Wedding Party
Will Hemmen
Groom
Will is a man held together by caffeine, half-finished side quests, & 47 tabs open across three monitors — 31 of which are “important,” and 16 are deep dives into topics like WWII submarine acoustics or the optimal smoker temperature for brisket in subzero weather. He operates in a near-permanent state of: “this could be automated” “I should buy land” “what if I built my own version?” & “I can finish this tonight” (he cannot) Will is a dangerous blend of: engineering brain apocalypse prepper energy dad-who-knows-how-to-fix-everything hyperfocus reserved for cryptographers & raccoons Will possesses the spiritual aura of a man who has: compared generators for fun considered buying industrial equipment at 2:13am with terrifying sincerity & said “there’s gotta be a better way,” before dismantling a process that was functioning perfectly fine. He thrives in chaos and collects hobbies like Infinity Stones. Simultaneously, he wants: a simpler life a fully automated life a cabin in the woods He would survive both a corporate restructuring and an apocalypse, but would complain during both. Core personality traits include: weaponized curiosity aggressive competence occasional gremlin behavior Will keeps Emily grounded by saying things like, “I already handled it." While neither of them understand the concept of relaxation, their partnership thrives on their shared understanding that whether it's a home, a community, or an adventure, life is better when you build things together.
Emily Brockman
Bride
Emily is a professional grant writer by day & feral Alaska trail cryptid by night. She is powered almost exclusively by incline treadmill sessions, spite, Polar seltzer, and the vague threat of a UC flare. Emily can explain federal funding compliance, dipnet a salmon, co-host a 200-person Indigenous language summit, train for a mountain race, renovate a house, and pick the exact correct nail color for a garden wedding — often within the same 24-hour period. She lives somewhere between: “community-centered strategic planning” “espresso martini?” and “I think my hamstring is speaking to me spiritually.” Emilys owns 14 tabs open at all times: blinds measurements grant NOFO perfume that smells like black spruce and smoke half marathon pacing chart bathroom fan reviews emotional support Pinterest board She will absolutely: bring a thoughtful hostess gift overcommit to three large projects simultaneously ask everyone what they want for dinner for 45 minutes disappear into the woods with a mountain bike, bag of trail mix, a Thai cigarette, and return healed Emily is people systems. Will is mechanical systems. Together, they manage to balance warmth with chaos, strategy with impulse, and emotional intelligence with concerning levels of home improvement confidence. They looked at each other and thought: “Oh good. This person seems capable of surviving both a grant deadline and a moose-related emergency.”
Spencer Floyd
Best Man
Spencer and Will have been friends since elementary school, though their shenanigans over the years have been anything but elementary. What began as a childhood friendship has grown into a brotherhood that distance, time, and questionable decisions could never break. From the early days of two young boys biking around South Anchorage in search of the best bike jumps, to high school years filled with sports, bodybuilding competitions, first cars, and first girlfriends, their lives have been closely intertwined. That bond carried on through college, with a few Vegas and Mexico trips thrown in for good measure, and countless shared experiences that helped shape who they are today. Through it all, Spencer and Will spent many of their formative years growing up together—learning, failing, laughing, and becoming the men they are now. Spencer currently lives in San Diego, California with his fiancée, Maddy, and their two cats, Messi and Pico. While California may offer beautiful winters, the pull of Alaskan summers is strong—so strong, in fact, that Spencer makes an annual pilgrimage north to experience everything an Alaskan summer has to offer (and to let Will tempt him to move back).
Robin McKnight
Maid of Honor
Robin Aurora McKnight met Emily in the fall of 2008 when Emily was deposited into her mom’s 6th grade classroom. Two decades later, their friendship has survived puberty, aggressively layered tank tops and skinny scarves, moves to the East Coast and Iceland, and the astrological mayhem of a Libra–Aries pairing. Their skin is still recovering from an ill-advised college trip to Puerto Rico, where a taxi driver left them on a beach for over five hours with nothing but snorkeling gear and a bottle of coconut rum. Robin arrives (5 mins early) bearing what you didn’t know you needed: a carefully chosen book, homemade sweet potato brownies, a cedar-and-lavender cleansing bundle, or animal-shaped candles. Her house smells like florals and fresh linen and despite have a deep love for her bed, can't sleep in to save her life. Through every season of life — including the emotional warfare of Anchorage winters — Robin has remained hilarious, fiercely loyal, deeply thoughtful, and one of the best storytellers Emily knows. Emily admires Robin’s intellect, her Aries anger, and her instinct to quietly care for people before they even think to ask. From nerdy little girls making Pinterest wedding boards long before marriage felt remotely real, to somehow becoming adults anyway, Robin has always felt like home and Emily cannot imagine standing beside anyone else on her wedding day. Robin lives with her fiancé, Seth, and their two cats Frieda and Gary in Anchorage.
Gage Molhelsky
Groomsman
Gage and Will met in the gym when Gage asked Will for a spot on bench and Will quietly wondered why such a big man was benching such little weight. Nonetheless, they quickly bonded over powerlifting, hiking with a little hunting mixed in, and working on cars in what is almost always the most difficult way possible. In late 2024, Gage, his wife Nicole, their son Gary, and their dogs Ella and Maisey moved to Minnesota. There, they now spend their winters questioning why they chose to keep the cold, move farther from Will and Emily, trade the ocean for lakes, and somehow end up with worse hunting. Still, Gage and his family enjoy spending time together and making the most of life outdoors—no matter the weather.
Nicole Mohelsky
Bridesmaid
Nicole Peltzer and Emily Brockman met the way many great Alaskan friendships begin - on a dog walk date - after Will and Gage (Nicole’s husband) spotted each other across the gym and immediately thought, “Brother.” Since Will and Emily lived less than five minutes away, they began - to Nicole’s delighted horror - appearing at the Peltzer/Mohelsky home unannounced, often toting libations and unpolished humor. Nicole is a passionate, wicked-smart author who also happens to make the most beautiful earrings. Emily deeply admires - and enthusiastically supports - Nicole’s free-willed decisions, whether that means buying turkeys on a whim or walking to their house in freezing temperatures at eight months pregnant because, “Seriously guys, what do Alaskans have against walking?” While true love is hard to find, a couples’ friendship where everyone is equally obsessed with - and perfectly compatible with - one another is nearly unimaginable. And yet, here they are. So much love and life was packed into their shared time in Alaska: a new home, a baby, a stray black cat, and the unforgettable night the ladies went through a five-pound bag of lemons (for lemon drops, of course). Emily hasn’t quite forgiven Nicole for moving to Minnesota - but she’s open to reconsidering once Nicole makes the long trek home and, with her mere presence, improves the day with beauty, wit, and the gentle but relentless insistence that Emily finally make a (bleeping) decision.
Eric Jones
Groomsman
Eric and Will met through work in 2017 and quickly formed a deep trauma bond forged by long weeks of field work. After spending so much time together, Eric earned the unofficial title of Will’s “work wife.” And when they finally returned home from the field, they somehow still couldn’t stay away from each other—filling their time with mountain biking, boating, hunting, and the occasional beer (or several). Eric and his wife Kendra live in Anchorage, where they enjoy traveling, trips to Disney World, taking their boat out to explore Prince William Sound, and fishing whenever possible.
Maddy Rea
Bridesmaid
Maddy and Emily never officially “met” so much as morphed into friend-shrimp through shared Seward circles and mutual Drama, Debate, and Forensics trauma. Emily will never forget the cinematic image of Maddy pedaling a unicycle across cracked Seward pavement, framed by sharp mountain peaks and blonde bangs blowing in the wind. It was a moment. Before Emily really knew Maddy, she knew her cackle — not a laugh, but a full-bodied soul cackle that feels like winning the lottery if your story is worthy enough. Equal parts witchy Virgo, practical outdoorswoman, and secret softy, Maddy is known for her incredible garden, organizing the group outings no one else actually plans, and casually accomplishing feats that sound made up: rafting, climbing, biking, hiking, and crafting. One of Emily’s favorite Maddy moments involved rescuing a stray cat trapped under a staircase by calmly gripping and ripping because, “if a cat can get in, it can get out.” Whether it’s a 1 a.m. cigarette, a spontaneous 28-mile bike ride, or roasting in the sun for girl paddle, Maddy is always down for the adventure. Emily hopes to be like her when she grows up. She and her partner, Christian, are the proud parents of Mudboot the village husky and Maxine the cat.
James Colburn
Groomsman
James and Will met while studying Petroleum Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). As graduation approached, they jointly discovered the poor decision they had made and found themselves searching for work just about anywhere. Will eventually brought James on as an intern at the company he worked for, and the rest is history. Two jobs later, multiple powerlifting competitions, far too many trips to Houston and Calgary for work, and more engineering overthinking than actual working, James has earned the title of Will’s “bigger younger brother.” James and his wife Holly live in Anchorage with their cats, where they enjoy gaming, crafting, working out, and—unsurprisingly—home renovations.
Samuel James
Bridesman
Emily & Sam met during resident assistant training at exactly the right — and entirely wrong — time. Emily, having traveled over 13 hours from Alaska and discovered the airline had lost all of her luggage and toiletries. So when Sam, determined to reinvent himself and make new friends after a quieter high school experience, tried to say hello after training, Emily promptly fled back to her room. Emily’s first impression of Sam was his skinny legs, excellent smile, and an unbelievably irritating tongue pop that — to her continued horror — he still deploys in confined spaces like elevators and cars. What truly cemented their friendship was a spontaneous choice to book a trip to Scandinavia because “the tickets were so cheap!” Neither of them fully understood 156.59 Norwegian kroner was, in fact, a $17 beer, until the credit card statement hit later. However, (allegedly) thrifted wine + American brie in the Copenhagen royal Garten is priceless. Since then, their friendship has survived skydiving, road trips, camping, living together in both North Carolina and Alaska, a pandemic, delayed graduations, and an uncountable number of games of Machrou3 Ra2is (Lebanese backgammon). There have been endless moments of streaming Tove Lo, cackling, and rage-baiting chaos. Emily deeply admires Sam’s fierce loyalty, unmatched geography knowledge, unabashed road rage, and his consistent willingness to say yes to adventure. If friendship is a love story, Sam and Emily are it.
Sam Hemmen
Groomsman
Sam and Will met back in 2004. Will was sitting in the waiting room watching the classic movie The Iron Giant when Sam entered the world, promptly disrupting both the movie and Will’s single-child existence. Over the years, their brotherly love has only grown, with Sam never missing an opportunity to remind Will that his mustache has, unfortunately for Will, grown in much better than his. Sam is heading into his senior year at Montana State University (MSU) in Bozeman, Montana, where he is double majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering (nerd). He serves as an Assistant Community Director at MSU and is the Vice President of Programming for his fraternity, SigEp. When he’s not busy being overachieving, Sam enjoys skiing, powerlifting, and DJing.
Alessandra Bavilla
Bridesmaid
Alessandra — better known exclusively as “Twig” — has been part of Emily’s life for as long as Emily can remember. Emily still vividly remembers the day Twig was brought home: a tiny baby with a completely full cap of black hair and, somehow, already screaming with purpose. Some of Emily’s favorite early Twig memories include her falling directly into the toilet during potty training and the family-wide efforts to supply enough prunes to help “move things along” during that same era. Equally unforgettable was the day Twig and their other sister, Kaylee, came sprinting over from their mom’s house to announce they had accidentally lit the backyard on fire. Thankfully everyone was fine, the ground was wet, and the damage was minimal — but the panic in their little legs remains legendary. Twig has always been thoughtful, hilarious, and completely unafraid to communicate exactly how she feels, usually beginning with a long, dramatic, “Emmm…” that tells you immediately whether you’re about to be lovingly supported or roasted. No one really tells you how much fun it is to grow up alongside your siblings. Watching Twig become the woman she is today has been one of Emily’s greatest joys. Emily could not be more proud of, or full of love for, the person Twig has become — though no matter how old she gets, she will never truly be “Alessandra” to Emily.
Seth Brewi
Groomsman
Seth and Will met through a shared love of beer—and Robin. After moving back to Alaska following grad school, Robin lived with Will and Emily, and it was there that she and Seth began their romance. As a result, Seth quickly became a regular presence in Will’s life, proving that strong friendships can, in fact, be built on good beer and even better people. Seth and his girlfriend Robin live in Anchorage with their two cats, Gary and Freida. Outside of work, Seth enjoys gaming, fine woodworking (where he makes some genuinely impressive pieces), fishing, and spending as much time outdoors as Alaska will allow. Whether it’s crafting something by hand or heading out on the water, Seth brings creativity, patience, and a steady hand—traits that make him both a great friend and a perfect addition to the wedding party.
Kaylee Brockman
Bridesmaid
Emily’s first impression of Kaylee was immediate concern that this new child was going to ruin the carefully customized family snowman ornament that proudly read: “Mom, Dad, Emily, and Colby.” From the very beginning, Kaylee brought chaos. Some of Emily’s favorite childhood memories include Kaylee holding puppies exclusively by the neck (infuriating), stomping around in their dad’s oversized boots, and secretly cutting her own hair before hiding the evidence inside a goldfish-print nightgown on the stairs. Kaylee is loving, mischievous, and absolutely hilarious. She is the kind of person who offers gum to screaming children in public and delivers cups of fish soup to elderly neighbors, all while possessing such sharp, rapid-fire zingers that Emily rarely stood a chance (roasts were frequent and sizzling). Fortunately for Emily, Kaylee was also small enough to be physically overpowered - never to hurt, but to tickle until the tears were streaming and, "Who's laughing now?!" was all she could hear. More than anything, Kaylee is Emily’s lifeblood — her first baby, her forever sister, and one of the people who knows her most completely. Emily is endlessly thankful to have a sibling both this sweet and this sour, because if they weren’t related, they almost certainly would not have become friends on their own, which is a life Emily can't fathom. Kaylee is the proud mother of Harrison, a questionable little rat dog whom she loves with alarming devotion.
Christian Tofson
Groomsman
Christian and Will met in late 2020 at the beginning of Will and Emily’s relationship. After moving back to Alaska following college, Emily was renting a house with Christian and Maddy. One Saturday morning, Christian wandered into the kitchen to find Will there cooking eggs—an unexpected start to a friendship that has only grown since. Over the years, their friendship has expanded to include countless cabin trips, ice skating, fishing, boating, and more than a few beers too many. Christian and his girlfriend Maddy live in Chugiak with their cat Maxine and dog Mud. They enjoy gardening, home renovations, whitewater rafting, outdoor rock climbing, hunting, and fishing—proving themselves to be true Alaskans in every sense of the word.
Malia Acovak
Bridesmaid
Malia and Emily first became aware of one another in the sacred social ecosystem that was the Seward middle school: a place fueled by cans of Izzy, iPod Nanos, & enough Axe body spray to barely mask the smell of boy. Emily’s first impression of Malia was that she was quiet with silky black hair and an easy smile. What Emily did not realize at the time was that the smile was usually hiding mischief. Emily has always thought of Malia as a mirror — if that mirror reflected a softer spirit & a kinder heart. Malia loves fiercely and shows her care through quiet consistency rather than spectacle. Malia is known within the friend group for being the cheapest date — highlighted most famously by the time she almost flipped a canoe on Bear Lake after a single beer. Despite her petite size, she is a powerhouse commercial fisherman, slayer of black cod & halibut, forever locked in battle against bait-stealing killer whales. She somehow also manages to grow the sweetest strawberries anyone has ever tasted, and longtime friends can accurately gauge her mood entirely through the tone of her favorite phrase: “Emily, please.” Emily and Malia are bonded by weathering similar storms of grief, culture, and the 300+ degree wet-heat of a maqi (Yup'ik sauna) — the kind that sears a friendship into family. Malia is Emily's heart. Malia and her husband, Kunal, live in Seward surrounded by feral nieces and nephews and a never-ending stream of requests to dog sit.
Treven Hembree
Groomsman
Treven and Will met in Fairbanks through a completely random coincidence. Treven was living with a mutual friend Will had gone to college with, and after meeting, the friendship took off immediately. The two spent countless hours in Fairbanks kicking around the brush looking for grouse, searching for halfway decent fishing holes, and figuring out where the cheapest beer in town could be found. Eventually, Will moved to Anchorage and Treven returned to his home state of Montana. Despite the distance, Treven still makes annual trips to Alaska, where he consistently reminds Will that he is far better at watersports and frisbee golf than he initially lets on—despite using a highly unconventional throwing style that somehow makes him the only one to ever get a hole-in-one. Treven and his fiancée—also named Emily—live in Montana, where they enjoy skiing, hunting, frisbee golf, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.
Dustin Newman
Bridesman
Emily met Dustin in high school gym class, where their friendship was first built not through athletic excellence, but through collaborative efforts to avoid participating whenever possible. Ironically, Dustin’s childhood nickname “Pooh Bear” — lovingly earned for his fluffy exterior — adulthood somehow transformed the two of them into caffeinated running, climbing, and hiking partners held together by pre-workout and questionable choices. Dustin is chaotic, wildly talented, sincere, and one of the funniest people Emily knows. He is an incredible kayaker, artist, and proudly the first Unangax̂ tattoo artist in over 300 years He is also one of the few people willing to tell you the truth when needed: “Yeah… that looks a little wonky.” Their friendship has stretched across high school, college, and the strange process of becoming “real” adults. Dustin’s love language is gift giving. Whether it’s a handmade pair of Auntie earrings, his time and energy, or “special ordering” clams from family because Emily mentioned craving them, Dustin shows love through action again and again. Dustin became so integrated into their family that they no longer bother cleaning the house before he comes over and had to answer the question of, "Which side do I stand on?" Emily deeply admires Dustin’s creativity, honesty, generosity, and ability to make people feel cared for. He lives in Anchorage and remains one of the most steadfast and beloved people in Emily & Will's life.