Kristen & Matt
Wedding Party
Alyson Lembcke
Maid of Honor
Alyson is my first cousin. We have always lived near to one another, and our very close ages led to us being easy friends throughout our lives. The older we've grown, the closer we've become, and our friendship is deeply enduring. We can talk and joke for hours without ever running out of things to say or getting bored. Alyson is bold, assertive, and dependable. Alyson has a creative heart and a sharp wit, and her loyalty to her friends is unmatched. - Kristen
Mark Parker
Best Man
Mark has been one of my best friends since high school. When I went to Iraq he was one of the few people to take the time to try and keep in contact even if it was only for a few brief glimpses of seeing me online at odd hours and only for thirty or so minutes. When I got back we got back to business as usual. Fighting games and good food. - Matt
Mary Berry
Bridesmaid
Mary and I may not have met under the best circumstances, but fate proved stronger than dude-bros with bad manners, and we found ourselves as near-immediate friends. We bantered back and forth for hours the night we met, and we've never stopped laughing together since. Coincidentally, Mary's then-boyfriend now-husband is also a long time friend of mine who I have known since middle school. Mary is the type of friend who is always ready to party or nurture depending on the situation, and can always be counted on to hype you up when you need it most. - Kristen
Karl Fortin
Groomsman
I met Karl on the convention circuit that my boss and I were doing to supplement income for the shop. We had hotel accommodations that included two beds. One for my boss and one for me and Karl. I immediately climbed into the same bed as this man and was worried that he would hold me closely in the middle of the night; I really don’t like strangers touching me, let alone being in a bed with one. Now we blow kisses at each other. - Matt
Dell Dawson
Bridesmaid
Dell and I have been friends since kindergarten when we were both just two young kids obsessed with Pokemon and Sonic the Hedgehog. As normally happens with kids, as we aged we drifted, never falling out, but exploring other interests. It wasn't until about a year after graduating highschool that we reconnected and picked up our friendship as if we were never apart. And as fate would have it, we both had developed similar interests and hobbies while "doing our own thing". Dell is creative and unique; she is warm and welcoming and will go above and beyond to help her friends when they need it. She is vibrant and simply delightful. - Kristen
Shaun Smith
Groomsman
I met Shaun soon after I got back from the Corps. Him and Mark started hanging out while I was in Iraq. Mark introduced us and we immediately started talking about fighting games. After some back and forth banter, it was expected to put up or shut up. We played Soul Calibur Two well into the wee hours of the night, and he’s been stuck with me since. - Matt
Ann Albertson
Bridesmaid
Ann and I may not have known each other as long as some of the other bridesmaids, but our friendship is no less beloved. Ann is the fiancé of my younger brother, Michael. Since before she officially started dating Michael, Ann has formed her own distinct place in our family's lives, and I deeply values this brilliant woman that I now gets to call "sister". Ann is excitable and enthusiastic. She is the type of person who can go from joking about YouTube videos to discussing critical feminist theory and then to discussing feline sociology seamlessly. She is a brilliant and funny woman, and the more and more you get to know her, the more and more you like her. - Kristen
Michael Albertson
Groomsman
My future brother-in-law, well, really my brother already. I went to the Albertson household after dating Kristen for a few months when we decided it was serious enough to meet the family. I walked up to him while he was working on his car with their dad. I introduced myself and offered mostly emotional support since I know very little about cars except which ones I prefer the vroom-vroom of. We got talking, and now he’s stuck with me. - Matt
Amanda Rogers
Bridesmaid
Amanda is a friend I made through my relationship with Matt. Amanda and Matt have worked together at the Magick Cauldron's shop at the Texas Renaissance Festival, and the two get on like siblings - bickering in a loving manner and supporting each other when needed. Since coming into Matt's life, I have always appreciated how welcoming Amanda has been to me, and am very thankful to have gained such a wonderful friend. Amanda is always game for a party. She is artistic and thoughtful, and her banter is on point. - Kristen
Will MacFarlane
Groomsman
I met Will soon after working at the Cauldron, at our Renaissance Faire booth. We immediately started talking about sword fighting and grabbed a few practice blades and went after each other. After a few bruises and a dislocated thumb, we decided that we needed far more work - me more so than Will - and to this day we tempt each other with new and expensive hobbies. - Matt
Ros Bellenger
Bridesmaid
I first met Ros almost 10 years ago; Ros began dating one of my closest childhood friends - Wayne Beaumier - 10 years ago, and from the beginning, I've been nothing but ecstatic to have Ros as a part of my life. We bonded over our shared love for costume and character creation as well as various bits of "nerd culture". She has become one of my closest friends over the years, and our friendship is the type that is always picked up exactly where it was left regardless of time. Ros is compassionate and empathetic; she's supportive without codling, and is a pillar of stability. She is artistic and creative, and Ros is always game for a tea party and The Labyrinth. - Kristen
Robert Lott
Groomsman
We met through a mutual friend of mine, my ex-girlfriend, and after chatting all night till the morning sun we figured our interests aligned spectacularly. We like a lot of the same video games and books series and even some comics. With many ups and downs and trying my hardest to work through them like an adult, we are still friends after all these years. - Matt