We got married!

Brady and I met about 10 years ago at our college radio station at Iowa State. We got to know each other through our love of music and shared major in Chemical Engineering. Brady mixed live music on the station, while I managed our internal music catalog and automated radio playlists. We became best friends in college before deciding to become something more. Both of us have a love of nature and spend quite a bit of our free time outdoors - our vacations typically look like a whirlwind of hiking fit into whatever time our PTO allows. Lake Superior, in particular, is an area that means a lot to both of us. There is nowhere on Earth quite like its freshwater coasts, pristine waters, delicate rock formations, and the power of its November gales (just ask Gordon Lightfoot). Growing up in Iowa, we had limited experience with the Great Lakes - seeing Lake Superior for the first time at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was one of the most impactful trips we have taken. When we got to Munising, the town that sits next to the National Lakeshore, it was a foggy, rainy, fall evening. We had plans to kayak the next morning and hike around the area. The waves proved too powerful that day to boat safely, so the tour was cancelled. It rained on us all throughout our hikes, and many trailheads were too full for us to park. So, in short, nothing really went to plan! This could have thrown us completely off, but instead, we got to take our weekend slow, and explore on a whim rather than stick to a tight itinerary. If you've vacationed with me (Nicci) you know what I mean. We hiked through rainy forests with golden ferns, hunted for agates on rough beaches, got to know locals at Munising's dive bars, and listened to small-town bands play in one of the breweries. The golden ferns meant a lot in particular - we found a small stretch of trail where everything went silent, and there were no other people. It was like we were spirited away for a moment and all we had were the sounds of the forest. We always knew we wanted a small, intimate ceremony - probably consisting of just the two of us. When it came time to pick a location that meant most to us, a few spots came to mind. Iceland because we got engaged there. Colorado/Mt. Princeton because it feels like a second home to me. Pheasant Branch in Madison because it's our favorite place to hike. But a return trip to Pictured Rocks kept coming back to mind - and everything clicked into place from there. Our day could not have been more perfect for us. We drove to our base camp at Little Beaver Lake, where my stylist got my hair and makeup ready for the day. Monarch butterflies and some territorial squirrels were our company for the morning. There was a small sprinkle of rain while Brady and our photographer worked on tying his tie and hunting for a spot for our first look. My stylist, her cousin, and our photographer worked to seamlessly get us onto the trail for our first look together. We hiked from there out to the shores of Superior (without a map - thanks AllTrails! lol) and found a beautiful natural arch of trees for our ceremony just off of the North Country Scenic Trail. We definitely were a spectacle to some backpackers/day hikers who stumbled on our ceremony on the way to their campsites! Once we hiked back, rain had picked up again, but just enough to clear the most popular beach - Miner's beach for a sunset picnic. We had our first dance (Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron and Wine), popped champagne, and ran through the water together. The day ended with us dropping off our certificate at Alger County Courthouse. I speak for both of us when I say that this day could not have been more "us". We are so happy to share the memories of it with you all, and hope you enjoy our stories and photos.

If you’d like to send us a note, please feel free to snail mail us or send to: Nicci: n.tait94@gmail.com Brady: Brady.nickel@gmail.com

We're heading to Patagonia soon to visit the Perito Moreno Glacier, El Chaltén, and complete the W Trek (Torres del Paine) for our honeymoon! Stoked to get on a glacier again and walk...a lot in some really beautiful places :) The W Trek has been a bucket list item for us for a few years now. This is a 45 mile "thru-hike" that we're completing sort of leisurely over the course of 5 days. We're nervous for the travel, but absolutely can't wait to start exploring! Next year, we're planning to continue focusing on our fitness (Nicci through barre and Brady through Muay Thai boxing), practicing music - maybe together?? (Brady plays piano and Nicci sings), and having other new adventures near and far :) We aren't sure what the next big trip is for us after Patagonia, but some new mountain summit completions are absolutely top of the list. Hoping to camp and kayak lots around Wisconsin and Michigan as well! We also have two little not-so-kittens at home named Clive (orange) and Cid (white - also it's pronounced like Sid) who need all of the love, affection, and attention they can possibly get. These two have quickly become a huge part of our lives and somehow will turn a year old in March! They're named after Final Fantasy 16 characters. We are constantly finding new ways we need to cat-proof our homes from all of their energy :) The photo below is of our new kittens, Clive and Cid the first day they came home with us! They and Gandalf (our first pet together who passed away in 2024) were our cake toppers :)

Photographer: Madison Dahlquist Photography Assistant Photographer and Officiant: Emilee Moon (Emmoon Creative) Hair/Makeup: Wild Bees Beauty