Samantha & Benjamin
Wedding Party
Samantha
Bride
Hi! It's me! I can't wait to see you all as we celebrate! I was born in MN, grew up in IL, with a brief stint in MD, went to school in IA, and now live in ND. I'm back in school for nursing and loving it. My hobbies include: horseback riding, reading, spoiling our 3 animals, signing myself up to volunteer and, so far, fulfilling those promises. I LOVE all things Christmas. I'll be the one in white!
Benjamin
Groom
Samantha, again, writing on behalf of Ben. Ben was actually born in ND and lived here for awhile before moving to Pella, IA and growing up there. He loves any kind of project- cars, dog training, video games, cooking. He's a guy that truly loves experiencing each moment. I want to say he's been my rock but he's also hilarious so maybe he's more of my bright blue play dough that's shaped into a rock?
Thornton
Bridesman
Best Brother to the Bride is Thornton! The Bride has known Thornton for 15/16 years. They bond over shows like Friends and the ridiculousness of societal expectations. He and the Bride are almost exactly 9 years and 11 months apart. He currently lives in Florida with his dog, Duncan.
Piper
Matron of Honor
Samantha met Piper through Ben. They quickly bonded over their love of cats, food, and dislike of parties that go too long. This bodes well for a wedding, yes? Piper recently got married in 2019 and then adopted a dog. The Bride claims credit for the dog, Athena, but the wedding was all Piper.
Emily
Bridesmaid
The Bride met Emily through Ben because you know... she's his sister. The Bride was surprised by how relaxed and warm the sister of her love was and still is. They bond over their love of Queer Eye, home decorating shows, anything relating to the town of Pella, and Emily's goofy sense of humor. Emily often asks the Bride for dog advice to which Samantha can rarely provide enough of an answer because they now live in different states.
Katie
Bridesmaid
The Bride met Katie over the internet, kind of. These two were freshmen roommates whose first communication was through their parents emails. They somehow continued to maintain a tight friendship since 2012 despite having lived together for a year, switching degrees around, having different levels of interest in working out, and multiple moves. Katie has been a great resource to vent to when the Bride's anxiety runs away with her. She will most likely be receiving a lot of calls as wedding planning continues.
Christina
Bridesmaid
The Bride met Christina when she attended a work dinner for Ben. They sat next to each other, had great conversation, and then promptly forgot they'd met. Upon the next meeting, at Ben's house, they reintroduced themselves to which Ben informed them that they'd already met. They bonded over their mutual confusion of their partners actual jobs, coffee dates, and their dislike of parties that go on too long. (They quickly invited Piper to join them whenever they peace-d out from a party.) They are the ultimate #girlpower support team.
Amy
Bridesmaid
Amy and the Bride met through their sorority. They were quickly thrown sideways by the rituals and behaviors that are required with Greek traditions and were often scolded while in the back for giggling. They roomed together for one semester in the sorority house and then lived together for a year outside of the sorority house. The Bride realized she couldn't survive in the arctic-tundra-like environment that Amy liked to keep the apartment at so they decided to stay friends but not live together. They are now both dog mamas and love supporting each other's adventures. Amy lives in warm SC with her two dogs and hubby.
Vivian and Amelia
Flower Girl
Vivian and Amelia are cousins to the Bride. They enjoy SciFi movies, dressing in awesome outfits, and performing. Make sure to ask them which Avenger is their favorite and where they would go if they had their own Tardis.
Samuel
Ring Bearer
Samuel is Emily's son and the Bride and Groom's nephew. He loves his dogs, running, and spaghetti as of December 2019. We are excited to see how he will grow in the coming 6 months!