Wedding Ceremony

Pear Tree Estate

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Our Wedding

We&nbsp;both&nbsp;grew&nbsp;up&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;small&nbsp;town—the&nbsp;kind&nbsp;of&nbsp;place&nbsp;where&nbsp;everyone&nbsp;waves&nbsp;when&nbsp;they&nbsp;pass&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;road,&nbsp;where&nbsp;Friday&nbsp;night&nbsp;football&nbsp;and&nbsp;church&nbsp;on&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;are&nbsp;just&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;life.&nbsp;We&nbsp;knew&nbsp;of&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;growing&nbsp;up,&nbsp;but&nbsp;our&nbsp;paths&nbsp;didn’t&nbsp;really&nbsp;cross&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;meaningful&nbsp;way&nbsp;until&nbsp;years&nbsp;later,&nbsp;when&nbsp;life&nbsp;slowed&nbsp;us&nbsp;both&nbsp;down&nbsp;enough&nbsp;to&nbsp;notice&nbsp;what&nbsp;was&nbsp;right&nbsp;in&nbsp;front&nbsp;of&nbsp;us.&nbsp;Small&nbsp;towns&nbsp;have&nbsp;a&nbsp;way&nbsp;of&nbsp;bringing&nbsp;people&nbsp;together&nbsp;when&nbsp;the&nbsp;timing&nbsp;is&nbsp;right! Years&nbsp;after&nbsp;leaving&nbsp;that&nbsp;small&nbsp;town,&nbsp;I&nbsp;came&nbsp;home&nbsp;to&nbsp;visit&nbsp;friends,&nbsp;when&nbsp;we&nbsp;ran&nbsp;into&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;out&nbsp;with&nbsp;mutual&nbsp;friends.&nbsp;He&nbsp;was&nbsp;back&nbsp;here,&nbsp;working&nbsp;on&nbsp;his&nbsp;family’s&nbsp;farm,&nbsp;steady&nbsp;and&nbsp;kind&nbsp;as&nbsp;ever.&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;getting&nbsp;ready&nbsp;to&nbsp;go&nbsp;back&nbsp;to&nbsp;grad&nbsp;school&nbsp;–&nbsp;overwhelmed&nbsp;and&nbsp;anxious,&nbsp;but&nbsp;happy&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;in&nbsp;that&nbsp;small&nbsp;town.&nbsp;A&nbsp;few&nbsp;days&nbsp;after&nbsp;running&nbsp;into&nbsp;each&nbsp;other,&nbsp;Derek&nbsp;asked&nbsp;me&nbsp;out.&nbsp;Somehow,&nbsp;that&nbsp;simple&nbsp;dinner&nbsp;turned&nbsp;into&nbsp;a&nbsp;first&nbsp;date…&nbsp;then&nbsp;many&nbsp;more. I&nbsp;started&nbsp;grad&nbsp;school&nbsp;and&nbsp;working&nbsp;my&nbsp;way&nbsp;to&nbsp;becoming&nbsp;a&nbsp;Nurse&nbsp;Practitioner,&nbsp;shortly&nbsp;after&nbsp;we&nbsp;began&nbsp;dating.&nbsp;We&nbsp;fell&nbsp;in&nbsp;love&nbsp;slowly—between&nbsp;semesters&nbsp;and&nbsp;calving&nbsp;seasons,&nbsp;between&nbsp;road&nbsp;trips&nbsp;and&nbsp;early&nbsp;mornings.&nbsp;He&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;calm&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;chaos&nbsp;of&nbsp;my&nbsp;long&nbsp;academic&nbsp;journey.&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;his&nbsp;sounding&nbsp;board&nbsp;after&nbsp;long&nbsp;days&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;farm.&nbsp;It&nbsp;wasn’t&nbsp;always&nbsp;easy&nbsp;balancing&nbsp;school&nbsp;and&nbsp;his&nbsp;busy&nbsp;schedule,&nbsp;but&nbsp;somehow,&nbsp;we&nbsp;made&nbsp;it&nbsp;work. He&nbsp;supported&nbsp;me&nbsp;through&nbsp;it&nbsp;all—every&nbsp;exam,&nbsp;every&nbsp;late-night&nbsp;paper,&nbsp;every&nbsp;moment&nbsp;I&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;to&nbsp;give&nbsp;up.&nbsp;And&nbsp;finally,&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;day&nbsp;of&nbsp;my&nbsp;doctoral&nbsp;graduation,&nbsp;when&nbsp;I&nbsp;walked&nbsp;across&nbsp;that&nbsp;stage&nbsp;and&nbsp;they&nbsp;called&nbsp;me&nbsp;Doctor&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time,&nbsp;I&nbsp;thought&nbsp;that&nbsp;moment&nbsp;alone&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;big&nbsp;ending&nbsp;to&nbsp;my&nbsp;story. But&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;one&nbsp;more&nbsp;surprise. After&nbsp;the&nbsp;ceremony,&nbsp;surrounded&nbsp;by&nbsp;our&nbsp;families,&nbsp;he&nbsp;asked&nbsp;for&nbsp;“one&nbsp;more&nbsp;photo”.&nbsp;His&nbsp;hands&nbsp;were&nbsp;shaking&nbsp;just&nbsp;a&nbsp;little—this&nbsp;man&nbsp;who&nbsp;faced&nbsp;down&nbsp;stubborn&nbsp;bulls&nbsp;and&nbsp;harsh&nbsp;weather&nbsp;without&nbsp;flinching.&nbsp;He&nbsp;dropped&nbsp;to&nbsp;one&nbsp;knee,&nbsp;pulled&nbsp;out&nbsp;a&nbsp;small&nbsp;box,&nbsp;and&nbsp;said: “I’ve&nbsp;been&nbsp;meaning&nbsp;to&nbsp;ask&nbsp;you&nbsp;something&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;while…&nbsp;Will&nbsp;you&nbsp;marry&nbsp;me?” I&nbsp;cried.&nbsp;(A&nbsp;lot.)&nbsp;And&nbsp;I&nbsp;said&nbsp;yes&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;tears&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;laughter&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;disbelief&nbsp;that&nbsp;this&nbsp;man—this&nbsp;steady,&nbsp;salt-of-the-earth&nbsp;man—had&nbsp;waited&nbsp;until&nbsp;just&nbsp;the&nbsp;right&nbsp;moment&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;it&nbsp;official. He&nbsp;wasn't&nbsp;one&nbsp;to&nbsp;rush&nbsp;things.&nbsp;Never&nbsp;had&nbsp;been.&nbsp;Patience&nbsp;is&nbsp;something&nbsp;that&nbsp;farming&nbsp;has&nbsp;taught&nbsp;him&nbsp;—how&nbsp;to&nbsp;trust&nbsp;the&nbsp;seasons,&nbsp;wait&nbsp;out&nbsp;the&nbsp;storms,&nbsp;and&nbsp;believe&nbsp;that&nbsp;good&nbsp;things&nbsp;take&nbsp;time.&nbsp;Eight&nbsp;years&nbsp;have&nbsp;passed,&nbsp;filled&nbsp;with&nbsp;growth,&nbsp;grit,&nbsp;and&nbsp;quiet,&nbsp;loyal&nbsp;love. Now,&nbsp;we&nbsp;will&nbsp;become&nbsp;Mr.&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;Mrs.&nbsp;Derek&nbsp;Dean&nbsp;and&nbsp;continue&nbsp;building&nbsp;a&nbsp;life&nbsp;together&nbsp;–&nbsp;where&nbsp;the&nbsp;cattle&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;care&nbsp;much&nbsp;that&nbsp;I’ve&nbsp;got&nbsp;a&nbsp;doctorate&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;land&nbsp;reminds&nbsp;us&nbsp;both&nbsp;to&nbsp;stay&nbsp;grounded.&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;not&nbsp;a&nbsp;fancy&nbsp;life,&nbsp;but&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;full&nbsp;of&nbsp;love.&nbsp;The&nbsp;best&nbsp;kind.&nbsp;The&nbsp;kind&nbsp;that&nbsp;waits.&nbsp;The&nbsp;kind&nbsp;that&nbsp;shows&nbsp;up.&nbsp;The&nbsp;kind&nbsp;that&nbsp;stays. This&nbsp;is&nbsp;our&nbsp;story—and&nbsp;we’re&nbsp;just&nbsp;getting&nbsp;started!

Our Story

Photos

Molly Monahan

Rachel Quaid

Hannah Quaid

Emma Quaid

Emily Quaid

Macy Dean

Leland Dean

Jeff Hendren

Jarrod Carter

Jason Matlock

Miles Morris

Jacob Quaid

Wedding Party

Q + A

We recommend booking your stay as early as possible, as rooms will be limited. Reservations must be made by 10/10/2025. You may book your stay by visiting the link provided below (click website), or by calling the hotel at 217-531-2800 and inform the hotel that you are members of the "Dean Quaid Wedding Block Group". If you are calling, choose option 0 and ask for the Dean Quaid Wedding Block, as well. The group code is G-DQ25.

Hyatt Place Champaign-Urbana

I Hotel And Illinois Conference Center

Homewood Suites by Hilton Champaign-Urbana

Travel

Looking for a cozy-fall day date before the wedding, or a place for the kids to run around? Curtis Orchard &amp; Pumpkin Patch is your place! This orchard will make you feel all of the fall vibes!

Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch

A place to visit for all of our wine-loving friends, while in the Champaign area!

Alto Vineyards Champaign

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Brewery, tap room, and beer garden for those looking to kick back and relax before the big day!

Riggs Beer Company

Wanting to take the kids out for some fun before the wedding? Old Orchard Lanes is a local favorite for bowling!

Old Orchard Lanes & Links

Delicious barbeque restaurant near Hyatt Place Hotel!

Black Dog Smoke & Ale House

Perfect place for both parents and kids to enjoy pizza &amp; an arcade!!

Jupiter's At The Crossing

Things to Do

Registry

Shuttle services will be taking guests from the Hyatt Place Hotel to the PTE, before and after the wedding. Ceremony: 3:00 &amp; 3:30 PMReception Only: 5:00 &amp; 5:30 PMPTE to Hyatt Place: 8:30-11:30 PM

Becca & Derek

Becca & Derek

B&D

Wedding Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception