Jena & Nicholas
Wedding Party
Catherine AKA Casi Kurzeja
Maid of Honor
The air to my fire, and such things. Casi and I met at a Girls Bible Study ( sounds gaggish but it wasn't bad). We have been through a lot together, including the death of a parent within half a year of each other. We are either really unlucky or our stars were strung together. Either way, we have learned a lot about what it means to love, grieve, and find terribly dark humor in all of the wrong situations. I am beyond thankful to have her by my side. She also throws a killer party and has a great skincare routine. The picture here is a rare one of her suiting up to come surfing with me, an activity which once bonded us. So far, my tactics of mostly shaming and suggestion have been largely ineffective in getting her back out with me.
Ashton Barkey AKA Barkatron
Bridesmaid
Ashton and I met on a hill on our college campus. She remembers all the details of my overly-friendly beginnings. Ashton is currently working at a non-profit, His Mansion, which is a group home for those seeking to heal and move forward from addiction. She has been a blessing in my life and a steady friend during some really tough seasons. I can also testify to her karaoke and dance skills. She won a lip sinking contest for Nyland Hall in 2017. Just saying.
Heather Brooks
Bridesmaid
Heather and I go all the way back to pre-school. Just kidding, we don't. We did; however and in all truth, meet in Australia and spent the next year together studying the Bible and being absolute kooks on the Sunshine Coast. Which I think is, debatably, even cooler. Heather has one of the most soothing voices you've ever heard. Which is either from growing up in literal sunshine and rainbows of Ojai, California, or, she is distally related to Morgan Freeman, or Jesus. She's a great big sister, and swim buddy. Now I just have to convince her to move out here to MA and weather the cold water with me....
Danielle HAHA jk Dani Rudinsky
Bridesmaid
Once you meet Dani you'll understand why it would be funny to call her Danielle, which, yes, is her legal name. Dani and I met on our college campus and became friends by openly discussing our jealousy of one another, deciding that was BS, and remedying such BS by going on a backpacking trip together. She remains the only person to this day that I have shared a one-person Bivvy Sac with. We are usually far apart geographically, but she is always close to my heart. I think of her very often, probably every other day at least, but - shhhh- don't tell her. it will awaken the feels, and the force. And everyone knows you don't awaken the force until it stirs.
Lynnie Pie Ingreso
Bridesmaid/ Childhood Best Friend
I met Lynn when she was pint-sized. We were DAISY Scouts together. If you aren't familiar with Girl Scout code, that is the tiniest form of cookie-saleswoman there is. How do I sum up an entire childhood of memories? I mean think about it- elementary, middle-school weirdness, high school "drama", (which for us mostly meant sneaking out to Touche Amor shows at the Observatory). Lynn is kind and sweet, and Filipino (she's 3/4 I'm 1/4 together we make? You got it kids! One full Filipino!) I couldn't be more thankful to have her with me on this day. Fun idea: Speak to her in French, see what ensues. Fun fact: She majored in Art History and Business and knows her shiz ya'll.
Bessie Kurzeja
Bridesmaid
I met Bessie through Casi. When me and Cas were becoming friends, I knew of her very cool sister who was traveling around the U.S. working on Organic Farms. She became an elusive enigma to me, the days I heard stories about how she totaled her car running into a cow on a deserted, snowy highway. The hype was well worth the real person. Bessie and I have been on many adventures (As I write that, I cringe and laugh at the "backpacking" trip I took her and our friend John on, which was so dangerous but DID end with a natural hot spring overlooking the Ojai foothills soooo did anyone die? no. far from it) Bessie is wildly creative and extremely funny. I miss her when she's gone and enjoy her soft company when we are together.
Linnea Hultberg
Bridesmaid
My first introduction to Linnea was she LITERALLY SUSTAINED MY LIFE IN THE WOODS FOR 12 DAYS. What an intro am I right? And she has been my guardian angel ever since. I currently live with her so be extra nice to her because she has a lot to put up with ;). Linnea is literally an angel I am often at a loss for words when it comes to this one. She is very smart, very committed to her faith, and yet very open-minded and willing to hear other stories. Her skill for collecting extremely nice yet inexpensive clothing and household items is... unheard of. Also, plants. Linnea grows plants like children and they love her back.