Wedding Party
Bethany Alexander
Bride
Bethany is a rotational engineer at Bayer in Muscatine, IA, where she applies her expertise in chemical engineering. She graduated from the University of Iowa in May 2024 with a degree in Chemical Engineering with minors in Business Administration and Chemistry. Outside of her career, she enjoys crocheting and spending time with her new puppy, Aspen, who’s quickly become her favorite little companion. She’s looking forward to this exciting new chapter with her partner and celebrating with family and friends.
Justin Watznauer
Groom
Justin is a software engineer at BAE Systems, where he works on developing innovative software solutions in navigation technology. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 2023 with a degree in Computer Science Engineering. When he’s not working, Justin enjoys playing video games and spending time with his new puppy, Aspen, who’s become his favorite companion. He’s excited to start this new chapter with Bethany and looks forward to celebrating their big day!
Cheryl Watznauer
Mother of the Groom
Cherie has been a loving and supportive mother to Justin throughout his life, always offering guidance and encouragement. She operates a dog grooming shop and lives in New London, IA. She enjoys baking, gardening, and attending For King and Country concerts in her free time.
Thomas Watznauer
Father of the Groom
Tom is a proud and supportive father to Justin. With a deep love for his family, he has always been a guiding figure in Justin’s life. Tom works as a Corrections Officer at Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility and lives in New London, IA. He enjoys working on cars, various construction projects for friends & family, smoking meats, and maintaining things around the house.
Holly Marie
Mother of the Bride
Holly Marie is the proud mother of Bethany and hasc been a constant source of support and guidance throughout her life. She lives in Huntley, IL, and works as a Senior HIT Radiation Oncology System Admin. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Business Administration. When she's not working or completing her online classes, she enjoys playing videogames and planting flowers with her mother.
Justin Kurpius
Father of the Bride
Justin Kurpius has been a steady presence, offering support and guidance from the moment he entered Bethany's life. He currently lives in Huntley, IL, and works remotely as a Senior Edge Security BDM at Amazon Web Services. In his freetime, he enjoys fishing and drinking woodford reserve.
Jennifer Alexander
Mother of the Bride
Jen has been an integral part of Bethany’s life as her loving stepmother. When she’s not busy supporting Raycar or running the Alexander ranch in Forreston, IL, she’s also actively involved in caring for Bethany's three younger sisters who are very active in softball, volleyball, basketball, and livestock showings.
Patrick Alexander
Father of the Bride
Patrick is a loving father to Bethany and is a co-owner of a gear manufacturing company (Raycar) in Rockford, IL. In his free time, he helps manage the Alexander Ranch in Forreston, IL, alongside Jennifer and their three younger daughters. When he’s not working or at the ranch, Patrick enjoys hunting and camping.
Katie Alexander
Maid of Honor
Katie is Bethany's sister and lifelong best friend. As the Maid of Honor, she’s been by Bethany’s side through this journey, offering support, laughter, and love. In addition to being a loving sister, Katie is currently going through school to become a surgical tech at Southwest Wisconsin Tech and working part-time at a veterinary clinic. In her free time, she enjoys caring for her Labrador retriever (Chase), reading, and spending time with friends/family.
Jordan Watznauer
Best Man
Jordan is Justin’s brother and the best man for the big day. He works as an engineering tech in Chattanooga, TN, and in his free time, he enjoys drawing, camping, hiking, and photography. Whether he’s capturing nature’s beauty or exploring the outdoors, Jordan brings creativity and adventure to everything he does.
Jenna Alexander
Bridesmaid
Jenna is Bethany's loving sister and bridesmaid. She is currently a sophomore at Forreston Community High School where she enjoys playing volleyball. Whether spiking a ball on the court or lending a hand at the ranch, she brings love and humor to everything she does.
John Elwart
Groomsman
John is a college friend of Justin, having been college roommates at the University of Iowa and also living in the same dorm as Bethany at the infamous Dirty Burge. Originally from Crystal Lake, IL, John graduated in December 2023 with a degree in Computer Science and Engineering. He now works as a software engineer at Milwaukee Tools, where he’s been known to help Justin score some great discounts on tools for Father’s Day.
Josey Watznauer
Bridesmaid
Josey is Justin’s sister and one of the bridesmaids. She’s a sophomore at Hannibal-LaGrange University, where she’s double majoring in Secondary Math Education and Computer Science. When she’s not busy with her studies, you can find her with her nose in a book or going to For King & Country concerts.
Colton Ketcham
Groomsman
Colton and Justin go way back—from swimming together in high school to being college roommates at the University of Iowa. Known as the life of the party, Colton is always the one to keep things fun and lively with his great sense of humor. He graduated in 2022 with a degree in Biology and now works remotely, based in Dubuque, IA. When he's not working, he’s busy planning his own wedding with his fiancée, Maddie, who is tying the knot just a week after Bethany and Justin.
Madelyn Timm
Bridesmaid
Maddy is Bethany’s college friend and former roommate. A 2024 graduate from the University of Iowa with a degree in Biomedical Engineering, she now works as a manufacturing engineer at Boston Scientific in Minneapolis. Beyond her day-job, Maddy is also a co-founder of GrowLimb, a start-up focused on designing below-the-knee prosthetics for children that grow with them. In her free time, Maddy loves staying active by playing volleyball, pickleball, and, of course, grabbing a bowl at Chipotle.
Lucas Dahl
Groomsman
Lucas and Justin have been close friends since their college days at the University of Iowa, where they shared plenty of good times, including many Taco Tuesdays and countless memorable moments. They were known to enjoy a drink together every now and then, always in good spirits and with a sense of fun. Lucas graduated in 2023 with a degree in Civil Engineering and now works in Muscatine, IA. In his free time, he enjoys playing Call of Duty with Justin and catching up with old friends.
Nur Sucu
Bridesmaid
Nur is Bethany’s college friend from the University of Iowa, where she majored in Industrial Engineering and graduated in December 2024. She’s currently working as a manufacturing engineer at HNI in Muscatine, IA. Outside of work, Nur loves spending time with family and friends, diving into a good book, and practicing yoga to unwind.
Blair Noble
Groomsman
Blair is a longtime friend of Justin and has been part of his life since they worked together as lifeguards at Fun City Waterpark during high school. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Psychology in 2022. He's continued to stay close with Justin through the years, sharing plenty of laughs and memories. In his free time, Blair enjoys playing video games, especially Destiny 2, which he often plays with Justin. He currently lives in Waterloo with his girlfriend, Alyssa and their cat.
Nola Murhammer
Bridesmaid
Nola is Bethany’s college roommate and a close friend. She’s currently majoring in Mechanical Engineering and will graduate in May 2025. Outside of her studies, Nola enjoys spending time with her beagle, whether it's going for walks or just hanging out at home.
Garrett Schwartz
Usher
Garrett is an 8th grader at Meridian Junior High School in Stillman Valley, IL, and one of the ushers for the wedding. He’s in advanced classes at school and plays travel baseball, spending a lot of time on the field. When he's not playing baseball, he's passionate about football and enjoys playing whenever he gets the chance.
Chloe Alexander
Bridesmaid
Chloe is Bethany's youngest sister and an amazing junior bridesmaid. As a 5th grade student at Forreston Elementary School, she’s full of energy and excitement. When she’s not spending time with family or helping on the ranch, you can find her on the softball field or volleyball court.
Brayden Kurpius
Groomsman
Brayden is Bethany’s younger brother and a proud junior groomsman. He’s a 6th grader at Marlowe Middle School in Huntley, IL, where he’s an active runner on the cross country team. In addition, he is a basketball player for the Huntley Park District. When he’s not in the middle of a game or race, you can usually find him playing videogames.
Zoey Schwartz
Bridesmaid
Zoey is Bethany’s cousin and a proud junior bridesmaid. She’s a 5th grader in advanced classes who loves tumbling, turtles, and drawing. Whether she’s showing off her acrobatic skills, sketching her favorite creatures, or tackling her schoolwork, she brings lots of love and enthusiasm wherever she goes.
Evan Schwartz
Groomsman
Evan is Bethany’s cousin and one of the junior groomsmen. He’s a 6th grader in advanced classes at Meridian Junior High School in Stillman Valley, IL, and when he’s not in school, he loves playing baseball. He’s also a big fan of video games and can often be found gaming in his free time.
Aspen
Dog
Justin and Bethany adopted Aspen on December 26, 2024, from the PAWS animal shelter in Fort Madison, IA. He was born on September 17th, 2024, and surrendered by his breeders alongside 3 of his brothers. He's a shiba inu - pomsky mix and has quickly won the hearts of Bethany and Justin. In his freetime, he loves playing with his toys and going on long walks.