More than 400 weddings have been held at Niagara Cave since it opened to the public in 1934. Almost immediately, its beauty inspired romance. In 1935, just a year after opening, a young couple asked if they could get married inside the cave, beginning a tradition that flourished through the 1960s and 1970s when unconventional wedding venues were especially popular. Today, an average of four weddings are held in the cave each year.
One of the most recent weddings, held this past summer, was especially meaningful, not only for its setting but for how deeply it reflected the couple’s life together.
For Kaylee Arndt and Michael Himlie, Niagara Cave was more than a unique venue; it was where their story began.
The couple met while working at Niagara Cave during the summer of 2023. For Michael, it was his third summer working there, and for Kaylee, it was her first summer working there. During Kaylee’s two-day training, she followed Michael on his first tour of the day and trained alongside him again. That first week they went on a bike ride together, and a week after that, they had their first date, a trip to the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro.
For the past two years, Kaylee had been living in New York City while attending Columbia University (CU). After that first summer together, Kaylee had two more years at CU. During that time, Michael’s visits to New York became longer and more frequent. The couple became engaged in May and were married on August 1, 2025, in the wedding chapel at Niagara Cave.
Their engagement took place in New York City. It was thoughtfully planned around Kaylee’s favorite places. The day started with a picnic lunch in Central Park, a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and dinner at one of Kaylee’s favorite literary cafes, Edgar’s Café, and back to Central Park for an evening stroll.
When it was time for the wedding, it felt only natural to return to where everything began, Niagara Cave.
A small group of friends and family attended the ceremony as the space in the underground bridal chamber is limited.
The ceremony was officiated by Arden Strasser of Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church in New York City. He traveled to Minnesota with a parishioner, a mother-like-friend to Kaylee, who read verses from the bible.
Their wedding rings were custom-made by Viademonte Jewelry in Barcelona, Spain. Each simple silver band was inlaid with olive wood, which represented Michael’s time in Palestine.
Kaylee’s hair was styled by Erin’s on Main in Harmony, and her dress, a white A-line style dress with flowers on the bodice, was from Charlotte’s Bridal & Formal Wear in La Crosse. The bridal party were dressed in shades of blue. Terri’s Tender Lovin’ Stitches in Preston did the dress alterations.
You might wonder how the bride managed to walk through the cave in heels. Kaylee said she was comfortable walking in the cave in heels, thanks to her experience as a tour guide and the miles she put in walking through the cave.
The groom and groomsmen wore suits. Michael’s suit was purchased at the Men’s Warehouse.
The flowers were purchased from Trader Joe’s in Rochester.
The photos were taken by Ross Himlie Photography, a family member, and Minnesota Rose Photography. The DJ was Beck Brunk Sound Reinforcement of Grundy Center, Iowa.
The reception, held on the grounds of Niagara Cave, welcomed approximately 200 guests. Inspired by their shared love of books and tea, echoing one of their earliest dates on Michael’s porch, the celebration took place in the form of a tea party. Guests enjoyed cucumber sandwiches and macaroons made by Some Like it Hot. Kaylee made the cupcakes. The cake was topped with a gastropod fossil found on one of their first hikes. Vintage teacups, sourced from local thrift stores, doubled as décor and keepsakes for guests to take home. Book-themed centerpieces tied the entire vision together.
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds began their journey into married life in fitting fashion with a cave-themed honeymoon as they made their journey to their new home in Knoxville, Tenn. Michael asked, “Why have just one honeymoon.” Their plans are to spend a few months in Europe this coming summer.
Listening to them share their story, it seemed as if every aspect of their wedding reflected their life before they met each other and after. The fact that the wedding was held underground in the bridal chamber at Niagara Cave made it unique, but all the other details made it one-of-a-kind and memorable.
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