Courtney & Samuel
Wedding Party
Samantha Harbeck
Maid of Honor
Best friend, sister, other half. Samantha and Courtney are sisters, often confused for twins. They have similar personalities, senses of humor, and even look a heck of a lot alike! They grew up enjoying similar sports and hobbies, both attended Gustavus Adolphus College where, although three years younger, Samantha chose to go before Courtney did, and continue to grow through life together! If you see Samantha at the wedding, she'll be the Harbeck sister not in white and conversation topics could include: her own engagement to fiancé, Anders; life in Dallas, Texas; her pets, Lyra & Archie; and the award she received when she was six from the local Fire Department for calling in a house fire! Whatever you do, don't challenge her to a dance-off or a game of Super Mario Bros, because she will undoubtedly win both!
Mitchell Kluesner
Best Man
Best Man, Best friend, arguably the best cellist here. Sam and Mitch became best friends in 7th grade in the Orchestra. Sam and Mitch have been on many journeys together including traveling to Nepal and Europe together for 6 weeks, many orchestra tours, and working on gene editing and cellular engineering together at the University of Minnesota. Fun Fact- Mitch played himself in a movie on Disney plus. If you see him at the wedding keep in mind: he is an avid mycophile (read: mushroom enthusiast); loves getting to know new people through deep conversation; is a biiig fan of cheese, and also ironically lactose intolerant, and may be a bit sleep deprived as he is pursuing his MD/PhD at University of Washington–Seattle.
Jessica Self Wynveen
Bridesmaid
Jessie and Courtney met on move-in day at Gustavus Adolphus College and have been inseparable ever since. Jessie accepted the Bridesmaid role long before Sam entered Courtney's life so you could say she accepted the job before the role was posted. If you see her at the wedding, keep in mind: she is a Libra, is pursuing her doctorate in Human and Organizational Psychology, and really REALLY has a strong distaste for birds, despite loving the great outdoors.
Chris O’Malley
Groomsman
Chris and Sam met and bonded through the orchestra in high school. While Chris now lives in Denver, they always make it a point to visit one another throughout the year and are known to be caught on a 4-hour facetime along with high school friends, Mitch and Erik. A man of many interests and hobbies, conversation topics could include–rugby, cycling, living in Ireland, Garmin, snowboarding, golf, and working at SALESFORCE - as a direct competitor to Courtney's organization :)
Mae Poffenberger Miller
Bridesmaid
Mae is a childhood friend and pseudo-sister. Courtney and Mae met when their families moved onto the same street in Kindergarten. They spent the rest of their childhood along with their younger sisters, Samantha and Kelli, running through the woods, playing dress up, and forcing their entire families to watch them perform *self-written AND choreographed* concerts - Mae still remembers every one. Conversation topics may include: teaching middle school students math amidst a global pandemic; puzzle competitions; and her cat, Cornelius, along with his equally hilarious and unfortunate allergy to humans.
Andrew Jeon
Groomsman
Andrew and Sam met at Gustavus Adolphus College where they were both Collegiate Fellows (RAs) for first-year students. Andrew and Sam bonded over music and their love of Olympic weight-lifting. Andrew is currently a first-year Internal medicine resident in Indianapolis. Conversation topics may include: Being a badass doctor, Olympic weightlifting, rock climbing, choral music, and finding ways to scare Sam.
Kelli Poffenberger
Bridesmaid
Kelli is the other Poffenberger half to the Poffenberger-Harbeck quartet, a life-long friend turned family. Kelli and Courtney both attended Gustavus, overlapping their tenure for a couple years, followed by moves to the big city (aka Minneapolis). Kelli has a gift of befriending strangers everywhere she goes! If you have the good fortune of chatting with her, know that she is a Travel Nurse, specialized in Pediatrics, will fight you for the last slice of a Little Caesars pizza, and once broke both wrists snowboarding.
Andreas Fenner
Groomsman
Andreas and Sam met in high school after being introduced through mutual friends. Sam and Andreas bonded through their love of music and silly antics. Andreas is a man of many talents, but notably has a voice smooth as your favorite chocolate. Currently, Andreas is a musician with his band Honeybutter (who can be found on Spotify). Conversation topics may include Honeybutter; rollerskating, astrology, and being a professional boundary waters water gatherer. If you're feeling bold, ask him for a tarot card reading
Janelle Thienes
Bridesmaid
Janelle and Courtney lived in the same section freshman year of college at Gustavus Adolphus and the rest is, as they say, history. They participated in countless extracurricular activities and clubs together in college and lived together post-college for 4 years, where their friendship continued to deepen through first (and second) jobs, new partners (now fiancés!), big adventures, cross-country travel, and of course hosting countless holiday parties and themed get-togethers. Conversation topics could include: yoga (Janelle is a certified yoga instructor!); her gold-medalist greyhound, Spirit; getting hooked up with free tickets to the Science Museum (where she is a Marketing Lead); and the story of how she willingly moved within a week so that Courtney could adopt Koda.
Josh Sitarz
Groomsman
Josh and Sam met at Camp Knutson in the summer of 2015. They continued on to be Camp Knutson staff together for three years and eventually became program coordinators together. Camp Knutson is a special place for Sam and Josh and Josh now works full time at Camp Knutson. Josh has a unique talent–he can fall asleep anywhere and anytime. If you have the pleasure of chatting with Josh at the wedding, topics could include: being a Gronk look-alike, fishing, saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, Do you fish? Do you want to go fishing?, St. John's football, Camp Knutson, Medicine, and wordle.
Paget Pengelly
Bridesmaid
Paget and Courtney met at Gustavus Adolphus College through the various extracurricular clubs and groups they participated in and quickly forged a best-friendship, although, technically, Paget was Courtney's CF (RA) their Sophomore year! Conversation topics could include: the etymology of her name; local honey and her personal journey saving the bees; ice cold Hamm's Beer; her two dogs (Bear and Tuli) and her cat (Penelope); and the best places to scuba dive in the world!
Tyler Brower
Groomsman
Tyler and Sam met at Gustavus Adolphus College and have traveled the world together. From Nepal, hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp to Iceland, where Tyler can be credited for connecting Courtney and Sam, they have been through a lot and have a lot of stories to tell! Conversation topics may include: pottery, photography, being a Nat Geo Explorers Club member, and his professional hockey career in Germany.
Alexa Peterson
Bridesmaid
Alexa and Courtney ALSO met freshman year of college at Gustavus Adolphus, living in the same section. They lived together in college and, while Alexa moved to Florida to pursue her career dreams and become a doctor, they still text daily and make it a point to visit each other as much as possible! Conversation topics could include: Alexa's craziest ER stories; her adoration of Top the Tater; her history as a cheerleader, both on the ice and off; and her cat, Button, that we adoringly call Butt.
Jeff Hunt
Groomsman
Jeff and Sam became close friends during Sam's sophomore year of college in the Eppies. Sam, Will (Groomsman), and Jeff went on a hiking expedition in Utah after college. Jeff is an entrepreneur and CEO of his company Virtue Systems-19. Conversation topics include- Technology, motorcycles, the best in-home internet setups in town, and cybersecurity.
Traci Taipale
Bridesmaid
Traci and Courtney grew up together in Big Lake and have traveled far and wide together and to visit one another! After backpacking through Washington, Traci decided to make the permanent move and now enjoys weekly (if not daily) hikes in the mountains with her sweet pup, Ollie. Topics of conversation could include: indie folk music; her acid reflux caused by too much home-brewed kombucha; her career (and many wild stories) as a Registered Dietician in the hospital setting; and her VERY impressive abilities to run half marathons and mud races without training!
William Jones
Groomsman
William and Sam became close friends at Gustavus through the Eppies. Currently- William works at Target HQ and is a videographer for a TV-show called "off the cuff" which can be found on YouTube and Amazon Prime. Conversation topics could include drone videography and drone racing, the Gustavus Ice Rink, and being an above-average golfer.
Delia Bingea Shortreed
Bridesmaid
Delia is Sam's older sister. She has been there for Sam from the start, watching over him on the playground, helping him tie his shoes, dressing him up like a princess, and now standing by our sides while we say 'I Do'! If you talk to her at the wedding, conversation topics could include: her attention to detail; traveling all over the world; a career shift from teaching to pursuing a masters in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and of course, her adorable dog, Avo the Samoyed!
Tim Shortreed
Groomsman
Tim is Sam's Brother-in-law and great friend. Tim has quite the life journey from his life in the Marines to now being a successful Architect at one of the best firms in the Nation. If you need a new home or hospital designed–he is your man. Conversation starters include architecture, Samoyeds, photography, and fitness.
Maggie Rathbun
Honor Attendant
Maggie is one of Courtney's oldest friends! They met in preschool and Courtney thought Maggie was the coolest person on the planet because she was really good at coloring inside the lines and playing house in the Kindergarten loft. Fast-forward more than 20 years later, and Courtney still thinks she's the coolest! Conversation starters: hiking the 14ers in Colorado; all the celebrities she has met through her work as a Sr. Client Success Professional; and her own wedding in Estes Park, CO in June!
Anders Severson
Usher
Anders is *almost* Sam and Courtney's Brother-in-law, engaged to the Maid of Honor, Samantha! Potential conversation starters: Anders is pronounced like &_ders not on_ders - pronounce it wrong for a good time; Premier Soccer League; possums; and life in Dallas, Texas.
Marissa Berg
Honor Attendant
Marissa and Courtney grew up down the block from one another in Big Lake. Their friendship has only continued to grow and develop into adulthood as they enjoy living in Minneapolis and getting together to explore local concerts, restaurants, walks around the lakes, and 48-hour long Ragnar races! Some fun facts about Marissa include her remarkable ability to creatively dress up for Halloween! In fact, she really wins the 'best dressed' across the board and is always on top of the trends! Another fun fact is that she is marrying the love of her life in September, a man she met through Courtney playing matchmaker!
Nick Alm
Usher
Nick is an entrepreneur extraordinaire and a dear childhood friend of Sam's. They bonded through their many years in the orchestra together starting in 7th and 8th grade. Nick is known for bringing the party and best vibes to every room you walk into. They started a company during college called Mossier–which focuses on making workspaces and companies build LGBTQ inclusion capacity and make workplaces better places for all people. Conversation topics may include Mossier Inc., mini-vans, modeling, storytelling (they are the best at it), and space tarps.
Koda
Flower Child
Koda is Courtney & Sam's husky that adores long runs, basking in the sunshine on their front steps, and tagging along to pet-friendly restaurants and events. At the ceremony, you may find him stopping at every row for pets and snuggles!