Hunter & Kris Welles
Wedding Party
Hunter Welles
Groom
Hunter was born in Oregon to his mom Meranne Werchan in September 1998. He became a big brother to his baby brother Kristopher a year later, his baby sister Elizabeth (BusyBee) at 4 years old and lastly his baby sister Hannah at 6 years old. Growing up in Houston, Texas he was involved in things like sports medicine and JROTC in school after finding a love for both following in his mom's love for the military and medicine. Hunter plans to become an EMT but also follow in his dad's footsteps by attending fire school and becoming a first responder like his parents. He met the bride while working at Wichita County LEC while she was doing med pass a few days after transferring to night shift. The two became good friends and have been by each others side through many things in each others personal lives. And after a year of being friends, since both hunter and kris were unattached, the two decided to start a relationship that quickly became effortless.
Kristianna (Kris) Harris
Bride
Kris was born in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1992 and adopted by her parents David Rodriguez Sr. and Ema Rodriguez and was welcomed home to her big brother David Rodriguez Jr. who was 12 years old and her big sister Chrystal Ramirez who was 4 years old. Growing up spending summers and holidays in Crystal City, Texas she showed her love of being on the ranch, going boating and fishing with her dad, hunting, and when back in school being involved in JROTC and health science. Kris is a healthcare professional who made it her goal to provide medical help to those who needed it after seeing her grandpa, grandma, and dad battling various cancers. She met the groom a few weeks after starting her job at the Wichita County LEC. She found comfort in hunter's caring personality and the two bonded over their love for horror movies. Hunter stayed by her side as a rock after many losses, deciding finally that life is too short to stay stuck in grief, the bride decided to say yes when hunter asked her to try their hand at a relationship. Being by her side after the passing of her mom, the bride and groom decided that in their lives and professions tomorrow is not promised and decided to live life to the fullest.
David Rodriguez Sr.
Father of the Bride
David was born in Carrizo Springs, Texas in 1956 to his parents Jesus G. Rodriguez and Paula A. Rodriguez De La Cerda. He met his wife Ema Rodriguez while attending school at Sterling H Fly Junior High and were married in Mexico in January 1971. After moving to Wichita Falls Texas, they adopted their three children. David spent many of his years working in construction, 16 years working for Wichita Falls ISD and then becoming a welder until his retirement. He has spent the last 4 years caring for his wife until her passing in 2023. David finds pride in all his children and their accomplishments but has enjoyed his time seeing his grandchildren grow.
Ema Rodriguez
Mother of The Bride (Deceased)
Ema was born in 1954 to her parents Jesusa G. Aguirre and Felix Garcia in Crystal City, Texas. She met the bride's dad while in high school at Sterling H Fly Jr. High and the two were married in 1971 in a small ceremony in a small chapel in Pierdas Negras, Mexico with a borrowed wedding dress and just their mothers in attendance. Ema's life was filled with raising her three children and watching her 6 grandchildren grow. Ema became sick in 2020 and after battling for 3 years, her fight came to end on July 20th, 2023. Before her passing, the mother of the bride was fortunate enough to meet the groom, and looked forward to the future they would have together. While in the hospital before her last days, Ema fell in love with her future son-in-laws tags and had some of her own created as a gift from hunter in order to share her love for his as well as to honor the memory of her son's service in the USAF.
David Werchen
Father of the Groom
David Werchan was born in Texas in 1967 to his parents Wilmer and Alice Werchan. David met his wife when the groom was 5 years old and the two raised their children for the better part in Houston, Texas before moving just a few times until landing in Wichita Falls, Texas. David spent his life as a first responder, his kids were fortunate enough to see him as not only a law enforcement officer, EMS, a firefighter, a fire marshal and now a safety officer making the grooms love for all things first responder that much stronger. David and his wife are very proud of their son and the groom can't wait to share this special day with him as his parents.
Meranne Werchan
Mother of the Groom
Meranne (Welles) Werchan was born in North Carolina in 1976 to her parents Henry and Sandra Welles. She grew up and became an Army Medic and retired before having her last child. Meranne met her husband David when the groom was 5 years old, together they raised their children in Houston, Texas before moving to various parts of Texas and finally Wichita Falls, Texas where her she ended up meeting her future daughter in law while working at Wichita County just a few weeks before the bride met the groom. Meranne enjoys spending her free time with her children and loving on her pets but has been excited to be a part of her sons next adventure.
Skylar Monk
Maid of Honor
Don't let this little innocent looking lady fool you. She is dangerous with a forklift! When one of the best stories you get to talk about how you met one of your best friends is, "You see we were working at Lowe's together, and while talking about moving things around she took off the parking brake on the forklift and low and behold it rolled on my (the grooms) foot. Panicking, she went to back up, running over my foot again. I still can't feel my toe, but she's been my best friend ever since. After a small vacation to Burleson, Tx I was able to introduce Skylar to my bride and the two became fast friends, picking on me and scolding me together not even 10 minutes later. Their friendship is amazing and the two plot against me at every chance they have, including coming down to Wichita Falls for the first time since leaving our old job as a surprise she planned with my future wife for my birthday.
Mitchell Antoline
Best Man
Not much of a story here, I (The groom) met the antelope at The Annex in 2021 working as a JTO and he was one of my first new boots. My mother has a great story about Antoline and Beretta our pit bull, right before he went into the navy we decided to have a night out so being responsible we just decided to crash at the house, I was in my room and he was out in the living room on the couch, this baby puppy laying on top of him. Long story short, there was a issue and the cops came to do a welfare check and Baretta guarded her new little friend from the cops while we both slept thru it all. He’s been part of the family ever since, makes sense my brother stands besides me on such a special day.