Weddings
2015
A Souvenir Bridal Memories Section
Mitchell County Press-News Volume 150, Number 8 • February 25, 2015 • Section C
riverside Weddings 2015
C10 • Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015
Engagement came by the
/
there. While walking near the river, Dylan asked the infamous question,” t happened on a Taylor recalled. slow, leisurely walk It was one more alongside the Cedar chapter written over River in November 2013. several years of knowing “We were visiting each other. our families in Osage for “We met through Thanksgiving and we took various activities that we a little time for ourselves had each participated in that weekend,” recalled through our church, Our Taylor Mills, who will marry Dylan Nash in July. Savior’s Lutheran, and through school events “We ended up at Sunny Brae Golf Course to and sports,” she added. remember old times spent “We started dating while DEB NICKLAY
I
Of The Press-News
we were in high school, in 2009.” Taylor, the daughter of Kurt and Sue Mills, graduated from Osage High School in 2011 and she is a senior at Iowa State University. She is working part-time as a veterinary assistant at the Nevada Veterinary Clinic in Nevada, and was recently accepted into Iowa State Veterinary College. She begins classes this fall.
“We ended up at Sunny Brae Golf Course to remember old times spent there. While walking near the river, Dylan asked the infamous question.”
Taylor Mills
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Dylan, the son of Tom and Deb Nash, graduated from OHS in 2010, and earned his degree in automotive mechanics from North Iowa Area Community College. He is employed at Ames Ford Lincoln in Ames. The couple plans a July 18 wedding on the Nash family acreage.
MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS-NEWS
Taylor Mills and Dylan Nash Submitted photo
strikes
Weddings 2015
MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS-NEWS
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25, 2015 • C11
Matthew’s proposal was all
/
DEB NICKLAY
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Of The Press-News
ella Arciniega had no idea that a quick bite at the local bowling alley was going to end in a new chapter of her life. And, even when her now-fiancé, Matthew Moon, asked her to pick out her favorite shirt of his so he could wear it for her to the supper, she didn’t
catch on. “After supper Matt got down on one knee and proposed. I thought he was kidding so I told him to stop, that he was embarrassing me, and everyone was staring,” she recalled. Then, realization came over her, she said. “After I said ‘Yes!’ and hugged and kissed him, I
noticed one of my friends taking pictures of us. Turns out, Matt asked her to take pictures of him proposing. He definitely did a good job and so far, that was the happiest moment of my life.” But the best part of the proposal was when she was told that Matt asked her father for her hand first. “I can’t wait until the
by Nicole Kleckner by Nicole Kleckner
Ready foR a beautiful
Matthew Moon and Bella Arciniega Submitted photos
day we get married,” she said. The pair, both graduates of Osage High School, met through a mutual friend, after Bella moved to Osage from Arizona. She is the daughter of Frank and Holly Arciniega, and
Matthew is the son of Chuck and Darla Moon. Bella is employed as a secretary at Murphy, Smith and Co., PLLC, in Osage and Matt, who is a taxidermist, also works for J & K Construction as a millwright.
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They will be married Oct. 24 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Riceville. “We hope someday to own land out in the country and build a house, and raise our kids there. Then live happily ever after,” Bella said.
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C12 • Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015
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Weddings 2015
Mitchell County Press-News
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Weddings 2015
C2 • WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25, 2015
Steven Wagner and Rhondi Easley
MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS-NEWS
‘happy trails’ It’s all
Submitted photo
for this couple
“I was in shock … in fact I let go of one of the horses without realizing it and he had to quickly grab it! He knew I wouldn’t want it any other way than doing what I love ... horseback riding ... with the horses I love more than anything in the world.”
Rhondi Easley
DEB NICKLAY
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Of The Press-News
he trails at Lime Creek Nature Center in Mason City are beautiful to walk, and to ride. So, it made sense that when Steven Wagner wanted to ask Rhondi Easley to marry him, he did it on horses. The couple, who met through mutual friends, will be married Oct. 24 in St. Ansgar. At first, though, Rhondi wasn’t so sure Steven was for her. Connecting through mutual friends, they chatted via texts, by phone and on Facebook before they actually saw each other on a double date. When Rhondi first saw Steven’s photograph on
Facebook, “I was really leery at first because in all of his Facebook pictures he looked so young ... I mean REALLY young!” To her relief, she realized he was older than he looked on Facebook when they finally met face to face. “One of the first things I said to him was, ‘You really need to update your Facebook!’ I later found out that he thought I was ‘out of his league’ so we both still joke about it to this day!” The day of Steven’s proposal was hot and humid and the couple went riding horses at Lime Creek. “I had suspected he was up to something but as the ride went on for 1½ hours and the day was getting hotter and hotter, I started
to doubt that it would be THE day!” she recalled. They eventually both dismounted their horses to stretch their legs and walk a bit. “He said, ‘but before we go I have a question for you,’ and that’s when he got down on one knee and asked. “I was in shock … in fact I let go of one of the horses without realizing it and he had to quickly grab it! He knew I wouldn’t want it any other way than doing what I love ... horseback riding ... with the horses I love more than anything in the world.” Rhondi is a 2008 graduate of Mason City High School and is the daughter of Gregg and Linda Easley. Steven is the son of Pat
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and Deanne Wagner. Rhondi – no surprise — holds a degree in equine management, earned at Ellsworth Community College, and today works as a business banking assistant at First Citizens National Bank in Mason City. Steven is a 2007 St. Ansgar High School graduate and earned an AAS Electro Mechanical Systems Technology Program certificate at North Iowa Area Community College. He is employed at Absolute Energy Ethanol Plant in St. Ansgar as a maintenance technician. The couple plans to live in Mitchell County and “eventually start a family of our own,” said Rhondi.
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Weddings 2015
MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS-NEWS
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 • C3
They are making
beautiful music
DEB NICKLAY
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Of The Press-News
helsey Hemann and Zach Shane were headed to Nashville, to enjoy good music and to take a well-deserved vacation from the work that had kept both of them busy. But Zach had more on his mind than just some good country music. On their first night in the Music City, they decided to relax at the Hard Rock Café. “Zach … was very anxious,” Chelsey recalled. Then, he got down on one knee and popped the question. “After asking numerous times, ‘Are you serious?’ I, of course, said ‘Yes,’ ” she said. “We spent the rest of our vacation in the Music City celebrating our engagement,” Chelsey added. Chelsey is the daughter of Jim and Shelly Hemann and is a 2009 Osage High School graduate. She attended Hawkeye Community College for her practical nursing degree. She is employed as a clinic nurse at Mayo
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C4 • Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015
carved
Weddings 2015
MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS-NEWS
The carved pumpkins that greeted Larissa just after the blindfold was pulled away.
Matthew
his proposal
an Aplington-Parkersburg graduate and junior at the University of Northern Iowa, met Matthew, a St. Ansgar High hen Larissa Wessels agreed to School graduate, through a mutual friend go hiking with her boyfriend when Larissa was only a freshman in Matthew Smith, she had no high school. idea she was headed to one of the most A few years lapsed and then they met important afternoons of her life. “He told me we were going hiking with again at a concert. “I thought we would never talk again, my roommate Jessie, and her boyfriend, until I got a text from him just a few David,” Larissa recalled, noting that hours later.” such an outing was not unusual among “It turns out, our friend gave him my the couples. What was unusual was the request that phone number. We talked for a while, went to prom together, and eventually the girls be blindfolded “because they started dating.” wanted to surprise us with something.” They are a busy couple. Larissa, a “I thought this was pretty strange, but biology major, plans to become a family did it anyway,” Larissa said. physician; Matthew is a graduate of The men led them through the woods Hawkeye Community College where he and after a time, Matthew asked her to got a degree in graphic design. He plans remove her blindfold. to attend the police academy and become There, against a beautiful river and a police officer. He is also a combat bridge backdrop, was Matthew on engineer in the Iowa National Guard one knee. and works at Blain’s Farm and Fleet in “There were pumpkins behind him Cedar Falls. that were carved to say, ‘Will you marry They plan to live in Cedar Falls until me?’ ” Larissa is accepted into medical school, at “He told me how much he loved me which time they plan to live in Des Moines and how he wanted to spend his life with while Larissa earns her medical degree. me and, obviously, I said, ‘Yes!’ ” They Larissa is the daughter of John and Lisa plan a June 13 wedding in Waverly. Wessels; Matthew is the son of Steve and The proposal was just one more chapter in a four-year courtship. Larissa, Gail Smith.
Submitted photos
Matthew Smith and Larissa Wessels
DEB NICKLAY
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Of The Press-News
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Weddings 2015
From the mountaintop, DEB NICKLAY
Of The Press-News
T
ara Adams and Zebulon Guinn aren’t a couple to do things halfway. Tara, an Osage High School grad, is planning on becoming an optometrist; Zeb from Moulton, has chosen the often challenging life of a crop and cattle farmer. So, it would make sense that Zeb’s proposal would be something a bit out of the ordinary. A few weeks following their 2013 graduation from Iowa State University, the couple and Zeb’s family took a ski vacation in Red River, New Mexico. “Eleven people took off in a 15-passenger van headed south to, ironically, more snow,” Tara recalled. At the end of the second day of skiing,
Above left: Tara Adams and Zebulon Guinn, just after becoming engaged in Red River, New Mexico. Left: Zebulon Guinn and Tara Adams Submitted photos
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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25, 2015 • C5
she said ‘Yes!’ Zebulon invited his folks to join him. There on top of the mountain, Zeb “got down on one knee and popped the question,” she said. “Surrounded by family, breathtaking scenery, and unconditional love, it is a memory that will last a lifetime,” she said. The couple met in their senior year at ISU, when Tara’s sorority and Zebulon’s fraternity were paired together for
homecoming activities. That triggered a romance that led to their engagement. Tara, who holds a degree in kinesiology and health and community and public health degrees from Iowa State University, has her sights set on becoming an optometrist. She begins her studies in August. Zeb is a Moulton-Udell High School graduate and earned his ag business
degree from ISU. Their parents are Jim and Dawn Adams and the late Connie Adams, and Eddie and Melanie Guinn. They plan to be married April 11 at Moulton Christian Church. Then, they plan to move to Glendale, Ariz., where Tara will begin her studies at Midwestern University. The couple will return to Iowa after she has earned her degree to begin a family and enjoy farm life.
Weddings 2015
C6 • Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015
Proposal filled with symbols of DEB NICKLAY
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Of The Press-News
oe Heimer has a good memory and he used every bit of it to set the stage for his wedding proposal to Abby Johnson. When Abby came home from work, he made sure that her favorite flowers were in evidence, as well as other symbols representing memories of their four years together. It must have worked well: Abby said “yes” and the couple, who met through mutual friends, will be married May 16 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage. Abby is the daughter of Don and Barb Johnson; and Joe is the son of Keith and Lisa Heimer. Abby is a graduate of Osage High School, and earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and sales management from the University of Northern Iowa. She is marketing manager at Ameriprise Financial. Joe is a graduate of St. Ansgar High School, and attended Hawkeye Community College in
love
MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS-NEWS
The Blue Belle
was site of proposal DEB NICKLAY
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Submitted photo
Joe Heimer and Abby Johnson Waterloo. He is an agent with Town and Country
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Of The Press-News
he Blue Belle Inn of St. Ansgar has been a home away from home for a lot of visitors. For Carolyn Noordhoek and Joseph Duncomb, the bed and breakfast proved to be “ground zero” for their future relationship. Both were employed at the Inn when they began to see each other. Carolyn, a 2014 home school graduate, is enrolled at North Iowa Area Community College, studying for a business degree. In fact, Joe proposed while she was attending classes at NIACC. She also works part-time at Subway in Osage. Joseph, a 2010 St. Ansgar High School graduate, works for Joseph Duncomb and Carolyn Noordhoek Madison Farms. They plan to live and Church in Austin, Minn. Noordhoek; Joseph is the work in the Osage area Carolyn is the daugh- son of Todd and Marand will be married June ter of Jonathan and Vicki cia Duncomb. 6 at Faith Evangelical
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iced
Weddings 2015
MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS-NEWS
Tanner
on the ice when the pair “met this amazing older mily Johnson thought couple,” recalled Emily. Tanner asked the couple that she and her to take their photo, which boyfriend, Tanner they did. Woods, were just going Tanner then quickly ice skating. Little did she stepped behind Emily. know that she – and an older couple also on the ice Emily turned, thinking – were about to be part of Tanner had fallen on the ice. a life-changing event. But “when I turned The couple had always around to help him up, known each other since he was down on one knee their parents were good friends. But it took several with the most amazing ring I’ve ever seen.” Emily years, after high school admitted that she almost graduation, when their fell then, but managed to friendship deepened say, “Yes!” to romance. “The older couple loved Emily and Tanner, that they got to play a both St. Ansgar High part,” she added. “I didn’t School graduates, were DEB NICKLAY
E
Submitted photo
Tanner Woods and Emily Johnson
Of The Press-News
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this proposal know what was coming, but it turned out to be the best day of my life!” They plan to marry Oct. 17 at Deer Creek Lutheran Church in Carpenter. Both have been busy with career pursuits. Emily, the daughter of Joe and Teresa Johnson, earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting at the University of Northern Iowa and is employed at Murphy, Smith and Co.,PLLC, in Osage, as an accountant. Tanner, son of Troy and Tami Woods, earned his automotive tech degree at North Iowa Area Community College and
“... When I turned around to help him up, he was down on one knee with the most amazing ring I’ve ever seen.”
Emily Johnson
is employed at Wold’s Rim and Wheel Warehouse in St. Ansgar. Their future plans include raising a family in Mitchell County, traveling and “get things off our bucket list,” she said.
Weddings 2015
C8 • Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015
MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS-NEWS
Their paths finally crossed to
The plan: While they were enjoying girl talk, Willie would surprise Marissa, drop down on one knee and propose. The plan worked perfectly.
romance DEB NICKLAY
M
Of The Press-News
arissa Wagner and Willie Mayer both grew up in Stacyville; they both graduated from St. Ansgar High School; and both graduated from the University of Northern Iowa. Yet, even though they are sure their paths must have unknowingly crossed, it wasn’t until June 2013 when they formally met after being introduced by mutual friends. “It was a summer full of grilling, biking, camping and laughing,” Marissa said. A year later, Willie orchestrated a plan with Marissa’s good friend (and a soon-to-be bridesmaid), Hannah, who helped set the stage for the Big Question. Hannah was to take Marissa to the Mulberry Point Lookout, just outside Vermillion, S.D., a beautiful spot that overlooks the Missouri River. The plan: While they were enjoying girl talk, Willie would surprise Marissa, drop down on one knee and propose.
The plan worked perfectly. “Being the great friend that she is, Hannah caught the whole thing on film and snapped the first pictures of the newly-engaged couple,” Marissa said. The couple, whose parents are Pat and Deanne Wagner, and Joe and Ann Mayer, plans an Aug. 22 wedding at First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar. Marissa holds a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders and is attending graduate school in Vermillion. She will graduate with her master’s degree in speech-language pathology in December. Willie earned his bachelor’s degree in graphic communications, but later decided on a career change. He is currently an electrician’s apprentice, working to become an Inside Wireman Journeyman Electrician. He plans to have his Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota electrical licenses by 2018. The couple plans on moving closer to home, get dream jobs and begin a family.
Willie Mayer and Marissa Wagner. Submitted photo
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Proposal was DEB NICKLAY
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Of The Press-News
essert was his proposal: Keith Dorsey of Osage knows the art of misdirection. When his girlfriend’s birthday came around, he gave her, well, car tires. Ah, but if that seems unromantic, think again. It was just his way of preparing a well-crafted marriage proposal, said his now-fiancé, Daniele Messersmith. “Little did I know that those tires were a cover up for a ring he had to give me,” she said.
dessert
A day later, on Daniele’s birthday, Keith made reservations for dinner, inviting both sets of parents to join them. “I left the room we were eating in; when I returned, he was on one knee and asked me to marry him. He had his mom taking pictures and my mom was recording
Weddings 2015
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25, 2015 • C9
Keith Dorsey and Daniele Messersmith
for this dinner
it,” Daniele said. “I was so excited I couldn’t eat the rest of my meal.” She found out later that Keith had incorporated a diamond from his grandmother’s ring into Daniele’s ring, which made everything even more special, she said. Daniele, a Forest City High School graduate who
“Little did I know that those tires were a cover up for a ring he had to give me.”
— Daniele Messersmith
Submitted photo
earned her administrative assistant degree from North Iowa Area Community College, is employed at the Mitchell County Conservation Board as the office manager. Keith, an Osage High School graduate, works for L.R. Falk Construction of St. Ansgar. Their parents are Dan and Carol Messersmith of Forest City, and Mike and Donna Dorsey of Osage. They plan an outdoor wedding on the Mitchell County Historical Society grounds in Osage on Sept. 12.
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