Wedding Day

Ceremony

The Cheney Place

Reception

Our Wedding

Our Story

Photos

Madi and Rachel have been friends for 5 years, meeting at Madi's small group in early 2019. They immediately became friends due to their similar senses of humor and interests. The two love to crochet, read, and drink coffee together. Madi has even been converted to a cat person after living with Rachel's cat, Pipsqueak for a year. She is the happy owner of two cats, Mae and Nora!

Madilyn Vanderstoep

Courtney and Rachel have been best friends and "twin cousins" since the day Rachel was born. Some of Rachel's favorite memories with Courtney include playing together at Gun Lake, having countless sleepovers, and supporting one another during every single lifetime event. Courtney is the proud owner of a pup named Luna! 

Courtney Wild

Madi and Rachel are cousins and have been close as long as Rachel can remember. Madi was the first of the family to go to Grand Valley, inspiring Rachel to follow her to Grand Rapids where she would eventually meet Matt! Madi is the proud mother to two wonderful children who will be featured in the wedding- Beckett and Griffin!

Madison Massom

Katelyn and Rachel are cousins and have been close as long as Rachel can remember. Katelyn and her husband Josh have always been role models for Rachel. Katelyn is the proud mother of two wonderful children who will be featured in the wedding- Avery and Owen!

Katelyn Russell

Nathan is Rachel's brother and has been a close friend of hers throughout her entire life. Some of Rachel's favorite memories with Nathan include family vacations, going to ArtPrize together, and watching silly movies together.

Nathan Rose

Alyssa and Rachel have been close friends ever since living together in Grand Rapids. Together, they share a crafts and cats. Some of their favorite bonding experiences include movie marathons and karaoke nights. Alyssa was the last of the former roommates to adopt a cat- she is the proud owner of a little boy named Winston! 

Alyssa Harms

Kenzi and Rachel have been close friends ever since living together in Grand Rapids. They also share a love of cats and crafts, spending many nights reading, crocheting, and laughing together. Kenzi was the second former roommate to be converted to a cat person-  she is the proud owner of a cat named Nelli!

Kenzi Sall

Angie and Rachel have been best friends since they were in first grade together! Some of Rachel's favorite memories with Angie include going on trips together, getting ice cream, and having Angie come visit her in Grand Rapids. Angie is a proud dog owner of a dog named Krypto!

Angela Prahlow

Avery Russell

Jamey and Brook

Beckett Massom

Griffin Massom and Owen Russell

Matt met Trent during freshman year of college back in 2017. They’ve been close friends ever since—hitting the gym, trying new foods, and going to concerts together. Some of Matt’s favorite memories with Trent are chilling at the beach and having deep late-night conversations. Trent has been a reliable and loyal friend through the years, and Matt is excited to have him by his side on this special day. Trent helped capture the proposal as one of the photographers.

Trent Winger

Matt met Dane on the same trip where Rachel and Matt first connected, and they’ve been close ever since. As roommates, they’ve shared a lot—from attending the same small group to Dane turning Matt into a Lions fan. Dane has been a steady and dependable friend, and Matt is grateful to have him here today. He was also there during the proposal, sneaking around with a camera.

Dane Miller

Matt met Nate back in middle school. When he found out Nate was Canadian too, he pretty much decided they had to be friends. He really values their high school years—Nate helped shape him into the outgoing person he is today. From gaming and playing sports to spontaneous adventures and vibing to the same music, Nate has been a constant in Matt’s life. He couldn’t imagine this day without him.

Nate Clink

Matt met Darnell in high school around the same time he met Nate. They bonded over anime, gaming, and stargazing. One of Matt’s favorite memories is staying up for hours chatting on Discord while he was in China, swapping anime recommendations. He’s pumped to have Darnell here to celebrate with him.

Darnell Clink

Matt met Kyle during the first week of college, and they got through it all side by side. They’re currently roommates and share a love for biking and watching ridiculous shows. They’ve experienced a lot of life together, and Kyle has been a great friend through it all. Matt is really excited to have him here for this special day.

Kyle Vandenheuvel

Matt met Justin in college, where they studied computer science together—along with data science and math minors. He has a ton of memories from late-night study sessions and powering through tough math classes with Justin. They’ve spent a lot of time watching anime, playing JRPGs, and biking. Matt’s really glad Justin is here to be part of this day.

Justin Kaukonen

Matt met Travis through Campus Ministry and mutual friends in college. They were on the same trip where Matt met Rachel. They share a love for board games, D&D, and all things fantasy. Some of Matt’s favorite memories with Travis are when Travis would beat him in Smash Bros and they’d wind down with funny shows. Travis is now a middle school science teacher, and Matt is really happy he’s here to celebrate with him.

Travis Myers

Matt met Chris through Campus Ministry in college, and he was also on the trip where Matt met Rachel. Over the years, Matt has dragged him into playing strategy games like chess and Hearthstone. They both geek out over Star Wars, Dragon Ball Z, D&D, and pretty much anything nerdy. Chris is currently in seminary, training to become a pastor. Matt is really glad Chris is here to share this special day with him.

Chris Tortorelli Jr.

Wedding Party

Q + A

3 minutes (1.2 miles) from The Cheney Place You are able to select different check in/check out dates as needed. Reservations must be received by 5/29/25. Parking - 10$ per night with In/Out privileges

Embassy Suites Downtown

10 minutes (7.4 miles) from The Cheney Place You are able to select different check in/check out dates as needed. Reservations must be received by 5/29/25. Free Parking

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Grand Rapids East, MI

7 minutes (2.4 miles) away from The Cheney Place

Hampton by Hilton

Travel

The location of the proposal! A scenic hiking spot featuring towering dunes, forested trails, and great views of Lake Michigan. The trail includes boardwalks and stairways leading to a peaceful beach, making it a great place for a nature walk or a quiet escape. A bit out of the way of town (about 40 minutes), but absolutely worth the visit if you enjoy hiking and want to visit a quiet beach.

Rosy Mound Natural Area

A beautiful mix of gardens and art, featuring everything from a tropical conservatory to large-scale sculptures. Perfect for a relaxing stroll or exploring seasonal exhibits!

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

A great spot to see a wide variety of animals, including lions, penguins, and red pandas. The zoo also offers interactive experiences like animal feedings and a zipline adventure.

John Ball Zoo

A lively marketplace with a diverse mix of food vendors, offering everything from fresh baked goods to gourmet tacos. A great place to grab a meal or shop for local specialties.

Grand Rapids Downtown Market

A well-known brewery with a welcoming atmosphere, excellent craft beers, and a solid food menu. Whether you're stopping in for a drink or a meal, it’s a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. Founders offer tours and tastings as well

Founders Brewing Co

Things to Do

Registry

Amazon

<a href="https://www.amazon.com/wedding/share/shan-rose " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/wedding/share/shan-rose</a>

Cash

We are more than happy to receive gifts in the form of cash. If you'd like to gift virtually, feel free to send us cash via Zelle to matthewshan99@gmail.com We would be using the money to make improvements to our home or on travel :)

Rachel & Matthew Jiahua

Rachel & Matthew Jiahua

R&M