Our Wedding Party
It takes a tremendous number of activities, people, planning and patience to make a wedding come together. However, at its core is what is the most important: friends and family.
With so many amazing friends and family in our lives it was very difficult for us to narrow our list. It's certainly a humbling experience to go through and flattering to think of all the wonderful people that will be surrounding us.
Melissa’s Bridesmaids:
Mandy Hasslen-Gartner (Matron of Honor)
Mandy is my sister and one of my closest friends. It’s odd to think
back to times when I was smashing her finger with a hammer, biting her
in the eye or fighting with her only to now realize she’s one of
the people I can tell anything to and she won’t judge me. We have
definitely become closer as we’ve gotten older! Mandy is the amazing
mother of two boys, Eoghan and Finn.
Elizabeth Mulso
Elizabeth and I met while teaching at Edison/PPL in Minneapolis. I’ve
never met such an incredible teacher and giving person. Elizabeth has
a heart of gold. She is now planning her own wedding and will soon be
Mrs. Sherman!
Marisa Ragsdale
Marisa and I met through a mutual friend. We soon became good friends
and have shared many adventures. How could we not when it was so much
fun to mess with people when we introduced ourselves as, “Marisa
and Melissa” (throw our friend Marcia in the mix and it gets even
worse!) Marisa is a great source of laughter and adventure…not to
mention happy hours and long conversations about boys and life.
Traci Sebastian
What can I say about a person who has been so amazing? Traci and I met
during orientation at The George Washington University. We discovered
we worked well together after we were given our first grad school assignment
and have been friends ever since. We share a sarcastic sense of humor
and a love for everything Latino, even Baja Fresh! Traci helped me through
many mini-crises while I lived in D.C. and is an incredible friend.
Nancy Selim
Nancy is Tamer’s sister and my new little sister! I’ve always
been the youngest so it will be great to be a “big sister!”
Nancy has been so accepting of me into her family and I couldn’t
ask for a better sister-in-law. I love Nancy’s smile and quick wit.
She is a Senior at the University of Iowa.
Jodi Wylie
Jodi and I went to college together at Rhodes in Memphis, TN. We shared
a very thin wall between our dorm rooms and became quick friends. I thought
Jodi was insane when she was “fixin’ to get in the shower…”
only to realize that term would quickly become part of my own vocabulary.
Jodi has been a great friend and although we don’t see each other
often she remains a constant source of friendship and laugher in my life.
Cindy Smilden (Personal Attendant)
My big sister Cindy has helped me through many tough times in life. She
took care of me when I was young and has always made her home open to
me. Cindy lives in Chicago so I don’t get to see her very often
but I know she is always a phone call away. Cindy is the mother of four:
Joshua, Nathan, Lacey and Davis.
Tamer’s Groomsmen
Ben Swenka (Best man)
If someone had told us when Ben and I first met that he’d be standing
next to me as my Best Man on my wedding day, I don’t think either
of us would’ve believed it. When we met in high school, Ben was
a BMX biker that ran track and played football and I was a geeky debater
that shot photos for the school paper and yearbook. Since then, there
have been many changes in both of our lives and our paths have crossed
in many ways. We suffered and succeeded through Electrical Engineering
at University of Iowa, we braved the cold with our Hawkeye Football season
tickets, we’ve worked together, we’ve roomed together –
and, now, we’ve been in each other’s weddings.
When it came time to decide which guy I wanted standing next to me on
my wedding day, I knew I wanted it to be the one that had already stood
beside me through so many other stages of life.
Jerry Bower
I first met Jerry while in Boston on business with Lotus. In an odd twist
of fate, our paths crossed a couple of years later when Jerry relocated
to Minneapolis and we found ourselves working in the same company. We
later got to know each other quite well during an exhausting project in
Texas that required many sleepless nights of work and infinite patience.
Since then, we've continued working together professionally and developed
a stronger friendship through our mutual interests.
Kevin Hansen
Kevin and I first met at a technical conference several years ago. Our
business relationship quickly expanded as we discovered our many common
interests. I can honestly say that Kevin’s the only guy I know that
is Disney and Wrestling (WWE) fanatic at the same time! We often meet
for dinner to make sure that we keep current on the news in each others
lives.
John Morriss
John often reminds me that his first memory of meeting me was his shock
in discovering a Middle-Easterner with a Southern accent. Similarly, as
I sit here typing this, I am humming the Eagle's song, “Take it
Easy.” Why? Well, it’s not just because that’s what
John uses in place of "goodbye" but because it fits his attitude
about things. I don’t know of many people that are as passionate
about questioning, learning and applying the tangible and intangible things
in life. Somehow, John does that with such calm and comfort.
Sharief Selim
Sharief is my little brother and youngest sibling. We share a lot of the
same interests in technology, cars, sports and music. During my visits
home throughout the football season, you can usually find us glued to
a TV burning hours upon hours challenging each other to football games
on the Xbox.
Brian Wagner
Brian and I have known each other since high school. We became better
friends in college as we spent countless hours crammed in a small office
with all our partners in our start-up company, Isys Technologies. Brian
now lives in Portland, Maine. I was honored to stand-up in Brian and Corrie’s
wedding six years ago and I look forward to having him be a part of mine.
Ushers:
David Gartner
David is Melissa’s brother-in-law, Mandy’s husband. Melissa,
Tamer, Mandy and David have become good friends and enjoy hanging out
together while chasing around Mandy and David’s sons.
Joe Hasslen
Joe is Melissa’s oldest brother. Melissa and Joe have grown closer
over the last few years…living together will do that! Melissa had
to get over Joe’s constant teasing to appreciate his kind and generous
heart. Joe is the father of three girls, Heather, Stephanie and Chelsea.
Tim Hasslen
Tim is Melissa’s brother. Tim and Melissa have always been close
and used to go to many Twins’ games together. He also introduced
her to Pink Floyd, the BoDeans and Prince and helped her develop her love
of music. Tim is the father of two children, AJ and Nick.
Todd Johnson
Todd and Tamer have known each other since college. Soon after Todd moved
to Minneapolis a few years ago, the two of them spent an entire weekend
converting one of Tamer's basement rooms into a B&W darkroom. Even
with both of their mutual interests in photography, there has yet to be
photo printed out of that darkroom.
Ring Bearer:
Eoghan Gartner
Eoghan is the son of Melissa’s sister, Mandy. He is also Melissa’s
godson. Eoghan is almost three and really looking forward to being in
“Tia and Tamer’s wedding.” You can always count on Eoghan
for a hug and a good laugh.
Parents:
John and Pat Hasslen
Melissa’s parents live in Elk River, Minnesota. They love to travel
and spend time with their grandchildren. They have always been very supportive
of Melissa in her decisions to live, study and travel all over the world.
Mustafa and Sam Selim
Tamer's parents live in Iowa City, Iowa. They made the difficult decision
to leave their home country and large families to move to the United States
to complete their graduate degrees. In 1976, when Tamer was only 3 years
old, they moved from Cairo, Egypt to Oxford, Mississippi. Tamer is the
oldest of their three children (Nancy and Sharief are also in the wedding
party.)
Readers:
Mona and Shahira Elsohly
Tamer and this dynamic duo have known each other most of their lives.
Even though they’ve lived far apart most of their lives (Shahira
recently moved back to Atlanta), they’ve managed to keep in touch
and visit each other often. Like his very own sister, Tamer couldn’t
imagine this day without them! Mona and Shahira – and their family
– are like an extension of his own.
Ellen Perrault
Ellen is a friend of Melissa’s. They have known each other for almost
20 years. They share a love of hiking and music. Ellen has been a great
friend to Melissa through many stages of life.
Singers:
Mel and Barb Eliason
Melissa has known Mel and Barb since she was young. She used to babysit
their children who are now graduating from college!
Hosts:
Brendan and Kay Higgins (hosting at James J. Hill
Library)
Tamer has known Brendan and Kay for several years – dating back
to their single years. He first met each of them at previous jobs and
has been fortunate to have a continued opportunity to work with them.
Even though there are many people that would like to take the credit,
Tamer still maintains that he is responsible for matching up this great
couple!
Chuck Weinholzer (hosting at Windows on Minnesota)
Chuck is Melissa’s maternal uncle, even though he could easily be
mistaken for Kenny Rogers. Melissa grew up disliking Chuck because he
teased her incessantly. They now have an incredible relationship and she's
glad she learned to endure his harassment.
Guestbook:
Ann Rombough
Melissa has known Ann for over 10 years. Ann has a big heart and is always
supportive and willing to do anything for anyone!
Random Acts of Assistance:
Lori Riesselman
Tamer and Lori have been close friends since their freshman year at University
of Iowa. Thanks to Lori, Tamer experienced his first taste of farm life
when he took a trip to her family's farm. They're still friends today
– even after they spent many all-nighters together in college! Fortunately,
since they both live in the Twin Cities, they get a chance keep in touch
with Lori's wacky sense of optimism. (Just what she'll need to pull off
her role!)