Tessa & John
Wedding Party
Katy Melstrom
Sister of the Bride
Katy and Tessa are sisters - 10 years apart! Growing up Katy was Tessa's role model and she wanted to do everything with her! Tessa was the annoying little sister that followed Katy and her friends around everywhere. Once Tessa grew up more they became so close and talk every day now! Katy helped planned out this whole magical day for us.
Kimberly Herron
Sister of the Bride
Kim and Tessa have grown up with their differences. Being 8 years apart did not help much either! Now, as adults they are much closer and talk all the time! They share a lot of common interests like dance, fashion, hair, all the girl things! They are both huge animal lovers too and share that bond together. Kim has done so much to help us with this beautiful day!
Morgan Lauer
Sister of the Groom
Morgan is John's little sister. They both share common interests like farming, FFA, and spending time with their family. Both of them are very caring and pride themselves on family values. Morgan always been there to help John when he needs it.
Molly Ponasik
Maid of Honor
Molly and Tessa have been besties since 3rd grade when they met at their older brothers football game! After that day, they were inseparable until after their senior year of high school when they went off to their different colleges. Even though they were apart, their friendship remained and has been strong since 2004! Tessa will also be standing by Molly's side on her wedding in September!
Sydney Shestak
Bridesmaid
Sydney and Tessa met in middle school but they didn't find their close friendship until after high school surprisingly! Now, even with living far apart from each other for five years they have connected in so many ways, including Tessa standing next to Sydney on her own wedding day coming up in July of 2021. It is a friendship that is going to last a lifetime!
Sandy Thomae
Bridesmaid
Sandy and Tessa met in middle school and became friends in high school having many classes together. Sandy has a beaming personality and was so easy to talk to and become friends with. Again, their friendship became even closer after high school and has continued into adulthood. Sandy was actually the only other person around when John proposed and the beautiful pictures you see on this website were taken by her on that day!
Bailee Chrudimsky
Bridesmaid
Bailee and Tessa met in high school and became quick friends through having classes together. They spent the summers throughout college hanging out and became even closer friends through their love of essential oils, silly enough! Bailee has the best upbeat fun personality and makes any event more fun!
Nikole Houdek
Bridesmaid
Nikole and Tessa met in highschool. Nikole is a year younger than Tessa but that did not stop them from sharing so many great memories together. Throughout college and now in our adult lives we talk constantly always sharing funny memes and our love for cats.
Brittney Ihde
Bridesmaid
Brittney and Tessa met in college through their sorority, Gamma Delta Phi. Eventually they became roommates and inseparable all through college. Tessa could not have survived college without this girl! Brittney and her now husband, Mitchell, actually introduced John and Tessa to each other!
Emily Streif
Bridesmaid
Emily and Tessa met through John and quickly became good friends. Emily is always down for anything and has such a similar personality to Tessa they clicked and became friends so fast. Its crazy! They have a blast together and talk 24/7! They bond through their silliness, inside jokes, and making fun of John ;) just kidding!
Evan Ihde
Best Man
Evan and John met in Kindergarten and have been best friends ever since. They were in Boy Scouts together and were college roommates. They have been through a lot together and it will be a lifetime friendship!
Aaron Kakes
Groomsman
Aaron and John became good friends because of Tessa and Sydney (Tessa's BFF and Aaron's fiancee). They share a love of farming, beer, and making fun of their fiancees together. -- A bond no one can break. John and Tessa are both so grateful for Aaron and his friendship to them both. We look forward to many more memories together!
Tyler Nydegger
Groomsman
John and Tyler met in elementary school and bonded over farming. Both boys are farmers and love everything to do with it! John and Tyler went through school together and even were roommates in college. It is a longtime friendship!
Joe Mohlis
Groomsman
John and Joe met in middle school. They became fast friends cracking jokes during class. They have shared many memories together like going to Nashville, Joe's wedding, and meeting Joe's son the week he was born! John and Joe have a lifelong friendship that both guys truly value.
Beau Herron
Groomsman
Beau is Tessa's older brother. They have so much in common it's crazy. Growing up we were not friends LOL but now we even share some of the same friends and hang out altogether whenever Beau is in town. Even though we live far apart we text and keep in touch often.
Mitchell Ihde
Groomsman
John and Mitchell met in elementary school but became good friends in middle school. Both boys grew close because of being in Boy Scouts together and even became Eagle Scouts! Mitchell and his wife Brittney (also in the wedding party), are the couple who introduced John and Tessa together!
Michael Streif
Groomsman
Michael and John met in high school, but were never very close. When Tessa and Michael's wife, Emily (a bridesmaid) became close, John and Michael spent a lot of time together! Over the years they have became good friends. Both boys are again, farmers, and love to bond over that!
Jared Melstrom
Usher
Jared is Tessa's brother in law (Married to Katy and is George and Sam's father). Jared has been in Tessa's life for almost 10 years already! Time flies when you are having fun!
Nathan Bolen
Usher
Tessa and Nate have been best friends since they met in high school. We used to spend hours driving around our small town with nothing to do. We bonded over our music taste and our love for fun! We can always get together and I know that it is going to be a blast.
Ethan Menne
Usher
Ethan is the long time boyfriend of John's sister, Morgan. John and Ethan have similar interests in farming so they get along great.
George Melstrom
Ring Bearer
George is Tessa's nephew. He made her an auntie! Tessa and John love spending time playing with all the toys and carving pumpkins with George! We are so excited to have him be apart of our special day.
Samuel Melstrom
Ring Bearer
Sam is Tessa's nephew and godson. This little dude LOVES to eat and we cannot wait to watch him scarf down 5 cupcakes at the reception! We are sure he is going to bust a move on the dance floor too!