Page title

Wedding
Party

Wedding Party

Emily Walter

Younger sister extraordinaire of the bride and maid of honor

Currently pursuing a Master of International Politics at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland
Only extrovert in the immediate family and only one comfortable bending the rules
Gracious hostess, excellent cook, fantastic conversationalist
Always wearing something fashion forward and chic

Kevin Kihlstrom

Kevin and Jonathan first met at church in elementary school. Jonathan was the new kid and Kevin offered to show him where things were around the church. Soon they were friends, spending their free time fishing and playing basketball. Through the years, they remained close through thick and thin, helping each other through their struggles of growing up.

Their friendship was tested during high school when Jonathan moved away across the country for two years. Despite the physical separation, they kept in touch by writing letters to each other and talking whenever possible on the phone. This long-distance relationship built a strong bond between them that continued to grow even after Jonathan returned home.

Jonathan's life took an unexpected turn when he won the lottery. With his newfound wealth, he decided to travel around the world on an international adventure of discovery. For four months, Jonathan toured Europe, hiked rugged terrains in South America and explored remote islands of Asia. Along this journey, his friendship with Kevin only strengthened as they shared their stories over Skype calls and emails while bonding over their shared experiences.

When Jonathan finished his trip around the world and returned home, it didn't take long for him to meet a girl who quickly became his soulmate. When he asked Kevin to be his best man at his upcoming wedding, there was no hesitation; Kevin knew what an honor it was to have been asked by such a great friend.

As Kevin stands beside Jonathan on his big day, not only will it be a celebration of their long-lasting friendship but also a tribute to all of the journeys—near and far—they have traveled together until that point!

*ChatGPT Generated, but mostly true

Kiana Walter

Fabulous cousin of the bride
Graduated from the University of Puget Sound and now applying to graduate school in Operations Research
Nonchalantly funny, sarcastic sense of humor, night owl, passionate about cheese
Triple threat: dancer, physicist, and mathematician

Raemy Paterson

Basically adopted twin sister of the bride
Beautiful assistant winemaker at Martin Ray Winery with excellent taste
Will graduate with Wine MBA in May 2023
Old soul who will only live in houses 100 years or older
Gets stuff done, high attention to detail, creative genius
Always working on a home improvement project or wine project

Ricky Polizo

Ricky and Jonathan had been friends since elementary school, when they first met at church. The two boys had been inseparable ever since. As they got older, they eventually became like brothers, sharing experiences and going on adventures to explore the world.

When they were in their late teens, Ricky and Jonathan decided to backpack across Europe for the summer. They wanted to learn more about different cultures, expand their worldviews, and become more independent individuals. Each day was filled with exciting activities and beautiful sights.

They hiked the Pyrenées Mountains, tested local delicacies in Barcelona, explored ancient ruins in Rome, and admired works of art from some of the greatest masters of all time. But what made this trip so special is that they experienced it all together as best friends.

Years later as Jonathan began to plan his wedding, he knew right away that Ricky should be part of it. He asked him to be a groomsman and Ricky happily accepted. Jonathan always knew that Ricky would be part of his life for years to come and this lovely request only confirmed it.

*ChatGPT Generated, but mostly true

Laura Pritschet

SBBFF (Santa Barbara Best Friend Forever) of the bride
Currently pursuing PhD in psychology at UC Santa Barbara and studies hormones, women’s health, and the brain
Charming midwesterner quirks (grew up in Illinois)
Passionate go-getter, alpha female, brings people together
Always working on research and grants, planning a social gathering, or a good prank

Leigh Yakubowski

Fantastic Vassar College roommate and friend of the bride
Lived with Katy for 4 years in college and is still friends with her, so basically a saint
Educator extraordinaire, former elementary school teacher, and now a program manager at an education non-profit in NYC
Kind and patient, smart as a whip, dog mom, extremely lovable quirks

Dan Weldon

Dan and Jonathan had been friends for years, but they first met each other at a music festival three years ago. Dan noticed that Jonathan was in an exclusive VIP area and had an amazing time, so he decided to join him. At first, the two were a bit awkward with each other but they soon started to enjoy talking and listening to music together. They eventually became great friends and started attending music festivals together more often.

One summer, Dan went on an adventure deep into the woods of Oregon with Jonathan. Along the way, they encountered dozens of obstacles - from wild animals to rough terrain - but Dan never gave up despite all the challenges that kept coming their way. With determination and courage, the two managed to make it through unscathed! After this triumph, Dan and Jonathan's bond grew even stronger, and soon enough, Jonathan asked Dan to be part of his wedding party as a groomsman - something Dan felt very honored by.

To this day, thanks to their shared love of music and adventure in the Oregon wilderness, Dan and Jonathan remain great friends and look forward to many more fun experiences together following Jonathan's upcoming wedding.

*ChatGPT Generated, but mostly true

Noelle Gregory

Life-long friend of the bride
She and Katy met as babies when Katy’s mom took Noelle’s mom’s aerobics class
Currently a labor & delivery nurse, former Raiderette (professional cheerleader for the Raiders)
Very warm and loving, agreeable and easy going
She and Katy were both cheer captains in high school and choreographed all the routines together
Loves to dance, funny without trying, gentle soul who can party

Annette Reed

Officiant

Auntie Annette has been an important part of Jonathan's life since his birth. While technically cousins, Jonathan's mom and Annette share the matriarch role on that side of the family, and have been like sisters all their lives. Hence, holidays and special family times simply aren't complete without Auntie Annette!

Annette loves the outdoors, fishing, camping and swimming. She is an animal lover, with a special appreciation for cats, dogs, & snakes. Annette served in the US Army as a helicopter crew chief. She has the distinction of being an expert marksman, and was in the last class of the Women's Army Corps, with her picture currently on display in the Smithsonian(!)

Annette chairs the Ethnic Studies Department at Sacramento State University where she is a beloved professor and faculty member.

Annette was married to the love of her life, Steve Crum for 31 years. Steve was excited about Jonathan and Katy's engagement, and couldn't wait for the wedding. Suddenly and tragically, he passed away 9 months ago. He is deeply missed by us all.

Reese Walter

Usher

Reese is a cousin of the bride and an amazingly kind, creative, thoughtful and fun person. He lives in Seattle, WA and is a Production Glassblower at Glassbaby. His favorite football team is the Green Bay Packers. He is a man of many talents, including the ability to play chess blindfolded.

Aslan Straarup

Ring Bearer

Aslan is the son of the Groom’s cousin Bethany, and the brother of Arlie. He is five years old. He loves to eat chicken nuggets, pasta, and raspberries. His favorite colors are orange and red. He loves playing with Legos, cars, and dinosaurs. He also loves reading books.

Arlie Straarup

Flower Girl

Arlie is the daughter of the Groom’s cousin Bethany, and sister to Aslan. She is three years old. Her favorite foods are yogurt, raspberries, bananas, cookies and donuts. Her favorite color is pink. She loves to play with toys and Doc Mcstuffins and cars.

Made with love in Santa Barbara <3