Katrina & Alexander
Wedding Party
Chantel Fernandes
Matron of Honor
Chantel, the closest I have to a sister. I met her the day she was born and have not been able to be free of her since! As luck would have it, she was born my cousin. As serendipity would have it, she has been one of my favorite and most infuriating people. Also, one of the few people that can make me look tall. Of course, I would ask her to be by my side!
Alyssa Zacharjasz
Matron of Honor
Alyssa and I met in school in Des Moines. We quickly bonded over our mutual appreciation of Happy Burritos, Mariokart, Starbucks, and pedis. She is one of the most generous people, taking me in to meet her family when I had moved to Iowa (even teaching me how to shuck corn). The rest is history!
Jen Hall
Bridesmaid
Jen and I met during school but really became close in residency. Being very similar, we started out a bit competitive but quickly figured out we were better suited as friends. Jen has since brought so much pink and vibrancy to my life, I can't quite find the words to express and I am better off for it!
Kate Noonan
Bridesmaid
Kate and I met through Alyssa, they very graciously included me during a fun mud run. That kicked off the many adventures of Kat(e). We share a love of all crafts and coffee. Kate has the best Thank You note etiquette of any human I have ever met!
Hannah Capko
Bridesmaid
Hannah had the (un?)fortunate opportunity to work with me. Somehow, she has chosen to keep showing up and has even chosen to go bowling with me and Alex. We keep each other grounded with snacks and a healthy dose of sarcasm and orneriness. I also expect some pretty impressive dance moves on the dance floor!
Jose Almeida
Father of the Bride
Baker Joey... The man responsible for teaching me how to kick, believe in myself, and change a tire. He never stops watching out for me: reminds me to be careful with power tools and to do my homework (almost a decade out from school). When you see this man, congratulate him on finally pawning me off on someone else!
Anabela Almeida
Mother of the Bride
The OG queen B: Very much my origin story. From my attitude to the way I fold towels, she is where I get it from. She has fostered my love of coffee and creative spark. She showed her approval for Alex by gifting him a travel mug, the highest honor she could bestow.
Felipe Fernandes
Flower Usher
Felipe, the coolest flower usher of all time. Coming in hot with a fanny pack and petals. My favorite afilhado, and the most skilled handy man in the family. Also, will likely have the best hair day of all of us.
Dan Skarie
Best Man
Alex's best friend since AAU basketball in 7th grade and long time friend turned brother. Alex stood up in Dan and his wife Anne's wedding 4 years ago. Dan is 1 of 3 boys in his family and his parents, Ken & Marcia, refer to Alex as their 4th son. Also, at our high school graduation Dan has a picture with Alex's parents when the picture of Alex and his own parents can't be found. Dan and Anne have 3 children. Sloane, their first born, who turned 3 in June, and then they have twin boys Nolan & Davis who arrived in May! Alex and Kat got to spend some time in Wisconsin this past Summer and were luckily enough to celebrate Sloane's birthday as well has hold the two newest additions to the Skarie family.
Drew Anderson
Groomsman
Drew is one of Alex's closet friends from his college days at St. Norbert. They played football together, lived together during college, and then lived together again for a year after they graduated in Milwaukee, WI. Kat has only been lucky enough to meet a couple of Alex's college friends, but she has heard a lot of the stories. She now knows the difference between who Big Drew and Medium Drew are. While not all of those friends can make it to Kat and Alex's wedding, Drew represents this group of college friends who have been their for Alex over the years. Drew lives in Green Bay, WI now and works for a new start-up company after years of working for Salesforce.
Paytton Hobbs
Groomsman
Paytton and Alex met in the Spring of 2018 when Alex moved to South Dakota for a coaching job at Dakota State University and Paytton was a coach at Presentation College. That Fall they coached against each other. The following Spring, they became colleagues when Paytton joined the Dakota State coaching staff. Unfortunately, they would only get to work together for one season, but Paytton, along with his wife Brittny, became close friends with Kat and Alex. In December 2022, Paytton and Brittny asked Alex and Kat to be God Parents to their sons Oakly and Nikko. At the time, Kat didn't know Alex was going to propose, but Alex had told Paytton of his plans a couple of months prior. To quote Kat when Alex informed her of Paytton and Brittny's wishes for them to be God Parents, "Are you sure they aren't just asking you to be Oakly and Nikko's God Father?" A couple weeks later she would understand why they asked both of them.