Our Wedding Party
Kirsten Barbara Wisniewski
Maid of Honor
Katherine and Kirsten met in the fall of 2011 during their semester in Freiburg, Germany.
They met the first day and soon realized they were more like soul-sisters than friends. Between them translating German for their fellow American friends, gallivanting across Europe and late night chocolate cravings, they built a bond to last a lifetime.
Kirsten is a lady of the Midwest originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis with a BA in Journalism and German Literature. She is currently teaching English in Völkermarkt, Austria through a two year Fulbright teaching assistantship program. She has a flare for vintage fashion, a passion for reading and lending books from her extensive home library, and very sharp wit. She is a skilled knitter, a phenomenal baker, an avid writer, and a beautiful person.
Katherine (Kate) Elise Hayden
Bridesmaid
Katherine and Kate met in the fall of 2009 as college freshmen at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.
They were partners in the Model UN group representing Colombia at a conference, grew inseparable and soon became best friends and roommates. They share a love for politics and languages and many memories of ‘carpet time’ and pillow talks late into the night.
Kate is proud of her Irish Gaelic roots and hails from San Antonio Texas. She graduated from Southwestern with a BA in Political Science and Spanish Language. She is now a 7th grade English teacher in Dallas, Texas as part of the Teach For America program. She is fantastically driven, quick as a whip, and keeps up with all the music Katherine has never even heard of. She has a fun quirky personality and makes the best peppermint bark this side of the Mississippi. Kate and Katherine have been through it all and after the ups and downs, they held each other up when each needed it most.
Helen Spring Prentice
Bridesmaid
Katherine and Helen met in the fall of 2012 during their semester in Istanbul, Turkey.
Instant confidants they were each other’s support during turbulent times, facing different challenging cultural encounters and a world seemingly full of men. Strong women unite! With their cavalier attitude they filled their days with Turkish phrases, eating and making Mozaik Pasta (chocolate desert), shopping at their favorite store - BIM and would have the occasional dance break in empty classrooms when they needed an extra boost.
Helen hails from the Northeast, originally from Connecticut. She graduated from Arcadia University near Philadelphia with a BA in Political Science and Philosophy. She is one of the most responsible and reliable people Katherine has ever met. She is an open book ready for adventure and is more likely to take the path less (or never) traveled. She is strong independent lady and an incredibly loyal friend.
Nicole Margarete Bayard
Bridesmaid
Nico was Thomas' first friend at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU).
Both still in high school, they met on campus while visiting the college for scholarship interviews and the following fall ended up in the same residence hall. Seven years and many memories later, the two remain close friends. Like the bride and groom, Nico has traveled extensively, and was happy to be able to spend a few days with Thomas and Katherine in London.
Nico's original roots are in Bloomington, Minnesota, though she has called Tacoma, Washington her home for the past six years. Having graduated from Pacific Lutheran University's School of Nursing, she is an R.N. at a local hospital. However, she has grand plans to quit her job before the wedding in order to pursue international health initiatives starting with a few months of clinic work in Ecuador. Nico likes quotes, cats, and quinoa (and alliteration).
Mark Ogren
Best Man
Mark and Thomas met during their first semester at PLU in 2008.
They lived down the hall from each other in 3rd West of Pflueger residence hall, and soon found out that they had grown up just down the road from each other on adjacent islands in the Puget Sound. Together they participated in co-ed sports teams and shenanigans of all sorts, quickly cementing their bond as friends and confidants. As both young men traveled the world during their time in school, they always knew who they could call on to process personal habits and cultural oddities. Once both landed back at school, they often sought snowy asylum at Mt Baker ski resort where both had grown up learning to snowboard.
Circles of friends began to overlap, and the families of both Mark and Thomas grasped the strength of this budding friendship. Spending Easter weekend before mid-terms at Mark's parents' home with a large group from PLU quickly became an annual tradition. Many shared memories and conversations have contributed to Mark and Thomas seeking each other out whenever and wherever they are in the world.
Mark recently returned to the US after five months wandering about South America, and will soon embark on a six-month service period with AmeriCorps on a trail-building/chainsaw-wielding team based out of Flagstaff, AZ. He is excited to see Austin for the first time and to watch his friend begin a new life with a lovely bride!
Robert Colt Nelson
Groomsman
Colt is Thomas' oldest brother.
While spending summers with their father in bush Alaska far from civilization, Colt showed Thomas many things about how to handle the natural world. Memories include fishing with their hands at McHenry, numerous hiking adventures and sailing across the Pacific Ocean between Victoria BC to Maui HI. Colt mentored Thomas throughout his childhood years where they both protected each other from harm, (not to include separated AC joints and scalp lacerations). Their favorite way to spend time together include frisbee and blowing things up.
Colt serves in the Alaska Air National Guard flying search and rescue. And is super stoked Thomas is back in the Pacific North West and is looking forward to more family sailing adventures... And frisbee.
Samuel Robert Rockwell
Groomsman
Thomas and Sam met in the fall of 2011 at the beginning of their semester in Freiburg, Germany.
Together they sampled local beers and traveled with their class mates to various European cities such as Frankfurt, Brussels, Paris, London, Stockholm, and Tallinn. Most notably on one of the breaks from classes, Sam and Thomas traveled through Spain and took a boat across the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco. As the story goes, the song "Africa" by Toto was stuck in both of their heads for the entire duration of the journey and when it wasn’t Sam was quick to remedy the situation.
Sam is a true Californian having spent his childhood in the San Francisco Bay area and his college years near Los Angeles. He graduated from University of California at Irvine with a BA in Economics and a Minor in Computer Science. Sam now works as a Hedge Manager for a valuation and hedge services firm in downtown San Francisco.
Joel Michael Hartleroad
Groomsman
Katherine and Thomas met Joel in the fall of 2011 during their semester in Freiburg, Germany.
Joel was Katherine's confidant from the first moments of friendship as they shared many cherished heartfelt conversations. Joel was the first man in Katherine's life to learn of, meet, and approve of her new love affair with Thomas. And since those moments he has been a very important friend of the couple's.
Joel is a proud Michigander hailing just north of Detroit or where ever there is a lake. He graduated from Hope College with an honors BA in Political Science and International Studies. He can usually be spotted in DFW, but Washington D.C. certainly has his heart and is hoping a move there in his near future. Joel is very honored to be a part of the wedding party and both Katherine and Thomas' lives. Joel's heart is as big as his legs are long! He is a genuine person, a dedicated friend and phenomenal shoe shopper. Just check out our shoes in this photo!!