Reception

Breakfast at Nichole's

Pub Crawl

Our Wedding

Matt and I first locked eyes at a Halloween party in early November 2018. He was dressed as a volleyball coach with a bushy mustache and short shorts, and I applied eyeliner to my cheeks and nose at the last minute to create a very convincing cat costume. I stared at his sweatshirt that said “Fargo North Volleyball” and wondered why I couldn’t remember this cute brown-eyed boy who had supposedly attended my high school. Matt claims he saw me and thought I was cute too, but this fateful day was just a passing meet-cute, and we wouldn’t formally meet for a couple more weeks. After all, I had ended up at his college house party through an invitation from a mutual friend. Not long after, we met up again amongst a group of friends, and not so long after that I revealed my growing crush to our mutual friend who got us connected with one another officially. Matt was excited to go on a first date and even offered to help me move into my first apartment (he hauled up one load with me and then got distracted talking to my roommate). After moving items up three flights of stairs, Matt suggested getting coffee at 10 pm, but the coffee shop that was known to be open late into the evening had closed. We drove around town and talked instead. After that, I’m not sure we ever stopped hanging out. Our following dates included a study date at Red Raven Espresso Parlor, attending a friend’s art show, and my Christmas/house-warming party that ended in Matthew asking me to be his girlfriend slightly after midnight on December 18th, 2018. Matt and I spent every waking minute together splitting our time between our two homes on opposite sides of downtown Fargo. We adopted our four kitties in quick succession early in our relationship and had the full litter of Mishka, Juniper, Rosie, and Jasper by August of 2019. Matt and I moved in together in March of 2020 as the world shut down. We have fond memories of getting takeout from our favorite small businesses during the initial phase of the world slowing down and spending every moment together in our new apartment. Since those early firsts, Matt and I have graduated college, moved apartments a couple of times, traveled to a few dream destinations, lived through long-distance commutes, gotten our first big kid jobs, and really have just grown up together. Some of our favorite trips together so far have included Arches National park, Colorado, Sao Miguel, Azores, and Alaska. On our trip to visit my brother in Alaska in July of 2023, Matt asked me to marry him. We had just hiked 2.6 miles straight up the side of a mountain, and I was still a bit out of breath when we sat down on a rock to eat our post-hike sandwiches. Matt pulled out a ring that looked nothing like the one I had told him I liked. I thought he might be kidding, which would be way out of Matt’s character. He assured me that he was serious but had not gotten the ring in time for our trip. Luckily, this meant I got two proposals out of the deal. Matt gave me my real ring a couple months later after kneeling down on our favorite walking path around Island Park. I was suspicious that he might be up to something that day when he insisted on wearing jeans on our multiple-mile walk. A few months later, I proposed to Matthew on a short hike in Missoula, Montana. Three proposals later and now fully engaged, we began planning our future wedding. We set our sights on a wedding in 2025 which would give us enough time to thrift our decor and plan our butts off. After choosing a venue and reception location, though, we began veering off to another plan. “What if we eloped?” We considered multiple options: Antelope Island in Salt Lake City where I vowed to elope one day, the Pacific Northwest, and finally Alaska where we would be revisiting Carson in a few short months. It was settled, Alaska felt just right with its Midwest-nice charm, adventure options, and beautiful views. One location felt especially *right*. Hatcher Pass is a frosty winter-sport destination in the colder months and a lush, green mountain-y paradise in the summer. Matt and I passed through Hatcher pass on our first trip to Alaska and fell in love with its mountains, streams, and cute little red cabins nestled right in the middle of it all. Matt and I began planning our elopement for July 1st, 2024 when very few would be suspecting it and dubbed it our “engagement pictures” to get away with two extra carry-on bags we hadn’t needed for our first trip, a conveniently scheduled pedicure, and sneaking away to steam our clothes after we arrived at Carson’s home. The day of our elopement was beautiful. The sun was out and the sky was clear in the morning. We woke up early in our little red cabin, walked over to the Hatcher Pass Lodge for breakfast, and then began getting ready together followed by a quick card game while we waited for our photographer and videographer to arrive. We both got a bit teary eyed listening to a playlist of meaningful songs and thinking about the days to come. Grace and Tyler promptly arrived at noon, and we got started! We did our first look outside the cabins which appropriately brought Matt to tears. Then we packed up and headed out for a hike. We hiked a trail called April Bowls for its bowl-like lakes that are still coated with ice in the middle of summer. We jokingly took bets on whose vows would be better. We passed by many other hikers, some looking at us with curiosity and confusion, and others wishing us well. One couple, on their way down from the peak, remarked, “There’s no better place for a wedding”. We got to the top and said our vows to one another as we drank orange spiced tea that we had carried up with us. Our vows were romantic and sappy and tear-filled. The sky got foggier overhead and the air got cooler as we finished and exchanged rings. We then took some misty photos at the top and began our descent, excitedly thinking about warming up in our cabin. When we got back down to our cabin we ate sushi and blueberry chamomile cake while we warmed up. After the festivities were complete, and Tyler and Grace had said goodbye, Matt and I called our immediate family members and let them in on our secret we had kept over the past few months then went to the sauna where we reflected on our beautiful day together. We ended the night by reading our vows one more time alone in our cozy bed. The day was simple and so meaningful, just the way we wanted.

Our story

Our Story

Photos

Brewhalla is the closest hotel option to Wild Terra and a walkable distance to downtown Fargo. It features a shopping market, Drekker Brewing company, and food options. We have reserved a block of rooms which includes a 10% discount for anyone who stays for our wedding.

Brewhalla - Market / Events / Hotel

Jasper Hotel is a beautiful, boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Fargo. It is a walkable option to Wild Terra.

Jasper Hotel

Travel

Visit one of our favorite stops downtown for coffee and a pastry!

Moonrise Cafe

An authentic French bakery in downtown Fargo. A Fargo gem!

Nichole's Fine Pastry & Café

The best ice cream in downtown Fargo!

The Silver Lining Creamery

Amazing Thai food! The Drunken Noodle dish is Reid and Matt’s favorite!

Drunken Noodle

If you aren’t staying at Brewhalla we would recommend visiting! There are a lot of vendors to buy food from and it’s in a cool warehouse just outside of Downtown Fargo!

Really good Italian food. Call ahead and reserve a spot because it is always busy!

Spaghetti Western

Another amazing Thai restaurant which is located a block from Wild Terra!

ThaiKota

Great traditional American Bar food, try the pickle fries!

Pounds

German bratwurst, beer and spaetzle Mac and cheese! One of the few places that serves mushroom gravy poutine!

Würst Bier Hall

Really good Pho and Banh Mi!

Pho D'licious

Very cute little bar themed after the movie Fargo. Nestled near the entrance to the Boiler Room in Roberts alley!

Marge's Bar

Fun speakeasy located somewhere beneath Mezzaluna!

The Drawing Room

Upscale bar with fun appetizers and drinks! Located in the lobby of the Jasper Hotel.

Rosewild

A bar with a long list of cocktails and yummy fried pickles!

The Toasted Frog

A fun place to enjoy arcade games and a beer!

Pixeled Arcade and Beerhall

Very good restaurant serving mainly Italian style food, it is worth the drive over the river to Moorhead!

Rustica | Eatery and Tavern

Another fun brewery, if you have the time it is worth a visit in Downtown Moorhead!

Junkyard Brewing Company

One of the best coffee places in Downtown Fargo!

Youngblood Coffee Roasters

Comfort Diner food - A great place to stop for breakfast!

Marge's Diner

Sushi in a bowl! Matt and Reid have probably spent the most money at the this restaurant!

Reid & Matthew

Reid & Matthew

R&M

Reception