Revelton Distilling Company

Welcome Party with the Bride and Groom

The Prelude

Wedding Day: A Night at the Oscars

Ceremony

Reception

The Wedding of Michael and Rachel

(From Rachels Perspective) I moved to Wichita in August of 2021 to start my Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program. I was nervous to start over in a new state, but I was excited for the future. I knew I wanted to be involved in athletics, so my first instinct was to look into managing softball. I contacted Coach Bredbenner and we set up a meeting (Shout out to Coach B for giving me a chance). From there, I became a graduate manager and bullpen catcher (RIP to my thumb). On August 23rd, 2021, I had a compliance meeting, and when I left the meeting, I saw a couple of track members throwing discus and hammer. I had never witnessed hammer-throwing in person, so as I was walking to my car, I decided to stop by and watch from a distance (I know that sounds creepy, but just wait). Soon, I saw a tall, handsome man with a backwards hat turn around and say, Hi! Are you one of the freshmen? I was 24 at the time, so I was far from a traditional freshman, which made me laugh. When our eyes met, I immediately thought, Thats my husband. Of course, he didnt know it yet. We soon found out we were the same age, and he was pursuing his graduate degree as well. We started chatting, and then we exchanged contact information (even though I failed to save my number in his phone and only gave him my name because I was distraught by his charm). I remember calling my mom and telling her, I just met my husband. She replied, You have only been in Wichita for two weeks! A week later, he asked me to come to a party, and the rest is history. We went on our first date on September 16th, where we enjoyed a picnic by the lake. He officially asked me to be his girlfriend on October 3rd, 2021 via pumpkin painting, where he had written, Be my GF? We make each other laugh, even on the toughest days. We always prioritize quality time and making memories. He is my best friend. I could go into detail about all of the memories and adventures, but I will end with this. On May 19th, 2024, he asked me the most simple but important question, to which I replied, Yes, of course! We are so excited to celebrate our love with you all! (From Michael’s Perspective) Its August, 2021 and I was entering my final season of collegiate track and field, my seventh year in the sport. I was laser-focused on chasing an NCAA national championship and putting together a big performance at the USA Championships. I trained hard, threw far, and didn’t have time for much outside of my sport, my usual training day this time of year was around 6-7 hours long. That day, like most, I had my camera on a tripod, filming every throw, breaking down my technique, and locking in. In the middle of one of my throwing rounds, I noticed someone walking by the cage. She stopped to the side of the cage and waited patiently for me to finish. I figured she was a new athlete or maybe a recruit, so I casually asked, “Are you one of the freshmen?” She laughed and said no, she was actually a grad student who recently moved from Iowa. I noticed immediately that she had a very extroverted personality and was very social. I mean walking up to a 6’2” 240 lb hammer thrower mid practice isnt the most inviting thing so she definitely didnt mind interacting with new people. We started talking, and she mentioned she used to throw discus in high school and wanted to give it a try again. Still in practice mode, I didn’t think much of it, but I told her we had some women’s discs in the shed and went to grab a few. I handed them over, and soon enough she was out there throwing. I gave her a few technical tips, showed her videos of her throws, and before long we were just having a great time throwing and talking. We werent just taking shop that whole time though, we had some small talk to get to know each other on a surface level. She had fun with it, and I had fun seeing someone enjoy something that had been such a big part of my life. Before she left, I asked for her number and handed her my phone. She typed in her name… and that was it. No number. Just “Rachel Valentine.”  A few days later, I realized what she did and now I had no way of contacting her, I may have facepalmed internally, and I did what any respectable guy would do: I found her on Instagram by typing “Rachel Valentine Wichita”. I sent her a message letting her know she forgot to add her number and invited her to a party I was hosting for the track team that weekend, a “Anything But a Cup” party. She showed up with a RoundUp container full of vodka, which instantly cracked everyone up. The party was a blast, we had jello shots, a fire pit, yard games, cup pong, ping pong, loads of card games, and by the end of the night, it was just a few of us hanging out playing drunk Jenga, board games, and a few rounds of Halo on the Xbox. That night was simple, but something about it stuck with me. There was something easy about being around her. Real. Fun. We later started hanging out more and going on fun dates and before too long I asked her out while painting pumpkins and the rest is history.  I didn’t expect anything that day, just another training session, another throw. But somewhere between coaching her through a discus spin and watching her walk into a party with a plastic weed-killer bottle full of vodka, I realized I’d met someone unforgettable.

Serendipity

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

We have reserved hotel blocks at the top-rated hotels in Osceola, including the Lakeside Hotel Casino, the AmericInn by Wyndham, the Super 8 by Wyndham, the Evergreen Inn, and the Quality Inn Osceola. Most hotels listed require a reservation over the phone. Please see the descriptions for hotel reservation deadlines. If you are worried about pets, some of the hotels are pet-friendly! There are also a few Airbnb and VRBO options. Please let us know if you have any questions!

We have reserved a hotel room block at the Lakeside Casino, which is a 20 minute drive to the wedding venue. You would check in on Friday the 12th and check out Sunday the 14th. To reserve a room in the hotel block, please call the hotel front desk at 877-477-5253 and use the block code 2509VALENT to receive the group rate. Please reserve your hotel rooms here by August 12th. "A luxurious getaway is waiting for you at Lakeside Hotel &amp; Casino in Osceola, Iowa. With 150 spacious hotel rooms including great amenities like our casino, restaurant, pool area and WI-FI, there is never a shortage of things to do and see. Or if you’re up for a unique camping experience, reserve a spot at our RV Park. And don’t forget to check out all of our hot casino action! Gaming amenities include Blackjack, Craps, and the newest slot machines."

Lakeside Hotel Casino

We have reserved a hotel room block at the Super 8 by Wyndham, which a 20 minute drive to the venue. You would check in on Friday the 12th and check out Sunday the 14th. To reserve a room, please visit http://www.wyndhamhotels.com/hotels/03462?checkInDate=09/12/2025&amp;checkOutDate=09/14/2025&amp;groupCode=GS071225BRY. Please reserve your hotel rooms here by August 29th. "Start each morning with a free continental breakfast of waffles, bagels, fruit, cereal, and more. Enjoy free WiFi in your room or log on to the computer in our lobby. Free parking for all-sized vehicles is available with outdoor plug-ins. We offer accessible rooms and satellite TV."

Super 8 by Wyndham Osceola IA

We have reserved a hotel block at the Evergreen Inn that includes rooms with 2 double beds and rooms with 1 double bed. This quaint hotel is only 20 minutes from the venue. To reserve a room, please call the hotel and use Valentine Bryan Wedding. Prices range from $53-$65 per night plus tax. Please reserve your hotel rooms here by July 20th. "Evergreen Inn is a quaint motel located in the heart of Osceola, Iowa. This beautiful little motel has a lot of amenities to make your stay extra comfortable. You'll be sure to be greeted with a warm smile and excellent customer service. At Evergreen Inn, we do whatever we can to make sure you have the best experience possible. There are three room types available to you so you can get precisely what you need while staying with us. Whether you need a single bedroom, queen size room, or double bedrooms, we'll make sure to get you what you need. You'll also be able to enjoy some of the fun and exciting attractions and things to do right here next to the Inn. You can spend the day with family and friends at the zoo to relaxing with a glass of excellent local wine; there are a lot of attractions in and around Osceola, Iowa. It doesn't stop there either! There are lots of great places to eat. From Barbeque to authentic Mexican cuisine, There's something for everyone. We want healthy, happy, and relaxed during your stay at our Inn. Take a look below at what our valued customers in the past have said about their stay with us. If you have any questions about our accommodations or room availability, click on the button below, or you can give us a call us. Either way, we're excited for you to come and stay with us and we hope to see you soon."

Evergreen Inn

We have reserved a hotel room block at the AmericInn by Wyndham Osceola, which is a 20 minute drive to the wedding venue. You would check in on Friday the 12th and check out Sunday the 14th. To reserve a room in the hotel block, please call the hotel front desk at (641)342-9400 and use the block code Valentine Bryan Wedding to receive the group rate. Please reserve hotel rooms here by August 12th. "Join us for a free breakfast buffet every morning featuring eggs, cereal, fresh fruit, and more. Our heated indoor pool and hot tub give you the chance to relax after a long day. Each guest room includes free WiFi, a flat-screen HDTV with cable, mini-refrigerator, microwave, coffee and tea maker, desk, iron and ironing board, and hair dryer. You can book a dog-friendly room for a small fee or upgrade your stay to a suite with a fireplace or jetted tub."

AmericInn by Wyndham Osceola

We have reserved a hotel room block at the Quality Inn Osceola, which is a 20 minute drive to the wedding venue. You would check in on Friday the 12th and check out Sunday the 14th. To reserve a room in the hotel block, please call the hotel front desk at (641) 342-6666 and use the block code Valentine Bryan Wedding to receive the group rate. Please reserve hotel rooms here by August 12th. "Our Quality Inn®&nbsp;Osceola hotel offers easy access to events, historical attractions, and family-friendly destinations in central Iowa. Our hotel is located a short drive from the John Wayne Birthplace, the Des Moines metropolitan area and regional attractions like the interactive outdoor exhibits at Living History Farms and gaming at Prairie Meadows Casino. Visit more than 800 animal species at Blank Park Zoo, cheer at concerts and sporting events at Wells Fargo Arena and watch the Iowa Cubs play baseball at Principal Park."

Rachel & Michael

Rachel & Michael

R&M

Welcome Party with the Bride and Groom

Wedding Day: A Night at the Oscars

4:30 PM–5:00 PM

Ceremony

5:00 PM–10:30 PM

Reception