Kristin & Christopher
Wedding Party
Sarah Ryan
Matron of Honor
Sarah and Kristin met their freshman year at Virginia Tech and have been best friends since Kristin kicked her in the head in a yoga class. While Kristin has been to approximately 5,000 different places since that fateful day, Sarah has remained in Blacksburg on the long journey to a PhD in Clinical Psychology. When she’s not working, studying, writing, or playing with therapy dogs, she enjoys reading, being active, and forcing her husband to watch the Bachelor/ette with her. Speaking of her husband, Sarah is very grateful Kristin did not have to be on a plane on her wedding day and could be her Maid of Honor in 2018. She is very excited the roles are now reversed!
Amanda Rasch
Maid of Honor
Amanda, also known as "Manders," is from Grand Rapids, MI. Kristin made the first move by complimenting Amanda on her shirt while working for a nonprofit in a small, volcano-ridden country known as Ecuador in 2015. They quickly became adventure-seeking BFFs, chasing waterfalls, flying over volcanos and jet setting down under... but as time went on they started chasing boys on reality tv shows and eventually boys who can actually fly. They even crashed the infamous “boys weekend” in Chicago in 2017, where Kristin and Chris met. When not taking long walks in airport terminals, Amanda loves to ski and spend time with her family. She’s honored to be part of this special day!
Julia Sorenson
Bridesmaid
Julia is Kristin's favorite and only sister. Julia has been begging Kristin to get married for a while now so she would have a wedding reception to dress up for and party at. Julia, a junior at Virginia Tech, is super busy all the time and loves accessorizing with all things black, except at this wedding, where she will be forced to wear a pleasant ~steel blue~. Julia literally can’t wait for this wedding and is going to be “so emotional.”
Elizabeth Spencer
Bridesmaid
Liz was born and raised in San Antonio, TX. She moved to Virginia after flight attendant training with United in 2017. She and Kristin first met while waiting in line to get fitted for their uniforms. Liz knew Kristin had a thing for Christophers when she commented on her St. Christopher (patron saint of travelers) necklace. When they're not pouring coffee or wine inflight, they're pouring it for each other on the ground. Liz loves Texas, The Bachelor and Kristin's mom Jen. She is excited for Chris and Kristin and feels #blessed to be part of their special day!
Hailey Hoffman
Bridesmaid
Hailey is Chris’ little sister, whom she lovingly called “Piss” until she learned to pronounce the “chr” sound. Chris and Hailey have shared many good childhood memories, like the time Hailey got blown backward up a hill while skiing despite Chris’ best efforts to help her, or the time they hiked the Grand Canyon in June and Hailey had a meltdown. Today, Hailey lives in a very small town on the Oregon Coast where she works at the local newspaper as a photographer, videographer and drone pilot (she is an FAA-certified pilot, too). Because Hailey lives so far away, she has only met Kristin once when Kristin had a layover in Portland. Hailey drove out to the “big city” to meet her for a lovely Sunday brunch. Hailey is stoked to have a lovely new addition to the family!
Tommy Frederick
Best Man
Tommy first met Chris at basic training at #YourAirForceAcademy. While his alleged quidditch skills were dubious, what was beyond doubt was Chris's desire for what was true and good. When they became roommates for the next year and a half this desire manifested itself in many long nights of spirited discussion. Despite the less than pastoral approach Tommy and his friends sometimes took, Chris decided to join the Catholic Church. Post-graduation Tommy and Chris went to pilot training in Columbus, MS where they continued to have passionate discussions. Tommy decided he loved Mississippi so much that he'd stay and be an instructor pilot. Tommy was honored to be Chris's confirmation sponsor into the Church and he is honored once again to participate in the wedding of this lovely couple.
Ricky Garcia
Groomsman
Ricky is from San Antonio, TX and has a dog named Breck. One of Ricky’s greatest regrets was that he didn’t take Breck to the St. Francis blessing of pets service because he slept in. He now has to wait until next October. Ricky would explain how he met Chris but this needs to be 800 characters. Ricky doesn’t like hanging out with losers so he needed to make sure that Chris was chill. He was, so that worked out. Chris flies planes now, Ricky doesn’t. But they still are on talking terms. One day Chris told Ricky that he was dating someone. Ricky and Chris talked about her many times but Ricky didn’t actually meet Kristin until 2018 when Chris and Kristin visited San Antonio. Ricky cooked Chris and Kristin bacon, and they’ve all been super pals since. Ricky is very excited for the wedding!
Mike DeSandre
Groomsman
Captain Mike DeSandre is from New York and is stationed in Little Rock. He first interacted with Young Chris Hoffman when he confiscated his contraband RipStick in 2013. They formally met at a Catholic study where Chris's mind was continuously blown by Scripture and Tradition. These new friends spent much time praying together, including Chris's reception into the Church on Easter Vigil 2015. Chris was cool enough to crash Mike's 60 Days traversal of Italy, and they saw the Shroud of Turin. However, this was not their biggest trip. Chris soon joined Mike and Steve at pilot training in Columbus, MS, "The Friendly City." Labor Day Weekend 2017, these three flew to Chicago, and Chris met Kristin! Mike saw their chemistry firsthand, and he is especially honored to celebrate with them!
Chris Trotter
Groomsman
Chris Trotter lives in Los Angeles, CA where every day feels like a television show and nothing bad ever happens. Chris and Chris met in chemistry class at the Air Force Academy where they immediately bonded over a shared disdain for the chemistry discipline. Trotter spends his days working as a project manager while spending his nights studying for the LSAT so he can one day attain a white picket fence, a dog, and 2.5 kids. On one visit after moving apart, Hoffman mentioned he was dating a girl named Kristin. Trotter told Hoffman that the story of a pilot dating a stewardess was so original that there was no way Hoffman could have made it up! Chris Trotter is overjoyed for Hoffman, one of his best friends, to receive the sacrament of Matrimony!
Steve Trochlil
Groomsman
Steve met Chris while he was embarking on the journey of becoming a pilot. The first phase of pilot training is in Pueblo, CO and Chris lived in Colorado Springs at the time, so Steve conveniently crashed at Chris’s place, sometimes without even asking for permission. Steve and Chris found they both enjoyed talking about obscure historical and Catholic subjects, and had mutual friends from the Catholic community at the Air Force Academy. Steve and Chris eventually became roommates at pilot training and the topics turned to flying as well as a lot of research into one obscure Marian apparition. Steve would like to take credit for bringing Kristin and Chris together as he planned the vacation where they met. Steve is currently a KC-10 pilot at McGuire AFB, NJ, and lives in southeastern PA.