Rehearsal Dinner

Grand Rapids Downtown Market

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Our Wedding

In the summer of 2019, all I wanted to do was study in peace for the MCAT. So I jetted off to Ithaca, NY where surely there would be nothing to do but study and work. Little did I know, I would meet Garrett, my forever person! By complete coincidence, Andrew (check out our wedding party page!) reached out at the beginning of the summer and put me in contact with a few friends in Ithaca that summer. Naturally, I Facebook stalked all of them and decided Garrett would be the best person to reach out to. On first impression, Garrett thought I was a high schooler, and I thought Garrett was a bit of a party animal, but it was nonetheless the start of a beautiful friendship. By some miracle, Garrett convinced me to go to the gym every day that summer, and on weekends, we would watch Westworld and Game of Thrones, cook together, explore the waterfalls of Ithaca, and go blueberry picking. The end of the summer came before we knew it and we parted ways. Surely, going to school on opposite coasts and having family in Chicago vs. Austin, there was no way anything would work out. Jokingly, I told Garrett to visit me for Fall Break. Surprisingly, he agreed! Fast forward to October 14, 2019, Garrett came to see me in Berkeley, CA, and the rest was history. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we quarantined together and it was honestly some of the best months of my life. We went on road trips around Texas, to Chicago and Colorado. Garrett was by my side through all of my applications to medical school and even came to support me in Germany during my Fulbright. We got to explore Germany and Italy while there before Garrett truly proved his love by moving to Detroit with me. Since medical school began, Garrett has always been my rock, and since the very first day I met him, he has made me a better person. He has shown me that there is more to life than the grind and shown me the value of balancing happiness with aspirations. He is the best adventure buddy and though we already have so many memories together, I can't wait to make more. Here's to a lifetime with my better half!

Against All Odds (written by Vikki)

First of all, let me set the record straight. When I first met Vikki, Andrew told me she was a "friend from high school" coming to Cornell to do summer research before the fall semester started. I took this to mean she just graduated and was getting a head start on undergrad research, only to find out she was older than me! I thought I would just show her around my favorite spots in Ithaca as a tour guide and soon-to-be college senior, but our relationship blossomed into so much more than that. How was I to know I'd meet my favorite person at my favorite school during one of my favorite years of my life? Lucky me! When we started dating, I knew what we had was special. Though we only technically started dating in the fall of 2019, it felt like we had known each other forever. Things were going pretty smoothly until our first relationship hurdle -- COVID. It was a tremendous gamble, but I asked Vikki to quarantine with me in Austin and to my surprise, she accepted! Quarantine was a great time. I was worried we would get sick of each other after spending 24/7 together. Instead, we continued to learn more and more about each other everyday. The more I learned, the more I fell in love. After our remote work was done everyday, we'd head downstairs to eat dinner and play poker with my parents. They quickly warmed up to Vikki, and she easily earned their approval. Since quarantine started, life has been a blur. We have done so much together and seen even more. Our travels took us through several states, across Europe, and most recently, to Taiwan. Beyond being a wonderful partner, Vikki has also been an invaluable inspiration to me. If not for her, I never would have discovered my passion for veterinary medicine. I never would have worked as hard as I did to get to where I am today. I never would have studied to be as successful as I am now. I owe everything to Vikki -- thankfully, I have a lifetime to pay it back. I have all I could ever ask for and infinitely more. Cheers to a happily ever after!

It Was Meant to Be (Written by Garrett)

Our Story

Photos

Maggie is my oldest friend. By some miracle, we've remained friends for over 10 years now. Maybe it's the similarities in our crotchety personalities, our shared eldest daughter syndrome, or our mutual love of cats. Either way, Maggie has been a steadfast support system and it has been so rewarding for us to grow together both personally and professionally (did I mention she goes to NYU for LAW SCHOOL?? One of the best in the country??). I am forever in awe of her work ethic, her boss girl attitude, and am so proud to call her my best friend.

Maggie Meiman

Arwa has been my closest friend in medical school. She has truly been with me through thick and thin during this experience. Her contagious laugh and smile always brighten my day and she is one of the sweetest people I know. She is always there to listen to my rants and lend her opinion on even the most inconsequential of my problems. Arwa is my go-to person, and I am so lucky to have found her at Wayne. If there's one thing I am thankful for from this school, it's that I've found another lifelong best friend here.

Arwa Saleem

I can't believe my ~baby~ sister is all grown up now. It feels like just yesterday that she was chasing me all around the house as a toddler and being an overall menace. Over the years, it's been a privilege to watch her evolve from an awkward bean sprout into a beautiful young woman, and I couldn't be more proud. While she might view me as a second mom, we've definitely become closer over the years and I can't wait to see what else she accomplishes. She is so incredibly talented, smart, funny, and I feel especially lucky to call her my little sister.

Helen Qian

I met Lauren in M3 and she soon became one of my closest friends. She is easily one of the funniest people I know and livens up any room. Lauren juggles living life to the fullest with med school better than anyone I know. She always encourages me to exercise and truly is an inspiration as a former tennis player and current ice hockey player. On top of being an athlete, Lauren is also excellent at baking and manicures! I am so grateful to have become friends through anime, sports, and the struggles of med school – truly the things that make for lifelong friendships.

Lauren Larson

Anthony ("Koko") is one of my closest friends. When we met, we had many things in common – we both transferred to Cornell, we both were pre-med, and we both enjoyed games. Those college years were some of my favorite pre-Vikki years, and I'm so glad I got to experience them with a lifelong friend like Koko.
Though our career paths diverged, Koko remained a good friend. He is determined (graduating from TOSU med school c/o 2025!!), smart, dependable, kind, and everything I could ask for in a friend. Thanks for everything, Koko!

Anthony Ko

Fun fact: Andrew is the reason Vikki and I met! He went to high school with Vikki and connected us during the summer of 2019 while we were doing research at Cornell, and I will always be grateful for this. But beyond introducing me to Vikki, Andrew is also a great friend. Our shared hobbies and sense of humor made us great partners in crime. He's the life of the party and always so much fun to be around. New York City shines brighter with Andrew there!

Andrew Kong

Allen is another member of the OG transfer squad. His eccentric ways and dank memes can put a smile on anyone's face. One of my favorite stories with Allen is when he bought a watermelon to combat his scurvy. After weeks of neglect, the watermelon began to rot and leak on the counter. We finally decided to throw it out over the gorge, only for it to explode in the bag as we were swinging the rotten flesh.

Allen Luo

I met Nevan in my junior year, a little later than the rest of the gang, but we quickly grew close. We spent many late nights gaming and talking about everything under the sun. Imagine my surprise when one day, he casually mentions he adopted a pet bird he found abandoned in the parking lot. Though unexpected, this perfectly encapsulates who Nevan is -- a kind-hearted guy who lives in the moment.

Nevan McCann

Wedding Party

Q + A

Thanks for coming! Grand Rapids Downtown Market is our wedding venue. If driving, we recommend free street parking or the McConnel Ionia lot across the street is $1/hour. Visit more options here: <a href="https://www.downtownmarketgr.com/visit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.downtownmarketgr.com/visit</a> The area is also very walkable and/or you can take an Uber :)

The Grand Rapids airport is a cool 25 minute drive from the terminal to the venue. It's also far less busy than the Detroit airport.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport

The Detroit airport is likely the easiest and most direct flight if you're coming from out of state. Please contact Garrett or Vikki if you're thinking about flying to DTW and we can help coordinate rides from Detroit to Grand Rapids.

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

Indian Trails is the most reliable bus service from Detroit to Grand Rapids. <a href="https://www.indiantrails.com/sites/default/files/media/Documents/1483_Apr2024.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">See this link for the fixed schedule.</a> Tickets tend to be $32 and the bus leaves at 10:00 AM EST sharp!

Indian Trails Bus Ticketing Station

HOTEL

We have reserved some rooms at the Embassy Suite! There is a pool, complimentary breakfast, and a happy hour. We understand the price might be out of some peoples' range, but they are suite rooms, so they're great for booking with friends or family. Please reach out to us if you need help finding other accommodation, a buddy to stay with, rides, etc! Rates are $199 for 1 king studio or 2 queens/2 room suites. They are $219 for the same but with a balcony/water views. Please book by April 25, 2025 to secure this rate!

Embassy Suites by Hilton Grand Rapids Downtown

Travel

Grand Rapids Highlights

This sculpture and botanical garden is so beautiful and fun to walk around. You can easily spend 3+ hours just roaming the grounds. Our families really loved the boardwalk area!

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Vikki's a foodie, so you know her top recommendation in Grand Rapids has to be good. KCM has some great katsu and kimbap to satisfy your Japanese and Korean cravings!

... And what's a meal without ice cream? Furniture City Creamery is just around the corner from KCM, making it a great finisher after a hearty meal. They also have yummy vegan options :)

Furniture City Creamery

The planetarium is a great place to visit, and it's only $5/person. It's also combined with the Public Museum that offers student and senior discounts for hours of fun and learning.

Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium at the Grand Rapids Public Museum

Near Grand Rapids

MSU is about 1 hour away in East Lansing. Come see where Garrett's currently attending vet school or take a stroll down memory lane if you're an alum of MSU!

Michigan State University

If You REALLY Want to See What Michigan Has to Offer...

The GM Renaissance Center is a must-do if you're spending time in Detroit. Their top-level restaurant, the Highlands, Vikki's and Garrett's favorite fine dining spot in all of Michigan!

GMRenCen

Traverse City is a huge Michigan attraction. It's perfectly centralized for easy access to beaches, vineyards, and trails. This is one of our favorite spots for long weekend getaways -- check it out if you've got a few extra days!

Mari Vineyards

The Sleeping Bear Dunes are probably the #1 most famous Michigan natural attraction. If you're headed north anyways, at least stop here for the views... just don't fall down the dune or it's a $3,000 helicopter rescue!

Vikki & Garrett

Vikki & Garrett

Registry