Wedding Party
Alex Place Thomas
Matron of Honor
Alex & I met at Story Time in Denver about 25 years ago and have been the best of friends since! Playing Barbies, watching Hannah Montana, and shopping were some of our favorite things to do. We went on to play soccer together at Cornell College, which are some of my fondest memories. It's been such a treat to have shared so many big and little moments with Alex throughout the years and life's journey! (I also need to credit Alex and her husband John for having a wedding and being the place Austin and I met, so we really wouldn't be here without her haha)
Hunter Emrick
Best Man
Hunter and I met freshman year of college at Western Illinois University. We became friends right away sharing a common interest in construction, hunting, and snowboarding. We grew up in the same area and ended up rooming together for a year while in school. I started going down to hunt with him during college in Missouri where his family and I became close. Some of my best memories with Hunter are going to concerts, working together, and enjoying a few cold ones.
Cody Avetian
Bridesmaid
I met Cody at Cornell when she decided to join the soccer team (best decision ever) her Sophomore/my Junior year, and we quickly hit it off! I can always count on Cody for a good time and good laugh. One of my favorite memories with Cody was doing a California road trip to knock out some national parks right after covid, and in the middle of wildfires in 2020...it was an adventure! Austin & I went to the Big Island of Hawaii with Cody and her husband Luke at the beginning of November 2024 where we had one of the coolest experiences, snorkeling with Manta Rays!
Avery Fader
Groomsman
Avery was the first person I met when I moved to Carthage since he lived by me. We became close friends in high school and ended up becoming business partners for a few years while going to college together in the same construction program. Some of my favorite memories are fishing together and snowboarding in Colorado.
Hanna Dunlap
Bridesmaid
Hanna and I met at IDT, and boy did we have fun while working together. Hanna has since moved to Colorado, but we've made it a tradition to go on a yearly trip: we've been to Arches NP (Utah), Banff, Jasper, and Yoho National Park (Canada)! Austin popped the question while we were visiting Hanna and her boyfriend Nate in Colorado in September 2024, so s/o to Hanna for getting it on video and taking pictures, it was the perfect spot to get engaged (Blue Lakes Trail in Ridgeway). We were also able to visit Maroon Bells in Aspen and do the Ouray Via Ferrata while out there, it was such a great, memorable trip.
Dusty Waddell
Groomsman
Dusty and I became friends when I moved into town and we ended up being neighbors. We have known each other since kindergarten and pretty much did everything together growing up, his parents are like my second family. Some of the best times we had were playing sports together, riding four wheelers with the boys, and being there with him when he met his wife Maddie.