Update, July 8th: Well the Drushel Wedding Celebration has again been postponed... and this time renamed! Please instead mark your calendars for Sunday May 16th 2021 for the One Year Drushel Wedding Anniversary Celebration. All other details will remain the same and we cannot wait to celebrate everyone being together, happy and healthy! Stephanie and Derek met in East Lansing in the fall of 2016 with the help of their dogs, Beau (Stephanie’s chiweenie) and Hush (Derek’s red heeler). Ready to follow new business opportunities, Derek decided to move to Grand Rapids and Stephanie eagerly accompanied him. The two made the new city home and soon started discovering new restaurants and breweries to indulge at, joining new social clubs and groups, attending numerous sporting events, and making many wonderful friends. With the help of two of those friends, Derek proposed in February 2019 while on a ski trip to Boyne Mountain in northern Michigan. The group was going to stop at a lodge at the top of the mountain to take pictures, so (thankfully) Stephanie went to the restroom to freshen up and let down her helmet hair. Soon after, Derek asked if her hands were cold and if he could borrow her left one. Stephanie was delightfully surprised when he then got down on one knee and she of course said, "Yes!" So here we are, a little over a year later, planning the best wedding imaginable and we cannot wait for you to be part of it! We get more and more excited with each day and look forward to every new adventure to come.

When initially planning our wedding, we couldn't wait to have a grand, elegant ceremony and celebrate with beloved friends and family from all over the country with a buffet feast, live band and wild dance party. And then Covid-19 happened... and then it happened again... Our original date of May 24th is now one of our favorite memories together. Given restriction after restriction at the time - businesses closed, social distancing, minimized guest list - we decided to have an intimate ceremony in out backyard and inviting as many people as legally allowed. If you were to ask us now, this was one of the best decisions we could have made! We were able to take our time setting up, Derek smoked an amazing prime rib roast, Stephanie was able to prep the other food without being pressed for time, and it was the it was wonderful utilizing our everyday furniture and decorations for such a special occasion. Everything went off without a hitch - at least that the happy couple was aware of, and that's all we can ask for. The weather was perfect, guests were able to arrive safely and spend the day together, the meal was delicious and our baker was kind enough to make us a cake to celebrate with. The champagne was pouring, good times were had all around (Beau and Hush included), and we have a wonderful story to share in the future. We learned three lessons for future party hosting: 1.) If you're wearing body tape, make sure no matter what it doesn't show. 2.) Make sure you have more than enough ice. 3.) Provide guests with a seating chart, even when it's only a handful of people. Though we wish we could have included more people, we appreciate everyone's understanding and flexibility in having to reschedule again and again. We hope you all are doing well, aren't too bored being stuck at home, and ever more looking forward to May 16th 2021!