Rehearsal Dinner

Evergreen Gardens

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Berthusen Park

Day After Brunch

Rehoboth Reception

Our Wedding

Neil’s version:&nbsp;I really like how we met. I feel like so many people become couples through one-sided pursuit or through online dating. I like how symmetric and swift and naturally our relationship began. That's what I kind of struggle to succinctly articulate how we started dating. Taylor really enjoys the story of her being at the soccer game. While I do enjoy that story, It was not the beginning of our relationship. Maybe it would have been nice had I asked her out at that point but that's not really my style. The next time we interacted after that and the first time we really had any interactions was on a hike with another Lyndenite. Following that, we had a couple one-on-one interactions including a run or two and a hike. A couple weeks later we went on a hike in the evening. For some reason I forgot to bring a water bottle. When we had finished the hike and we were back at the car it was very clear that Taylor wanted to extend the interaction. I remember her grabbing her water bottle and migrating back to the bumper of her car and commenting how pretty the stars were. This was unfortunate for me. I really wanted to continue interacting with her but I was also pretty dehydrated at that point. I felt bad because I asked her if we could leave. It was a delicate balance because I didn't want her to think I wasn't interested but rather truly needed water. When we got back to where I lived, I invited her up so we could continue talking but I could help my kidney… we ended up talking till 2:00 a.m. that night and eventually talked about having feelings for each other.

Taylor’s Version: I was on my first clinical rotation of PA school at Northwestern. Because of some church connections, I got the opportunity to return to a place I had gone on a mission trip as a high school student: Rehoboth, NM. I had planned that my clinical year would have absolutely no distractions - I would focus and work hard to finish up my program...   **enter Neil**   My clinical preceptor ran some sports med so I was assisting at a game. I got chatting with an assistant coach because we had the same alma matter: Calvin. The doc I was with told us to be quieter because the head coach kept turning around. The doc thought we were distracting the soccer players and being too loud and the coach was mad at us. Later on, I found out Neil (the head coach) kept turning around for a different reason. A mutual friend from church introduced us by inviting us both on a hike together around Labor Day weekend.   The next weekend Neil took me on a hike called the Crevice and after three weeks of getting to date in person, I was shipped all across the country for my program. Neil drove/flew to wherever my clinical rotation was every single month for a whole year making his way to Washington, Colorado, Michigan, and Iowa. I did not make it easy at all for him, but he proved he was willing to pursue and love me no matter where I went.

Our Story

Photos

So there are some things you should know. There are A LOT of decisions that have to be made when planning a wedding: do you want to buy or rent, do you prefer this or that. The decisions never end. Choosing a best man was easy. The criteria are right in the name! I need someone who is the best, and someone who is a man. Eric fits both those descriptions. 

Eric Weeda

The younger sister of the bride-to-be, Hailey has been a best friend for more than 23 years! Taylor had the honor of standing up as maid of honor on July 7, 2024 as the three Ten Pas kids added another brother to their mix when Hailey married Colton. As they have stepped into the phase of young adulthood, both their interests shifted from American girl dolls and polly pockets to cadaver dissections, ischial tuberosities, and the inner workings of the brain. Though they may not have believed their mother's words as children, as adults now it does hold true that "a sister is a built in best friend."

Hailey Cohoon (Ten Pas)

Author, blog writer extraordinaire, genuine, thoughtful, joyful-hearted, and trouble player champion - there is nothing not to love about Hannah! Calvin roomies during Taylor's freshman year (thanks to @Emma getting a stomach bug) and soul sisters since. Hannah has been a shoulder to cry on, a prayer warrior, a voice of reason and wisdom, and gets some big credit for fashion advice on the day Taylor picked out her wedding dress. They both have strong belief that the Lord knew they would need one another in college and are beyond thankful for the sweet friendship they share.

Hannah Kuhn 

There are so many things one could say about Jimmy. He is a gregarious, fun-loving individual. More than that, he is a loyal friend, down for any adventure. A couple years back, the Angels landing hike in Zion was moving to a permit system. A couple of weeks before that, I enquired to see if he would be willing to join for the hike (Mind you that neither of us lived anywhere close to Zion at the time). As always, he was willing to give it a shot, even though he is not the biggest fan of heights. That's just who Jimmy is: he will be there for you at all the highs and lows. 

Jimmy Cerone

You know how high school year books often have a section about class superlatives for the senior class? No? maybe it was just my school... Anyway, when we were seniors, my only claim to fame for those senior class superlatives was to be voted inseparable males with Kyle. For the picture, we thought it would be funny to get a triple xl shirt and both be wearing the same shirt. Furthermore, we decided to hold a pineapple. Why? Because that is the type of people we were (and are). Anyway, we have not talked since then because he chose to go to Calvin (Hopefully he shows up!)

Kyle Timmer

If you were to give these two an introduction it would be "the unlikely duo". Living just down the road from one another since they were toddlers, they grew up jumping into the VanHulzen pool off the trampoline and having sleepovers with chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. Through the years they had opposite friend groups, sports, extracurricular activities (not to mention rival colleges).  Their friendship has remained true as the two have tackled adulthood and hard changes in similar fashion. Taylor knows that Riley will always have her back and be her #1 hype woman!

Riley Van Hulzen

AKA, Taylor's chemistry friend. The two combined forces for biochemistry in their junior year at Calvin, merging Kaitlyn's natural knack for anything involving data analytics with Taylor's excitement about human anatomy -  biochemistry was SO much more fun! Beyond that, even with the business of planning her own wedding in March of 2024, Kaitlyn was one of the people sending encouragement and praying for Taylor the most throughout the trials of PA school.  Taylor is immensely thankful for that O-chem lab when the prof made them a group of three during sophomore year at Calvin.

Kaitlyn DenHaan (Westra)

As Taylor got to know Hope a little bit, there have been times when she has told me (Neil), "Hope is just like you". Being an older brother, I was reticent of this comparison initially. But then I realized that she is studying physics. She also really enjoys a good board game. She is also quiet and thoughtful. You know what, maybe I do see it. Regardless, I am glad she is my sister! 

Hope Weeda

Don't let his goofy mannerisms fool you, Micah is likely one of the most thoughtful, talented, and deepest thinkers you will ever meet... and also goofiest. Taylor's brother, although nearly 5 years younger, can hold his own in an intellectual discussion around Socrates, Plato, Hume, or any book of the Bible for good measure. Micah inspires Taylor to continue reading, researching, and digging deeply into thoughtful conversations with her community as that is exactly what he does. Taylor is not at all biased when saying that she has the coolest brother ever.

Micah Ten Pas

Team Ten Pas dream team - the family lucked out with having both a PA and nurse around! A younger cousin of Taylor's, the two developed a deeper friendship while studying in healthcare fields (and attending Northwestern College at the same time) over the last couple years. They have similar tastes for many things like style, music, and opinions that Disney movies are the absolute best. If you were to choose your own pediatric nurse - Taylor thinks you should absolutely choose Katelyn for her sweet nature and joyful personality, just a few of the things that make her such a good friend.

Katelyn Ten Pas

Best buddies growing up in Lynden with a reconnection during Taylor's years in Iowa for PA school. Kaysha and Taylor both will say that the Lord knew they were going to need the friendship of the other over those years and beyond. Kaysha has helped Taylor how to learn to be more spontaneous and take hold of opportunities, whether or not they were part of the "plan". Taylor values Kaysha's genuity, trustworthiness, honesty, and appreciation of beautiful hikes. She plans to use Kaysha's knowledge of national parks for many vacation plans in the future!

Kaysha Steiger

Wedding Party

Hailey: What clicked in each of your guys's brains that made you interested in starting to date one another?   Neil: Essentially the first time we really interacted with one another was on a hike. After church, a mutual friend, Nicole, took us on a hike. I was very quiet on that hike and spent a lot of time listening. Anyway, when we got back, I requested to follow her on Strava. I then went on a run. When I got back from my run, she has accepted my follow request and I saw that she had just done a 10 mile workout that morning. At that point, I knew she was my athletic equal.    Taylor: Neither Neil or I are quick to make important decisions - we both like to sit with things before taking action. Which is why it is honestly so surprising that we decided to date after knowing each other for 2 weeks and made it work in the long run after only dating in person for 3 weeks before a year of Neil chasing me across the country wherever I had rotations. I think it clicked in my brain when we did the Crevice hike. For the non-Rehoboth family + friends... the hike's climax is progressing down the crevice with your back against one wall and feet in front of you on the other (chimney style). Not only that adrenaline-inducing experiences bond you to the person who knows the way out. During that hike, Neil and I went through a lot of the first date genre of questions and realized that we view the world quite similarly.

Eric: What are your stats: height, 40-yard dash, vertical jump, bench, deadlift Taylor:Height -&nbsp;5'7"40 yard dash -&nbsp;7.11sVertical Jump - 32"Bench -&nbsp;75Deadlift -&nbsp;210 Neil:&nbsp;Height -&nbsp;5'10"40 yard dash -&nbsp;6.63Vertical Jump - 32"Bench -&nbsp;120Deadlift -&nbsp;265

Hannah: What's been your favorite date you've been on together and why? Neil: Our valentines date! A couple days after Valentines day, I was in Lynden. On that trip, we dressed up and went the the Newsroom Pub. It was fun! The food was pretty good, I can recommend the baked mac-n-cheese with brussel sprouts (although the roux was a little grainy). Anyway, Taylor was wearing a nice dress and she got a burger! I have a fun memory of her in that nice dress eating a pub burger. Fun!&nbsp; Taylor: I think my favorite would have to be the Albuquerque zoo. We swung by there in January when I took a trip to NM for my birthday week. It was kinda cooler temps and a weekday so the zoo was pretty empty which worked nicely in our favor. Neil was entertained at how much I loved the penguins. It was just fun to be caught up in how fun a good zoo is - feeling like we stepped back into the childhood wonder of seeing hawks, wolves, monkeys, tiger, and so many others.

Jimmy: What is the other person most likely to die doing? Taylor: It would be a freak accident since he is usually very careful when backpacking/climbing. He would probably be canyoneering and fall of the edge of the Grand Canyon.&nbsp; Neil: Anaphylactic shock... Taylor's going to develop a peanut allergy late in life and find out when she eats a Reeces. And for some reason or another she cannot make it to the hospital in time.&nbsp;

Riley: If your fiancé was a cartoon character, who would they be and why? Neil: Road Runner, Duh! Can you think of someone who likes running more that Taylor? Taylor: Alfredo Linguini from Ratatouille... he is gentle and kind. He knows how to work hard and is a friend to all. And he is a redhead too!

Kyle: What is the strangest quirk or habit you have noticed about the other person, even if it just makes you love them more?&nbsp; Taylor: SUPER quiet thinker. Often, when he has been thinking and not saying much, he has something profound to offer. The kinds of people who talk just to be heard never get to appreciate this side of him. Neil: "coldcoldcoldcold"Ask Taylor

Kaitlyn: What are 3 similarities (value/interests/characteristics) between you two that you've appreciated in your relationship? Neil: I'm sure grandma Weeda would appreciate this; we both love dessert. Second, we are both a little crazy in the head. After a week of dating, we decided to hike Mt. Taylor. It happened to be the day of the Mt. Taylor 50K. At the time, both of us thought that would be a really fun experience. So yeah, both a little crazy in the head. Finally, there is the fact that opposites attract. She went to Calvin and I, Hope.&nbsp; Taylor: Neil and I got set up by a mutual friend (Nicole). After we were dating, Nicole told me that she saw a couple of similarities between the two of us. She said she wasn't going to meddle, but she knew we had to meet. Those three things she saw I think are three similarities I come back to that I really appreciate between the two of us: (1) Faith -&nbsp;this is something important to us both and a crucial part of who we are and how we act (2) Active - we both love being outside whether that is running + hiking or learning new skills like backpacking or rock climbing for me! (3) Deep thinkers - Neither of us is satisfied with surface level answers to big questions. We like to push and know how things work and find ways to make them work better

Hope: What is the best hike/run you guys have gone on (best by whatever criteria you want)? Neil: The week after I ran the Mt. Taylor 50k, we went back to Mt. Taylor. we did an 11 mile run. It was horrible. It was also really good. There was a tunnel of golden aspens that we ran through. It was pretty good.&nbsp; Taylor: I think probably the first trail run I took Neil on in Washington. We ran around fragrance lake and in the Chuckanut Mtn region in Bellingham. It was so much fun for me because it made me see the beauty in a new way again. Neil was so captivated by the mossy trunks of evergreens and the ferns and undergrowth - I think it made me appreciate how phenomenal and beautiful the area really is.

Micah: Taylor - What is your favorite hike or adventure in New Mexico, and why? Neil - What is your favorite hike or adventure in Washington, and why? Taylor: I think probably the second time we ran Mt. Taylor. It was the week after Neil's 50k on the mountain and we headed back for a long run. The fall colors were in prime with tons of yellow aspens. It was hard but also so much fun to just be able to run/hike and explore/enjoy the beauty together. Neil: While Taylor had a rotation in Seattle, I went on a 5-day backpacking trip in Olympic National Park. I really enjoyed that mix of rainforest valleys and high mountain passes. It was a good time!

Katelyn: When was the moment you knew you wanted to spend the rest of your lives together? Neil: Taylor has abundant desirable qualities that are easy to see, but there was one activity that I wanted to make sure she tolerated at minimum. In January of 2024, we backpacked in the Grand Canyon. And Neil Alden Weeda in his infinite wisdom chose a horrible trail. Like, I mean... SO bad. There were parts where rock slides had destroyed the trail. Also, on the second day, I forgot to get water. So yeah... the fact that she didn't break up with me on the spot was a very good indication.&nbsp; Taylor: There have been so many moments, so I will give honorary mention to a couple. One of these moments was when I was living in Denver and working at the Women's Correctional Facility with a lot of stress from school. He was such a good listener and helped me tone back my anxiety and stress levels. Another major one was at the end of my OBGYN/peds rotation in Gallup. I got a stomach bug the day before I took my rotation exam. He stayed up rubbing my back and slept on the floor in the next room over - letting me take his bed because I was too miserable to move a muscle that night. There have been so many other moments that let me see that he has a heart of gold and will always be there to love and support me.&nbsp;

Kaysha: Who was the first to say "I love you" and when did they say it?&nbsp; ﻿Neil. 10.06.2023. On the green couch in the mission house.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Q & A From the Bridal Party

We asked each of the members of our bridal party to submit a question they thought we should answer!

Questions from the Bridal Party

Q + A

What to Do in Washington

We have had a lot of fun dates and adventures together in Washington. We know some of you will travel far to celebrate with us and make this your summer vacation. So we wanted to share some of our favorites and a couple that are on our "to do" list in the future!

Seattle Things to Do:

The park we both enjoyed running to quite frequently during Taylor's last rotation at the Fred Hutch cancer center. It gained new meaning on August 2 when Neil got down on one knee here!

Golden Gardens Park

A neat place we enjoyed running to when Taylor was in her oncology rotation! If you are lucky you might catch the salmon using the fish ladder too. Make sure to swing by Discovery park and the space needle park to see the sights of Seattle.

Ballard Locks Fish Ladder

A scavenger hunt for you! Try out these great food places or tourist musts: (1) Beecher's homemade cheese(2) The gum wall(3) Piroshky Piroshky (Neil and Taylor both liked the sweet pastries the best)(4) Take a photo by the pig!(5) Stand by the main fish counter to watch them throw fish whenever one is bought (hint, very close to the main pig)(6) The Daily Dozen doughnut company(7) Chukar Cherries(8) Ivar's is Taylor's favorite place to grab a good bowl of clam chowder if you are up for a walk down to the pier! They have fancier indoor seating or fun outdoor seating with a view of the water!

Pike Place Market

Our last date before getting engaged! Little did Taylor know, but Neil had been planning how to get her to dress up without being suspicious of an upcoming proposal that afternoon!

Chihuly Garden and Glass

This was near the last house Taylor lived in during her rotation at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center - the bakery thankfully was not discovered by Neil until near the end of the rotation or it would have been doughnuts every day. Both agreed the best they had ever eaten!

Larsen's Bakery

Whatcom County (Lynden, Bellingham, etc.)

Neil's Favorite: Fudgy WudgyTaylor's Favorite: Black Licorice

Edaleen Dairy Store

A wonderful view of the ocean and mountains from here! You can easily park and walk along the boardwalk... great place to set up a hammock too. And don't forget to swing by the Woods Coffee for a treat!

Boulevard Park

This is a no brainer on the "to do" list for a chill day in the Bellingham area. Lots of local shops will also let you rent kayaks or paddle boards. See if you can find the rope swing if you paddle to the opposite side of the lake! Also, this can be a run/mountain bike destination as well. There is a very easy short gravel loop around the lake. On the backside of the lake, you can connect to the horse trails to run on. If you go far enough over the ridge, you will get to the Galbraith Mountain trail system as well!

Lake Padden Park

A great place for a date at sunset! There is a nice restaurant called "CJs" just down the road if you want to get dinner or walk along the pier at the very end of this little islet. Get the mountain and ocean view - a two in one!Semiahmoo is nice because you do not need a state parking pass to park anywhere!

Semiahmoo Park

Where we had our Valentine's date this year... Neil had the best mac n' cheese with Brussel sprouts and all - Taylor had a very good hamburger!You can walk downtown on front street and swing into Village Books for a Lynden souvenir or into avenue bread for a very good sandwich, and don't forget Dutch Mother's Bakery for your doughnut needs!

The Newsroom Pub

Right after Neil and Taylor's mom went whale watching, they went to a jewelers in Bellingham for Neil to get Taylor's ring. It was quite the convincing cover up story, Taylor was none the wiser and had no suspicion for what else Neil had been up to that day!

Bellingham Whale Watching- Bellingham

You can have one foot in Canada and one in the US! This park you can cross the border without a passport as long as you stay within the realm of the park itself. Some very pretty flowers and a fun place to setup a picnic.Taylor had a high school XC meet here every year... a true "cross country" experience!

Peace Arch Historical State Park

One of Taylor's favorite study locations! She studied here during her neurosurgery, family medicine, and emergency medicine rotations. They have very good white chocolate mocha's, but you can't go wrong with a mudslide or avalanche (a 16oz size is called a "cedar" and a 12 oz is "spruce).

Woods Coffee

Running, Backpacking, Hiking (and bears... oh my!)

A really stunning 8 mile roundtrip hike (or run)! We think most of our guests would be capable of completing this hike, but it can be a little difficult to get to the parking lot if you don't have the right vehicle.

Church Mountain

If you can force yourself to be an "early bird gets the worm" person - would recommend catching the sunrise up here! Download an app like "Alpenglow" to see when you need to be at the parking lot for the best colors.It will have a little less snow than when we went snowshoeing but it certainly won't all be melted if you want to bring a sled! And on your way down, make sure to stop in Glacier at Wake 'n Bakery for a sweet treat or coffee!

Artist Point

Neil did a 100+ mile backpacking trip in Olympic over 5 days during one of Taylor's weeks working at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. Taylor was jealous she did not get to go along and see all the phenomenal views Neil experienced!

Olympic National Park

Galbraith Mountain is arguably Taylor's favorite place to run. So many fun trails to get lost on and different variations of incline. Galbraith is generally less steep than Chuckanut. This is also the place to be for anyone who wants to be mountain biking when they visit! The local mountain biking league does an excellent job at trail maintenance.

Galbraith Mountain Bike Park North Entrance

A favorite trail system Taylor and her Dad have run on for many years. The views do not disappoint... and neither do the hills so make sure to pack some water and snacks if you are out for a long run!

Chuckanut Mountain / Pine & Cedar Lakes County Park

We would grade this as a moderate level hike - for most of our guests this should be a very manageable hike. Or you can make it a run like Taylor and her Dad usually do! At the top you can look out over the bay and see the oyster beds.

Oyster Dome Trailhead

One of the favorite places to go to see what the tide pools are hiding! A field trip when Taylor was little and a park that still reveals many treasures of sea stars, mussels, sea cucumbers, sand dollars, lots of baby crabs, limpets, and more! Make sure to search online for when the tide will be out because otherwise all those fun things will be covered by the water!

Post Point Heron Colony Site

Sightseeing

Dress Code

We kindly ask guests to dress in attire suitable for a wedding celebration. Ladies may opt for dresses, skirts, or dress pants, while gentlemen are welcome to wear button downs or polos, and dress slacks.  Thank you for helping make this day special, and we look forward to celebrating with you in style!

RSVP Deadline

We can’t wait to celebrate with you! To help us plan, please let us know if you’ll be joining us by&nbsp;May 15. Kindly submit your RSVP through our website. If you have any special dietary needs or other requests, please let us know when you RSVP. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Recommended Hotels

We know that many of our dear friends and family are traveling from across the country to join us, and we understand that travel expenses can add up quickly. While we don't have rooms reserved at any specific hotels, we wanted to share some accommodations we would recommend in the area: Upscale Options:The Inn at Lynden&nbsp;(Lynden)Semiahmoo Resort&nbsp;(Blaine) Mid-Range Options:Cobblestone Hotel &amp; Suites&nbsp;(Lynden) More Budget-Friendly Options:SpringHill Suites&nbsp;(Bellingham)TownePlace Suites&nbsp;(Bellingham) For those who prefer a more outdoorsy stay:The&nbsp;KOA&nbsp;in&nbsp;Lynden&nbsp;offers cabins and space for campers.

Transportation

Airport RecommendationsThe best way to get to Bellingham if you are flying is to land in Vancouver, British Columbia, Bellingham, Seattle, or Everett, Paine Field. Ground TransportationIf you can rent a car that would be best. There is also a shuttle service from SeaTac to Bellingham called Bellair Charters.

Taylor & Neil

Taylor & Neil

FAQs & Travel Information

Dress Code

RSVP Deadline

Recommended Hotels

Transportation

The Inn At Lynden

Semiahmoo Resort Golf & Spa, Trademark Collection by Wyndham

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Lynden

SpringHill Suites Bellingham

TownePlace Suites Bellingham

Lynden / Bellingham KOA Journey