Ryan & Stephanie
Wedding Party
Olivia Zendo
Matron of Honor
Olivia and Stephanie met on Twitter in 2019 when Stephanie slid into her DM's asking her a question about writing her novel. Since that first message, they became best friends. Despite Olivia living in Canada and Stephanie in the US, they fostered their friendship through Zoom calls, handwritten notes, and social media. Walking with her through both highs and lows, Stephanie is so excited to have her long distance best friend by her side on her weddning day.
Andrew Hanson
Co-Best Man
Andrew and Ryan met during Ryan's sophmore year at Bemidji State at a Chi Alpha get togther at a friends place. Andrew picked Ryan up at his former house in Bemidji. Andrew thought it was so cool that Ryan was from Hawaii and asked a million questions. During the winter of that same year (2019) Ryan started hanging out at Andrew's place. The next summer (2020) Andrew and Ryan started living together and have been roomates for the last 2+ years and have become very close. They bonded over spikeball, basketball, talking about Jesus, airsoft, and watching a lot of movies together.
Courtney Pepin
Maid of Honor
How Stephanie and Courtney met is one of Courtney's favorite stories to tell, as it's one that's super unconvential, but had God's fingerprints all over it. Only one month after meeting each other on roomies.com, only Facetiming twice, and meeting in person once, they decided to sign a 15-month lease in Bloomington, MN. Not only would they become roomates, but they quickly became sisters. Despite being the exact opposites, they balanced each other perfectly: Stephanie giving Courtney the structure, spiritualtly, and administrative brain she needed, and Courtney giving Stephanie the carefree, spontanous, and fun spirit she needed. Now, Stephanie can't wait to have Courtney by her side to celebrate her marriage to the guy who Courtney knew Stephanie would marry before he even asked her out on a date.
Aaron Arneson
Co-Best Man
Aaron and Ryan met initially in March of 2015 when Aaron came to Hawaii to visit his older brothers. They got aquainted but didn't really become close until Ryan lived with Aaron and his family in the summer of 2015. They bonded over basketball, talking about Jesus, and binge watching the tv show "Chuck." They attended Bible school together and played on the basketball team at Bible school. Aaron and Ryan have been close ever since and Aaron is one of Ryan's go to men on life advice. They have made many memories together that will never be forgotten.
Beth Pugh
Bridesmaid
Stephanie met Beth when Beth reached out to her on social media asking to be friends. They were both writers of Christian Romance novels, and quickly grew to become close friends as they walked through their publishing journey together. Becoming so much more than just writing friends, Stephanie became part of the Pugh family, with Beth's husband and son adopting her all the way from Kentucky. Now, Stephanie is excited to have Beth by her side, along with the rest of the Pugh family, to celebrate her marriage with who Beth calls, "Internet Ryan", to differentiate between him, and her own husband, who is also named Ryan.
Kyle Arneson
Groomsman
Kyle and Ryan met November of 2014. Kyle had just graduated from the Bible school that Ryan later attended and moved to Hawaii. Kyle and Ryan had been neighbors for a few months but did not meet until November. Ryan was going through a tough time and needed a lot of prayer and some good people in his life. Kyle became one of those guys. They bonded over basketball, surfing, and talking about Jesus. Kyle also told Ryan about the Bible school. Ryan and Kyle lived together for a month when Ryan first moved to Minnesota in April of 2015. Kyle was one of Ryan's first close Christian friends. Kyle and Ryan also played rec league basketball for their friends YMCA team.
Amy Hume
Bridesmaid
Stephanie met Amy when Amy reached out from a Christian Facebook page for young adults in the Twin Cities, and the two instantly connected. In fact, they might as well have been twins: they both loved Jesus, both loved writing, and both turned out to have boyfriends who would nearly be twins themselves! Amy and Stephanie formed their friendship on encouraging each other through difficult seasons with the truth of who God is and what He would do in each of their lives. Now, Stephanie couldn't be more excited to have her twin stand by her side on her wedding day!
Brady Arneson
Groomsman
Brady and Ryan met November of 2014. Brady graduated from the Bible school in 2013 that Ryan later attended and moved to Hawaii the next year. Brady and Ryan had been neighbors for a few months but did not meet until November. Ryan was going through a tough time and needed a lot of prayer and some good people in his life. Brady became one of those guys. They bonded over Surfing and talking about Jesus. Ryan and Brady became roomates when they both lived at Brady parents place during the summer of 2015. There were a lot of late nights staying up talking, and waking up at noon when everyone else was coming home from work for lunch. Brady really helped guide Ryan through his first year of his spiritual journey.
Sarah Johnson
Bridesmaid
Sarah and Stephanie met shortly after Stephanie moved to Minnesota, and quickly became one of Stephanie's really good friends in her new state. Enjoying discussions around theology, worship music, and eating at Itatlin resturants after mini golf, Stephanie is so happy to have Sarah stand with her as she marries the same man she started dating only four days before meeting Sarah for the first time!
Justin Naehu
Groomsman
Justin and Ryan met in 2010 during their Junior year of high school. They both were in wrestling together and were wrestling partners during practice. The first time they met, Justin flipped Ryan and Ryan was not too happy about it, but they later became best friends. Justin was one of Ryan's only real friends in high school. Ryan slept over at Justin's house a lot during Wrestling and Judo season. They trained together and even snuck into Jiu-Jitsu practice at a local gym before they got caught one day. They both still keep in contact and Ryan was Justin's Best Man in his wedding in October of 2021.
Jeremy Dahl
Groomsman
Jeremy and Ryan met November of 2014. Jeremy had just graduated from the Bible school that Ryan later attended and moved to Hawaii. Jeremy and Ryan had been neighbors for a few months but did not meet until November. Ryan was going through a tough time and needed a lot of prayer and some good people in his life. Jeremy became one of those guys. Jeremy and Ryan bonded over surfing and talking about Jesus. Ryan spent a good amount of time with Jeremy and his family. Ryan and Jeremy also played rec league basketball together on Jeremy's dad's YMCA team. Ryan also went on a roadtrip to California with Jeremy, Jeremy's brother David, and another friend named Will. Jeremy's family was moving to California, so the guys took their own car to go the senic route, and Jeremy's parents and sister took another car. Ryan would've also been in Jeremy's wedding but could not make the trip to California because of school, covid and finances.
Sydney Stauffeneker
Bridesmaid
Stephanie and Sydney met the first time Stephanie visited Ryan in Bemidji. Sydney and her husband, Jake, were good friends with Ryan, and took Stephanie in with open arms. From playing board games to spikeball, Sydney made Stephanie feel like she was part of their friend group all along. Ever admiring Sydney's joyful spirit and love for life, Stephanie is thankful to have Sydney stand with her as two of her friends become one!
Jake Stauffeneker
Groomsman
Jake and Ryan met during Ryan's sophmore year at Bemidji State at Chi Alpha. They did not get close until Ryan started coming over to Jake's place during the winter of that same year (2019). They bonded over spikeball, talking about Jesus, airsoft, and playing Call of Duty Warzone. Jake and Ryan also like to go back and forth with making jokes toward one another. Jake also has a Cabin that he invites Ryan and a bunch of other friends over to make a lot of memories by playing games, riding jetski, a pontoon, and staying up late making jokes and hanging out. Ryan was also a groomsman in Jake's wedding in July of 2021.
Elee LeDoux
Bridesmaid
Stephanie and Elee also met the first time Stephanie visited Ryan in Bemidji. Bonding over time spent at her husband's shack, and showing her and Ryan around her new hometown of Duluth, Elee made Stephanie feel welcomed and at home amongst Ryan's friends. Now, Stephanie is excited to have Elee by her side as she becomes permanently apart of the clan!
Nick LeDoux
Groomsman
Nick and Ryan met during Ryan's sophmore year at Bemidji State at Chi Alpha. They did not get close until Ryan started coming over to Nick's place during the winter of that same year (2019). They bonded over basketball, spikeball, talking about Jesus, airsoft, and playing Call of Duty Warzone. Ryan and Nick also played on the same intramural basketball team at Bemidji State. Nick also has a shack that he invites Ryan and other friends to make some memories hanging out and playing games. Ryan was one of the few people invited to Nick's wedding in Colorado in July 2022.
Lisa Duncan
Bridesmaid
Stephanie and Lisa have been friends since middle school, and Lisa became one of Stephanie's best friends in high school. Post high school, Stephanie has been able to cheer Lisa on through eight years of schooling to become a Veterinarian, and watch her get married to her college sweetheart. Stephanie is so glad to have kept in touch with Lisa throughout the years, and can't wait for her to stand by her side as she crosses off a post high school goal!
Tyler Hanson
Groomsman
Tyler and Ryan met the summer after Ryan's sophmore year at Bemdji state. Tyler had just graduated high school and moved to Bemidji to go to Northwest Tech and live with his older brother, Andrew, and Ryan. Tyler and Ryan bonded over spikeball, talking about Jesus, watching movies, and playing Call of Duty Warzone. Tyler also picked up Ryan one day when his car broke down and drove him to Fargo, ND to get a new car that same day. Tyler is pretty sad that Ryan will no longer be his roommate but is happy that Ryan found Stephanie.
Sandy Sternitzky
Bridesmaid
Stephanie and Sandy met working at UMR in Wausau in 2016. Little did they know, they also worked at Walmart together, at the same time, but never connected there beforehand. After eating their lunches together at work, both went to full time work from home status, but the sharing of food they loved didn't stop there. During the pandemic, they both ordered McDonalds breakfast for delivery from their seperate homes-at the same time-and neither knew it. They dubbed this as “Social Distancing Breakfast". Stephanie also introdcued Sandy to Crumbl Cookie and Boba Tea on Sandy's recent trip out to the Cities--Sandy's newest addictions. Their love for Chick-Fil-A also has kept them close, including the exchanging of all the CFA memes on Facebook. Now, Stephanie can't wait to share her funnest meal yet with Sandy at her wedding!
Ronson Cominella
Groomsman
Ronson is Ryan's older brother. They are similar but also very different. They both are competitive with each other and always want to beat each other at everything they do. They both have gone through a lot during their childhood together and really have bonded over that. A lot of times Ronson and Ryan would be home alone for a long period of time so they made the best of it together. They both wrestled on their high school team during Ronson's senior year. Ronson was sad when Ryan moved to Minnesota, but knew that Ryan had to move on with his life. Ronson is happy with all he has done with his life since moving to Minnesota, and is happy that Ryan has found Stephanie.