Wedding Party
Whitney Misfeldt
Maid of Honor
Whitney and Emma first met during orientation at St. Ambrose University, and they quickly connected on their mutual love of dance. Whitney's bubbly energy was infectious, but it wasn't until two years later when they become housemates that the pair truly got to know each other. As the only non-student-athlete in the house, Whitney served as "house mom" and also the house's "social life coordinator." Whitney has been there for Emma during major life milestones, including the end of Emma's dance career at St. Ambrose, the start of Physical Therapy school, and the beginning of Emma's relationship with Zach. Whitney has remained an incredibly supportive friend and Emma is beyond excited to have Whitney as her Maid of Honor.
Colegrove Withers
Best Man
Colegrove is Zach's older brother. Colegrove likes to joke that the best three years of his life were those when he was an only child from 1992-95, but Zach respectfully disagrees and thinks his birth was the best thing to ever happen to Colegrove 😁 In all seriousness, from sharing Thomas the Tank Engine trains as toddlers to sharing beers anytime they get together as adults, Colegrove has, truly, always been there for Zach. Different though their personalities and interests are, Colegrove and Zach are one and the same when it comes to the love, respect and adoration they have for one another and the rest of their family members. An aspiring lawyer, Colegrove will act as Zach and Emma's witness when the happy couple signs their wedding certificate.
Alexa Buchanon
Matron of Honor
Alexa and Emma grew up together in a couple of different ways. First, as members of the Dancenter Dancer Company and then as neighbors when Alexa's family moved five houses down the street from the Peeler's. Alexa became a frequent dinner guest of the Peeler's and Emma, for her part, was a frequent overnight guest at the Cross' house. This friendship continued through high school and during summers between years of college as Alexa attended Iowa State while Emma was at St. Ambrose. Emma & Alexa have remained close in adulthood even though their careers have taken them in opposite directions from Ames. Emma was thrilled to ask Alexa to be her Bridesmaid after serving as Alexa's Bridesmaid almost exactly one year before Emma's wedding date.
Alec Withers
Best Man
Alec is Zach's younger brother. While Zach has always been close with all of his brothers, he & Alec became especially tight when the two overlapped for two years at Ames High School. Zach & Alec got to drive to school together, play in marching band together and attend youth group together. That enhanced bond persisted through Zach attending Luther, Alec attending Iowa and into adulthood. Nowadays, Alec and Zach frequently trade texts about sports betting degeneracy, fantasy football and Hawkeye sports. In his best man role, Alec was instrumental in the planning and execution of Zach's bachelor party.
Kylee Tigges
Bridesmaid
Kylee and Emma became fast friends when they joined the Dancenter Dancers Competition Team as "Minis" at the age of seven. Kylee was a country girl who grew up on a farm an hour north of Ames, so she showed Emma what was life was like outside the city. Kylee became a fixture at the Peeler's house on weekends as dance became more serious as the years went by. These weekends included many exciting childhood adventures and the occasional short films that (thank goodness!) never saw the light of day on the Internet. Kylee and Emma's bond grew as they became older, and continued when the girls eventually pursued similar degrees at colleges that were situated just 50 miles apart. Their relationship continued to flourish in recent years as they confided in one another during their budding romances with their current partners. Emma was honored to be a Bridesmaid in Kylee's wedding last year and Emma can't wait to have her part of Emma and Zach's special day.
Nate Withers
Best Man
Nate is Zach's youngest brother. Zach's formative memories with Nate all revolve around sports, and the vast majority revolve around attending Iowa football games with Nate for nearly a decade when they were both kids. Zach and Nate played countless hours of football, both in the parking lots of Iowa City at tailgates and in their parents' backyard in Ames, where Nate would join in on games with Zach's friends. Candidly, Nate got his ass kicked on many occasions by the older competition, but he used those experiences to become the type of athlete Zach could only dream of being: An All-State football and tennis player, as well as a four-year letter-winning baseball player in high school, and a four-year tennis player at Luther. Zach is incredibly grateful to Nate for agreeing to give a speech at the wedding reception as part of his best man duties.
Emma Hart
Bridesmaid
The two Emma's first crossed paths on the St. Ambrose Dance Team, where their shared passion for dance quickly blossomed into a beautiful friendship. Together, they won three national championships (no big deal 😉) over the course of three memorable years. Their connection went beyond the dance floor, as these two friends navigated the challenges and triumphs of life at St. Ambrose together. Especially during their senior year, it seemed that wherever one Emma was, the other wasn't too far behind. As their bond deepened, the Emma's discovered common interests such as a love for healthy living and running. Now, as a bridesmaid, Emma Hart is an integral part of the celebration, and the happy couple couldn't imagine their special day without her.
Daniel Melaas-Swanson
Groomsman
Zach and Dan were classmates at Luther College. Dan decided to sit next to Zach at a chapel service one morning early on during their time on campus, and the two became fast friends upon discovering they shared a mutual love for sports. Dan and Zach shared innumerable meals at Luther, played frisbee and pickup basketball together and Dan even invited Zach to be a regular guest contributor on the weekly sports talk radio show Dan co-hosted at Luther's student-run radio station. The two remained close after college, frequently texting one another sports takes and their opinions on The Bachelor franchise, of which Dan and Zach are both big fans. Zach stood by Dan's side when Dan married his lovely bride, Sara, in July 2022, and Zach was ecstatic when Dan agreed to return the favor in June 2024.
Ian Peeler
Bridesman
Ian was blessed with the most wonderful gift on his third birthday: A little sister named Emma! Ian and Emma grew up together as siblings do: Occasionally acting as friends who built forts and took on adventures together; and other times they were intense competitors in wrestling matches or water gun fights. As they entered adulthood, Ian and Emma have become incredible friends and confidants. During the peculiar times of the pandemic, their bond reached new heights as they became roommates while Emma completed a clinical in Iowa City. Ian brings more than just the title of "Bridesman" to the celebration--he brings a lifetime of shared laughter, support, and a bond that has only grown stronger with time. Zach & Emma are ecstatic to have Ian be a pivotal part of their special day!
Zach Skarshaug
Groomsman
Zach W and "Haug" first met one another when they played on the same Little League baseball team. They continued to play baseball together as they got older and also bonded through their experience as percussionists in school concert band. "The Zach's," as they were known in the halls of Ames High School, grew particularly close during their junior and senior years when they both played snare drum in the AHS drumline. The two stayed in touch throughout college, meeting for breakfast at The Grove whenever Zach W was back in Ames on break from Luther and Haug could get away from the Farmhouse fraternity at ISU. Zach W was honored to stand by Haug's side when he married his wife Katie in October 2022, and Zach W was elated that Haug agreed to reciprocate in June 2024.
Joe Bappe
Officiant
Joe and Zach have been friends since meeting in Mrs. Franco's kindergarten class at Fellows Elementary in 2001. The two got along well once they realized they were both sports nuts AND Hawkeye fans living in Ames. Joe & Zach's parents also happened to live just down the street from one another on Northwestern Avenue. It was Joe who invited Zach to attend the latter's first Hawkeye football game, and the experience was so profound that Zach begged his parents to become Iowa football season ticketholders. In the ensuing decade-plus, the Bappes & Withers attended countless Hawkeye football games together in Iowa City. Joe, Zach and Zach's youngest brother, Nate, played hours upon hours of football at tailgates preceding Iowa home football games. (Legend has it that the trio never lost a game played against other kids in the Finkbine Commuter Lot.) Although they no longer get to attend many Iowa games together, Joe has remained a dear friend of Zach's over the years, including when Emma entered the picture. Zach & Emma knew Joe would be a perfect officiant on their special day and were overjoyed when Joe agreed to serve in this role.
Payton, Hank & Kevin
Usher
Zach was fortunate enough to meet (from left to right in the photo) Payton Buckmaster, Hank Neal and Kevin Flanegin in grad school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Zach and Kevin were roommates (S/O APT 531 at Latitude - IYKYK) while Payton was their classmate and Hank an honorary member of their grad program. Payton, Hank and Kevin were all there from the very beginning when Zach and Emma started dating. Although they started as Zach's friends, Emma has come to know and love all three of these upstanding men and the happy couple is overjoyed to have them be part of their special day.
Connor and Camden
Ringbearers
Connor and Camden are taking on the very important role of ring security for Zach & Emma's special day. Having these two be part of Zach & Emma's wedding is an homage to the Emma's parents' wedding, where Connor and Camden's father served as the ringbearer. Zach & Emma are thrilled to include these two cuties in this full circle wedding moment.