Avery & Abby’s Wedding: The Beginning of Happily Ever After

 

Avery & Abby’s Wedding: The Beginning of Happily Ever After

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for October 12, 2025

Last weekend was a whirlwind of joy, nerves, and enough logistics to make NASA blush. Months of planning all came together for Avery and Abby’s big day, and somehow, everything went off without a hitch—well, except for the one they intended. The ceremony was beautiful, the weather was perfect, and the smiles were real. We couldn’t be happier to officially welcome Abby into our family. She’s been part of our lives for a while now, but hearing her last name officially become “Swank” still hit differently.

My sister Tracy and her husband Dave were the first to roll into town, which gave us a little breathing room to enjoy some family time before the real chaos began. We even managed to sneak in a dinner at Charlie’s on Prior Wednesday night with Avery and Abby. It was nice having a calm evening together before the big weekend kicked into full gear.

We were definitely nervous about the weather. You never know what October in Minnesota is going to throw at you—it could be sunshine, sleet, or a full-on snow globe situation. The forecast teased us with a little rain early in the week, but by some miracle, it turned into perfect summer weather. We even managed a family boat ride on Prior Lake a couple of days before the ceremony, which might officially be the latest I’ve ever taken the boat out. I’m counting that as a wedding week miracle.

My other sister, Tammy, and her husband David made it to town on Friday, so we didn’t get quite as much hangout time with them beforehand. But maybe that made the time we did have together even better—we squeezed a lot of laughs and catching up into a short window, and it was great having them there to share such a special weekend.

We don’t get too many chances to have my mom and both of my sisters together in the same place these days, so this moment felt extra special. Whenever we do, it’s always filled with laughter, smiles, and that kind of easy joy that only comes from being with family. We really do have such good times together.

Miss Sheri’s brother and our niece Karli also joined us for the ceremony, which meant a lot. It’s always special when family makes the effort to travel and be part of a big day like this. We were so glad they could make the journey to celebrate with us and share in all the happiness.

At the rehearsal dinner, we had the chance to bring our family together with Abby’s, including her parents, Andrew and Andrea. We’d met them before, but this was the first time the rest of our crew got to connect. It turned out to be a marvelous evening where everyone genuinely seemed to get along—no small miracle considering how many Swanks were in one room. The food was great, the conversation flowed, and best of all, nobody brought up politics.

Unfortunately, not all of Luke and Avery’s cousins could make it to the wedding, but the ones who did showed up ready to represent the whole crew. And represent they did. By the end of the night, it felt like they’d packed a weekend’s worth of energy into a few hours. Let’s just say if laughter, dancing, and photo-bombing were Olympic events, this group would’ve brought home the gold for the family.

Soon enough, the big day arrived. One of my favorite parts was getting to spend most of it with my boys, Luke and Avery. The father of the groom doesn’t usually have a starring role in the ceremony, but I didn’t mind one bit. I got to hang out with Avery and his groomsmen while they got ready, and it was a blast watching Luke step up as best man. Seeing those two together in tuxes was one of those proud dad moments I won’t forget.

We got to sit down last before the wedding party made their entrance, so while we were waiting for the groom to arrive, I figured—why not make the most of the moment? I turned around and asked all our friends and family to pose for a quick picture. They nailed it. Everyone smiled, nobody blinked, and it turned out to be one of my favorite photos of the day.

It was a beautiful ceremony officiated by Abby’s Uncle Mike, and he did an incredible job capturing what makes marriage so meaningful. Watching Avery and Abby stand there in front of everyone they love, promising forever, was one of those moments that hits you right in the heart. It reminded me that real love isn’t just about finding the right person—it’s about choosing each other, every day, no matter what life throws your way.

Soon enough, we were back inside and ready for the reception. My family tends to get a little rowdy once the music starts and the drinks start flowing. Luckily, it turned into the perfect mix of laughter, dancing, and harmless chaos—the kind that reminds you why family gatherings are both exhausting and absolutely worth it.

Before the drinks and dancing got underway, Miss Sheri and I took the mic to give our speeches about how much we love Avery and how thrilled we are that he found Abby. We spent a lot of time debating our approach—Sheri leans toward heartfelt and emotional, while I tend to prefer something closer to a Netflix comedy special. In the end, we went with her plan… though I may have slipped in a few attempts at humor just to keep people from completely dissolving into tears. I think we struck a good balance—she made them cry, and I made them question why we were given a microphone in the first place.

I was really impressed with how well Avery and Abby planned the day and how smoothly they handled everything from start to finish. They worked together like they’d been doing this marriage thing for years already—every detail, every tradition, every little moment felt effortless. They managed to pull off the perfect balance between heartfelt and fun, and honestly, I don’t think it could have gone any better if we’d hired a Hollywood production crew.

Avery and Abby wanted to keep things small and personal, which made the day feel even more special. We were so grateful for the friends who were able to join us—every familiar face added to the warmth in the room. It was a beautiful celebration filled with laughter, love, and the kind of moments we’ll all remember for a long time.

We had a really nice mix of family, old friends, and friends of Luke and Avery’s from high school and college. It was great seeing so many familiar faces all in one place—each one tied to a different chapter of our lives. Weddings have a funny way of reminding you how many good memories you’ve collected along the way… and how lucky you are to still be adding new ones.

There’s something special about celebrating a big life moment surrounded by friends who’ve been part of your story along the way. Nights like this remind you that happiness isn’t just about the occasion—it’s about the people who show up to share it with you. Lots of laughter, plenty of smiles, and one more reminder that life’s best moments are even better when you don’t have to enjoy them alone.

We had friends and family travel both short and long distances to join us for Avery and Abby’s special day. Some came from Iowa, Texas, Georgia, Florida—even as far as Hawaii and London, England. It was incredible to look around and see how much love surrounded Avery and Abby. Moments like this remind us just how blessed we are to have such amazing people in our lives—and how joyful it is to watch Avery and Abby begin their journey together as husband and wife.

@toddswank I finally got access to Sora 2… and obviously the first thing I did was paint a Vikings logo on Lambeau Field. 😈 This AI is getting way too real. CRAZY! #Sora2 #GreenBay #minnesota #vikings #Skol ♬ Good Time - Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen

@toddswank Launchpad Golf is Now Open! #golf #drivingrange #greatfood #twincities #launchpad ♬ original sound - Todd Swank