Kaitlyn & Robert
Wedding Party
Jacqueline Holmes
Maid of Honor
Jacqueline and Kaitlyn first bonded over building blocks and putting on puppet shows together in Kindergarten. Now, 21 years later they bond over long conversations with a bottle of wine and going on adventures. It would take a novel to write out the memories of these two girls but highlights would be riding horses at Girl Scout camp, crazy antics that happened in AP statistics, nights spent in Lake Chelan and on Guemes Island, being crazy enough to jump in Lake Chelan in January, going on a Las Vegas trip together and pretending to be one of flamingos at the Flamingo Resort, and Kaitlyn visiting Jacqueline while she lived in Paris. Jacqueline can always liven up a conversation with her thought-provoking questions and is an incredibly trustworthy person.
Ross Roepke
Best Man
Ross and Robert have known each other since they were in middle school, and more recently, the two friends were roommates for a little over three years. Ross and Robert have shared a friendship that lasted through many stages of their life. As young boys, they shared common interests and hobbies, gamed together, and analyzed football like they worked for ESPN. As college friends, they saw each other grow, pursue their passions, and partied together before both graduated from the University of Washington. As adults, they became roommates, their careers burgeoned, and they celebrated together; as they both found their places in the world. Ross is steadfast, loyal, and the truest of friends. Their relationship means the world to Robert, and he is honored to have him as his best man.
Isabella Seda
Bridesmaid
Bella is not only Kaitlyn's future sister-in-law but also one of her closest friends. From the moment they met, Bella welcomed Kaitlyn into the family. Since then they have shared paddleboarding in Port Susan, conversations over glasses of wine, and nights of party games. On one memorable night, Bella was Sandy to Kaitlyn's Danny in Kaitlyn's bar karaoke debut with the song "Summer Nights". Bella is highly reliable, has a calm vibe, and you can count of her to bring the humor.
Halen Davis
Groomsman
Halen is Robert's soon to be brother-in-law; he is engaged to Robert's sister, Isabella. A number of years prior, Robert had already described Halen as the younger brother he never had. Halen became a part of Robert's family and he has enjoyed Halen's good nature, sense of humor, positive outlook, and incredible work ethic, (this is the guy you want to help you on moving day.) Halen has made trips more fun, and livens up any room. Robert feels very lucky that such a great, young man is marrying his sister, and equally lucky that he counts him as a good friend!
Taylor Hartman
Bridesmaid
Statistics may have been the most boring college class that Taylor and Kaitlyn took freshman year of college at Washington State University, but it (and women's studies) brought these two together and they quickly became college besties. Freshman year they bonded over first-year college hardships and American Horror Story. They remained close even after college and have made many memories together like taking a road trip back to the motherland (aka Pullman) and cherry picking under the sunshine in Lake Chelan. Taylor has one of the biggest hearts and she always has the right words to cheer anyone up.
Zach Richter
Groomsman
Zach and Robert have known each other since ninth grade. Robert will never forget Zach being the only other person he met in high school who actually shook hands when they first met; maybe they were both old-souls; maybe their parents just raised them with some actual manners; either way, they knew they were kindred spirits immediately. These two threw the football around and had a lot of fun in class, but that was just the beginning of their friendship. In college, they made a habit of duck-hunting at least once a week, slaying the salmon, and generally keeping a good control on the population of wildlife in western Washington. Zach has been a friend to Robert in times good and bad. He's a friend who would give you the shirt off his back and Robert knows they will always be close.
Lindsey Manning
Bridesmaid
Kaitlyn was transferred from Swedish Issaquah to Swedish First Hill and thank goodness that happened or she never would have met Lindsey, a fellow night-shift nurse who became a lifetime friend. The memories between these two are countless but some stand-outs are going out to happy hours after they got off work at 7:30am, going to Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, and when Lindsey came out to visit Kaitlyn and met Robert the first time and they scootered around Bothell in the dark. Lindsey is adventurous and can always be counted on to liven up any day.
Chris Harrott
Groomsman
Robert describes Chris as the older-brother he never had. Robert started his firefighter career at Lake Stevens Fire in 2016 and found a mentor in Chris early-on, though they were on different shifts. As Robert went from attending fire academy, to being a probationary fireman, to joining the water rescue team, there's one mentor who has been there through all of it, and that is Chris. He walked the fine line of being a mentor who could support and push a new guy to be better, but also be his friend and confidant. Robert credits Chris with showing him how to be a professional, and how to take someone new under your wing. Fast forward years later, and they have hunted together, created fire-drills together, and found a friendship that is strong and will last long beyond their careers.
Madeline Collins
Bridesmaid
Madeline and Kaitlyn became friends at some point during junior high as they shared many honors classes together. Their memories together have included party rocking with LMFAO and Ke$ha, being awkward at junior high dances, and countless happy hours. Kaitlyn was honored to be standing by Madeline's side as Madeline wedded the love of her life and Kaitlyn is just as excited that Madeline will be standing by her side on her wedding day. Madeline is a joy to speak with as she is quite a natural conversationalist and she can always be counted on bringing the yummiest chicken dip to any party.
Ross Rumann
Groomsman
Ross was hired with Robert as full-time firefighters with Lake Stevens Fire in 2018. Ross, Jerem (also a groomsman) and Robert formed a strong bond through their pre-academy that only got stronger over time. They sweated, studied, and worked as hard as they could for months to be successful and represent their department well. Ross has always been a friend Robert trusted and went to for advice, honest opinions, and the occasional comedic impersonation. Ross has a calming demeanor, steadiness, and integrity that made their group, known as the dog-pack, strong and resilient. These traits aided them immensely in their rookie year. However, Robert knows that Ross is a friend and brother he will have well-beyond his career.
Dave Albert
Officiant
We feel so fortunate to have Dave Albert as our officiant! He was the very first person at Lake Stevens Fire who mentored a young Robert as he entered the profession and quickly became his closest confidant. Dave, Robert, and others have remarked how much the two have in common. He has been a role model as a more senior firefighter, and he helped Robert in the earliest part of his career. More recently, Dave, Katie, and Robert met up for beers and putt-putt. Robert was excited to introduce Katie to one of his good friends, but the newly-engaged couple quickly realized that Robert's friend draining putts and IPAs was the perfect choice to conduct their ceremony. Dave has always had wisdom, thoughtful insight, and sincerity; these are all the more valued on their special day.
Jerem Rhoades
Groomsman
Jerem and Robert were hired together as full-time firefighters with Lake Stevens Fire in 2018, along with Ross Rumann. Jerem and Robert first became friends as part-timers at the fire department; their exploits running the scrambled egg station at Lake Stevens Fire's annual Pancake Breakfast are well known in the area. After becoming excellent short-order cooks, they went to academy together and competed and worked every day to become the firefighters they wanted to be in their future. Jerem and his wife Marinda did Robert a huge honor by asking him to officiate their wedding in 2019. It was a beautiful ceremony that Robert felt blessed to be a part of. Jerem is a generous, kind, and loyal friend who Robert values immensely and always will!