Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

The Beginning:

I met Grayson for the first time in July of 2021 - he and his brother and friends were making their way to corn detasseling and spent a night at my parents' house. I didn't think too much of it then, until his name kept coming to mind in March of 2022 (for no apparent reason... a God thing I presume). I poked around and asked little questions about him to my brothers who had detasseled with him - of course they only had good things to say. Soon enough I got in contact with him, although it was not until July that we connected in person. My friend Kinzie and I were going to drive to detasseling together and Grayson was going to be in the STL area right before we left for detasseling. I thought it wise to invite him to drive up with us! Of course, I had a very large crush on him and was deeply investigating and examining every interaction with Grayson. We had a day to ourselves, so we went to one of my favorite cafes (City Coffee &amp; Creperie). Then we took a trip to the zoo, and I had to fight back the urge to grab his hand. Although it wasn't a date, it sure could have been. With some friends and my brothers, we spent the rest of the time talking around a fire and playing sand volleyball... my feelings only grew for Grayson. I stayed up late with Kinzie talking and overthinking every interaction I had with Grayson.We arrived to detasseling and the story seemed to come together as we got to know each other more. We spent a lot of time together whether it was sharing music on the bus (I played "You Belong With Me" as an ever so subtle suggestion) or conversations on the couch at the shop. I made it pretty clear that I was into Grayson and again was analyzing different details of the days spent together - especially with Kinzie and Shara. As I was excitedly sharing details I forgot about the fact that Shara was dating Grayson's brother Trevin. Basically, from every angle it was clear I liked Grayson and even his brother knew about it. On July 21, we enjoyed a sunset at the 2nd tallest spot in Iowa. We rode the bus back together. Grayson offered to walk me back to where I was staying. If you don't know what that means in detasseling culture - it means my heart was PUMPING!!!! Something was about to happen. On the walk under the starry night sky, Grayson asked me to be his girlfriend. I finally got to hold his hand :)

Her side

Before I ever met Teagan, I knew her brothers. I met Tim and Greg Nodorft doing agriculture work, detasseling, in 2020. So when my family had a reunion in St. Louis just a few days before detasseling in July of 2022, it seemed like a no-brainer to visit my good friends as well. I stayed at Jacob &amp; Tim’s house two days before heading off to Iowa. They each went about their busy days leaving me with a large, unscheduled gap. Some way or another, Teagan and I ended up filling that time quite nicely. We went to the STL zoo, where we looked for bears (to no avail). We walked through a nice part of STL city, and we dined in at a little French creperie for lunch. A short drive to Mason City and a few rounds of corn later, I found myself lounging around the shop. When Trevin (my older brother) asked me about the drive up, I told him about the zoo and crepes with Teagan, to which he blankly looked at me and said, “Grayson, you know you took her on a date, right?”…I did not.I really liked her, and I have never been a fan of first dates. So the idea of unknowingly getting past the first date with the girl I really liked was nothing short of an absolute win. We continued to spend tons of time around each other inside and outside of the corn rows. On July 21st, 2022, after a sunset in an Iowa state park, we went on a walk under the stars, and I asked her to be my girlfriend.

His side

What began in July of 2022 continued with long calls and frequent 500-mile commutes. The next few years were well spent. We visited the north shore each year, we explored national parks, played endless rounds of rummy in cozy cafés, and fit in more tennis, mini golf, and hockey games than we can count. We spent Christmases in Big Sky with the Andersons and rang in New Year’s in Idaho and Utah with the Nodorfts, sitting a top the powdery mountains before racing back down them. Through school, work, adventures, and all that in between we kept finding that the best part was simply being with each other.

3 years of dating :)

The Proposal!

I had a feeling the summer of 2025 was going to be special. I was living in Minnesota - close to Grayson! We had talked about getting married many times and I knew it would happen in the summer - however I had totally blocked out the idea that the month of May would be the month he would propose. Surely June would be the earliest!On the night of May 22, he asks me to go get him something from upstairs. So, I go. Little did I know he was throwing my ideal engagement dress in the freezer (yes, the freezer - this man is genius). We discuss what our plan for the next day is. The goal was to drive to Grand Marais for a camping trip with the Andersons, but Grayson was eager to leave at 8am even though his parents wouldn't be getting there till around 4pm. I didn't quite understand why he was so adamant about leaving separate and at 8am but I rolled with it. So, the morning of May 23 began with an 8am departure north bound. The goal was to stop at a cafe and then spend some time at "secret beach" just north of Duluth, MN before meeting up with the Andersons in Grand Marais. We stop at a cafe and play a game of cards while we wait for our food. After one round, Grayson started to get impatient. This confused me since I knew we had all the time in the world to get north and had only been in this cafe for 10 minutes (plus, Grayson is the most patient person at restaurants). So, we got our orders made to-go and I left with the thought in mind that we could just eat them on the beach. This was until I found out we still had an hour to go before we were at the beach. Might as well just eat in the car then! I was oblivious to his plans as I happily ate in the passenger seat. Eventually, we pull off the road and park at the secret beach. We grab some towels, sketch books, snacks, etc., and make the walk down to the beach. Grayson had recently been gifted a GoPro, so I had been fiddling around with it and taking little clips throughout the day. We brought the GoPro down to the beach, too. We set down our things and I thought it would be cute if we got a little clip of us at the beach so I set up the GoPro and quite literally said, "Now you can use this camera to secretly film the proposal someday!" Oblivious to the idea that I had done exactly that. The camera is rolling, and Grayson and I walk towards the water. He turns to me and begins pulling out a deck of cards from his pocket. He drops down on one knee and what I thought was a deck of cards was really a ring box! Instantly I'm in disbelief and jumping up and down with tears as I halfway hear what he's saying because my brain and body just exploded with the greatest emotion of my life. Easiest yes I've ever said.As I'm experiencing shock and joy, we walk to the other side of the beach where some friends were waiting with roses for me! They were here to take our pictures. Grayson then tells me that my white dress (from the freezer) was in his car (this man is too good). We took engagement pictures and enjoyed some time on the beach soaking in the joy of the day. He finally could share all the details and planning behind the proposal! Safe to say that the explosion of feelings and joy kept me up that night.

I knew Teagan was the one long before I proposed. The problem was that someone so sweet and considerate deserved a proposal that shared the same incredible traits. It all started with me looking at the calendar. Immediately May 23rd, 2025 stuck out to me. I didn't know how or where, but there was no doubt in my mind that that was the day. Come September we made our yearly trip up to the North Shore where we had spent Teagan's previous birthday weekends. We hiked down to the shore of Lake Superior and sat on the beach as we always had, just the two of us in our own world, secluded by the rocks, the trees, and the waves. That's when I knew it had to be there. When we returned from our weekend getaway, I knew exactly what it would look like.Since the beginning of our relationship, one of our staples had been playing cards in cafés. In fact, one year into our relationship I started giving Teagan playing cards with sketches and doodles, each one sorted into hearts, spades, clubs, and diamonds based on its content. This made a box of cards a perfect template for the ring box I wanted to create. The ring box consisted of two elements: a personally designed card box and a perfectly fitted wooden box to hold the ring inside. For the wooden box within, I used some of my late Grandpa’s old walnut and a slab of oak. With the eager and insightful help of my father, I had the wooden box designed, cut, and finished in just a few nights. My hand-designed card box took a lot more time. Packed with details and hidden meanings, I would get home from work and stare at the design for hours, sometimes only changing one small detail. The design became somewhat engraved in my mind. I would go off to work (at the daycare) in the morning and end up recreating it detail for detail with a crayon as the kids sat next to me and did their coloring sheets. After countless mock-ups and a few rough drafts, I finally had the boxes and ring squared away.I spent the next few months counting down the days while subtly planting the number 5.23.25 everywhere just for added fun. Call it romantic, minuscule, or downright dumb, I had some hidden nod to the proposal date or place on every project, sketch, and note that Teagan saw. I also spent the early spring casually setting Teagan's expectation for a late-summer proposal (in hopes of catching her off guard).Two weeks before, I made the trip back up to the beach where I planned on proposing. In the pouring rain I hiked out and walked through everything, down to figuring out which rock to place the GoPro on. However, there was a little hole in my plan. I wanted to have two dozen red roses waiting for Teagan as well as some disposable cameras to capture it. Thankfully, I called some very kind friends who were more than happy to help me out with that part. :)Finally, the night before the "camping" trip rolled around. We were talking in Teagan's room downstairs. I knew that the last thing I needed was to snag the white dress that she would want for pictures. I asked her to grab something for me upstairs (no clue why she did; she should have said, “No, get it yourself”), and she kindly went upstairs for it. I jumped up and snatched the white dress when I heard her footsteps heading back toward the stairs. With the dress in my hands and nowhere to go, I panicked, ran over to the deep freezer, and threw it in out of pure desperation (definitely not a genius). I hustled back to where I had been and narrowly pulled it off.On May 23rd, 2025, I woke up all too eager. I grabbed the dress out of the deep freezer, got all packed up, and rushed us out the door. On the drive up we stopped at a café and played cards, though I was much more focused on the clock. Seven minutes away, Teagan started playing this random dramatic French music. Whatever that French lady was singing about, it seemed oddly appropriate for the occasion. We pulled to the side of the road and hiked down to our beach, where Teagan was kind enough to unknowingly start the recording on the GoPro. We walked out towards the water where I got down on one knee. In case you have not yet realized while scrolling our wedding website, she did say yes, to which I am forever thankful.

Our Story

Timeline & Photos

I met the lovely Shara at Detasseling in 2022! We shared a room- she was dating Trevin and I spilled all my secrets about my crush on Grayson. I'd say it worked out! We've been on so many trips together now and she's truly a sister. Soon to share the same last name!!

Shara Anderson

Trevin is my older brother by 14 months. We have had the privilege of sharing the same childhood. A childhood comprised of road tips, rough housing, and countless hours on the backyard rink. . Two years ago I had the honor of being his Best Man, I am more than happy to return the honor!

Trevin Anderson

Kinzie's been a friend of mine for ~15 years. We grew up in the same faith and have been by each other's side forever! We had sleepovers with Pokemon and Archie comics, then it was driving to IN for donuts and parking garage sunsets. Now, it's trips to Purdue or Boston and sharing our love of matcha!

Kinzie Carr

Jacob has been a good friend of mine over the past 5 years. He also happened to grow up very close with the Nodorfts. When I was initially thinking about asking Teagan out, Jacob was there, vouching for her character with full support. Three years later when I bought the ring, Jacob was the first and only one that I called. He is the embodiment of support and for that I am glad to count him as a "Bonus Brother".

Jacob Morton

Ella has been my friend since 1st grade! We used to live a mile apart and have sleepovers and ride couch cushions down the stairs, then wake up with breakfast on the fort.  We ended up in most of the same classes (shoutout her teacher aunts for lining that up), and had some of the best memories in chem labs at SWIC. Now, its concerts and Kansas State visits!

Ella Brumley

As a Vikings, Wolves, and Wild fan, Parker and I have somewhat trauma bonded. Our families have been close as long as I can remember. Camping on the North shore has never disappointed. While Ski/Snowboard trips in Big Sky featuring Olive garden bread sticks, Risk, and Football, have ensured that there is never a dull moment. Can't forget about the numerous wildly successful fishing trips!

Parker Larson

I met Sophie my first day of college.  We sat together in physics and the rest was history! The number of spontaneous weekend trips continue to rise. Lots of camping, hiking, and saying yes to adventure occurs here (naturally accompanied by at least one thing going wrong each trip)! Coffee Friday was another key component to our friendship - simply coffee & card games on Fridays :)

Sophie Miller

I first met Max at detasseling in 2023, his genuine character and sense of humour made for a quick connection, followed by tons of Spikeball and volleyball. Since then occasional visits of Hiking and football make for a great time. Max is living proof that packers fans can be decent people.

Teagan & Grayson

Teagan & Grayson

Q + A

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