Miranda & Luke
Wedding Party
Luke Ericson
Groom
Luke loves football, being outside, and spending time with his wonderful, amazing fiance, Miranda. He is a very competitive card/game player and doesn't take it easy on anyone. Luke likes meat, bread, and cheese (not vegetables). He also enjoys making Miranda laugh...every single day.
Miranda Rathjen
Bride
Miranda enjoys running, watching funny movies, and spending time with her family. Some of her favorite foods include potatoes of any kind, all sorts of pasta, and chocolate. Her favorite TV show is Big Brother which she even got her fiance Luke to like. Miranda is a happy, kind, caring, and wonderful person who is always fun to be around and brightens the day of everyone she meets.
Clyde Ericson
Best Man
Clyde Ericson is the groom's older brother and best man. Clyde works as an art teacher for Columbus Scotus where he also directs one act and coaches basketball. Clyde greatly enjoys playing basketball, making art, and reading. Clyde has travelled lots of different places like Alaska, Haiti, and Europe. Clyde and Luke enjoy playing basketball together, playing board games, or generally competing in any way as brothers do.
Mollie Rathjen
Maid of Honor
Mollie Mae is the bride's favorite sister. She loves cats, singing, and being goofy whenever she is around Miranda. Mollie and Miranda enjoy lounging in our matching blow up hammocks, singing obnoxiously loud in the car, running together, and watching The Spongebob Movie! Miranda loves her sister very very much.
Brad DeMers
Groomsman
Brad DeMers is one of the groom's best friends. They both attended Osceola High School together where they enjoyed hanging out and having fun. Brad is a smooth talker with a quick wit and he and the groom enjoy arguing with one another although arguments generally end in laughter. Brad enjoys playing pitch, talking politics, and hanging out with friends.
Emmie Noyd
Bridesmaid
Emmie was the bride's roommate for two years at Concordia. Emmie is a great leader, a wonderful friend, and a fun gal pal to have around! Miranda cherishes all of the dorm room shenanigans that she shared with Emmie, including random dance parties, sharing hilarious videos late at night, and driving to Walmart or Amigos to get ice cream.
Thad Rathjen
Groomsman
Thad is the favorite brother of the bride. Even though Thad would never admit it, he loves his sisters very much. In his free time, Thad likes to play video games, hang out with his friends, and occasionally strut around the house with his state football championship medal on. Go Stormdogs. Sometimes he gets on her nerves, but the bride loves him very much, and cannot wait to celebrate with him on her special day.
Libby Yungdahl
Bridesmaid
Libby is one of the bride's absolute best friends. She attended school in Osceola with Miranda. Libby has a kind, caring heart, and she is a great friend. Libby and Miranda played the flute together in band, and they both decided to ditch the flute during marching band to twirl flags (little chilly, but way more fun). Their best memories, however, happen at the Yungdahl's lake house where their friends love to go to play golf cart tag, hot tub, tube, and play FISHBOWL.
Rob Buhl
Groomsman
Rob Buhl was one of Luke's closest friends growing up and they continue their friendship today. Rob and Luke played side by side on baseball and basketball teams throughout youth sports and high school. Rob and Luke enjoy playing golf, fishing, or playing pickup basketball. Rob and Luke like to get after each other in these activities which always adds to the fun.
Paige Borcherding
Bridesmaid
Paige has been friends with the bride ever since the very first day of cross country practice in college at Concordia. Paige is also a fellow education major with the bride, and they both completed student teaching during the fall semester. Running cross country was a hard adjustment for Miranda, but running with Paige made every day so much fun! There were many long runs spent laughing until our stomachs hurt and we could barely breathe in the blistering heat or stinging cold.
Holden Gabel
Groomsman
Holden and Luke's friendship goes way back. They both attended the same babysitter as children, and road the bus together where they would make up and tell stories to amuse themselves. They spent a lot of time at each other's houses and have some good memories from that. They played basketball together and participated in one act and spring play together as well. Today they enjoy golfing together and going fishing occasionally.
Karlee Pinney
Bridesmaid
Karlee and the bride have been friends since birth (literally). Mama Deb always says that as Miranda was leaving the hospital, she and Karlee were coming in! Karlee and Miranda have countless memories together throughout school at Osceola, many of them including silliness or insanely good food. The bride credits Karlee for her ability to sing almost all of the words to the song "Dem Jeans". Miranda cannot wait to have Karlee by her side on her special day.
Carter Donahue
Groomsman
Carter is Luke's cousin and lives in Gretna, Nebraska. Carter, Luke, and Clyde have had some good times at their Grandma Jeanie's house just outside of Gretna. They all have enjoyed playing ping pong and pool in their grandma's basement. For about ten years the only cousins were Carter, Luke, and Clyde, but now the three boys also enjoy spending time with their four younger cousins as well. Carter will graduate this May and will then look to start his career as a teacher and coach.
Rebekah Hinrichs
Bridesmaid
Bekah is a college friend and adventure buddy to the bride. Whether it is running in the rain, snow, mud, heat, or wind, traveling long hours on a bus to meets, running at nationals and getting insane amounts of sand in our eyes, or living and wedding planning together in the same house, Bekah has been with the bride through it all. She is a kind, wonderful role model for all that surround her. Fun fact: Rebekah Hinrichs will be celebrating her one week wedding anniversary as Mrs. Carter Price on Miranda and Luke's wedding day.
Derek Voigt
Groomsman
Derek and Luke have been great friends throughout high school and college. Derek played center on Luke's football team and for the most part did a good job keeping the ball off the ground for Luke. Luke and Derek also managed the swimming pool in Osceola together and had a lot of fun working together and dealing with the variety of surprises that managing the pool can entail. Derek and Luke enjoy playing pitch, watching football, going out to eat, or discussing and laughing about anything from college to politics.
Kailey Weichel
Bridesmaid
Kailey is one of the bride's closest, and craziest of friends. As the bride thinks about her time with Kailey, she can hardly believe that they have only been friends for a little over a year. Miranda and Kailey clicked instantly at Concordia and became sole sisters and running partners in a matter of weeks. Kailey has a glow and energy that brightens every room (even if that room is the huge fieldhouse). She cares deeply for everyone and is one of the best friends I have ever met. The bride CANNOT wait to celebrate and dance the night away with this amazing friend of hers. Kailey has killer dance moves.
Bennett Nelson
Groomsman
Bennett and Luke have been friends for a very long time. Through church, school, and sports Bennett and Luke have been by each other's side. They were classmates who worked together and brought out the best in each other on and off of the athletic field. After high school, they still meet up occasionally to go fishing or play poker with friends.
Jessica Deterding
Bridesmaid
Jessica is another friend of the bride. Jessica was one of the first people that Miranda ever met at college. Jessica was also one of the first people to give the bride a nickname that actually stuck. Jessica calls Miranda, "Manny", and sometimes forgets what Miranda's actual name is. Jessica works hard all the time and is dedicated to everything she does. Miranda had so much fun being her teammate, and they both were very emotional when she had her last meet as a bulldog. They definitely didn't cry though, the sand was just blowing into their eyes.
Curt and Suzie Ericson
Parents of the Groom
Curt and Suzie were married in January of 1990.
Doug and Penny Rathjen
Parents of the Bride
Doug and Penny were married in July of 1993.
Kendall Watts
Flower Girl
Sweet Kendall is the daughter of Miranda's cousin, Logan and his wife, Brandi.
Dane Nielsen
Ring Bearer
Dane is the son of Luke and Miranda's high school PE teacher and coach, T.J. Nielsen and his wife, Ashley.
Dan Cloeter
Officiant
Pastor Dan Cloeter is the preacher at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Osceola, NE. St. Paul Lutheran is the church that Luke attended growing up and is also the site of the wedding ceremony. Pastor Dan has been a very influential person in Luke's faith life and has also formed a strong relationship with Miranda in recent years. Pastor Dan graduated from Concordia University where he ran cross country and track just like Miranda. Pastor Dan will be retiring after the summer of 2020, and Miranda and Luke are very honored to have him conducting their ceremony.
Reggie Rafert
Usher
Reggie Rafert is Luke's cousin on his dad's side. Reggie grew up on a farm outside of Gresham, Nebraska, and is currently finishing up his degree at Central Community College in Hastings. Reggie and Luke have lots of good memories from hanging out at their grandma and grandpa Ericson's house.
Randy Rafert
Usher
Randy Rafert is Luke's cousin on his dad's side. Randy is currently a senior at Cross County High School where he will be graduating in May. Randy grew up on a farm just outside of Gresham. Randy and Luke have lots of good memories of hanging out at their grandma and grandpa Ericson's house growing up.
Brittany Merry
Personal Attendant
Brittany is another one of the bride's closest friends from Osceola. Miranda and Brittany have shared countless laughs and memories over the years. Miranda cannot imagine celebrating her special day without Brit by her side.
Peyton Watts
Usher
Peyton is the cousin of the bride. Peyton and Miranda have always been good buddies ever since they were little, running around at Grandpa and Grandma Watts' house. He will be the life of the party and a very good dancer so you better watch out for him out on the dance floor! The bride is so excited to celebrate with Peyton on her special day!
Carson Watts
Usher
Carson is the cousin of the bride. Carson was also a member of the OHP state championship football team, so along with Thad, he will be sporting his championship ring at the wedding! Carson would never admit it, but he knows that his cousin Miranda is way cooler than him. The bride loves Carson very much and can't wait to have a great time with him on her wedding day!