Wedding Day

Ceremony

Bledsoe Ranch Barn #1

Reception

We Did It!!!

Our Wedding

New Beginnings

We Did It!!!!

Matthew - After experiencing an unexpected divorce and thinking that I would never date again, would never love again, would never marry again, and stuck depressed beyond belief, I decided to take a risk. I had no idea where to start. I had not dated nor hardly even talked to any women for 30 years. I was nervous and scared. I decided as crazy and scary as it was to try online dating. And admitting that seems pretty vulnerable too! This in itself was overwhelming. I made it very obvious in my profile that I was a recently divorced, broken man, looking for a Christian woman to spend the rest of my life with. I'm not a very attractive dude so, I didn't get a lot of traffic. But within the first week I did get a "match" with this lady named Dawn. Her profile photo had this look that I can only call the "oh really" look. So that's what I lead with. I said that I loved her profile and that I thought we matched well and that when I looked at her picture, I could just imagine her saying "oh really." She has actually said that to me a lot since then! Dawn~ Life has changed a lot since then, thatis for sure! After my divorce and a very painful relationship, I set out to better myself and heal. I did not think it would be possible to meet anyone or relate to another again. I know that God had better plans for me! My best friend Mary, and my daughter who were cheering me on and telling me that I needed to meet people and get out there, wrote up a online dating profile and insisted that I check it out. At first I was mortified because I am not that type of girl and then I thought.....how can I meet anyone if I don't go anywhere at all! So, after a few weeks of THEM looking at who was contacting me, I decided that I was deleting the app and this was not for me. Guess who messaged me on the very day I was online to delete it? Yup, My handsome man, Matthew! He did say that my profile picture looked like I was saying, "Really?" Well, that picture was the very picture for that app and I was not wanting my photo taken for no online dating. I felt so comfortable when we talked. We talked about our battle wounds and scars and we texted and then talked and now we are getting married. So, who's saying "Really", Now?

How we met…

Matthew - We had planned to meet at the Sioux City farmer's market for our first date and then go antiquing. The night before our first date, Dawn's mom Esther went to the Emergency Room with congestive heart failure and Dawn called and we talked about cancelling or postponing our date. I suggested that maybe we could pick up some flowers at the farmer's market and that we could deliver them to her. I said I would wait while she went to visit her mom. I did not want to wait or put this date off and I also wanted to be there to support Dawn during this time as I could hear the worry she was experiencing. At the market, Dawn pulled up in this giant pickup truck and stepped out and she came up to its running boards. She was so cute. I don't know where I got the courage, but I kissed her right there on the spot and took her hand and we headed to the market. I was so nervous! Dawn~ The first date was quit the day! I drove around the corner to meet him at the farmers market and there he was with his Cowboy hat on and he was leaning back in his vehicle and his boots were sticking out the window. I thought, here's my Cowboy!! He KISSED me!!! I was so excited that I can't even tell you what was at the farmers market. Even though we were all going through a rough time with figuring out what was going on with my mom, it was nice he wanted to go see her with me at the hospital. It was his idea to grab flowers at the farmers market. My mom liked him as well. So, I thought id keep him!

First date….

Matthew - In typical fashion, we went back to the hospital for our second date. Dawn was an EMT / Paramedic as well as a frequent visitor to the ER for herself or her kids, so this isn't a surprise now, but back then it was a little. On the trip down for our second date, I got word that Esther was being rushed to the ER so I met Dawn there. We spent the evening at the hospital before her mom was airlifted to Sioux Falls. Since Dawn's mom was in the hospital in Sioux Falls now, it made it easier for us to see each other more and fall in love. It also gave me an opportunity to get to know her mom and siblings. Dawn~ Second date was a whirl wind of a date, poor Matthew had to meet me again at the hospital. But it did make me feel much better. We spent a lot more time with me having to come there to where he lived in Sioux Falls to visit my mom. We had more dates and of course more fun! He still is getting use to my sarcastic humor. It is really awesome to think and learn how much we have in common. Honestly, we laugh all the time and love to try new things together.

Second date….

Matthew - A highlight for me was being able to take Dawn back to my hometown (Presho) to go pheasant hunting and to meet my parents. I enjoy showing her off and showing off for her. I can still remember that on the first push she was blocking with my dad and I shot the first bird up and can remember seeing her watching me shoot it. I was so glad I didn't miss. Dawn~ I have to tell you that I have done a lot of Pheasant hunting but never had I done this type, blocking and pushing. I thought I was brought out there at first to be taken out or something, just kidding, but seriously though this was different since the people that you are blocking for are headed your way to shoot birds.....HELLO!!! So, needless to say I was nervous of being shot. I knew all these people knew what they were doing but I didn't know them. I loved watching Matthew get the first bird and it was fun meeting some of his family. I met his parents for the first time and they were so nice and extremely happy we were dating. I felt better about thinking I was almost shot.

Pheasant hunting….

Matthew~ We went together on a deer hunting trip where Dawn served as my lucky charm. I shot a really nice whitetail buck It was so beautiful. We saw elk and beaver and God's beauty everywhere. Each adventure and moment we've spent together, we fell deeper in love. Dawn~ Oh my, this was so much fun! I'd had zero amounts of sleep coming back from my nephew Dalton's wedding in Jamaica and landing in Omaha at Midnight. My daughter, Grace and I had just been out at the beaches I drove home and got in the car with Matthew for a road trip to Timberlake, South Dakota, 7 hours away. The weather was perfect there and we seen so many gorgeous landscape and even were able to see some huge Elk walking very close to where we stayed. Although I did not find the deer with Matthew, I was a dear and helped him carry it! Great Time for sure!! I loved going with him and will do it this year as well!

Deer hunting….

Matthew - I made reservations for a Five Course Holiday meal celebration at Chef Lance's here in Sioux Falls for December 20th, 2023. I had spent the past two months having a ring custom made based off of some things that I knew Dawn had liked. I arranged with the staff to have one of the drawings rigged so that we would be drawn and called up for a prize. When Chef Lance called us up, he asked us to stand back to back and he asked us some questions and he motioned to me that this was my cue. I got down on one knee and then he turned her around and... I knew I wanted to make this special. She deserved it. Just as she deserved a special ring, hand crafted for her just as God hand crafted her for me. I wanted it to be as special as she was to me. I never imagined finding love or happiness again. Oh, and she said, YES! Dawn~ I did say YES!!! It was magical! I was so surprised. This was so much fun! I felt so special and was treated so amazing by the entire Restaurant. They were all in on it and I honestly did not know a thing nor did I feel like something was off. Although there was this guy who was taking pictures of us and said it was for the website, I though that was strange but thought...okay! I felt soooo lucky when they called our name and we got to go up there because we won a raffle prize. What raffle??? Was there a raffle ticket I missed?? So, I sauntered over there to play this game and it was a cute question, we were back to back and Chef Lance asked "Which one of you snores?" raise your hand. Of course, I know I snore so I raise my hand....he said "Wait Dawn you need to turn around and see this guy." I turned around to see him down on one knee and holding a ring and I about passed out. I would have never guessed any of this was going to happen. The most wonderful Man and the most beautiful ring in the world was now being placed on my hand and I said "YES" the entire Restaurant clapped their hands for us and it was priceless. Everyone knew but me and I was okay with that!! Matthew and I had already shared our dream wedding and it involved a sandy beach and Hawaii and now that's where were headed to August 8th for our big day!!

The proposal…

Matthew and Dawn continue to nurture their relationship by taking ceramic classes, going to masquerade dinners, working on their future house together and dreaming about their Forever!!

Continued courting…

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

The closest lodging to the reception in Homer is in Sioux City, which is about 15 miles away. We have listed a couple places below but the options really are endless from the cheapest the some really classy ones. If you want to add a little more fun to the trip stay at the Hard Rock Cafe and Casino.

South Sioux City Marriott Riverfront

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sioux City - Southern Hills, an IHG Hotel

Hilton Garden Inn Sioux City Riverfront

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City

Courtyard Sioux City Downtown/Convention Center

Travel

This song from Austin Brown called "Rest of My Life" is what I think of when I think of Dawn. Click below...

Listen to one of "Our Songs..."

Forever Kind of Thing!!

Registry

Dawn Daniels

I was born and raised in Southern CA with one sister, Denice and one brother, Dennis! After years of growing up around San Bernardino, our family relocated to Northern CA. At a younger age I really thought I wanted to become a FireFighter or better yet a Doctor. I went to school and worked as an EMT and Firefighter and it was really rewarding.&#8232;As all things do, life changes like having 3 children and moving to Nebraska, that was a huge blessing. Zachary is my oldest, he became a Marine straight out of high school and married his best friend, Celia. They just celebrated their 10th year anniversary. Zachary spent years as a Firefighter EMT and is now a Captain for one of the Local Fire Departments. Grace Lynn, is my oldest daughter and is on her journey of moving out of the house and getting her life all sorted out. Grace works at her aunts Boutique. Faith is my youngest daughter. Being a Sophomore, she has a lot of hopes and dreams and I pray she sticks with them, she wants to be a DR too!! (surgeon actually)&#8232;I have worked with my sister and brother in law, Larry, for the past 18 years in their Business, Industrial Refrigeration. I have had lots of adventures like a trip to Indonesia with my sister, and recently a trip to Jamaica with my oldest daughter Grace for my nephew Dalton's wedding. I've gotten to travel to different states and even became a volunteer firefighter, EMT, for our local town. I went to school for my Paramedic License but I am still with my families business. I am learning to help heal others with my gifts such as, Reiki. I need to work more at that!!&#8232;&#8232;&#8232;Matthew and I are working on having fun and enjoying each others company as well as our children. We have had a blast!! We are working on a house that is from the late 1890's in South Dakota so we can move into it. We are fishing and hunting and trying to go on more adventures as we do life together!!&#8232;Who else eats Anchovies on their pizza??? Yuck!!! But I love him just the same!!&#8232;

Matthew Thompson

I was born in rural South Dakota and had amazing parents (Stan and Dona) who will have set the example with their almost 50 years of marriage. I have a younger brother, Michael, and younger sister, Jessica. As a kid I loved to hunt, fish, golf, and rodeoed in high school. After graduation in 1995, I joined the Marine Corps and spent the next 28 years training and deploying. Between deployments I was able to collect four of the best kids ever. My oldest, Chloe Anna is now married and in the Air Force. My second daughter, Calah Joy is a Marine like me and my young men, Matthan and Micah are here in South Dakota. My kids all amaze me! During my Marine career I went from enlisted to officer, Private to Lieutenant Colonel. I was gone a lot to include three combat deployments to Iraq and a short one to Afghanistan. When I retired I still wanted to serve, help others, give back, and do and go where others were scared or didn’t want to go. Through my own struggles, hurt, and volunteer work I found a calling and fulfillment working with the homeless and the addicted. I really do feel like I am able to live out what the Bible says about being God’s hands and feet. I love loving Dawn, spending time with her, talking with her, or dreaming of her. I’m a foodie and a tattoo addict and Dawn is ok with that and joins me in that, and did I mention she is an amazing cook! My favorite food is pizza, especially if it has anchovies!!

Meet the Bride and Groom

Here is the link to your live stream page:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wedhawaii.com/matthew-and-dawn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.wedhawaii.com/matthew-and-dawn</a>&nbsp; The ceremony begins at 4:30 in Hawaii (9:30PM central time) and should go live at that time. Sometimes the live feed will be delayed and may not be broadcast until 5-15 minutes later... please be patient and stay tuned here. Keep clicking the link!

We hope that you enjoyed watching us get married. We love you all and thank you for your love and support. It would mean alot to us if you went back to your RSVP and click on the newly created ONLINE option to let is know you watched and leave us a note, or update your note / comment once the ceremony is over. Thank you again. Matthew and Dawn Thompson