The Midnight Gem

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Dinner & Reception

Our Wedding

One summer night in August of 2016, Kennedy was sitting in the LMPL—also known as the Linn-Mar Parking Lot—with a high school friend. Her friend couldn’t believe Kennedy didn’t have a boyfriend, so they started going down a list of so-called “cool guys” in her grade. When they got to Nolan’s name, Kennedy, of course, said, “Oh yeah, he’s cute. He plays basketball, but that’s all I really know about him.” The friend immediately texted Nolan and said, “Kennedy Hannan thinks you’re cute, and you should Snapchat her.” The next morning—August 11, 2016—Nolan sent a Snapchat to Kennedy. It was a picture of a golf course. Kennedy thought it was a ‘mass snap’ and was hesitant to respond. Thank goodness she did, because that message started the best chapter of her life—and her longest snap streak to date. A few weeks later was the back-to-school dance, and Kennedy, of course, went up to Nolan and asked him to dance that night. For the next month or so, Nolan and Kennedy Snapchatted every single day. Even though they already had each other’s numbers, they both played dumb until one of them “asked” the other for it. From then on, they continued to talk every day, and finally, Kennedy gained the confidence to ask Nolan, “Hey, are we just going to homecoming as friends, or do we like each other?” Nolan proceeded to tell Kennedy that they were only going to homecoming as friends—so he ultimately put her in the friend zone. Fast forward to homecoming in October 2016—Nolan fell in love with Kennedy. A few weeks later, he finally asked Kennedy to be his girlfriend. Kennedy and Nolan both graduated from Linn-Mar High School in 2018. After high school, Nolan played basketball at Mount Mercy University, and Kennedy was on the dance team at the University of Iowa. After graduating college, they moved into their first townhome in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. That lease didn’t last long, as Kennedy chased her dream of becoming a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader—which led them to move to Frisco, Texas, in the summer of 2023. In the fall of 2024, Nolan and Kennedy planned to go home for the Iowa vs. Iowa State football game. They had always known they wanted to get engaged in Iowa, surrounded by family and friends. A few months prior, they had looked at rings, and in the weeks leading up to their trip, Nolan asked Kennedy to pick out a dress for the big moment. The last day of their trip home—Sunday, September 8, 2024—Nolan told Kennedy he’d be picking her up early in the morning. He called her to let her know there was a note in her purse. She opened her purse and found a handwritten letter from Nolan (you can imagine Kennedy was crying before she even started reading). Nolan picked her up, and they drove around Marion, Iowa—the place where they grew up. Finally, he brought her to the spot where he would ask the question. It was the most special day of their lives. 2026 will mark their 10-year dating anniversary, and they are so excited to celebrate with all the people who love them and have shaped them into the couple they are today. Love,The Future Ruffs

Our Story

Engagement Photos 

Proposal Photos

Photos

Delaney Hannan 

Trot Carey

MacLynn Hannan

Cole Wright

Kayla Ruff

Baylor Hannan 

Brynn Carr

Dylan Hand 

Grace Brennecke

Noah Neff

Kayla Drow

Nate Annis

Anna Kate Sundvold

Ben Delagardelle

McKenna Gehrke

Cody Suther

Karley Swindel 

Trevor Arnold 

Kaleb Healey 

Brady Klahn

Wedding Party

Dress Code

When do I need to RSVP by?April 1, 2026.

Are all events at the same location?Yes - the ceremony, cocktail hour and receptionwill all take place at The Midnight Gem.

What time should I arrive for the ceremony?Guests can start arriving at 4:00 pm.

Is there a dress code for the wedding?Formal attire.

Are plus ones and children allowed?We kindly request that only those guests namedon the invitation attend.

If flying in, when should I arrive?We recommend flying in Friday, May 22nd, if possible.

Q + A

Less than 15 minutes from The Midnight Gem and CID Airport.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex

Travel

Things to Do

Registry

Nolan & Kennedy

Nolan & Kennedy

Wedding Party