Bridal Shower

Watermark Country Club

Wedding Day

Our Wedding

Anneke and Sebastian met in the geology program at Calvin University, where a friendship slowly formed over countless field trips, labs, and classes together. After graduation, they were excited to learn they were both returning to Calvin for extra coursework. An attraction grew as they spent more time together in the mineral museum, at the rock wall, and choosing to be lab partners (again and again). Their classmates were placing bets on when they'd start dating—until they made it official on February 22, 2023. From the beginning, their relationship was full of intentional conversations about goals, values, and what a future together might look like. They knew that if it was going to work, they'd have to first survive 22 months of long distance. In August 2023, Anneke moved to Flagstaff, Arizona to begin her MS in Geology, while Sebastian stayed in Grand Rapids, Michigan for his job in construction material inspection. They called each other every day and visited every few months. After one semester apart, they were confident long distance would work and began discussing timelines for building a life together. In August 2024, they traveled to Alaska to visit Sebastian’s sister and brother-in-law, and Sebastian proposed on a hike in Denali National Park! (For those keeping track: that left 9 more months of long distance—past the halfway point! Also Anneke does not recommend planning a wedding during grad school.) In May 2025, Anneke defended her thesis and moved back to Grand Rapids. Now, they are living in the same state for the final 5 months of their engagement! Sebastian is moving to the Ann Arbor area for his new position in the environmental sector of his company, and Anneke is applying for jobs to join him there this fall.

Our Story

Gallery

Q + A

Your presence celebrating with us on our wedding day is the greatest gift! We're moving in together this fall, so we've put together a gift registry of things we need to complete our home and celebrate our new life together. You can find our wish list under the "Registry" section of our wedding website. If you would like to contribute to our new home without choosing a gift from the registry, we would also appreciate gift cards to Amazon, Target, Costco, Home Depot/Lowe's, REI, and Ikea. Or, you may give monetary gifts with cash, check, or venmo @anneke-avery. (We have elected not to set up a cash fund to avoid processing fees.) Gifts and cards may be brought to the wedding or sent to:515 Cambridge Blvd SEGrand Rapids, MI 49506 If you order a package to our address, be sure to include a gift message with the package so we know who it's from!!

Registry Info

Registry

Lauren Henderson

Leksa Lawton

Hailey Stegemoller

Luke Marriott

Grace Prom

Reuben Avery

Greta Staggs

Micah Avery

Jeff Avery

Marty DeFant

Adam Avery

Julian Lopacki

Wedding Party

The wedding venue is on the east side of Grand Rapids, near Forest Hills/Ada area and the GRR airport. Here are a few travel and hotel recommendations for our guests from out of town. We do not have a hotel block. Stay wherever is most comfortable for you! You may also ask us whether a mutual friend is invited that you can coordinate travel with.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport

Hampton Inn & Suites Grand Rapids-Airport 28th St

Hilton Garden Inn Grand Rapids East

Holiday Inn Grand Rapids Downtown by IHG

Travel

Sites to see, things to do, and places to eat. Some of our favorites and some Grand Rapids classics.

Free Places to Go

Bruce Dice Mineralogical Museum

John Collins Park

Grand Rapids Downtown Market

The Blue Bridge

Calder Plaza

Calvin Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens

Activities that cost $$

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Terra Firma Bouldering Co.

Grand Rapids Public Museum

John Ball Zoo

Good Eats

The Electric Cheetah

Wolfgang's Restaurant

Terra GR

Jersey Junction