Wedding Party
Stephanie (Snef) Boyls
Maid of Honor
Snef and Kate were the longest running roommates in the apartment during their Disney College Program, both extending their Disney college programs from fall 2018 into spring 2019. Snef, Victoria, and Kate formed a life long bond, have regular reunions and family zoom meetings! Kate has had the privilege of watching Snef’s own relationship grow and has been by her side through important moments. Kate is so excited to have Snef by her side for her wedding day!
Victoria Holmes
Maid of Honor
Victoria found Kate in a Disney College Program Facebook group meant for finding roommates. It was a very overwhelming place, but Victoria approached Kate like a frightened street cat and was able to create our group of roommates. Not long after, Victoria introduced Kate to “Samantha” Boyls (Victoria got her name wrong at first) and the Holboylfield (Holmes + Boyls + Hatfield) family was born! As the “mom” of the Holboylfield family, Victoria makes sure we communicate regularly meet up for reunions, and always check in for safety!
Betty Baez
Bridesmaid
Betty is Rafael’s younger sister. She has been there for our whole relationship, before it even started! She is a fierce supporter of Rafael and Kate both as a couple and individuals. While Rafael tries his best, Betty is the reason for Kate’s wonderful relationship with Rafa’s mom. Betty takes the time to translate beautiful sentiments between Kate and Mami, while Rafael prefers the cliffs notes approach!
Nicole Lumley
Bridesmaid
Nicole and Kate met in first grade, went to school together through the end of middle school, and participated in youth group together in high school. Nicole is a glorious angel of organization and structure. In elementary school one of our teachers would purposely sit Kate next to Nicole in attempt to get crazy Kate to focus! After high school, Kate assisted Nicole and her mom with art and dance camps at their church. In 2021 Nicole and her mom opened an art studio and now employ Kate as their events manager!
Taylor Spakes
Bridesmaid
Taylor was Kate’s last roommate during her time at Appalachian State University. They worked together on hall council their junior year, and decided to be roommates for Fall of Senior year as they would both be moving back home to student teach for the spring semester. While they only lived together one semester, Kate and Taylor bonded over crude humor and school induced hysteria. Thus a life long friendship was born!
Kimberly De Jesus Acosta
Bridesmaid
Kimberly is a cherished shared friend of Kate and Rafael. We had the privilege of meeting Kimberly in our young adulthood and she became a fast friend! Both Kimberly and Rafael love to cook for their friends, therefore we enjoy taking turns hosting dinner and board game nights, where deep meaningful conversations always flow. The genuine empathy, compassion, and support Kimberly shows for us as her friends fills our hearts.
Ian Lawrence
Best Man
Ian is the Best man/Officiant. Raf and Ian go all the way back to highschool. Both of them took the same theather class, and performed in the same play "Voice from the High School". They quickly bonded over their share love for video games. Ian and Raf have been there for each other throughout the years, and Ian holds a special place in Raf's life. The two became roommates when Raf moved to Boone in 2015 and lived together so well they’re roommates again now! We felt Ian’s theater background and role as our roommate made him the perfect officiant- to regale our friends and family with the story of our relationship.
James Risolio
Groomsman
Raf and James met by pure chace. Raf went to a small nintendo event, expecting to play an anticipated game title, when Raf overheard a group of people talk about a different game- League of Legends. He approached said group and started listening, hoping to make new friends. James introduced himself, and ever since then they've been very close friends! Raf's most fond memories with James throught the years has been traveling through the mountains for leaisure or gaming tournaments, listening to "meme" music, and talking about life.
Asher Daniels
Groomsman
Asher and Raf are best friends and also rivals. The competitive between both only makes them grow and want to be better. Raf met Asher in Boone, North Carolina during a gaming tournament. Asher was new at the game, and inexperience, but he could still hold his ground. Asher enjoyed the competitive enviorment and the people that he met that day, and Raf was excited to include him in his friend group. Shortly after said inclusion, Asher became a rival to Raf, always fighting each other at gaming events, fighting for first place!
Troy Carrol
Groomsman
Rafael and Troy met in person for the first time at an Appalachian State University gaming fest. Raf remembers Troy winning a very nice new headset from a raffle, after which Raf proceeded to ask Troy for his old headset. Troy said no. Raf and Troy slowly but surely became good friends, partnering up at most gaming events and winning first place at multiple Super Smash Brothers tournaments.
Nick Santos
Groomsman
Nick and Raf’s brother Jose became friends in high school after arguing over which video game console was the best. One day, Jose decided to bring Nick home, and thats where he met Raf. They immediately clicked and became very good friends, to the point where Nick would come to his house after school and head straight to the fridge as if it was his own home, because in a sense, it was! Nick has always been there for Raf, through thick and thin.
Alphonso Dunston
Groomsman
Alphonso and Raf met early in high school via mutual friends. From the moment Raf met Alphonso, he knew this was a friendship that would last a lifetime. Alphonso has been there for Rafa through just about everything, and has been a helping hand and someone Raf can always count on. They have a tradition where each year on their birthday they call each other up and act goofy and congratulate each other on another great year.