Kimberly Dawn Mattison, daughter of Kathleen and the late Lawrence Mattison, International Falls, and Matthew John Stegmeir, son of John and Carol Stegmeir, Kabetogama, were united in marriage during a 3 p.m. traditional Christian ceremony July 7, 2007, at First Lutheran Church. Pastor Thomas M. Aitken officiated.
Talia Zeman, Bemidji, soloist, Jens Krogstad, Waterloo, Iowa, violinists, and Bethany Simon, organist, provided music for the afternoon ceremony. Processionals were “Canon in D” and “The Prince of Denmark’s March.” Solos included “Morning Has Broken,” “100 Years” and “Ave Maria.”
Candelabras and pew markers with ivory tulle bows and English ivy decorated the altar and aisle of the church. A remembrance candle with two small bouquets was set near the altar in memory of loved ones.
Reading at the ceremony was Darrell Schmidt, Patricia Bjorum, and Susan Nordquist, former teachers and mentors of the couple.
The bride was given in marriage by her mother. She appeared in an elaborate, hand-draped taffeta strapless ball gown by British dressmaker Justin Alexander. The ivory gown featured a side-draped bodice embellished with flower and ivy embroidery and crystal beading. The pick-up skirt had a chapel-length train. The bride wore a shaped pearl and crystal necklace that matched the flower and ivy detail in her dress. Her elbow-length veil was accented by a rhinestone tiara, which was borrowed from a friend.
The bride carried two special items down the aisle — her childhood Bible from her mother and a small brass wedding cross from the groom’s parents’ wedding ceremony. Pastor Aitken blessed these family items during the ceremony. The bride carried a bouquet of summer blooms during the reception, featuring lilies and tea roses accented with English ivy, waxflower, and hypercium berries. The bouquet was created by Jeri Streiff of Streiff Floral.
Lori Mattison, Rochester, Minn., sister of the bride, was the maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Stacey Sheasby, Charlotte, N.C., friend of the bride, and Mary Stegmeir, Waterloo, sister of the groom. Each wore a floor-length, black taffeta strapless ball gown detailed with an ivory satin ribbon. Accenting their dresses were ivory vintage replica pearl accessories. Each carried a sweetheart bouquet of a dozen deep red roses, clustered with a black satin ribbon.
The bride’s personal attendants were Sheri McGrath, Coon Rapids, and Molly French, New Richmond, Wis.
John Stegmeir, father of the groom, served as best man for Matthew. Groomsmen were Adam Dornfeld, Savage, and Kevin Sweeney, Minneapolis, friends of the groom. They wore black tuxedos with ivory embellishments to coordinate with the bridesmaids’ gowns.
Ushers were Benjamin Aery, Sioux Falls, S.D., cousin of the bride, Patrick Krefting, Plano, Texas, and Christopher Troutman, Arlington, Va., friends of the groom.
The mother of the bride wore a black tea-length skirt set detailed with beading and embroidery. The mother of the groom wore a midnight blue floor-length gown with matching wrap. Their corsages were of miniature red roses and a sprig of hypercium berries, tied with an ivory ribbon.
A reception for 200 guests was staged immediately following the ceremony at the Holiday Inn, International Falls. Friends and family were invited to mingle during social hour in the gardens, and then served a traditional ham dinner inside the ballroom. Table centerpieces mirrored the bride’s bouquet.
Following dinner, coffee and tea service was highlighted by dessert. A vanilla four-tier square stacked wedding cake was created by Patty Cakes, International Falls. Guests were invited to select their choice, as each layer featured a different summer fruit filling. The entire cake was accented with fresh whole strawberries, blueberries and cherries, and featured a letter S monogram cake topper. The groom’s cake was a two-tier round “death by chocolate” ganache cake served with sliced strawberries, also created by Patty Cakes.
In lieu of a dance, guests were invited to an open house at the Kabetogama home of John and Carol Stegmeir to further the celebration and enjoy hors d’oeuvres, a summer bonfire, and the lake.
The bride and groom are both 1999 graduates of Falls High School. The bride is a 2006 graduate of Southwest Minnesota State University and holds a master of business administration degree. She is employed as a senior financial credit analyst for CHS Inc. The groom is a 2005 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and holds a master of aerospace engineering degree. He is currently a third year doctoral candidate of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics and is employed by the university as a research and teaching assistant.
After a honeymoon to the Caribbean islands of St. Maarten and Saba, the couple is at home in St. Louis Park.