| The Cast and Crew | KelseyAndMeghan

Kelsey's Lady of Honor

Krista Hennings

Krista and I have been best friends and roommates basically since the moment I got back from France. We have bonded over beer, laughter, sun, and great TV on DVD. Being an only child, it's amazing that she can put up with living with me (I have no idea how Meghan's going to make it!!!), but I wouldn't change a minute of our good times together for anything! Every time I come home, even for a quick stop, I can't get out of the door in less than 30 minutes because we always spend too much time gabbing! She always makes me laugh, is always up for a beer at Sweeney's, is constantly reevaluating her life, which subsequently makes me do the same, and has a hugely underestimated strength of will that is a constant source of amazement for me. Heck, the woman just one day up and decided she wanted to do a marathon, and in two weeks was running 12 miles like it was nothing-- CRAZY! :)

Best quote ever from Krista, which illustrates the depth to which she understands me better than anything I could write here:

"If it becomes legal for us to marry food items before it becomes legal for us to marry women, I totally see you walking down the aisle with a chile relleno or something..."

Meghan's Lady of Honor

Krissy Haltinner

I've known Krissy for the last 10 years - in fact, she is my longest friend. We met my first year at Luther College and quickly became friends after attending a White Privilege Conference together. A large part of our friendship started through being involved in the same student organizations and working together on various programs and efforts to help our local community learn more about the world around them, as well as effect lasting, sustainable change.

In many ways, Krissy has been my personal mentor. I have looked up to her and admired the work she has done and have tried my best to follow in her footsteps. I have the utmost respect for all that she has accomplished and for all that I know she will accomplish. I just hope that I can have as positive an effect on those I work with as the effect Krissy's presence has had on me.

Kelsey's Attendants

Ariane Reis

Ari is by far my longest close friend. She got me through high school french (oh, man I needed all the help I could get!) and provided me with the best place ever to skip class (the Newspaper room), but it was really in the years following high school that she truly saved me with her never-ending encouragement and wise words. I honestly don't know how I would have made it through my first two years after high school without her. Looking back, she was a voice of constant support and reason during a time when I had neither. Ari is a woman of many talents who never ceases to amaze me. She speaks her mind with a ferocity and biting wit that I can only stand back and admire. Everyone who meets her instantly wants to know her and become a part of her life. I merely count myself lucky enough to be one of them.

Kristen Klein

Kristen and I met while I was studying abroad in Montpellier, France. When I first arrived, I was hesitant to make friends, but, after a few days of feeling alone and lost in a sea of foreign culture, I overheard her talking to someone a few rows back on the bus. I said to myself, "Now that's the type of person I should be friends with." Her positivity and light made such an impression on me that day that I knew I had to meet her; it was friendship at first sight. We solidified our friendship over great conversations on the beaches of the Mediterranean and great beers in discotheques all across the European continent. We shared life-altering travel/cultural experiences, and our friendship allowed me to see things and experience things I never would have otherwise. One of my favorite memories of Kristen was her response to my proposed 4 hour (!!!!) walking tour of all Gaudi monuments/buildings in Barcelona: "Sure! You only live once, right? Who needs to eat lunch, or sit, or nurse this hangover? Let's make an insanely harrowing trek (ON FOOT) across one of the largest cities in Europe!" Out of the two dozen or so people we started the day with, she was the only one who stuck with me 'til the end. Some of the other participants ended up wasting their only day in Barcelona by shopping at H&M- but not Kristen. She gets every last drop of life out of each and every day.

Susan Tanabe

Susan is the most caring, self-less, hilarious, and musical person I know. When we met, she was my bank teller at the Wells Fargo in the Rainbow Foods where I did my grocery shopping. Then, one day, I randomly invited her to my first dance concert at the U, and, low and behold, she came! Who knew that 7 years later, she would be a big-time corporate financial manger person at the bank, and I would be asking her to be in my wedding? Oh, and did I mention that she also plays professionally with both Mu Daiko (a Japanese percussion group) and the Rochester City Orchestra?!?! She's amazing.

Meghan's Attendants

Sumner McRae (pictured on the right)

Sumner and I have had many adventures over the last 9 years...from multiple bus rides across the country to protest for social justice, to random walks through Decorah, IA and Washington, D.C., we definitely make sure to have a good time together :)

I'll never forget the first time we met. We sat next to each other on a 24 hour long bus ride to Washington, D.C. to protest the War in Iraq. By the time we arrived back to IA, it was like I had found my long lost twin sibling. I am so glad to have found this bond in a friend such as Sumner. Even though our paths have led us to different parts of the country, I love that we can always pick up where we left off and just understand one another.

Dylan Flunker (pictured on the left)

Dylan and I first met when I was a senior in college and he was a first year student. We maintained a friendship over the course of my life after Luther, but were able to rekindle a closer friendship when we both moved back to MN back in 2009. Much like my relationship with Sumner, the connection I feel with Dylan is like that of a younger brother. A really mature, really fun, and incredibly smart younger brother.

Some of my favorite memories of Dylan and Sumner involve watching them play music together after they started their band, Something From Oz. There's something amazing about two fantastic people, who are your friends, making great music together. It's a real privilege to be in their presence, and I'm so happy to have them stand next to me on my wedding day.

Leah Bock

Leah and I met around the same time as when I met Dylan, but in an Intro to Women's Studies class at Luther College. We became quick friends through our conversations in and outside of class and I have come to think of her as another sibling in my family of choice.

Her creativity and passion for life is contagious and no matter how far apart we are, I can always count on her to be there for me when I need her. I couldn't imagine her not standing up with me on my wedding day!

Our Flower Girl

Becca Peine

Becca worked with Meghan for two years at Saint Thomas and has become a great friend to us both. Becca and Kelsey share a love of trashy reality television (I die. I die. That is SO bananas.), while Becca and Meghan share a love of students and student affairs. Becca acts as a hilarious foil to us both when we are bickering and is always up for some fun. We are so excited to have her as our adorable bubble-blowing flower girl.

Our Officiant

Drea Nelson

We are also very excited to have Drea be our Officiant. Although Meghan met her in undergrad at Luther College, Drea has recently graduated with her Master's of Divinity from Drew University in New Jersey and is working to be ordained as a pastor in the UCC (United Church of Christ). When we were trying to figure out who we would want to fill this role, we both immediately thought of Drea. She was one of the first people that Meghan talked to in the early stages of our relationship and has been a core of support and affirmation ever since. We couldn't imagine a more special person to lead our exchange of vows.

Our Day-of-Coordinator

Nate Peterson

As Meghan's co-worker at the University of St. Thomas, Nate has proven himself fully competent and capable of putting out fires, dealing with drama, and de-escalating tense situations. With these skill sets, along with the fact that he's just plain amazing, we felt that Nate would be perfect as our day-of-coordinator. We are very lucky and honored to have him as our go-to-guy on our special day!