Wedding Party
Owen Tien
Best Man
The grooms brother. If you can’t tell by their hairline, Owen and I are related. Owen is 7 years my senior and the founder of Thingsmiths and makemedical. He has 2 sons Alec and Griffon. He will be joined by Jamie his partner. Owen has always been there for me, anything I needed and he could help with he was there no questions asked. He has gotten me out of more jams than I care to share. With that being said I have a few welts and scars, from trying to keep up with my older brother. Some from being “forced” to be goalie during street hockey. Might be where my love of hockey really came from. I was always chasing him, I have learned from his mistakes and success and would not be the man I am today without him. There are few people I trust, love, or admire more than Owen.
Andy Pekala
Groomsman
My oldest friend, we met on the corner of Plymouth St and Lund Dr in Midland Michigan. In 2026 we will have been friends for 30 years. It’s hard to put into words how special it is to have a life long friend like Andy. The memories we’ve had together could fill a book. We’ve done some awesome and dumb stuff together and survived to tell the tales. If you don’t know Andy he will gladly talk your ear off, he and his wife Holly have been everywhere, ask them about it. And if you don’t introduce yourself to him, he will do it for you. Andy is the definition of a lifelong friend, I can’t imagine my life without him in it. We still play video games once a week, still can’t take life to seriously when we are in the same room together, still laugh like no one’s watching, and we always try and make an effort to see each other as often as we can. Andy is a brother from another mother.
Chris Hinrichs
Groomsman
We met in college (Milwaukee School of Engineering) as teammates, we were put together by our coach and we have been friends ever since. Chris is arguably one of the smartest people I have ever met. He helped me in more classes at MSOE then I can count (along with a few others on the hockey team). He is quiet but once you get him going it’s impossible to not have a good time. He will be accompanied by his wonderful wife Carly who may just edge out Chris on the whose smarter competition but a power couple none the less. Chris and I now play more golf together then our wife and fiancé (wife after the day) care to discuss…. From hockey teammates to golf pro wannabes Chris is an amazing friend and I’m very lucky to have gotten to have him as a friend all these years.
Kyle Barone
Groomsman
Kyle like Chris was a college roommate. When Chris and Carly moved into together I needed a new roommate. Kyle needed a place to stay, so he moved in and we gelled from day one. Kyle was a goalie for our college team, if you know anything about being a hockey goalie is it’s a selfless position. Kyle is a selfless guy, he would stay late at practice to help his teammates get better. Took care of his roommate after he broke his leg (what an idiot). Kyle is another quiet one that you need to rev the engine a bit to get going but once he takes off, look out your in for one. He is someone who genuinely cares about his friends and I had the honor of being his best man at his wedding. We now enjoy that time we spent on the rink during our college years on the golf course and I love every minute of it even if I am using choice words about my own golf game. I wouldn’t trade hose rounds for anything. Kyle will be joined by his lovely wife and fellow mechanical engineer from MSOE Victoria and their son Big Walt.
Emily Reynolds
Best Woman
Emily is my best friend who I met through CrossFit. She's incredibly smart, has a great sense in style, is a amazing mother and really the most successful person I know that's my age. From teammates, travel buddies, roommates, a shoulder to cry on, and even my little sister at times; she's always been a major supporter in my life. I really wish she was my biological sister because on occasion we fight like it. It would be nice to have an explanation for that. To me she's just one of those friends that you wish you would have met earlier in life, but you're really grateful to have them now. She's mean enough to live far away from me in North Carolina with her lovely family; her husband Brock and their daughter Naomi. One day our lives will allow us to live next door to each other, but I don't think the world is ready for that. With everything in her life at the moment, I'm so happy she's accepted being my best woman!
Mariana Trevino
Bridesmaid
I met Mariana through a close personal friend, Heidi, who convinced me to go to another gym after taking a hiatus from CrossFit. I joined CrossFit 100, a gym in Glendale, WI, and Mariana was a longtime coach of the gym. (If you can't tell she's really strong) My first impression of her was that she was the coolest, most laid back, competitive athlete I've ever met. I was very intimidated by her at first, but once I got to know her I was like a fly on honey, I couldn't really stay away from her. She's always been a bit of a role model to me. I look up to her in a lot of ways. We've competed together on a team and supported each other individually numerous occasions. Recently, we travelled to Kansas city, Kansas for a CrossFit competition called 'Monster Games', which is the city where Eric proposed to me. Her and her daughters, Talia and Bryana, are some of the nicest, most genuine people I've ever met. Just a statement to be made; Mariana is an incredible human inside and out and her daughters emulate her kindness and strength every day. I'm so happy she chose to share this day with us.
Katie Kracht
Bridesmaid
Katie is the oldest friend out of the my wedding party. We met my first semester of college, we both attended UW-River Falls near Minneapolis. I can't say we quickly became friends at first. I used to carpool her and her friends to our Lab science class off campus. At the end of the semester, she found out that I wouldn't be attending college at the main campus the next semester because I would be going to China to study abroad. Her eyes lit up like it was Christmas morning. It was nearly the end of the sign-up period for the abroad class, but in a matter of 12 hours Katie had made her mind up to go to China the next semester. I knew she would be one of my best friends from then on. Katie has a strong love for Agriculture, if you want a conversation piece with her this would be a good start. She's worked for AmeriCorps, Feeding America, and Ag lending company. If it's Agriculture, Katie has dipped her feet in it somehow. She's incredibly giving and loves to make sure you feel included. She's probably been the glue that's kept our 'China Family' together after 12 years.. I'm so happy she's apart of our special day.
Colin Brown
Bridesman
Colin is one of my oldest CrossFit friends and feels a bit like a big brother. If you have a down day Colin is the guy to talk to. I can remember ever having a conversation with him that you didn't feel empowered or relieved after. If I'm competing he always knows my placing, my score and is always a person that shows up. Even if he can't make it, he remembers and always shoots a message to say 'good luck'. When Colin isn't doing his day job you can usually find him at home with his amazing wife Ashley, cat Stanley and dog Arla. In his spare time, he coaches and works out at his home gym in Slinger, WI coaching barbell classes and CrossFit classes; mornings and evenings. He loves to make a difference in his community. I'm happy after all these years I've been included in this community. I've very happy him and his wife will be joining us in Comox!