Voortman Residence

Rehearsal

Dinner 

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Knights Ferry Community Club

Reception

Our Wedding

We met at Big Valley Christian School. Originally meeting in preschool, before Dakota moved to Knights Ferry. Little did we know what was in store sixteen years later. Dakota transferred her freshman year of high school to Big Valley in 2018. We both graduated four years later in 2022.

Where We Met!

Merek signed to play football at Tabor college, while Dakota signed to run Track at Bethel. Both in Kansas. Both rival schools! We officially started dating on September 18, in 2022. About a month after starting our college journey! 

Boyfriend and Girlfriend! 

After a year at Bethel and Tabor, Dakota transferred back home to Modesto Junior College. Starting the year of distance! A whole year spent on lots and lots of FaceTime and airplanes. Merek spent his sophomore year as an RA and playing football. Dakota had class and worked a couple of jobs to figure out where she was gonna go for her Junior year.

Sophomore Year! 

We planned a trip for Pfeiffer beach early in the summer. It was about a three hour drive and we left around six. It was super windy but we found a good spot. We set up some music, hung out, danced for a bit. Then Merek played the song “Grow Old With Me” by Tom Odell. He got down on one knee and popped the question. And obviously Dakota said yes. Afterwards we spent the day in Monterey, got ice cream at Ghirardelli, and headed home as fiancés.

June 18, 2024

Just like that it was August and we were once again going to the same school. Merek still an RA and playing football. Dakota once again pursuing track, competing in the pentathlon. Both of us very excited to be done with distance. Very excited to spend the year at school together. Very very excited to get our degrees. And very very very excited to start our lives together.

Junior Year! 

After our wedding we will be heading back to Kansas to finish our senior year! Merek will complete his final season of football and graduate with an Exercise Science degree and a Strength and Conditioning degree. Dakota will also complete her Exercise Science Degree. After graduating we will move back to California where we will see where Merek gets accepted for his Masters program! We’re hoping for either Long Beach or Fresno. Once we figure it out we will move and start the next chapter of our lives!

What’s Next?

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

Travel

Things to Do

Registry

Hotel reservations can be made at

Travel Details

Parking available at the blue pins on the map. A shuttle will be available (from pinned parking locations) to take you from your parking to the ceremony, and back when you are ready. Street parking is also available throughout town on a first come, first serve basis. No parking in the Voortman River House driveway.

Merek & Dakota

Merek & Dakota

M&D

Wedding Day

7:00 PM

Ceremony

7:45 PM

Reception