Wedding Party
Lexi Shaffer
Maid of Honor
Fellow Wartburg College Women’s Soccer survivors, Lexi and Amber bonded while enduring hours of standing in a snowy parking lot during a volunteer event. These days, they spend weekends together annoying Jake, talking about everything, and exploring their home cities.
Joe Stearns
Best Man
Jake and Joe met at the beginning of their existence. Arguing and competing since conception, the twins continue to compare weightlifting maxes, argue about medical topics, exchange disc golf trash talk, and discuss all things sports. Never forget, Joe is 10 minutes older.
Hannah Hart
Bridesmaid
Amber and Hannah also met through college soccer and formed a fast and quirky friendship cemented by a night devoted to identifying each animal in a tub of animal crackers. However, their friendship almost ended when Hannah made Amber run 7 miles.
Nathan Svendsen
Groomsman
After annoying Jake in their Physical Therapy school anatomy lab, Nate somehow convinced him to try disc golf. This sparked an intense shared obsession that carried them through the rest of school and into adulthood. Now, they’ve played across the country together and text about it nearly every day, constantly comparing disks.
Sydney Sikora
Bridesmaid
Yet another college soccer teammate, Amber and Sydney immediately connected through their shared experiences of growing up on a farm. They also shared the responsibility of educating their friend group on all things agriculture and often muttered "city people" under their breaths.
Michael Jachna
Groomsman
Jake and Michael became friends while both playing for Simpson College's football team. They bonded even more when they each broke a foot at the same time and wreaked havoc on scooters at the grocery store. Their friendship has lasted through the years, and Jake was honored to be Michael's Best Man at his wedding.
Kayla Rottinghaus
Bridesmaid
After somehow being conned into dating (and eventually marrying) Trevor, Amber’s older brother, Kayla and Amber have since bonded over books, dogs, and Kayla’s occasional peer pressure to enjoy a drink.
Trevor Rottinghaus
Groomsman
When Trevor was visiting Des Moines one night, he kindly invited his younger sister Amber out for pizza, who brought her new boyfriend Jake along for protection. Now soon-to-be brothers-in-law, Trevor and Jake have bonded over their love for playing and watching sports and ganging up on Amber.
Garrett Rottinghaus
Groomsman
The true gatekeeper of being accepted into the Rottinghaus family (and the youngest), Garrett definitely keeps Jake on his toes. Jake is often the only one who enjoys Garrett's rants about engines, farm projects and general shenanigans.
Bill Stearns
Officiant
We're so excited and incredibly honored to have Jake's dad, Bill, officiate our wedding. Thankfully, he agreed to getting ordained and guiding us into this next chapter. There are also few people who can successfully keep Jake and Amber in line.
