National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour & Reception

Fall

Our big day is approaching fast &amp; rsvps are closed. If you forgot to put a dietary restriction or have any other changes, please reach out to the bride or groom no later than 10/15/2025. If you no longer can attend our wedding, please reach out to the bride or groom no later than 10/15/2025. We are so excited to celebrate with you!

Our Wedding

The Story of Sam and Matt

If you know Samantha and Matt, you know they’re total opposites. Samantha is the life of the party; outgoing, social, and always surrounded by friends. Matt, on the other hand, is more reserved, an introvert who keeps his circle small and close. How they met... At the time, Samantha was working at a veterinary clinic, and Matt happened to be a client. Their interactions were minimal; just the standard “last name?” and “how can I help you?” exchanges. But that was enough for Samantha to notice something about him. She told her friends about the cute guy who came into the clinic. A month or so later, Samantha walked into Walnut Tap with her roommates, Kristen and Emi. As they entered, she immediately recognized someone behind the bar; it was the same tall, handsome, and quietly intriguing guy from the clinic: Matt. He noticed her too and gave a simple wave. The rest of the night, Samantha tried to work up the courage to talk to him. With a little encouragement from Kristen and Emi, she decided to leave her number. They scrambled to find a receipt in Emi’s bag but had no pen. That meant Samantha had to awkwardly ask Matt for one (he hesitated but handed it over). Moments later, she returned with the pen, her number written on the back of the receipt. Matt waited two days before reaching out. But once he did, their story truly began. From that point on, they began building a relationship filled with love, patience, and a deep respect for each other’s differences. Today, Samantha and Matt share a home, and a four-legged best friend, Bella. Together, they love going to movies, attending concerts, and taking trips, especially to their favorite getaway spot: Chicago. Long weekends in the city have become a shared tradition. Everyone who knows them will tell you; they are complete opposites, but that’s exactly what makes their bond so special. Matt grounds Samantha and reminds her that not everything needs to be perfectly planned. To her, Matt is her safe space. And Samantha brings Matt out of his shell, adding color and light to his world. To him, she is home.

Our Story

Photos

Bridesmaids

Sara Swift

Hayley Weiner

Sara Merz

Natalie Blasen

Ellie Rhodes

Groomsmen

Craig Weiner

Ben Trepp

Jonathan Klecker

Alex Millman

Bridal Party

Dewayne Lumpkin

Theresa Lumpkin

Patty Freese

Bob Freese

Mentor to the Bride | Friend to the Groom

Jonathan McCoy

Jennifer McCoy

Savannah Vander Broek

Wedding Party

Q + A

The Lofts at Novelty Iron

Near St. Luke's United Methodist ChurchMake yourself at home in one of the 84 air-conditioned rooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms with bathtubs or showers feature rainfall showerheads and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences include safes and coffee/tea maker

TownePlace Suites by Marriott Dubuque Downtown

Near Grand Harbor Resort and WaterparkMake yourself at home in one of the 193 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and 32-inch flat-screen televisions are provided for your entertainment. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations and hair dryers. Conveniences include safes and desks, as well as phones with free local

Grand Harbor Resort&Waterpark

Hotel Julien Dubuque

Holiday Inn Dubuque/Galena, an IHG Hotel

Travel

Visit the place where it all started. The Walnut Tap is the ultimate dive bar that has been in Matt's family since 1935.

Walnut Tap

The place where Matt asked Samantha to marry him. Take in the beautiful view of the Mississippi.

Mississippi Riverwalk

Samantha &amp; Matt's go-to date night spot! Delicious Authentic Mexican Food, great priced and quick. A great spot for lunch the day of the wedding.

Lalo’s 2 Mexican Bar & Grill

Enjoy delicious food, tasty cocktails, and vintage arcade games

Backpocket Dubuque

Test your luck at one of the casinos. This casino is located less than a block from the museum.

Diamond Jo Casino Dubuque

Samantha and Matt love exploring museums, if you love it too, try this one out!

Dubuque Museum of Art

Stop by and see Samantha's second home ;) Samantha's dream job &amp; source of passion.

McCoy Jeweler

Samantha's second place of passion - stop in and try their delicious housemade gelato

Sorpresa Gifts

Samantha's favorite spot for a unique cocktail

EJ's Wine Shop

Things to Do

Registry

Outfit Inspiration

Since the bride works in the jewelry industry, we have received lots of questions on who we chose to help us with our big day. Here is a list of the vendors that we have chosen to help us create our dream wedding day. Thank you to each of our incredible vendors, your dedication to your individual crafts are remarkable and we are so excited to have you apart of our day.

Clara Joyce Flowers

Floral & Candles

Embrace Salon - Caitlin Pottebaum

Make Up

Inside Decor

Chairs & Misc Decor

J&D Catering

Food & Desserts

McCoy Jewelers

Jeweler

Mobile 1 Productions

DJ & Entertainment

National Riverboat Museum & Aquarium

Venue

Priscilla Ryan Photography

Photography & Day Of Coordinator

Second to None Design

Dance Floor

Uptown Hair -  Keri Knipper

Hair

Zazous Bridal

Gown, Tuxes, & Veil

Vendors of Our Wedding

Dress Code: Formal Attire We’re so excited to celebrate with you! For our big day, we kindly ask you to dress your best. For the Gentlemen:Please wear a suit or a combination of dress pants, a dress shirt, and a tie. You’re also welcome to wear a sport coat with no tie. Don’t be afraid to play with color or patterns—ties and suits with personality are encouraged! For the Ladies:Have fun with your styling! We ask that you avoid sundress/casual dress materials, but otherwise, dresses of any length are welcome. Not a dress person? Totally fine—feel free to wear a pantsuit or a chic skirt/pants and blouse combo. Want to Dress to the Theme?Our wedding colors are black, white, merlot, and sage green. Floral patterns are a beautiful and safe choice to align with the theme if you’d like to go the extra mile. We’ve included some visual inspiration below to help guide your styling. We can’t wait to see how amazing everyone looks!

What to Wear

Samantha & Matthew

Samantha & Matthew

S&M

Wedding Day

5:30 PM–6:00 PM

Ceremony

6:00 PM–11:00 PM

Cocktail Hour & Reception