05. Send Off
Our celebration will conclude at 6:30 PM.
04. Drinks
Iced tea, lemonade, and water will be provided.
Bar Winslow will open at 4:00 PM for guests who would like additional beverages. Please note that it is a cash bar.
03. Charcuterie
A grazing table will be available with charcuterie style selections including meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, breads, and spreads.
Cake and cupcakes will also be served.
02. Celebration
Immediately following the ceremony
Black Hawk Hotel
After the ceremony we will spend time mingling and celebrating together.
01. Ceremony
4:00 PM
Black Hawk Hotel
115 Main St
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
Attire: Garden Party / Dressy Casual
Guests may begin arriving at 3:30 PM.
Please be seated by 3:55 PM so the ceremony may begin on time.
Celebrating Our Love
With Those We Love
We are excited to celebrate our wedding with a small and intimate gathering of close family and the people we love most. We are looking forward to a relaxed afternoon together.
Not Just an
Ordinary
Love Story
Sam and Rae’s story actually began 32 years ago in the halls of Peet Junior High in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Their moms had been best friends since junior high, so the two families were already connected.
Back then, Sam and Rae were just a couple of slightly awkward 13-year-olds passing each other in the halls before Rae moved to Florida at the end of 7th grade and life took them in completely different directions.
Fast forward to January 2024, when Rae’s father passed away from cancer, leaving a space in the hearts of Rae and her family that will always remain. Sam’s mom, who had known Rae since childhood, encouraged Sam to reach out. One simple message turned into months of conversations, daily texts, and a friendship that slowly grew into something more.
After the heartbreaking loss of Sam’s mom in June 2025, Rae made the trip back to Iowa the following month. On July 11, 2025, Sam asked her out to Montage, a wine bar in downtown Cedar Falls.
Somewhere between the wine, the laughter, and realizing how easy everything felt, the two quickly knew this wasn’t just a reunion... it was the beginning of something special.
Sam proposed on October 17, 2025, and now, at 46 years old, and for the first time for both of them... they’re getting married in Cedar Falls, the very place their story quietly began decades ago.
Rae may have spent years praying for the right husband and life partner… while Sam was perfectly content planning a lifetime of bachelorhood. But apparently Rae’s stunning good looks, charming personality, quick wit... and just the right amount of crazy... made both her and the idea of marriage completely irresistible.
Turns out those two awkward 13-year-olds were just playing the long game. Looking back, it’s hard not to believe a few people in heaven may have had a hand in bringing this story full circle.
A request to prayer
As we prepare to begin our life together, one of the most meaningful gifts you could give us is your prayer. Please keep our marriage in your prayers in the days leading up to our wedding and in the years ahead — that our home would be honoring to God and filled with Truth, hope, love, patience, understanding, and joy.
'Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely… think about such things.' — Philippians 4:8
Samuel David Bass & Stephanie Rae Herron
RSVP by June 15
As our wedding is a small and intimate gathering, seating and arrangements are limited to those who were personally invited to celebrate with us.
Kindly RSVP by June 15, so we can finalize seating and food arrangements.
If you are unable to attend, we would greatly appreciate you selecting “No, regretfully unable to attend” so we can plan accordingly.
We hope you can join us and look forward to celebrating together.
Registry
Your presence at our wedding is truly the greatest gift, and no gifts are needed or expected. At this stage in our lives, we feel incredibly blessed to already have everything we need for our home together.
In lieu of a traditional registry, we have chosen to focus on creating meaningful experiences and memories together.
We will be traveling to Norway for our honeymoon. Both of our families have roots there, and it is a place we have always wanted to visit. We are excited to experience this special trip together as our first adventure as a married couple.
As we begin building these memories, we would love for you to share any photos you take on our wedding day. You can find the link to our Guest Photo Album here, along with a way to contribute toward our honeymoon fund, should you wish, which would mean so much to us.