Alyssa & Charlie
The wedding party
Nicole
Matron of Honor
Nicole had the pleasure of being randomly paired with me our freshman year of college at Winona State. It took a short two weeks to realize we were actually best friends and quite possibly the same person. We bonded over our love of Friends, hatred of our exes and our unhealthy obsession with Dove chocolate.
Kevin
Best Man
Kevin is my younger brother. He’s been by my side from the beginning, and I couldn’t think of a better person to have by my side during the wedding.
Brandon (Buzz)
Man of Honor
With our childhood homes only a few yards away, I grew up with Buzz (and sister Jen). We played night games, recorded self-written plays, performed music videos and did other embarrassing things I don't want to list on a public domain. You thought I was weird? The two (three) of us together are a triad of uniqueness words can't describe.
Katie
Groomswoman
Katie is my youngest sister and she’s had a major influence on my life. Kevin and I are very fortunate to have grown up with her.
Jen
Bridesmaid
I grew up with Jen (sister of Buzz). She's actually the one who coined my neighborhood nickname, "Fo." She directed the plays Buzz and I performed, kept me laughing with witty jabs at her brother and fangirled with me before it was a thing.
Michael
Groomsman
Mike (Flores, as I call him) has been a long-time friend of mine. We met playing soccer and bonded over Halo. Now, our time together usually consists of fishing or hunting.
Chelsey
Bridesmaid
Chels will tell you she thought I was her college roommate's (who is also Jaimie) "weird friend who wouldn't leave." I'll then chime in and remind her audience that I actually just lived in the same dorm as them... Three doors down to be exact. I got to know Chelsey freshman year of college and then I REALLY got to know her in the three years we lived together off-campus. We bonded over movie quotes, SVU and our vulgar sense of humor. There's truly never a dull moment with this spitfire bombshell.
Zack
Groomsman
Zack and I met in high school while playing on the tennis team. We both attended Saint John’s and studied accounting. When we weren't knee-deep in accounting textbooks, we bonded over our shared interest in golf and fishing.
Alyssa (Tank)
Bridesmaid
Alyssa and Nicole came to Winona as childhood besties from the same part of Illinois. A few weeks into freshman year, Nicole introduced us. We became friends and then housemates. Tanky got her nickname after the one and only house party we had in college. It was a beautiful disaster. Ask her about it. Having just the right amount of drunk Monica's carefree demeanor, Tank is unpredictable in the best ways.
Danny
Groomsman
Danny and I met the first month of our freshman year at Saint John’s. We had a chemistry class together, but it was really an interest in Halo that brought us together.
Sarah
Bridesmaid
Sarah had the pleasure of living with me in college for a few years, where she quickly became part of our little Winona family. We spent much of our time together watching SVU, making sure everyone was accounted for at the end of a night on the town, and telling embarrassing stories about them the next day.
Tyler
Groomsman
Tyler and I met during graduate school at Saint Thomas. We both lived in Woodbury at the time and bonded during carpool trips to and from school. He’s partially credited with Alyssa and I meeting.
Jaimie
Bridesmaid
Jaimie (and Kelsey) and I grew up together. We went to all the same schools, played on all the same basketball and softball teams and hung around the same friends. Our dads spent years coaching us in sports, which are some of my favorite memories. Lucky for Jaimie, our time together continued into college at Winona State, and will go on until we die because our husbands are besties.
Brian
Groomsman
I met Brian during graduate school and lived with him for several years after we graduated. During our time living together, we bonded over late-night gripe sessions during busy season. I made an attempt to join Brian’s softball team, but as he can attest, I don’t belong on a softball field.
Kelsey
Bridesmaid
Kelsey (and Jaimie) and I grew up together. It's hard to tell a different story here because the three of us literally did everything together. (See above.) Another group of memories I hold near and dear are weekends up at the Plum cabin. I'm basically their third (much shorter) twin, or as their mother calls me, her adopted daughter. I'll take it.
Jack
Groomsman
Jack and I met very early on in elementary school and grew up playing on the same soccer team. Jack was a gracious host anytime I went to Madison for Halloween. He’s also partially credited with Alyssa and I meeting.
Mike
Usher
Mike and I (Charlie) met in high school, but we really didn’t become good friends until we lived together freshman year of college (and what a year it was). You'll catch us golfing or spending a lazy day on the Saint Croix river.
Jake (Jingles)
Usher
Jake was one of the first people I (Charlie) met at Saint John’s. He was there before the school year started for football and I was there for soccer. He also happened to live right across the hallway. It may come as a surprise to most who know both of our personalities (and living styles), but we had a great year as roommates sophomore year.
Derek
Usher
Derek and I (Charlie) met playing soccer for Woodbury. Aside from a shared interest in soccer, we spent many a night in the mobile command center (Derek’s parents' basement) playing Halo and grabbing fast food between games.