The Hidden Meadow and Barn LLC

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Local Activities

Our Wedding

Last July while spending the weekend exploring the MN North Shore, Chris and I took many opportunities to go kayaking in Lake Superior . Usually Chris is in the water first with his kayak and all of his fishing gear but on this afternoon I had finally beat him in getting out onto the water. Little did I know he was busy putting the engagement ring and a bottle of champagne into his backpack. I had paddled out a ways and was trying to finish my book . Chris usually trolls the lake with multiple lines, but that day he kept paddling close to my kayak which was weird. Instead of letting him get close I repeatedly paddled away from him (and almost ruined the engagement). Finally he grabbed my kayak and told me to stay put. From there he proceeded to ask me to marry him. With no hesitation I said YES! I made him keep the ring in his backpack since we were in the middle of the lake,I didn't want him to lose the ring among the waves. He popped a bottle of champagne to celebrate and then proceeded to toss a shiny, silver object into my boat. After my heart palpatations went away thinking he had thrown the engagement ring into the air, I realized it was just the cage of the cork from the champagne bottle. Chris had a good laugh about this. Once back on land Chris got down on one knee with the ring ( had to make it official!) and I've had this rock on my left hand ever since!-Marissa Over the winter we had both purchased kayaks and we decided that Lake Superior was going to be the location of our annual summer vacation. I brought the ring with zero plans, except I was waiting for the perfect time to ask her. We started in Wisconsin at the Apostle Islands. We had a great time. We camped, kayaked, and saw way too many man buns. The highlight was me trying to poach some firewood off state land. I was bending a dead branch with all my might. A car was approaching so I rushed the process. The branched snapped and I went flying into a swamp. Marissa was laughing at my misfortune, I ran back to the truck smelly and wet with a little twig to show for my efforts. When I got in the truck we were both laughing so hard at the whole situation I was almost at tears. After the Apostles we headed to the friendlier waters of Two Harbors. We checked into a local dive motel, and took our standard vaca nap. We woke up and decided to kayak the big lake again. I knew this was going to be the night to ask her. As we launched the kayaks I snuck the ring and some champagne into my backpack. We started paddling and our surroundings were so peaceful. I however was wreck! I always fish when I'm in my kayak. When Marissa noticed that I kept paddling towards her instead of fishing she got suspicious. She paddled away from me as hard as she could. I played it cool and fake fished for a half hour. Finally I tracked her down and grabbed her kayak and proposed. She said yes! It was the happiest day of my life. She wouldn't risk the ring exchange on the lake. I shot off the champagne cork and we celebrated. We paddled to a beach where I dropped to one knee to ask her properly. What a night, what a trip, what a story, and in the end I got the girl of my dreams.-Chris

The Proposal Stories

Our favorite restaurants near Pepin/Wabasha

J&amp;J BBQ (Nelson,WI) our favorite BBQ after kayaking the Mississippi River! <a href="http://www.jandjbbq.com/">http://www.jandjbbq.com/</a>Olde Triangle Pub (Wabasha,MN) great fish &amp; chips. Downtown Wabasha near the river (also near where our engagement photos were taken!) <a href="http://theoldetrianglepub.com/">http://theoldetrianglepub.com/</a>Pickle Factory (Pepin,WI) right on the river with gorgeous views and great sandwiches. They also have a giant Adirondack chair great for a photo op! <a href="http://www.pepinpicklefactory.com/">http://www.pepinpicklefactory.com/</a>

Our Story

Details

Photos

Jeff Will

Catie Splett

Alycia Turner

Brian Will

Joe Easley

Nicole Kern

Cassie Pickerign

K.C. Clark

Ellen Borhart

Paul Manske

Kent Hohberger

Louis Kilen

Wedding Party

Q + A

Registry

There is a block of rooms under Manske/Will. This block will be held until 8/8/17 ;otherwise reservations can be made at any time and are encouraged to be made early as this is the main hotel in the Pepin/Wabasha area.**as of 7/13 AmericInn is booked up.**Our "back up" lodging is at lake Pepin Campground. They do have motel rooms there and available. The shuttle will also drop off at this location if necessary. http://www.lakepepincampground.com/

AmericInn Hotel & Suites Wabasha MN

Travel

Things to Do

Marissa & Chris

Marissa & Chris

Wedding Party