Clover Cliff Ranch

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Spring

Our Wedding

She realized it in Houston. He was already in love.

Our story begins in Spring 2021 at Kansas State University, when we got randomly assigned to the same group project in Crop Science. Erik was calm, responsible, and had definitely read the textbook. Rylee was enthusiastic, confused, and probably googling what "loam" meant mid-meeting. We passed the project. The project ended. And so did the contact. No follow-up. No dramatic goodbye. Just a “cool, good luck” and a mutual fade into academic oblivion. Enter Fall 2021. Welding class. Thursday nights. Three hours. Required. Because nothing says “second chance at destiny” like shared shop fumes and live electrical current. From the first lab, Erik stood out as a&nbsp;Welding Wizard—cool, competent, and slightly intimidating with a welding torch. Rylee, meanwhile, asked if it was “bad” for the welder to spark near her sleeve. (Spoiler: yes.) Erik offered to carpool. Rylee brought the snacks and the playlist. And just like that, Thursday nights became less about lab credits and more about the slowest-slow-burn in K-State history. A few weeks in, Erik asked if Rylee wanted to grab dinner.She said yes, thinking it was a “yay we survived the lab” outing. So they went to&nbsp;Buffalo Wild Wings, shared fries, had a great time… and then continued not dating. Was it a date? Erik thought so.Was Rylee oblivious? Deeply.Did anyone else watching this unfold start placing bets? Almost certainly. Then came&nbsp;December 2021.The Houston Trip. K-State’s bowl game. A road trip. A test of friendship, patience, and lung capacity. The trip was… not great. Traffic. Weird energy. Questionable GPS decisions. And—most memorably—hours of driving in a car with&nbsp;enough cigarette smoke to qualify as a warning label.&nbsp;Rylee, a known fresh-air enthusiast, was suffering silently. (Mostly.) But somewhere in that foggy, cough-inducing cloud, something clicked. “Oh. I like him. I&nbsp;like like&nbsp;him.” It should’ve been the moment. The realization was there. The timing was right-ish. And yet... we still didn’t start dating. Why? Honestly, no one knows. We blame road trip exhaustion. And smoke inhalation. Finally, in January 2022, we got it together and made it official. We told our friends. The response?“FINALLY.”No surprises. Just relieved sighs, a few “called it” comments, and at least one person asking what took so long. Since then, we’ve:- Yelled at K-State football games like we were on staff,- Gone on road trips with cleaner air and slightly better planning,- Shared a whole lot of fries and a whole lot of laughs. In&nbsp;July 2024, Erik proposed—no ambiguity, no Welding masks, no smoke—and Rylee said YES (out loud, on purpose, and with full lung capacity). Now we’re counting down to&nbsp;April 25, 2026, when we’ll say “I do” in front of everyone who watched this go from: “Remember when they did a group project together?”to“Wait, they’re STILL not dating?”to“It’s about time.” Because some love stories start with fireworks. Ours started with a group project, got real in Welding, took a detour through a hazy Houston road trip, and finally landed in forever. And honestly?We’d do it all again.(Minus the car.)

Our Story

Photos

Sophia Glanville

Ashli Wilson

Briana Treadwell

Christina West

Mariah Ebert

Will Bannister

Chet Redstone

Wyatt Weiss

Trevor Wilson

Lane Toon

Chris Coy

Cody Moore

Rylee Treadwell

Sadie Heinen

Sophie Heinen

Silas Heinen

Grady Treadwell

Wedding Party

Q + A

Getting to the Venue

Clover Cliff Ranch is located just outside Elmdale, Kansas, along Highway 50. The address is: 📍826A US Highway 50, Elmdale, KS 66850 From Emporia:Take US-50 W toward Strong City for about 20–25 minutes. Clover Cliff will be on your right. From Wichita or Kansas City:Plan for about a 1.5–2 hour drive, depending on your route and starting point. Travel Note:There is currently road construction and a detour on Highway 177 between Council Grove and Strong City. If you are traveling through Council Grove, please allow a little extra time and follow the posted detour signs, as GPS directions may not automatically account for the closure.

Lodging

Located at 3007 W 18th Ave., offering modern accommodations, free hot breakfast, and a 24-hour fitness center.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Emporia Northwest by IHG

Found at 2921 W 18th Ave., this hotel provides free Wi-Fi, breakfast, and an indoor pool.

Comfort Inn & Suites

Situated at 2930 Eaglecrest Dr., guests can enjoy contemporary rooms, free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and an indoor pool.

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Emporia

Located at 2900 Eaglecrest Dr., this hotel offers free Wi-Fi, hot breakfast, and an indoor pool.

Hampton Inn Emporia

A cozy 2-bedroom cottage accommodating up to 6 guests, featuring a secluded patio and modern amenities.&nbsp;​

The Lark Inn on Main St. Guesthouse

Travel + Lodging

🏞️ Explore the Great Outdoors

Just a few miles from the venue, this preserve offers hiking trails, scenic views, and bison sightings. It’s a must-see slice of untouched prairie beauty.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

A hidden gem for a peaceful walk, picnic, or quick photo op. The small waterfall is especially pretty!

Chase State Fishing Lake

🍽️  Eat & Drink

Classic, cozy, and charming—perfect for a nice dinner out.

Grand Central Hotel & Grill

A great stop if you're headed to or from Emporia. They’ve got great beer, pizza, and a laid-back vibe.

Radius Brewing Company

Need a caffeine fix? This local coffee shop has you covered.

Gravel City Roasters

Located at 809 Commercial St., Granada Coffee Company is a charming spot offering a wide variety of specialty coffee and tea drinks, along with pastries. Nestled next to the historic Granada Theatre, it's an ideal place to relax and enjoy a warm beverage.&nbsp;​

Granada Coffee Company

Jacalito offers authentic dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and their renowned molcajete. Located at 521 US-50, it's a great spot for flavorful meals in a friendly setting.

Jacalito Mexican Restaurant

🛍️ Shop Local

Specializes in architectural salvage, prairie pieces, and furniture, with a sprinkling of glassware and smaller items. Located at 314 Broadway St. Open Friday and Saturday 10 AM–5 PM, and Sunday 12:30 PM–5 PM.

Tallgrass Antiques

Offers a variety of vintage and antique items. Located at 319 Broadway.

the Vintage Bulldog

A cooperative gallery featuring handmade arts, crafts, and vintage items from local artisans. Located at 220 1/2 Broadway.

Rylee & Erik