facebook post. Somehow we ended up debating a very important topic. Which show was better, Outlander or Bridgerton. What started as playful disagreement quickly turned into messages and conversations. Before long, we found ourselves talking often and becoming good friends. At first, that’s all it was meant to be a friendship. We enjoyed talking, laughing, and sharing pieces of our lives, never really expecting it to turn into anything more. But over time, we both started noticing the same thing. Our friendship had grown deeper, and we realized how naturally we connected and how compatible we were in so many ways.It was exciting… but also a little scary. We both cared about the friendship we had built and didn’t want to risk losing it if we tried to become something more. But sometimes the best things in life come from taking a chance. So we did.

Our adventure kept growing as our friendship turned into something deeper. Before long, we found ourselves talking about the future whether we should look for a place together or continue living separately for a while. It didn’t take long for us to realize that building a home together just felt right. Even though we had only been dating for a short time, we were already talking about buying a house together. It was exciting and a little scary at the same time, but we were confident in our relationship. Our friendship had created a strong foundation, and that foundation only grew stronger as we stepped into a relationship. Soon, our lives began blending together, two families becoming one with four wonderful kids. Watching our families grow together has been one of the most meaningful parts of our journey. And then came the pool project.

Kevin decided he wanted to install an above-ground pool in the backyard. This turned into a big project that required digging and leveling a large section of dirt. What Amanda didn’t know was that Kevin had secretly planned something much bigger than a backyard project. One day while we were working outside, Kevin set up his phone to film the project. This immediately caught Amanda’s attention because Kevin rarely records random things unless it’s something important like sports or birthdays. He explained that he wanted to film a “timelapse” of the project so we could see the progress from start to finish. Except… he wasn’t actually filming in timelapse. Amanda quickly noticed and warned him that regular video would eat up all the storage on his phone. Determined to make sure it was done correctly, she stood nearby watching closely until he finally switched the setting to timelapse. Kevin’s plan was already becoming much harder than expected. While Amanda continued breaking up the dirt to level the ground, she asked where she should dig next. Kevin pointed her to a specific spot. Earlier that day, Amanda had joked that it would be cool if we found a time capsule or something old buried in the yard. We had already found some old soda cans from the early 90s in another area, so the idea didn’t seem impossible. Then suddenly—pop. Amanda felt the metal tool hit something solid in the dirt. She immediately pulled out the metal spike along with a green box with gold trim on top. Her first thought? “A TIME CAPSULE!”

The color completely threw her off. If it had been a typical black ring box, she might have realized immediately. But instead, she was convinced she had just discovered buried treasure. Kevin quickly grabbed the box from her, which only made Amanda more confused (and a little annoyed) because she wanted to see what was inside. Then Kevin knelt down on one knee and opened the box. “Will you marry me?” Amanda stared at him… with absolutely no reaction. The box looked empty. For a moment she thought he might be joking, which didn’t seem like something Kevin would normally do. She wasn’t sure whether to laugh, be confused, or be slightly annoyed. Kevin waited. Then he realized the problem. The ring box was upside down. He flipped it right side up, revealing the ring with three sparkling diamonds, and asked again: “Well?” It took Amanda a second to process what was happening. Then it finally hit her. This was real. And of course, she said YES!

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

FAQS

Q + A

A small, charming local inn right in the heart of Battle Lake. Close to the lake, restaurants, and shops. This is the closest and most convenient option for guests attending the wedding. Rooms are limited. (around 10 minutes drive to the wedding)

Battle Lake Inn

A family-friendly resort with suites, a restaurant, golf course, and indoor water park. Great for guests who want to turn the trip into a weekend getaway. (About 25 minutes from the wedding)

Thumper Pond Resort

A comfortable and modern hotel located right off I-94. This is a great option for guests coming from the airport or driving through Alexandria on their way to Vining. (about 40 minutes from the wedding)

Hampton Inn & Suites Alexandria

A larger hotel with breakfast and an indoor pool. This is a good traditional hotel option for guests who prefer a standard chain-style stay. (about 30 minutes away from the wedding)

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Fergus Falls, MN

Travel

Vining is a small lakeside town in the heart of Minnesota lake country. While it’s a quiet place, it’s surrounded by beautiful lakes, parks, and charming small towns worth exploring.

A small roadside sculpture park filled with large metal sculptures created by local artist Ken Nyberg. One of the most popular pieces is the Bigfoot (Sasquatch) sculpture, which has become a fun photo stop for visitors traveling through Vining. -Free and open to the public-Located right along the main road in town-Quick stop (5–10 minutes)-Great for photos

Nyberg Sculpture Park

If you are staying at Battle Lake Inn--there are canoes, kayaks, SUP, row boats, pedal boats and more for rental here if you want to make a day out of it.

Galloping Goose Rentals

Just a short drive from Vining, this Dairy Queen is a well-known summer stop for locals and visitors enjoying Minnesota lake country.

Battle Lake Dairy Queen

Stop by the famous Big Ole Viking Statue, a giant Viking statue that celebrates Alexandria’s Scandinavian heritage. It’s one of the town’s most recognizable landmarks and a fun photo stop.

Big Ole - Big Viking Statue

A classic family stop in Alexandria that kids love. Casey’s has mini golf, go-karts, bumper boats, batting cages, and arcade games, plus a snack stand with ice cream and treats. It’s a great place for families to spend an afternoon.

Amanda + Kevin