Kevin & Stephanie
Wedding Party
Jenn Blood
Maid of Honor
As Steph’s most favorite, older, and only sister I must say the joy in my heart to be a part of her wedding planning and day is massive. When Steph asked me to be her maid of honor, it was almost a pointless question because we both knew she had no choice. Not everyone gets to say that their sister is their best friend, but I am lucky enough to be one of those people. My little “Bubba” is getting married and to a man that we all approved of the day we met him when he brought me my now favorite beer, M-43 😊. The happiness I have seen in her ever since she met Kevin proves these two will thrive with each other throughout life. I am so happy for my little sister, who will always be my little sister no matter how old we get. I love you Bubs and cannot wait for the big day!
Joshua Nikolai
Best Man
Kevin and I have been friends since elementary school. It’s been a lifelong friendship filled with Magic the Gathering and video games in our youth; to Ping Pong and Foosball in high school; to board games, golf, and Dungeons & Dragons today. Not only did our interests grow and evolve, but so did we. When I moved away for college, the conversation would pick up right where it left off when I came home. When I traveled for work, Kevin was one of the few people I kept in touch with. We kept each other going when we both felt isolated – me on the other side of the globe and Kevin working night shifts. It’s clear that Steph brings my friend a lot of joy, and how much they care for each other. I'm excited to see what the future has in store for them and am gracious to be a part of it!
Emily Haase
Bridesmaid
I became friends with Steph during high school track & field. We both participated in shot put and discus. I always looked up to Steph as she was a year older in school and took me under her wing. We bonded over our love of Disney music, unique dance moves, and our ability to annoy our track coaches. Our friendship has grown stronger over the years- even withstanding a long road trip to Asheville, NC and Nashville, TN. Sparing the details (*maps*), if we could stay friends through that, we could make it through anything. Now, we bond over our love of buffalo chicken dip, dancing, and ability to annoy our significant others.
Alan Harrigan
Groomsman
I’ve known Kevin most of my life, as we grew up in the same town. While we played baseball and attended basketball camps growing up together, most of my memories with Kevin are from after high school. Our summer vacations working at the MSU Turf Research Center, spent mowing and testing grass, are some of my favorite memories. As well as when Kevin, Josh, and I, drove up to the Nikolai family cottage to start a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. We still play that same campaign to this day, while starting or joining several other groups too. I would say that nerdy things like D&D are how we’ve stayed connected most over the years... as Kevin is truly a gigantic nerd. He’s also just a really great dude and I am thrilled he found Steph. They’re going to be great and so will this wedding!
Lacey Vandebunte
Bridesmaid
I met Steph in college on the Frisbee field, then we lived together for a bit. We have a lot of amazing memories... There were a couple times when we were both living in Colorado where, even though we were 8 hours apart, we met in the middle and went for hiking adventures in the mountains. Somehow we survived and Bubba trusted me to guide her on rocky cliffs. Before she moved back to the mitten, we went for a longer camping adventure and every evening we would grab beers and go moose hunting from the car. Then on the way home, driving through 100 degree Nebraska with a broken AC, we decided to stop and get dairy queen to cool off, forgetting that neither of us should eat dairy- good thing the windows had to stay down! :D
Kyle Brandon
Groomsman
I've known Kev (known as Magic Kev in my friend group for reasons to follow) since college where we met slinging trading cards at "The Fortress." Since then we've worked together, we've slung cards, jammed games into oblivion, and bonded over mutual nerdisms across the board. Kev is one of the few people that I've ever met that matches my intensity and devotion to the grind; so I know that when he commits to something (or in this case, someone) that he will put in 110%. I'm so tremendously happy that he found Steph, and am excited to celebrate their special day with both of them.
Audrey Michniak
Bridesmaid
I met Steph, aka Bubba, in 2011 while playing ultimate frisbee at Western Michigan University and we've been great friends since. We have traveled, danced, sang, and cooked together for many years in multiple states! One of my favorite, of many, memories of Bubba is when she would lead a whole women's ultimate frisbee team in a warm up dance routine before every game at our tournaments. Steph has always been such a positive influence in my life and am so happy to be a part of her and Kevin’s wedding celebrations!
Ryan Blissett
Groomsman
At first Kevin and I started off working as coworkers at BASF in 2013 for a short time. He was a new hire to replace me as I found a new job at PPG. Within the short time of training him we found out we had a lot in common with our hobbies. Especially all things nerdy: Star Wars, comic books, super heroes, and, most importantly, Magic the Gathering! Although our time at BASF was short, he couldn’t resist working without me so he eventually came to PPG as well. Within those times working together, we traveled and saw several cities and states together as amateur card game competitors. It is an honor to be a part of Stephanie and Kevin's big day. I cannot wait to see and hear about their new adventures together as husband and wife!
Jessica Rowell
Bridesmaid
I met Steph freshman year of college at Western Michigan. We lived in the same dorm, a few floors apart, and when our friend circles merged second semester, it was pretty apparent we’d become quick friends. She was funny, loud, carefree and wild - her enthusiasm for life was (and still is) contagious. Throughout college we had the privilege of slinging burgers at RR (Red Robin), raising a very crazy rescue cat, living in the coolest house on campus and enjoying a lot of life’s most memorable moments all together. It’s insane to think about all I’ve experienced with Steph by my side, and I am thrilled to be standing by her side on this very special day.
Matt Carlson
Groomsman
I am Stephanie’s one and only brother. I like to think I had an influence on her free spirit, sense of adventure, and her willingness to take chances. I am so proud of the woman she has become and excited for what the future holds for her and Kevin. She has come a long way from my little tag-along sister who just always wanted to experience what was out in the world. I love her.
Samantha Rogers
Bridesmaid
I have been friends with Steph close to 21 years and it all started when she thought I was stealing her best friend! Those thoughts quickly passed and we became fast friends. As children, we spent lots of time playing “king of the bed,” tackle football with the boys, and making silly dance videos. That turned into teenagers hanging out at Pine Knob and parties at the Carlson’s all summer long. We went to college together, we lived together, we have experienced all the highs and lows of life together and I can honestly say she is one of my truest friends! Congratulations to you both and I can’t wait to celebrate you!
Dave Blood
Groomsman
As Steph's brother-in-law, it's crazy to think the little teenage sister I met over 15 years ago is getting married. She's a great aunt to my three boys and they already call Kevin "aunt" Kevin (who knows). The more I get to know Kevin, the more I like him and the more I see just why they make each other so happy. Looking forward to a lifetime of memories with these two, congratulations.
Kristen Carlson
Bridesmaid
I’ve known Steph way before I married her brother, since she was probably in middle school (not exactly sure). She used to give me pedicures in her moms living room and I would repay her with used Abercrombie and Fitch clothes (on point with early 2000's fashion). Now she babysits my children for free. She’s the best sister in law ever!
The Nephews
Ring Bearer
David, Jacob, and Andrew belong to Steph's sister, Jenn, and are formally known as "the Blood Brothers." Micheal and Noah belong to Steph's brother, Matt. Being an aunt to these boys is one of Steph's favorite things in life, and it's now Kevin's too as the kids do call him "aunt Kevin;" (apparently assigning the correct gender to aunt and uncle is confusing because they used to call Steph "uncle Stephy"). These kids bring so much happiness and love into our lives, and we're happy they are apart of our wedding.
Katie Reinke
Bridesmaid
"Groom's Favorite Sibling" Kevin was my first friend, my big brother. It’s a brother’s responsibility to look after his little sister, and he has done a pretty good job. One time, he even saved my life- although, you may want to ask him what led to him having to save me in the first place (...m&m's and choking). Now that I am working as a physician assistant, I have already had plenty of opportunities to pay him back. I am always available to answer the question, “does this need stitches?” Something that is asked maybe too frequently in this family. I am so glad that I finally get a sister and that it is someone as wonderful as Stephanie. We all knew right away that he found the one. My brother has a great heart and I’m sure he will be there for Stephanie like he has been there for me.
The Niece, Ava Carlson
Flower Girl
Ava Grace belongs to Steph's brother, Matt, and does a great job holding her own with her big personality being the only girl with two brothers and three boy cousins. She's such a caring, wild, silly, feisty, smart little tom-boy and our lives wouldn't be the same without her. We're excited that we get to have the prettiest little flower girl there is!