Katie & Ben
Wedding Party
Molly Carlson
Maid of Honor
My little sister & best friend! From besties, to enemies, to besties again all throughout childhood, I'm happy to report we've been stable in the bestie category in adulthood so far (since Molly stopped stealing my clothes). Molly lives in Madison, WI (wayyyy too far from me) and is dating groomsman, Cole Behrens! Molly keeps me sane in ways no one else can, serving as not only sister and best friend, but also unpaid therapist, and I am so incredibly thankful for her.
Lucy Carlson
Bridesmaid
My youngest sister, a soon-to-be high school senior, who can always make me laugh and keep me humble! Lucy never skips an opportunity to stop at Starbucks or Raising Cane's, dress up for a themed football game, or refer to anyone and everyone as "bruh." Having never had an older brother, she is happy to have Ben join the family if only so that she can tease him. Hopefully Lucy will decide to toss a few UC schools her college applications and join us on the west coast.
Anna Graves
Bridesmaid
Best friend since day one of high school sailing in '14 where we rolled sails, complimented each other's eyelashes, & got scolded for laughing too much during chalk talks. We have been inseparable ever since including four years as college roommates. Anna is frequently referred to as the fifth Carlson child, calling Islandale her second home. She is always down for a spontaneous adventure, with a favorite hobby of taking unknowing guests on her jet ski for the ride of a lifetime (& terror).
Karolynn Behrens
Bridesmaid
Best friend thanks to the good old days of Lac Labelle Sailing School, driver's ed hangouts, and COVID walks. Karolynn was the first person to introduce me to her favorite drink, the Moscow Mule, back in 2020 when she brought some over for a girl's night, and now it's my favorite cocktail! Karolynn has always been the mom of our friend group, but now she's a real life mommy as well to our flower girl Emory, and baby girl number two on the way!
Hailey Weisel
Bridesmaid
Identical twin to Anna, younger sister to Ben, and new sister/best friend to Katie! Hailey is crushing it at Duke Law School and watch out, you might see her on the Supreme Court someday! When I moved to San Francisco not knowing anyone, Hailey was so welcoming and helped introduce me to so many of her amazing friends. If you're ever hanging out with Hails and she disappears, she's just taking a quick nap, and will be right back. Time to hop on a plane with Minnie Gurl (her adorable black cat) & come back home to SF Hails!
Anna Weisel
Bridesmaid
Identical twin to Hailey, younger sister to Ben, and new sister/best friend to Katie! Anna is living her dream life in Sun Valley Idaho skiing, hiking, and teaching middle school (God bless her)! Anna is shaping the next generation and simultaneously staying up-to-date with all of the shenanigans of the middle schoolers, so if you catch her saying 6-7 and don't understand the reference, you're too old, just smile and nod. In order to spend some more time with adults, she adopted two adorable geriatric cats who adore her and hate each other.
Henrik Reinertsen
Best Man
Henrik is my best man! Hen and I met in high school and realized we shared many of the same hobbies and interests. The Reinertsen household served as a home base for hiking excursions, front yard baseball, sports viewing and snacks throughout high school (thank you Laura and Steve!). Hen finished his playing days and moved to remote North Carolina in exchange for a World Series ring, and then Detroit, as he began a career in baseball. One of my favorite memories with Henrik is 36 holes on a blistering hot summer day in Detroit, followed by an undercooked burger and days of food poisoning while I visited Detroit. These days, we're both back in San Francisco, playing as much G as we can, enjoying underpriced pitchers of Sapporo from Torraku Ramen, and riding the USS San Anselmo downtown to work. With the retention of Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and the introduction of Tosh Lupoi, we are newly anointed season ticket holders with sky-high expectations for the Golden Bears.
Cole Behrens
Groomsman
Cole has been a part of the Carlson family almost as long as Ben has, dating Molly, maid of honor, since summer of 2020 when bridesmaid/Cole's sister-in-law, Karolynn, set them up. Following? The first Carlson he actually had the pleasure of meeting was our father, Chip, after he'd called the police on Cole and his buddies on several occasions for questionable boating etiquette. Now long forgiven, Cole & Ben have been the best surrogate brothers to Henry and integral parts of our family. Cole is a pilot and incredible wakeboarder and is often seen puttering around Labelle on a small tin boat named Tinny.
Kipling Weisel
Groomsman
- Growing up with sisters, I didn't have to look far for a brother figure. While Kip is technically a half-uncle, he is a role model and the brother (along with Wilson and Tyler) that I never had. My entire childhood was spent chasing Kipling around, something that hasn't changed a lick in adulthood. An incredibly accomplished skier, Kipling's pong skills are maybe his crowning jewel. In a recent trip to Alta, Kip watched me slide starfish on my belly down a mogul field, flying past him at a high speed. I told myself that is the last time I try and keep up with Kip's skiing (or Alta Bombs), but that's absolutely a promise I can't keep.
Colby Morris
Groomsman
Colby and Ben have also known each other since high school. Colby is best friends with Henrik's older brother, Sam, and kept me at arm's length at Branson given I was two years younger. A fellow NESCAC graduate, Colby and I spent an increased amount of time together during our tenure in the frigid Northeast. COVID disrupted Colby's baseball journey, but led to countless hikes on Mount Tam and plenty of golf, sneaking onto the closed courses. Colby's fervor for the outdoors is second to none, and he's always coming up with outrageous adventures. With many mores days on the hill, golf course, and in the mountains to come, Colby is relentlessly pursuing lower spin and higher ball speed (while asking for lots of advice).
Mickey Hirigoyen
Groomsman
Mickey is another one of my best friends from high school. Mick is the impassioned commissioner of our fantasy football league and ties our friend group together in a way only he could do. If there is anyone that loves to eat more than I do, it's Mickey. The son of a local celebrity chef, conveyer belt sushi and home-cooked dog bowls stand no chance. There are few people more fun to kick back and share a cocktail with than Mickey, one of the many things I appreciate about our friendship. He's slowly being converted into a Cal fan, influenced by his crazed friends. Being back near Mickey is one of the great positives of returning to the Bay Area.
AJ Carrigan
Groomsman
First and foremost, Aje is a long snapper. After walking onto the team at Colby, AJ served as the primary specialist for the Mules as I was gunning for a job he had negative interest in keeping. Also two years older, "gramps" and I became fast friends at Colby during his senior year, bonding over our shared love for obscure Texas country artists and the game of football. Following AJ's graduation, Deej and I lost core piece of our group, but he didn't go far. Through golf trips, country concerts and quick visits, there is an open dialogue that never shuts off. These days, AJ stares at charts and graphs on his 9-monitor setup, and never fails to pass along tickers that stretch us closer to an earlier retirement.
DJ O'Donnell
Groomsman
The aforementioned Deej, or David, as his professional relationships know him by, is one of one. I met Dave seven years ago, and 75 pounds heavier. A Nampshire native, Harley riding rager, Dave's hamster wheel never stops spinning. We became great friends during my second year at school, and our friendship grew exponentially from there. Without a season in our post-COVID senior year, Dave and I turned our attention to the golf course, where our time at Waterville Country Club translated to substantial improvements in our craft. Without Deej, our final year of college would have been incredibly more challenging than the joy it turned into. Dave is a fan favorite of our families, and for good reason. Whatever you do, don't ask him what he shot at Boulders North.
Matt Teresinski
Groomsman
Matt and I met in a steam room… no it's not what you think. When I moved to Milwaukee, I wiped the slate clean and had to start over making friends. I joined the Milwaukee Athletic Club in an effort to find people with similar interests. Matt generously included me in a Sunday golf sim session, and so began the start of our cherished friendship. Don't let his age fool you, Matt is still 26 at heart. Over the next three years in Milwaukee, we spent many days on the golf course and nights on the boat. The wall in Matt's utility closet tells a story of domination, but I'm still convinced I'm better than him at ping pong. Although leaving Milwaukee may have broken Matt (and Helena's) hearts, we still find ways to squeeze in our favorite activities.
Will Henriques
Officiant
We are so excited to have Cousin Will as the officiant of our wedding! The son of Aunt Betsy and Uncle Mike (a judge and headmaster), will knows what it takes to captivate an audience. Residing in San Francisco these days with his lovely fiancee Lilly, Will still carries a piece of the Northeast in his heart (and his ear). Expect a ceremony filled with wit, joyous storytelling and a little of the Willarella flair.
Henry Carlson
Ring Bearer
My younger brother, the youngest of the Carlson siblings! Henry is 13 years younger than me, and has been mistaken as my child more than once. Henry is in middle school and loves to fish, jet ski, and take care of his crested geckos, Greg and Isabella! Henry once went to a gas station to get live bait for fishing, only to feel sorry for the little creatures and set them free, and that's just the kind of sweet soul Henry is.
Emory Behrens
Flower Girl
Daughter of bridesmaid Karolynn Behrens, she is the first baby born in the friend group and thus has major responsibilities to her Aunt Katie & Uncle Ben. These responsibilities include being our flower girl, letting us squeeze her cheeks often, and staving off our own baby fever, for now.