Wedding Day

Calvary Evangelical Free Church

Ceremony

Blue Moon Ballroom

Reception

Our Wedding

I had been invited to the Foundations small group at Calvary by my friend Linnea. On break from school in January 2022, I decided to go to it. I arrived a few minutes early to a locked church. While I was waiting for anyone else to arrive and let me in, Aaron pulled up in his car. He got out and we started chatting to pass the time. As more people came, we realized no one had a working key to the church and we relocated to one of the small group member's apartment. Throughout the group that evening, I realized more and more how much Aaron knew about the Bible and the faith, along with how much he wanted to continue growing. After that night, we saw each other at different small group gatherings and began talking more and more. On the last night of group before I went back to school, I wanted to ask Aaron for his number but chickened out at the last minute. Once at school, I was telling my friends about this amazing guy I met over break. One of my friends said that if I didn't get his number, Snapchat, or something that she would do it for me. I texted Linnea again and through her I got Aaron's Instagram and sent him a message saying "Hey, how's it going?" Once he responded, we continued to talk for 2 weeks, constantly asking questions back and forth to each other. On February 4, 2022, I asked Aaron if he wanted to be my Valentine. He replied with yes! We had our first official date on 2/5/22 when we met at Grey Duck Theater for coffee/hot chocolate. We made our relationship official on 2/20/22 at our second date. Since then, we did long distance dating through 12/10/2022 while I was at La Crosse for classes, then Platteville for my first clinical, and finally at Madison for my second. We spent many, many hours FaceTiming and calling for company and driving to see each other on the weekends. During that time, Aaron helped me to survive my last round of finals, the sale and closure of my grandmother's home, along with the stressful end to my second clinical. We were finally no longer long distance around the start of the New Year. After my third clinical, we were able to spend a lot more time together. During one of our dates together, Aaron even drove me to my interview at Allina Health in Owatonna. I still believe that it was the luck of having him drive me that helped me to get that job. Once late spring and graduation season hit, we had some trouble trying to see each other but were always able to prioritize one day a week to get away for a date. Throughout the summer, Aaron and I spent most of our time together studying for my Boards exam at the end of July. However throughout that time, we also got the chance to grow further in our faith together by consistently attending small group and by starting a daily prayer time with each other. Once Boards were finally over and I had moved to Owatonna, Aaron and I again have spent much time FaceTiming and calling one another. Aaron proposed on 9/24/23 and I am so excited to get to call him my husband soon! He has become my best friend and my truest confidant.

Kayla's Version

Going into 2022 I had plans to pay off my student loans and start saving up for Seminary school. Little did I know the Lord had different plans for me that&nbsp;would change my&nbsp;life forever. And that plan's name was Kayla Manuell. I first met Kayla in front of the Calvary E Free church parking lot on a cold, dark, January night. I arrived slightly early (which in Aaron terms means right on time) and found her alone with the Church doors locked. Concerned that she was having a rather unwelcoming introduction&nbsp;to our small group, I got out of my car to greet her. Throughout our time at small group that evening, and other&nbsp;small group&nbsp;gatherings, I got to know Kayla better and started to develop feelings for her. Admittedly I put those feelings on hold as I knew that she had to go back to college, and likely did not have time for a relationship. She thankfully however, did not want to put those feelings on hold. Later next week she requested to follow me on Instagram and messaged me shortly after I confirmed her request. A simple "Hey how's it going?!" turned into two weeks of messaging each other every morning and evening questions and answers to better get to know each other. I was already suspicious she had feelings for me when we met, but after the first week of messaging I knew we both wanted to pursue a relationship with each other. By the third week she asked me if I had anyone for a Valentine, to which I replied (like a dork) "Nope. I'm single as a pringle." To which she replied, "Would you be my Valentine?" I still am upset with myself that I didn't muster the courage to ask first, but I'm happy she asked as it was getting harder to wait. After that we started going on dates with each other, and made our relationship official on Feb. 20th 2022 when I asked her to be my girlfriend. From then on our relationship became the greatest adventure, and story of my life. I made multiple trips to see her in La Crosse while she was studying to graduate from her PT Program, visits to Madison Wisconsin while she was on her Clinical rotations, visiting many different restaurants throughout Rochester, and many many many late night calls on the phone before bed. And of course constantly asking each other questions to grow in our knowledge and love for each other and the Lord.&nbsp; Ever since our first date we both told each other that we are dating for marriage, and that we would be there for each other on the good days, the bad days, the easy days, the hard days, the funny times, and the sad times. The past summer I made up my mind that I want this woman to not only be my friend, not only my girlfriend, but to be my best friend and partner for life. I want this Godly woman to be my wife, to serve, love, and protect her for life. Sept. 24 I proposed to her, and it has been the greatest decision of my life.

Aaron's Version

Our Story

Engagement Announcement

Engagement Photos 

Photos

Linnea Johnson

Gabe Shepherd

Kendra Petersen

Alex Schneider

Kenzie Roberts

Riley Harper

Rylee Hanson

Christopher O'Driscoll

Wedding Party

Q + A

Located:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10 minutes from our wedding ceremony at Calvary Evangelical Free Church 				4 minutes from our reception and dance at Blue Moon Ballroom	&nbsp;Blocked rooms are available for Friday (8/23) and Saturday (8/24) nights.Reservations must be made by 8-9-24 to receive the block room discount. Please use the link provided to make reservations Rooms available:1 King Room - $105.00/night2 Queen Room - $110.00/nightFree cancellation until 1 week prior to arrival date.&nbsp;Amenities:Rooms include fully equipped kitchen &amp; reclinersFree parking, Wi-Fi, fitness center, &amp; 24-hour laundry facilitiesNo complimentary breakfast on site – Caribou Coffee across parking lotNearby restaurants:&nbsp;Perkins, Flapdoodles Ice Cream, Mr. Pizza, John Hardy’s BBQ

Candlewood Suites Rochester Mayo Clinic Area, an IHG Hotel

Located:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9 minutes from our wedding ceremony at Calvary Evangelical Free Church5 minutes from our reception and dance at Blue Moon Ballroom(Across the cul-de-sac from the Residence Inn Rochester Mayo Clinic Area South) Blocked rooms are available for Friday (8/23), Saturday (8/24), and/or Sunday (8/25) nights.Reservations must be made by 7-23-24 to receive the block room discount. Please use the link to make a reservation Rooms available:1 King Room - $139.00/night2 Queen Room - $139.00/night&nbsp;Amenities:Rooms include fully equipped kitchen &amp; sofa bedFree parking, Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfastIndoor pool &amp; fitness center

Home2 Suites by Hilton Rochester Mayo Clinic Area

Located:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10 minutes from our wedding ceremony at Calvary Evangelical Free Church6 minutes from our reception and dance at Blue Moon Ballroom(Across the cul-de-sac from the Home 2 Suites by Hilton Rochester Mayo Clinic Area) Blocked rooms are available for Friday (8/23) and Saturday (8/24) nights.Reservations must be made by 7-23-24 to receive the block room discount. Please use the link to make reservations Rooms available:1 King Room with sofa bed - $149.00/night&nbsp;(Queen rooms not&nbsp;included in the block discount)&nbsp;Amenities:Rooms include fully equipped kitchen &amp; sofa bedFree full American hot breakfastFree parking, Wi-Fi, &amp; fitness centerHot tub &amp; Indoor pool Note: Scroll down on page to "Check Availability" button. Do not click on "Manuell Medberry Wedding Reservations" link

Residence Inn by Marriott Rochester Mayo Clinic Area South

Travel

Things to Do

Registry

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Kayla & Aaron Medberry's Ceremony Livestream

Livestream