Sophia & Karsten
Wedding Party
Joy MacLean
Maid of Honor
Joy met Sophia when they became roommates on October 6th, 2000. In the early stages of their relationship, Joy realized that she had to take on the role as Sophia's translator. Although Sophia was an excessive yeller in the house, outside in public she had taken a vow of silence. So, Joy became an expert on her biography for the first 10 years of Sophia’s life until she found her own voice. They grew very close during their time as roommates and eventually became best friends. These two have been through everything together.
Ben Praamsma
Best Man
Standing at a mere 6’3”, Ben is Karsten’s other shorter brother from another mother. He first met Karsten in the Men's Glee Club, where Karsten injured Ben's rib in a bone-crushing hug. Karsten has been Ben’s roomie in 6 states and 3 different countries, and the two have walked through not a few valleys and peaks of life together. If Karsten thought Sophie was out of his league, Ben definitely thought that of Karsten, and so he feels pretty lucky he’s friends with both of them. He has a grim perspective on Karsten and Sophie’s future, and so he’s kept around for motivational purposes.
Nilah MacLean
Bridesmaid
It was love at first sight when Nilah met Sophia. She funneled all the knowledge and life experience her ripe old age of 6 had brought her into “helping” Sophia grow up. While Sophia has proven over and over she doesn’t need any assistance excelling at life, Nilah still loves to be part of Sophia’s growing up and can’t wait to stand next to her as she gets married! Nilah is the second oldest sister, sincerely believes that life just keeps getting better while also constantly reminiscing about the past, and will be dancing the entire reception at the wedding! Nilah loves how Karsten took his heart off his sleeve and slapped it on his forehead instead with an openness and vulnerability that everyone should aim to emulate. She appreciates the joy, honesty, and sincerity of Sophia and Karsten’s relationship and is excited to gain another brother!
Jacob Cain
Groomsman
Jacob and Karsten met in the youth room of their childhood church, where they proceeded to have a Nerf war. Ever since that fateful battle, Jacob and Karsten have remained faithful friends while living across the US. Jacob enjoys spending quality time with his better half, Lauren, and their cat, Breakfast. He is passionate about family and relationships, reading, hockey, Survivor, and pickleball.
Hannah MacLean
Bridesmaid
Hannah was in 3rd grade sitting politely at school when all of the sudden she got a call to go to the principal's office! Nervously, she walked her goody-two-shoes there only to discover that her parents were on the phone for her—a new baby sister Sophia Rose MacLean was just born! Hannah is the eldest of the MacLean siblings (think Little Women, plus a brother), and has seen Sophie through all the phases of her life. Hannah is the other Wheatie in the fam, grew up in four countries, and her day job is playing the violin.
Jake Harvey
Groomsman
When Karsten and Jake are together, strap in for a fabulous combination of excessive energy and refreshing wholesomeness. “Big K” and “Jek” first met in Men’s Glee Club at Wheaton College, but later became close friends through their time working together in Residence Life. Since then, they have enjoyed multiple chaotic sleepovers, an IM Frisbee championship win, and many late-night conversations about Christian nonviolence. Grateful to cheer on such a special couple, Jake couldn’t be more excited to celebrate! BWOH!!!
Abby Buck
Bridesmaid
Abby was randomly assigned to be Sophie’s suitemate during their first year at Wheaton. Though they hadn’t known each other beforehand, they were fast friends. Abby and Sophie shared in many shenanigans, from running across campus in crazy clothes, to dancing on rooftops, to a sleepover in the airport. Abby met Karsten around the same time as Sophie, but they really became friends when Sophie and Karsten started dating and when they were on a ResLife team together the following year. Abby is very thankful for both of them and is so excited to celebrate this new adventure with them.
Tim O'Reagan
Groomsman
Tim is yet another tall friend from Wheaton! Tim and Karsten met during Karsten’s junior year at Wheaton, when Karsten was serving as Tim’s RA. The following year, Tim served on the Community Life Council which Karsten directed in the same dorm. Over those two years, they became solid friends, despite Tim’s youth. Over Karsten and Sophie’s senior spring break, Tim, the two of them, and several other friends took a trip to North Carolina, where Tim and Sophie became good buds as well. Tim is thrilled for Karsten and Sophie’s wedding, and he is honored to stand with them literally and metaphorically for years to come!
Harmony Zimmerman
Bridesmaid
Harmony met Sophie during the first week of class at Wheaton College in their Gen Chem lab, when they, each initially intimidated by the other, asked to be each other’s lab partners. Thus began the legacy of the OG lab partners, soccer teammates, and adventure buddies. Harmony has a passion for learning, travel, medicine, and God, some of the many commonalities she shares with Sophie :). She was also honored to watch Sophie and Karsten’s love story develop through college (including during the fated Organic Chemistry lab), and is excited to honor their union!!!
Corbin Nelson
Groomsman
A new town, new school, new peers. Everything had changed for Karsten when he started middle school. Because of the new percussionist in the band, Corbin, an established know-it-all delinquent at the school, felt that his band position was threatened by Karsten. As such, their relationship ranged from backhanded compliments to worms showing up in Karsten’s science journal. But by the time high school came around, they were the only two familiar faces in their bigger school and bigger band. The fire once fueled by aggression was now forging a hardened bond of friendship through camaraderie and benevolent competition. The drumsticks that once separated the two young men now brought them closer than ever before.
Ruby Burgess
Bridesmaid
Ruby and Sophie became friends their freshman year of college, but really bonded their senior year when they roomed together. Their friendship grew over many “study” sessions at coffee shops, their shared passion for scented candles, and the occasional vandalizing of school property. Although miles away, Ruby now actually has more in common with Karsten, since they are both suffering through grad school. In reality though, she is really grateful she’s been able to be a part of their lives and can’t wait to celebrate them on this special day!
AJ Myers
Groomsman
Karsten and AJ met as incoming freshmen with the lofty goal of being chemistry majors. Having a high affinity for each other, they naturally bonded over their shared classes and interests. They supported each other through the struggles and successes that came with their choice of major—whether it was late night walks to turn off the laser, brief lunch breaks between back-to-back labs, or that one lab report we cranked out in one afternoon (Ask either of us about the confocal microscopy report!). During a summer of chemistry research, AJ was finally introduced to this Sophie person that Karsten kept talking about. They quickly became friends as well, which was convenient as they lived next to each other the following year, when they formed a "Kellowship" between their two houses, full of shenanigans. Since graduating, AJ now works as a metallurgist in the same state as Karsten, lives in a log cabin built in 1880, and blacksmiths in his free time.
Kyra Cline
Bridesmaid
Kyra and Karsten met the day he was born and have been best friends ever since. As his older sister, she proudly takes partial credit for the incredible man he’s grown up to be. She can hardly contain her excitement to be welcoming her sweet new sister Sophie into the family! Kyra and her husband Samuel love good food, good friends, and good fun. They are super psyched to get this wonderful marriage started with an equally wonderful party. 🥰🎉💍🥳♥️
Malachi MacLean
Groomsman
Malachi met Sophie at the age of 10, when he joined the crazy MacLean family. Malachi's first sentence to the MacLean household was "Wanna tootsie roll?" Luckily, the family didn't scare him off, and Malachi officially became Sophie's brother a year later. Since then, Sophie and Malachi annoyed the whole family with Spikeball in the living room, teasing Joy and chasing her around the house, and composing their hit songs "Hugs and Butter" and "Christmas Zacchaeus." Other bonding moments included rolling thousands of newspapers together for their paper route and early Christmas morning Parcheesi. Malachi has a wide variety of hobbies—he plays trumpet, cooks fancy meals, and writes poetry. Malachi will be celebrating his sister and new brother-in-law by busting some moves on the dance floor.
Amara Mohn
Bridesmaid
Amara has known Karsten for all of her life, and can't wait for Sophie to become an official part of the family! Amara shares a love of the number 563 with Karsten, holds the family record for Wii Sports Resort basketball, and can't wait to celebrate K&S's special day!
Kavan Mohn
Groomsman
Kavan is an 11 year old young man, and Karsten’s FAVORITE brother. He likes to play soccer, be with people, and be active! Kavan likes to be the center of attention during big events, like smacking his forehead on the dance floor at weddings and having seizures on marathon days. How will he get attention this time? Time will only tell. 🥳🥳🥳