Joseph & Laura
Wedding Party
David Tetzlaff
Man of Honor
Laura met David during the Fall Semester of her Junior year (2011) and only a few months before her and Joe started to date. David, Laura, Joe, and a couple of their other close friends were all in the same set of that year's Cabaret (Cabaret Careers). During the "Soldier" set, they were divided into small groups where Laura and David were put together. They had to act out a small scene of their choice and Laura decided it would be funny if they would all be in a restaurant scenario. David was the server and Laura was the pompous guest who didn't like her order and pretended to punch him several times to the beat of the music they were dancing to. Needless to say they realized they were so similar and have been the best of friends ever since. David has even LIVED with Laura and Joe!
Molly Kastner
Bridesmaid
Molly is Joe's younger and only sister and Laura couldn't be more thrilled to have her as a future sister-in-law! Throughout the last 7 years that Joe and Laura have been together, Molly has been a fun, kind, and supportive sister. Laura and Molly were able to really get to know each other when they went to the MN State Fair together, trying all of the new beverages, almost forgetting to get all of the new foods....That night Joe met up with Laura and Molly and they all saw one of Laura and Joe's favorite bands perform, Lucius. it was one of the best concerts they had been to and Laura was so happy she was able to share it with Molly. Ever since then, Laura has had no hesitation about becoming apart of the Kastner Family. She can truly say that Molly is one of her best friends.
Nicki Stemper
Bridesmaid
Laura met Nicki during her Freshman year of college when she began to date her brother, Andrew. Laura loved to hang out with Andrew and Nicki together and was thrilled when she found out that her brother was going to propose to her in Disney World! Laura couldn't have asked for a kinder sister-in-law. She always was so interested in all of the trips that Nicki took to Disney and finally went on their first trip together in June of 2017. During this trip, Laura and Nicki really got to know each other and were able to make some of the greatest memories together. Now, Nicki and Andrew have a son Harrison who is Laura's Godson and she couldn't be happier. Laura is happy and proud to call Nicki her sister as well as a best friend for life.
Allison Gabay
Bridesmaid
Laura and Allison found out they were random roommates in June of 2009. When they first met it was an early morning and they were moving into their 6th floor dorm room of Towers South at the University of Wisconsin of Eau Claire (GO BLUGOLDS). Allison still to this day talks about how Laura walked in all sheepish as she just woke up from a nap in the car wearing a cute little pink sweatshirt. They had the best time being roommates all throughout college. Not only did they live well together, but they had a lot of fun together going out on Water Street, making Friday dinners together, watching trashy reality television together, and being there for each other during the hard times of their relationships. Laura knows that Allison will be a part of her life forever. Best Roomies for life!
Meaghan Baldwin
Bridesmaid
Meaghan and Laura have known each other since they were only 14 years old. They began their friendship in Junior High Track, ran together on the cross country team in high school, and stayed friends throughout college as Laura went to Eau Claire and Meaghan moved up to Duluth. Laura was so thankful she had such a close friend to hang out with when they both moved to the Twin Cities after graduating college. They attended many musical concerts together consisting of Lady Gaga, Ingrid Michaelson, and The Fray. Laura and Meaghan continue to get together, now with their puppies Theo and Guy, and Laura looks forward to more memories with Meaghan. After being friends for over 13 years, Laura and Meaghan are still up to their old shenanigans and will always remain best friends!
Liz Hill
Personal Attendant
Laura and Liz met in High School and became very close during their senior year and into college. When Liz moved into her own apartment in St. Cloud, Laura visited her every time she came back to St. Cloud during college. They had some of the best memories at that apartment with many of their close friends, including Meaghan! After Liz moved down to the Twin Cities, it was more reason for Laura to want to move there after college. They continued to hang out at each other's apartments in the twin cities and Liz's boyfriend, Joel helped Laura and Joe find their first home! Liz helps watch Guy when Laura and Joe are away and they are so thankful Liz lives only 6 minutes away! They know that she will be a part of their lives for a very, very long time.
Tim Mattson
Best Man
Joe and Tim met in the fall of 2008 at Beaver Creek Reserve for the Singing Statesmen fall retreat, the men's choir they were both new members of. They continued singing together in Statesmen and the Concert Choir for the next 4 years, and lived together for 2 years in a house of choir guys. They became very close while living together, mostly because their rooms shared a door-turned-wall. They now both live in Minneapolis and hang out whenever they can, going frisbee golfing or grabbing one of his hand-brewed beers at the Freehouse.
Ryan Cook
Groomsman
After a Statesmen rehearsal during Joe's first year of college, Ryan reached out and invited the quiet Freshman over to his off-campus apartment to hang out and play some Settlers of Catan. Both their lives were changed forever. Ryan and Joe had gaming get-togethers frequently during their time at UWEC, and became very good friends through those and their fantasy football league that Ryan commissions. Though Ryan lives in Atlanta, they talk when they can about life, football, old times, or when they'll next be seeing each other.
Andrew Mackey
Groomsman
Joe was very nervous when he first started meeting Laura's family, but the process was made very easy by the welcoming nature of everyone, including her brother Andrew. Joe and Andrew got along immediately and share a love of classic rock, craft beer, and MST3K. Joe was honored to be a member of Andrew's wedding party in the summer of 2016 to his wife Nicki, and was super happy to gain a nephew when they had their son Harrison last year. Hanging out with Andrew is always one of Joe's favorite parts of family get-togethers on Laura's side, and he looks forward to more over the years.
Cody Schuebel
Groomsman
Joe and Cody became fast friends through music when they met in Statesmen in 2009. That year they went on tour to Argentina together, and then a few years later to Greece, where they spent a lot of time together drinking Ouzo and ”doing it like Bernie”. After college, Cody got Joe his first job in the Twin Cities at a tree service company, and they briefly lived together while Cody was also moving to the Cities and stayed at Joe and Laura's Minneapolis apartment. Now they normally hang out on triple-dates with Cody's wife Angela and dog Millie, along with Laura and Guy, playing their newest games, watching the Packers, or grilling out.
Scott Kaczmarski
Groomsman
Joe and Scott met through a common friend in Eau Claire of 2009. They hung out at Joe's first apartment a lot after Joe had just started working at Toppers Pizza, and soon Joe got Scott a job there too. They worked together frequently for years, and hung out before and after work a lot too, so they got to know each other well and fast. Scott moved right down the street from Joe's house so they had lots of chances to play Magic and N64. Joe also had the pleasure of being a Groomsman in Scott's wedding, and though they live in different states, Joe looks forward to any time they get to see each other and game out.
Mitch Swinburne
Usher
Mitch was a freshman at UWEC the same year as Joe, sang in the Singing Statesmen, and also lived right next door to Joe in Putnam Hall! They hung out in each others dorm rooms a lot freshman year, playing Wii or Rock Band with dorm mates all the time. Later they lived together at the house, having countless good times. He even helped get him his job at Toppers Pizza where they worked together. Mitch is a big fan of board games and has an extensive collection, so naturally he and Joe play as many as possible whenever they get together.
Blake Weimerskirch
Usher
Blake and Joe also met in the Singing Statesmen in 2009, and later became roommates at the house and co-workers at Toppers Pizza as well. Living and working together for a couple years led to lots of time spent together and many late-night Smash Bros. and Rock Band sessions. They also bonded over their love of fantasy football and board games, which they still play frequently when they get together. They both currently live in Minneapolis and love to have a beer and a game when they can.