Wedding Party
Daniel Peterson
Groom
Originally from Owatonna, MN (about an hour south of the cities). Attended Minnesota State Mankato for Mechanical Engineering and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Works for Climate By Design in Owatonna, a manufacturing firm that specializes in industrial HVAC systems. Loves playing volleyball, board games, working on house projects, and making a really terrific steak. (Affectionately written by a gal who is super proud of her hunky, smarty pants!)
Alissa Hibst
Bride
Grew up in south Minneapolis. Attended the University of Minnesota for Economics, Latin, and studio art. Works for Strategic Education as a Creative Project Manager in the division that offers tuition assistance and reimbursement as an employee benefit through employer partners (also works part-time to get the perks at lululemon athletica!). Loves to dance, be in the kitchen or garden, listening to audiobooks on superspeed, and has hopes to write a children's book one day.
Kyle DuFrene
Best Man
Kyle has been like a brother in our friendship spanning over 20 years. We’ve shared some of our greatest memories living together in Mankato, Owatonna, and Eagan - always at the ready to spend the day battling over board games or playing volleyball. We are blessed to live within a 3 minute walk from one another and it’s a joy to pull into the drive at home and see a “friendly neighbor” just helping pick up sticks in the yard! I wouldn’t be who I am today without this guy. (We may have sworn our first-borns to one another so we can finally be related)
Emily Gooch
Matron of Honor
My lifelong built-in bestie. All three sisters grew up thick as thieves and did everything together - homeschooling, Swedish choir, and everything in between. Emily and I carried on doing all the things together from college French class, an adult ballet class, Bible Study Fellowship Young Adults, and getting passionate about EVERY topic we discuss. I've been the most fortunate to live life alongside as her family has grown to include even more besties (Ethan age 10, Linnea age 8, Wally age 5, Annika age 2). Fun Fact: Emily also married a Dan. We joke our family collects "Dans"...an uncle, a cousin, and now two sons-in-law!
Tyler Ester
Groomsman
One of the other “tall guys at church,” I met Tyler at Richfield Bible Church a number of years ago and was welcomed into the fold through his goofy humor (you should hear some of his impression voices!). But once you get beneath his funny antics, Tyler is a go-getter in wanting to connect, bring people together, learn something new, and ALWAYS have fun doing it. He has helped me on house projects with my gazebo and I’ve poured some blood/sweat/tears building a Murphy bed at his home. It’s amazing what a couple of mechanical engineers can accomplish! He’s also one of the guys that helped get Alissa and I together - we wouldn’t be here without this guy. Adding my own two cents in :) From the day Tyler enters your life, you know it'll never be the same again. Getting to know Tyler as one of my closest friends, watching him fall in love with my best friend, growing to be a great husband and loving father - it has been as special as having a brother of my own (coming from an all-girl family). Tyler has been a champion of mine, prayed for and encouraged me in my desire for marriage and so when he vouched that Dan may be suitable match, I knew he had to be someone special!
Rachel Ester
Bridesmaid
We met through a mutual friend at Bible Study Fellowship the spring of 2015. We were in the same group the following year and quickly became great friends and lived with one another (and our dear friend, Bethany (Wong) Hammersley). We've traveled far and wide with one another, seen peaks and valleys in both our lives, and have cherished every moment laughing, dancing, singing, baking, learning, and adventuring with her and her husband, Tyler, and daughter, Sofia.
Jeff DuFrene
Groomsman
Older brother of Kyle, most of my childhood memories includes Jeff - and I know he’s a lifelong friend. With the same rugged sense of adventure, we’ve portaged through the Boundary Waters, slept under the stars in Arches National Park, and backpacked on the North Shore. It is fun to dream of carrying on the adventure torch, now with our families in tow. We’ll maybe just wait until AFTER June 22nd to start scheming for our next excursion!
Christy Johnson
Bridesmaid
I met Christy in the same Bible Study Fellowship group with Rachel when we studied Revelation in 2015-16. Our friendship grew when we went on our first camping trip together and has strengthened through conversations about our faith, our dreams, and the blood-sweat-and-tears of our weekly dance class. As another 'youngest of three girls' and heavily involved in the Swedish community, Christy and I never tire of topics of conversation and have been known to giggle late into the night.
David Larson
Groomsman
As one of the “Owatonna Five,” I grew up in homeschooling co-ops and playing basketball with David (ask me about the most INTENSE game when his dad, Paul, was coaching!). We remained close friends even when he and his family moved to Memphis for a few years to pursue his education. I’ve been blessed to be brought into the ‘inner circle’ of his life and love seeing his and Abby’s parenting styles and proudly display artwork by Emma on my fridge hall of fame.
Jennifer Unger
Bridesmaid
The leader of the three musketeers. We grew up sharing a room in our small, south Minneapolis home. We homeschooled, were involved in the same activities, and yet still always chose to spend any extra time we had with one another - affectionately known at church as the "Smiley Girls." Being just a few years older, Jennifer moved to California in 2007 and subsequently has been in Canada since 2011. While we aren't living on the same block as we had dreamt as little girls, we still have that sister telepathy and have been known to match from across the country.
Cameron Bishop
Groomsman
Another great friend from Richfield Bible Church, Cam has been a steady fixture in my life for the last couple years. We’ve grown together in the same community group, traveled/camped from Colorado to Canada, and helped one another through house projects as we entered the exciting world of home ownership at roughly the same time. Ever at-the-ready to help anyone in need, Cam has been a huge blessing to both myself and Alissa - and always stepping in with a smile on his face (and sometimes even a doughnut in hand!). We look forward to the next camping trip and maybe *finally* catching the northern lights!
Sarah Peterson
Bridesmaid
After the Apostle Islands camping trip, Daniel invited us over to his sister's home for a game night - we became quick friends and started finding fun ways to connect by going for dog walks, paddleboarding, exploring new adventures in the kitchen with sourdough, and talking endlessly about whatever latest book we were reading. We've solved all the worlds problems a few times through when chatting on the numerous road trips to exotic places like Milwaukee (hey, any movie buffs can name that film?). She, too, is going to write a children's book one day - we're holding each other to it.
Evan Mrozek
Groomsman
Our origin story begins through an accidental meeting at a Vikings game in elementary school. Quickly connecting that we lived in the same town, we’ve been good friends ever since. Evan is another friend that I’ve loved playing games with and joyfully welcomed when he started including Anna in our board game quests - she’s the definition of “though she be little, she is mighty” or whatever phrase encapsulates flipping tables as a result of a spicy round of monopoly! I’ve also really settled into my role as “Mr. Dan” to the equally feisty Gracelynn and cherish her inquisitive nature.
Marta (Tverberg) DuFrene
Bridesmaid
I had actually met two of Marta's sisters through Bible Study Fellowship before meeting her! When starting to date Dan, I was quickly brought into the fold of the "Owatonna Five" (that's what we're naming the 5 families that grew up homeschooling together - Petersons, DuFrenes, Tverbergs, Larsons, and Crums) most notably by Marta. She has a way of very casually making one feel very genuinely welcome. We've been on the sidelines together for volleyball tournaments and battled over board games with our guys. As Daniel and Kyle have sworn their first-borns to one another, we figure it's only a matter of time before we're family :)
Michael Tiemann
Usher
We may have started as opponents in volleyball but it’s even better to be on the same team as Mike (and his wife, Lauren!). I always look forward to the next tournament I get to hang out with him and his family - he’s a good teammate and better friend. I have loved the camaraderie of getting to pursue one of my favorite interests with a like-minded man of God.
Linnea Gooch
Junior Bridesmaid
A snowstorm derailed plans when on my way to a cabin in Ely February 19, 2016. Praise the Lord for that snowstorm because then I got to be right there just after my itty bitty bestie was born! She has the voice of a songbird, boundless creativity, and a care and love for others that has taught me about Jesus in a new way. And she must have a little bit of sass like me because my mom and sister always mix up our names - calling her Alissa and me Linnea :)
Alex Tien
Usher
We met when we happened to find out that we used the same realtor. Now he is my summertime workout partner.
Annika Gooch
Flower Girl
Our lives are forever changed after this little firecracker entered the scene! She may be related to me by blood but I think Uncle Dan is her favorite person (second only to mommy and daddy).
Wallace Gooch
Ring Bearer
Kajsa Unger
Honor Attendant
Tobias Unger
Honor Attendant
Ethan Gooch
Honor Attendant