Ethan & Mindy
Wedding Party
Brittany Kuper
Matron of Honor
Brittany met me in kinda the middle of my emotional mess. Somehow, that didn't scare her away. She discipled me in Athletes In Action my junior through super senior year and pretty much discipled me while joining staff as well. We enjoy playing quick reaction games together and doing workout swims (though, she crushes me in those). We are both surprised how opposite personalities we seem to have, and yet, work and play so well together. She has been and will likely continue to be a HUGE blessing in my walk with the Lord and I cannot express how grateful I am to have her as my friend!
Aaron Zillinger
Best Man
Aaron is my middlest brother. He's the only person in the wedding party that has chewed on my hair. We've known each other for almost three decades, and spent a lot of that time arguing and fighting. He is a man of conviction and seeks God and truth with earnestness. It has been a major blessing getting to grow up with and walk with this man through our struggles and pains, and I am honored to have him alongside me.
Karli Ring
Bridesmaid
Karli and I met through a Discipleship Group in Athletes In Action. I knew I was going to be her friend right away because she laughed at almost everything I said. And though we love to have fun seeking out new adventures together, trying new things, or staying up way too late talking about "not-scary" things, she has also talked with me through deep and thoughtful discussions about myself (especially emotions) and about God. I treasure so many of those conversations in my heart and hope to have even more of them as I try to figure out married life... and let's be real, life in general.
James Zillinger
Groomsman
James is my youngest brother. He grew up in Idaho, cursed with being born outside the city of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He's a recent graduate of the University of Idaho, is sincerely bad at Mario Kart, and is one of the most patient Christian men I've ever met.
Makenzie Smith
Bridesmaid
Mak (and I never did get Makoroni to catch on) and I used to be teammates for the Dragon Cross Country team. We bonded even more when we joined Athletes In Action together. Our many runs together held many conversations about life, God, and each other. Sometimes, though, we'd just goof around and make up stories. We have the same sense of confidence in our body where we can go without shaving our legs and armpits for LONG periods of time. I've always admired her uncanny ability to know when someone would need a compliment and her daring personality to pursue anybody and everybody in Jesus's name. She truly is a pointer to Christ and I couldn't ask for anything better than that in my friends!
Drew Kraft
Groomsman
Drew is the most handsome man in the wedding party, and he knows it. He's the most farmer strong of all of the groomsmen. Drew plants and grows his own bacon at a farm in South Dakota. He is also one of Mindy's older brothers. Strangely, I also feel like he's an older brother to me too, even though he's a little younger. He models patience, perseverance, and hope as a husband, father, and Christian.
Ricquel McKenzie
Bridesmaid
Ricquel and I met mostly through friends and became one of my roommates for 3+ years. Her love and heart for worship is contagious and infected our whole house with praise and beauty. I have been super encouraged to go through similar stages of dating and engagement with her and cannot wait to go through the journey of marriage with her as well (at least the beginning bit of it- who knows where life will lead us). I am so grateful and blessed to have her as a friend and bridesmaid for my special day!
Austen Dahmes
Groomsman
We met when running sound and slides for River City back in '16 or '17. Our community groups merged a little after, and we've been friends ever since. He and his wife Heidi are Star Wars fans like myself, and we're both engineers. We've walked through a lot of trials together in our community group and shouldered each other's burdens in prayer, and I deeply treasure Austen's faithful friendship.
Ali Bettenhausen
Bridesmaid
Wow! Ali and I met a little over a year ago but it was a very quick growing relationship! Really, she became friends with Mak first but I decided to tag along after seeing her bubbly personality and her fun spirit. She makes me smile every time I see her or hear her talk about how much she loves llamas. She was my literal roommate for about 5 months as we slept in the same room together. Some nights we stayed up talking about what was bothering us or expressing our feelings. It was an immense blessing in my journey of dating.
Grant Kuper
Groomsman
Grant and I have known each other since 2014 in our old community group. Grant is an engineer too, but he's much more civil than Austen and I. He's had the good fortune of being married to the Matron of Honor for the last seven years. Grant is probably the most Crossfit of the groomsmen. I've seen him as a strong example of faithfulness and perseverance, and he has been quick to pray for me and walk with me through my trials. I cherish the friendship God has blessed us with, and am blessed to have him with me on my wedding day.
Whitney Welder
Bridesmaid
Whitney and I were teammates for a couple of years. I loved how I could always rely on her for her positivity on the team, even when the team wasn't so positive. She has a can-do spirit that I admire and found nourishment in. Our runs were usually filled with laughter and fun. Even as I discipled her as part of staff with Athletes In Action, it felt as if many times she was discipling me. She has a caring heart and isn't afraid to use it. It is a huge honor to have her stand with me as my bridesmaid.
Sam Hauge
Groomsman
Sam and I have known each other for a really long time now. We used to be in the same small group together. We've spent years on the worship team together, going to the gas station between church services to get candy and protein bars. We have shared trials and struggles and after-church lunch many times. He is a great drummer and an even better friend.
Aphtin Rapp
Honor Attendant
Aphtin Rapp is the best kind of person. She told me to say yes when Ethan asked me out for the first time. We met in a peculiar way: she came to my house (planned ahead, mind you) without anyone being home. I texted her to make herself at home and she did. "You're out of toilet paper" was one of the first comments out of her mouths when I returned to the house. We still have a good laugh about it. But seriously, I don't remember ever getting as deep as quickly as we did in our friendship. We connected on our quirky sense of humor and care for ministry. It never fails that I smile every time I see her.
Michelle Reistad
Honor Attendant
Michelle and I met our freshmen year of college. We both studied film and loved to create stories. We bonded over time with our zeal for Christ. Though she may seem small, she's got a BIG personality, and quite the willingness to fight the good fight. I don't know if I know of anyone else who is more willing to stand up for her friends. We had many typical college adventures, but many of those I never thought I would've gone on, like the trying on the sample make-up in the mall or shooting film at mid-night for a 48 hour film challenge. We have stayed connected since graduation and despite the distance, our friendship has grown. I hope it will continue to do so.