Kate & Jarrod
Wedding Party
Ryne Peterson
Best Man
Ryne and Jarrod's friendship goes all the way back to high school, but it truly solidified during their time at Iowa State. Jarrod spent countless breaks between classes at Ryne's apartment in Frederiksen Court, where they bonded over a shared love for movies, video games, craft beer, and all things Marvel. For years, Jarrod was the official third wheel and honorary child to Ryne and his wife, Alicia—a role he arguably still holds today! Their paths have remained closely aligned, from working at the same bank after college to now both being at Workiva. The photo is from their recent trip to Disney World for Ryne's birthday, also Jarrod's first time visiting. We are so grateful to have Ryne by our side, even if he still loves to give Jarrod a hard time.
Elizabeth Stumbo
Maid of Honor
As Kate’s older sister, Elizabeth has been there since day one. Growing up, they were polar opposites—with different tastes in everything. But as they got older, their relationship transformed, truly deepening when Elizabeth graciously opened her home to Kate while she was in nursing school. It was then that they bonded as adults, spending countless nights competing at trivia, talking, and rewatching their favorite movies (including a few too many Twilight marathons). Today, they’ve traded living together for frequent dinner dates and visits with their "dog nephews," Regis and Oliver. From childhood opposites to best friends, Elizabeth has always been there, and Kate couldn't imagine this day without her.
Adam Newcomb
Groomsman
Adam stumbled his way into Jarrod's life while sharing a small, crappy apartment off of Highland Ave with Ryne while they were all at Iowa State. Jarrod and Adam became fast friends, bonding over their love of videogames, The Office, Cyclones athletics, and living it up in Campustown. A favorite memory was serenading all of Welch Ave with "I'm on a Boat" by The Lonely Island on a night out. They stayed in touch as Adam went to live in different places around the country, leading to many trips to Nashville—and on one particular occasion, the chance to meet a couple of the guys from Super Troopers. Jarrod was ecstatic when Adam and his wife, Kristin, announced they were moving back to Iowa. More shenanigans have ensued over the years, and they even added four boys to the crew who lovingly refer to Jarrod as "Uncle Rod." Jarrod and Adam still try to sneak away for the occasional concert or disc golf session, and we are so grateful to have him by our side for this new adventure.
Ryan Yeager
Bridesman
Some friendships are just golden. Ryan and Kate’s story began freshman year at the University of Northern Iowa, where they met in the dorms and quickly became inseparable. Their friendship grew further when they moved into an off-campus apartment with fellow bridesmaid Lauren. They spent countless nights staying up late, with The Golden Girls often playing in the background. After college, their bond continued to grow as they both navigated post-grad life in the Des Moines area. Though Ryan has since moved to Arizona, their friendship remains strong, proving that a true friend is always close, no matter the distance.
Shawn Peterson
Groomsman
Shawn and Jarrod’s friendship was forged back at North Fayette Middle School over a shared love of video games, Parks & Rec ("SHOCK WIRE!"), and most importantly, professional wrestling. Shawn introduced Jarrod to the world of WWE, sharing VHS tapes of Monday Night RAW that sparked a lifelong passion. Jarrod proudly followed Shawn’s own wrestling journey, from backyards and haylofts to the independent circuit and extra work for WWE. A highlight was watching Shawn become CEW Heavyweight Champion after a shocking "heel turn," finally giving Jarrod a reason to yell "WHY SHAWN? WHY?!" from the crowd. After an amazing career, Shawn "hung up the boots" to start a new chapter with his now wife, Amber, and their four boys. In 2023, Jarrod had the distinct honor of inducting Shawn into the CEW Hall of Fame. In the middle of this run, Shawn moved to Ames, after landing a job at Workiva and affectionately nicknaming his temporary landlord "slumlord" after crashing on Jarrod’s couch. After all these years, they’re still close friends, "Killing the Business" together.
Jeremy Weiss
Bridesman
Jeremy entered Kate's life through their mutual friend, Ryan, and quickly became an essential part of her Des Moines crew. Their friendship was forged over a mutual love for exploring—starting with nights out in the East Village and soon expanding to the rest of the world.. They discovered a shared passion for travel, graduating from local adventures to worldwide ones, taking many incredible trips together across the U.S. and abroad. They even invited Jarrod along to Cancún in 2023! Their friendship is kept strong with dinner dates and cherished traditions like an annual Friendsgiving and Rosé All Day. Kate is so thankful for a friend who is always ready for the next journey and thrilled he’s part of this one.
Quinton Hocker
Groomsman
Quinton was first introduced to our friend group through his amazing wife, Ashley. We’ll be honest, we weren't sure about him at first, but he quickly grew on us. Soon after meeting he joined Workiva where we continued to get to know him. We share a passion for sports, movies, sneakers, and pro-wrestling. The real turning point in our friendship was during Ashley and Quinton's wedding weekend, where we enjoyed good company, food and music and survived a particularly memorable night at a Super 8 motel in the middle of nowhere. During our adventures, Quinton was officially initiated as the fourth member of the pro-wrestling Pay-Per-View watch party crew. He joined Jarrod, Ryne, and Shawn bringing his knowledge and witty commentary to the conversation further helping us "Kill the Business" of pro-wrestling. We've enjoyed countless golf outings, basketball games, and birthday parties where his boys request "Uncle Rod" entertain them. Quinton is a loyal friend and a perfect addition to our crew, and we're honored to have him stand up with us.
Lauren Arnot
Bridesmaid
Kate and Lauren’s friendship kicked off the way all the best ones do: over a sandwich at Jimmy John's during UNI freshman orientation. They quickly became inseparable, with their college days defined by Cedar Falls shenanigans including nights of getting ice cream and listening to Delilah on the radio with their friend Ryan. Though life has taken them to different cities, their bond has never faded. Now, it’s built on making time for each other despite the distance. Their catch-ups usually involve a long-overdue dinner at Cool Basil and a tour of the local thrift shops. Though life has changed, their ability to pick up right where they left off is a testament to a truly special bond.