Ivy & Paul
Wedding Party
Matt Hoger
Officiant & Man Servant
Known by bride & groom simply as ‘Hoger’, this goofball has been part of their lives for many years. Hoger lived with Paul in their bachelor days of NFL football, fresh pots in the morning, pizza at night, Katy Perry always, and lots more you don’t want to know about. They remain close friends, making excuses to sneak out for a Marvel movie or new release IPA. Hoger also enjoys rubbing the success of his beloved Packers into Ivy’s Viking-loving face, though the two agree on the small stuff, like politics and Harry Potter. His love of movies and music is a frequent reason for long chats, and he often stops by to let the flower girl destroy our house instead of theirs for a change. As a close friend to us both, Hoger will officiate the proceedings… and per usual, be the life of the party.
J. Scott Harrison
Chaplain
Paul and J. Scott have been friends since he made the Luther College golf team as a freshman, during Paul’s junior year. They were nearly inseparable on golf trips and you can be sure wherever they were, Paul was laughing. A lot has changed since those ‘glory days’ as college kids, but their friendship remains. Paul and J. Scott still get together often, to watch the Masters, quote movie lines, play FIFA on Xbox, and of course... golf. Because of their deep conversations about faith and what it means to be a good man in the world, J. Scott will serve as our ceremony chaplain. He will likely keep his famous one-liners to a minimum when he says our service blessing and prayer… but after the ceremony, all bets off!
Emma (Christianson) Runde
Matron of Honor
Imagine turning the corner into your living room only to see all the hair of every Barbie you own in heap on the floor. Welcome to life with Emma. This matron of honor has always had an uncanny ability to visualize what could be and is almost never completely satisfied with what is. Undoubtedly this is what caused her to buzzcut many dolls until they were "perfect" in her eyes. (This same girl found extreme entertainment in shredding paper, throwing it in the air, and yelling "CONFETTI!") At the wedding you'll see Emma right next to her sister... probably crying, but hopefully not any of those ugly heaving cries.
John Soener
Best Man
How do you describe a 6’6”, 150 lb. masters student, whose favorite pastime is dropping it low to Lizzo? Well, that’s our Best Man John. Even as a kid, John’s personality and humor began to shine but being 7 years younger, he and Paul had limited time together. Fortunately, Paul was a dead-beat after college and lived at home while John was in high school. In those years, they formed a bond as only brothers can. They have since backpacked South America together, become water-skiers and Bears fans (in a family of cheese-heads), and are still undefeated as Spike Ball partners – ESPN deal not yet announced. A loyal and loving brother, John has embraced Ivy, though it wasn’t too difficult given their shared fanatical affection for Beyoncé. Get John an old-fashioned and the jokes won’t stop.
Ian Christianson
Man of Honor
Six years older than Ivy, Ian was a proud older brother and designated babysitter from the day she was born. Though at times he was definitely sick of watching his much younger sisters, from Ivy's perspective he dished out more love than he did annoyed, eye-rolling stares. In fact, the two girls owned a floppy disk of Disney's Beauty and the Beast adventure game - it was filled with glitches. Ian spent a fair amount of time using his computer-wired brain to get the game playing any time they wanted to attempt their way through the challenging levels. On the wedding day you'll find Ian as far away from the dance floor as possible because boy doesn't dance. But go find him and you'll also certainly find yourself enlightened with knowledge!
Michael Soener
Best Man
Paul still remembers when this little butterball joined the Soener family. And although Michael is now a full-grown (and newly married!) adult hipster, he is still Paul’s kid brother. They have gotten into trouble and fights since… well, existence… but more often as kids they were jumping around in Batman boxers, pretending to be the next Michael Jordan and Dragonball-Z hero, respectively. Today, they are steadfast friends and you will find them sharing a laugh and a cocktail at any family event. A fellow lover of literature, Michael is likely to find his way to a mic at some point during the weekend, for some lines and a joke at his brother’s expense. But during the ceremony, Michael will be where he has always been – next to his brother with love and support.
Samantha Freese
Reader
Sam and Ivy are cosmic soul sisters. In 2008, Iowa State University freshmen could join a Class of 2012 Facebook group in order to meet and talk to other incoming newbies. Somehow Ivy and Sam ended up connecting in a brief chat, but never actually met each other. Then in 2009, Ivy randomly decided to work at the Subway in the MU. To her surprise Sam was there to greet her, so it was kismet! They have shared their time together laughing at things no one single person should laugh at... ever. If we had to guess, we assume you'll find Sam on the dance floor as soon as Missy Elliot plays.
Ian O'Donnell
Reader & Homie
Ian is Paul’s homie (can you tell which of us wrote this?). Since their days of long hair tucked into golf hats, blaring Outkast and singing, poorly, along, Paul and Ian have been best friends. Who wouldn’t be? Ian has been just about everywhere. And done just about everything. But he always returns home to Des Moines to see his real family, and his adopted “second family” as Paul’s Mom (and Paul, and Paul’s Dad…) enthusiastically declares the Soeners to be. There’s no telling what shenanigans these two will get into when reunited, but Ian promises to take a party-break to help us with the ceremony.
Anna Turosak
Reader
Anna and Ivy were fortunate enough to meet each other during their freshman year of college. (Helser dorms with cockroaches, what's up!) Upon visiting Anna and her family at their home in Rochester one winter, Ivy was in awe as their family discussed several highly intellectual topics. She often says by simply sitting at that table, her IQ points raised rapidly. To no one's surprise, Anna obtained a master's and PhD in psychology from Wichita State and now lives in St. Paul. Our guess for Anna's whereabouts on the wedding day? Checking out the book selection in the Reading Room for her next piece of intellectually-stimulating material.
Adam Plotts
Reader & Role Model
You will likely never hear Paul call him Adam, but 'Plotts' has been a stabilizing force for our groom for a long time - actually since his recruiting visit to Luther College, in fact where Paul experienced his first hangover, shortly before the scholarship breakfast with his parents and the Dean. Ever since, Plotts has bought towels and saws, fixed hangovers and ceiling fans, and been an often-used (and often-deadly!) 2-man golf partner in tournaments and matches. He and at least some (see ring-bearer) - if not all - of his family of 6 will be in tow to help us out over the wedding weekend! We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Norah Hoger
Flower Girl
From the moment Norah Hoger came into this world, Ivy and Paul were smitten. She was one of the first, and only, newborns Paul has ever held, which is evident if you're ever able to peep the photographic evidence. This little girl is the definition of precocious and isn't afraid to make friends at every corner. (Much like her parents.) We are hopeful she will put her "monster voice" out in full force for everyone to enjoy at the nuptials.
Ary Plotts
Ring Bearer
Ary will be almost 4 when we get married in March. But his strength and physicality would match many of Ivy’s high-schoolers. A big smile perma-plastered on his face, typically accompanied by the residue of a sweet treat, Ary is the kid you can’t be mad at for stomping through a Lego village. Son of one of those guys in a blue suit on our wedding day, we hope having an older sister AND baby twin siblings will teach him to be (at least a little) gentle with our wedding rings.
Britta Nelson
Personal Attendant
This friendship is one of Ivy's oldest as she met Britta the summer after high school graduation. It was on a mission trip to exotic Ohio where they discovered their mutual love for the Jonas Brothers... and they haven't looked back. When they aren't kitchen dancing to any number of club hits (or Justin Timberlake), they're ping-ponging book recommendations back to one another and inserting Grumpy Old Men quotes into conversation. If you don't see Britta slinking by the bar to find her beer of choice, you might see some intense shoulder shrugging on the dance floor.
Kristin Catrenich
Personal Attendant
If you were to find yourself in the Northwestern Mutual office building between the years of 2013 and 2015, you would have heard incessant giggles coming from a station of cubicles. Behind those gray walls were Kristin and Ivy, showing each other videos that were funnier than they had any right to be. (Google "Chris P. Bacon news cast" and you'll be very happy indeed.) After they both left their respective jobs, these two chatterboxes kept in touch and made a point to see/text each other on the regular. When not hunting down the safety pins Ivy will inevitably need on her wedding day, Kristin will use her UNI Dance Team skills to show up every single person at the reception.