The Pines Weddings & Events Venue

Wedding Day

The Pines Weddings & Events

Ceremony

Reception

Fall

Our Wedding

Our Story

In 2017, my move to North Dakota set the stage for me (McKenna) and Kaden to meet. At the time, he was a quiet, lanky freshman, and I was a sophomore. Our paths didn’t cross much at first, but that changed when we both joined the track team. We got to know each other and kept casual Snapchat communications going, though our conversations were minimal. Over the next two years, we both had our own relationships and experiences, but eventually, we started seeing each other in a different light. By then, Kaden had grown—a lot—while I stayed the same. Our Snapchat streak continued, and one day, I sent him an accidental snap with some strange words that we both don't remember. That little mistake sparked a conversation that never really stopped (though Kaden still claims it wasn’t an accident). By my senior year and his junior year, it was tradition for girls to ask guys for their jerseys during the state football tournament. Naturally, I asked Kaden, which led to our first picture together—and our first date. That night, we went for a walk near my house and discovered that our grandparents were both from the tiny town of New Leipzig, ND. That small connection made us feel like we had known each other forever. On that first date, Kaden, being the perpetually hungry athlete that he was, refused to eat my parents’ food and instead drove me to his house. To my surprise, no one was home. He assured me his parents were at church and would be back soon, then proceeded to make French toast. I remember sitting there, watching him cook, and thinking, Yep, I need to keep this guy around. When his parents finally arrived, they were clearly surprised to see me sitting at their kitchen table, and I briefly wondered if I had already ruined my first impression. But Kaden drove me home, and from that moment on, our story really began. I left for college at NDSU, and despite the distance, we made time for each other. I went to his games, he visited me in the city, and we made the short drive back and forth whenever we could. Eventually, Kaden joined me at NDSU as a track athlete, and I continued to cheer him on. During that time, I got a puppy, Millie, despite Kaden’s strong (and totally ignored) advice against it. Turns out, he fell for her just as much as he fell for me. In 2024, Kaden moved in with me, and we settled into life together—training Millie, playing Mario Kart, watching movies, and dreaming about the future. That fall, he decided it was time to make it official and proposed. Today, Kaden is working toward his MBA, set to graduate in 2026, while continuing his track career. I am working a full-time career in digital marketing. Our journey has been full of love, growth, and a whole lot of laughter, and we can’t wait to see where life takes us next.

McKenna Bergstrom

Kaden Pastian

Lydia Nelson

Kody Pastian

Bree Hogenmiller

Brock Johnsen

Kylie Grogan

Derek Gorgan

Christina Barstad

Sam Preston

Macy Lee

Cameron Landis

Allie Pastian

Isaac Luithle

Elizabeth Bergstrom

Tyler Bergstrom

Ellie Bergstrom

Reagan Baesler

Wedding Party

Photos

Registry

Q + A

Hotel Blocks

We have decided against booking any hotel blocks at this time, however, below are our recommendations!

Boutique Hotel in the heart of Downtown Fargo. Keep in mind it is 27 minutes from the venue, but 10 minutes from the airport!

Jasper Hotel

This spot is a 20 minute drive to the venue and about 5 minutes from the airport. It has a great pool for the kiddos and is right next to the mall.

Holiday Inn Fargo by IHG

Similar to Holiday Inn for location, but a little more elevated vibe!

Delta Hotels Fargo

Located in Downtown Fargo, this hotel is about a 27 minute drive to the venue.

Radisson Blu Fargo

Flying in? Great! The Fargo airport is a very simple airport to navigate and has more direct flights than you think. After flying in, you can get just about anywhere in Fargo under 20 minutes.

Hector International Airport

Travel

Boutique shopping, gourmet ice cream, pottery painting, coffee shops galore, local restaurants and bars.

Downtown Fargo District

The Brewhalla Market has the coolest lineup of vendors with everything from oysters, ice cream and plants, to pizza, cheese and gifts. Made up entirely of locally-owned small businesses, the Brewhalla Market is just about as Fargo as it gets.

Brewhalla - Market / Events / Hotel

A super cool brewery with crazy taps to choose from. Enjoy the large patio areas, including one on the roof!

Junkyard Brewing West Fargo

The region’s largest shopping center with four department stores, 120+ specialty stores and a spectacular food court.

West Acres Mall

North Dakota’s largest farmers market! Broadway Square in Downtown Fargo transforms into a lively marketplace featuring fresh produce, handmade goods, hot food, and beverages from 80+ vendors. Enjoy live music, cultural performances, and special weekly themes that bring our community together.&nbsp;

Red River Market

Entertainment complex with a golf driving range and simulators, plus a restaurant, and lounge.

Suite Shots

Entertainment center with laser tag, an arcade, escape rooms, and hyperbowling, plus a restaurant.

Kingpinz Social

Spend time at the lights catching a play or concert, getting some ice cream, or grabbing a drink at any of the three bars.

The Lights

Catch a movie in the recliners at Marcus Theaters!

Marcus Century Cinema

You can visit unique species like Chinese Red Pandas, Pallas’ Cats, and Sichuan Takin, North American animals like deer, otters, fox, wolves, and prairie dogs, and tons of other fun animals including reptiles, birds, monkeys, fish, and farm animals.

McKenna & Kaden

McKenna & Kaden

Photos