Amy Joann Van Gessel
— and —
Nicholas John Brisson
request the pleasure of your company as we join in marriage in the presence of family and friends.
SATURDAY, June 27, 2026
Our Story
Amy and Nick met playing softball at MLK park in South Minneapolis. Amy, on a tip from a coworker, started coming to the softball games in the summer of 2022. She immediately noticed Nick's height and humor and Nick couldn't take his eyes off Amy. He looked forward to Thursdays and the chance to see her again.
In the fall, when the weather becomes too cold to play softball, some of the softball regulars play cards instead. One night while playing euchre, Amy mentioned that she had an extra ticket to a concert for the band Plains. Even though Nick had not heard of Plains before that night, he jumped at the chance to go to the show with Amy.
Amy and Nick met for drinks at the Loon Café an hour before the show. They spoke effortlessly about their lives and Martha Stewart. At the show, Nick and Amy swayed together listening to the ethereal country music of Plains. A spark formed that night.
After dating for a while, Nick and Amy decided to move in together. They found a charming duplex in the Kingfield neighborhood of South Minneapolis and moved in. They combined their styles to adorn the duplex with a warm atmosphere.
Nick always knew he wanted to marry Amy and, after a year of living together, he was certain. In May 2025, Amy and Nick took a trip to Indiana to visit Amy's family. On Saturday, May 3rd, Amy, Nick, her sister Rachel, and mother Nancy took a road trip to Holland, Michigan to visit a tulip farm under the guise of celebrating Rachel's birthday. Determined to get a photo for a “future Christmas card,” they wandered around the tulip farm for a while until they came upon an area that Nick thought was suitable for proposing. While taking the photo with Amy, Nick turned to her and dropped to one knee. He made it only a few words before tears made it difficult for him to speak. Through the tears, Nick asked Amy to marry him and Amy said yes.