Our Bridal Party
The Groomsmen, as described by Christian
Listed below are some of the men who’ve made me, in chronological order of when we met. There are not enough great things I could say about the guys standing next to me on my big day, I’m forever grateful.
– Christian
Mitchell Smith, aka Smitty, the Best Man
Not only is Mitch my brother and best man, but he’s also a best friend, something very easy for me to say each and every day. I might be biased, but I would consider us more on the rare end of the sibling spectrum. Referencing a few credible sources, my parents have always been amazed at how well my brother and I got along growing up. Well, it’s easy to get along with your brother when he’s one of your closest friends too. I am continually inspired by his dedication, perseverance, and zest for life. I couldn’t ask for a better person to stand next to Sara & I while we get married. Smitty is a police officer in Michigan’s little Bavaria, thank you for your service Officer Smith!
Danny Hill, aka Danno the Manno!
Danny is my longest standing friend. We first met in kindergarten, but he didn’t like me because I tucked my shirt in & parted my hair funny (oops, I still do that). We turned the ship around in 4th grade and have been best friends since. We went to the same school K-12 spending every summer together, both ventured out to North Dakota for college, and have been pioneering new startups together in Traverse City since we left the frozen tundra. Danny is who I confide in for a majority of my life advice, and he challenges me each and every day in faith, relationships, and business. Everyone needs a Danny, I am so grateful for his steadfast friendship, one I know will stand the test of time. Danny is the Creative Director for a fledging new Traverse City startup – I love sharing an office with Danno & his awesome white lab, Goose. It was an honor to stand up in Danny’s wedding back in 2017.
Justin Bentsen, you know, Bentsen…
The teachers favorite, the loveable teddy bear, the real MVP. If I wasn’t spending the rest of my life with Sara, it would probably be with Bentsen. I’ve never had such an easy going, clickable friendship like I do with this guy. We met in 8th grade while learning to fly at our local airport. On paper at the time, you couldn’t find more opposite people. But back then, Justin used to say whatever he did in life, it would be with me. Now it’s easy for me to say, whatever I do in life, it will be with Bentsen. Easily the smartest person I know, it’s been an absolute pleasure to be business partners, roommates, and best friends all these years. In a mutual fight against complacency, Bentsen & I are now in our second startup together. Although he’s directly responsible for talking me out of a career in aviation, something tells me he’ll also be responsible for an amazing lifetime of adventures and exploration. Thanks kid.
Travis Brubaker, aka Bru
Bru and I met in middle school after discovering we would be on the same hockey team, which continued all the way through varsity hockey. Not only did we become best friends, so did our parents! Which is still true to this day. Bru & I shared countless firsts together – my first long road trip with a friend, my first time boating on the Great Lakes, my first…, ya this list can’t continue. My favorite thing about Bru is the energy he brings every time I see him, no matter how much time passes, he's always the ultimate hype man! Travis is a nurse anesthetist in Michigan, we finally live in the same state for the first time in over 10 years! It was an honor to stand up in Travis’s wedding back in 2017.
Andrew Kaczmarek, aka Kacz
The story of meeting Kacz starts in a hockey locker room back in middle school. Trying travel hockey for the first time was so intimidating, but there was this hilarious, larger than life kid making everyone laugh so hard, it made everything okay. That kid ended up being one of my lifelong best friends, my four-year high school locker partner, and the curator of the ever famous Mandate™. Andrew is a master welder in Grand Rapids, MI, a great husband, phenomenal dad to one, and soon to be two girls! It was an honor to stand up in Andrew’s wedding back in 2019.
Kyle Koukol, aka Kylie B
Kyle has been an inspiration to me since the day we met in college. Wilkerson Dining Center, University of North Dakota, 2012 (Go Sioux!). Within minutes we knew we would be best friends for life. We lived together, flew together, interned at United Airlines together, and are even getting married within 7 days of each other. Now in a heated race to see who can keep a business alive the longest, it’s a toss up to see who wins. Kyle is an airline pilot with United and lives in downtown San Francisco. It will be an honor to stand up in Kyle’s wedding this summer.
Jon Marsh, 2K Platinum
Isn’t it gratifying when you hit a long Snapchat streak with a close friend? Well Jonny Marsh & I happen to be in the top 100 of the longest Snapchat streaks in the world. Yes, you read that correctly, we hit our 2,000th day Snap streak on February 25th. How many friends can you say you’ve connected with every single day for 5 and a half years straight?! Each of these days includes a laugh and reassurance I have one hell of a friend on the other end. Jon and I met working together on the FedEx Flight Ops Ramp in college. He’s a Captain at Sun Country Airlines living on a farm in Wisconsin, home of Boys Weekend, the ever-famous college reunion.
The Bridesmaids, as described by Sara
I once heard that your bridesmaids should not just be your close friends, but people you confidently know will stand by you & your partner through lifes trials & tribulations. I am incredibly blessed and so grateful to have these seven women, who I know will do just that, stand by my side.
- Sara
Katya Kantar, or Kat, the Maid of Honor
I am so lucky to have such incredible women standing by my side, and Katya is truly a shining example of who you would want to stand next to you on your big day. Kat is someone that celebrates others to the FULLEST, and is genuinely always so excited for the people in her life. She is the most empathetic, caring, and real person I know. When you enter her life and heart, she makes it a point to show you that you will never leave it. Whether it’s her amazing ability to continue to call people and check in, text to wish you a safe trip or good luck for something you mentioned to her weeks ago, or becoming an alter ego like Jack Simmons to help your then-boyfriend plan a surprise engagement (okay, that one happened once ;)...), she is the biggest cheerleader for you. When Christian and I had the conversation that we were ready to take the next step and get engaged, his first text to start planning the engagement was to Kat - and she took the job SO seriously. Over the last 2 years, she has spent so much time helping to plan the engagement, bachelorette party, and wedding, and she has been genuinely excited to do it. There are also not many people in this world that I know I could sit for hours with doing something fun or doing absolutely nothing and know I will be equally as comfortable and fulfilled by our time together. From the hardest moments of my life to the best, Butler days to Carmel nights, wine nights (shoutout Club Wine) and train dominoes, to now navigating long distance friendship, I trust Kat with my life and couldn’t imagine my wedding day without her.
Mary Kate Moskal, or MK, the Matron of Honor
During one of my first days at Butler, I met Mary Kate - and I was beyond intimidated by her. I thought she seemed really nice, but just knew she was hiding something mean inside of her… well, I can honestly say 10 years later I am still trying to find that mean bone in her body! You may also know her as “Henry Miller” - the alter ego that helped scheme when Christian was planning our engagement (and is still Henry Miller in Christian’s phone). Whether it’s Henry or Mary Kate, she is a one in a million kind of person and friend, and continues to inspire me day in and day out. When you talk to Mary Kate, you feel like you are the most important person in the world, and she is constantly thinking about others. She sends cards for the big and small events, and is always there to celebrate you. She is loving, hard-working, creative, fun, down-to-earth, trustworthy and all around an amazing human and friend that I honestly could not imagine my life without. I know that she will continue being a huge part of mine and Christian’s life for years to come. It was an incredible honor to stand next to Mary Kate as she married Blake in June of 2021, and it was a no brainer to have her do the same for our wedding!
Jennifer Holak, or Jen
Sister, my sister! Being almost 7 years apart, Jen had her fair share of dealing with an annoying little sister growing up. This included, but is not limited to, me pulling out her hair as a baby as I grabbed onto it in the backseat of the car, trying my best to make her let me hang out with her and her friends (which she often kindly did), and making her rebutter my toast over and over because I didn’t believe it was there anymore once it melted (an infamous story). My sister has always been and continues to be one of the absolute most intelligent, big thinking people I know, filled with enormous musical talents. She is an incredible singer, and can read more books in a year than anyone I know (I’m talking HUNDREDS!!!!). Jen has such a strong sense of empathy for others, and is always trying to stand up for those that feel ostracized or unsupported. This makes her an amazing counselor of her own private practice, which I couldn’t be more proud of her for! When you talk to Jen, you are always amazed by her wisdom and knowledge for … well, everything! It’s actually kind of a game with myself at this point to try and send her or tell her something that she doesn’t already know (spoiler alert, I’m losing greatly). I have great memories of playing in our backyard and pool with our dad, having her as an assistant soccer coach with my dad, watching her in the Cherokee High School musicals, and playing hours and hours of video games with her (which we still do at times). I am so grateful to have such a wonderful person as a sister, and it was such an honor to stand up in and witness her marry my incredible brother in law Mike in August of 2014. I am so grateful she is able to do the same as she gains a brother in law too!
Laura Velarides
Laura, Powerkicker, Fluter… all nicknames Laura had during our time playing on the Flames soccer team under Coach Ed (my dad). I had equally questionable names such as Stormrunner, so we were basically meant to be best friends. Laura is one of my oldest and life long best friends - we met in Kindergarten, and were inseparable for most of our childhood. So many of my childhood memories include Laura - from soccer, to pool parties, to playing Barbies and Bratz until we were far older than either of us like to admit… we did the Cherokee HS musicals together, sang in choirs together, and even traveled to Ireland with Girls Traveling Choir together. Laura was like a third daughter to my parents, and my dad loved our friendship and Laura so much. She has truly been there through it all - the good, the horrific, and the awkward. Even through going to colleges and now living states apart for 10 years, she is still one of the friends I can count on the most. Her wisdom, wit, and genuine care for her friends always amazes me. I am constantly surprised at how she continues to know me better than most people, regardless of our distance, and a friend that I am so honored to have in my life for 23 years and counting!
Kelly Poduch, or Poduch, who’s Kelly?
What could one possibly say about Poduch in one paragraph? As fresh New Members of Kappa Kappa Gamma in January 2013, Poduch and I met. Little did I know she would become my partner in crime for all of college, and one of my best friends still today. Many of my college memories are with Poduch - from the Kappa house, to (many, many) Culvers runs, to blasting music driving through campus. Poduch is a fierce advocate for the underdog and loyal friend to no end. She is equal parts tough and emotional, and always brings fun and realness. She is honest, hilarious, and often described as “a ray of sunshine” (just kidding - don’t call her that, she takes offense). When you are with Poduch, you always know you are in for a great time! I’m so grateful we’ve been able to keep up our close friendship throughout the miles apart we live.
Kelsie Livingston
Kappa Kappa Gamma brought me so many amazing gifts, and Kelsie is absolutely one of them! Kelsie is a constant, calm force in my life - through education classes, sorority life, to navigating each phase of life post graduation, I know I can always count on Kelsie to be in my corner. Kels is one of the most patient, loving, people I know. She is the best teacher and greatest mother to the sweetest little girl, and she amazes me with being able to balance both. When I think of Kelsie, I think of consistent, reliable, and always there for you. She always shows up, and never asks anything of you in return other than friendship. She is someone that I can go periods of time without seeing and be able to pick up right where we left off when we do. She has been right next to me and guided me through some of the worst times of my life, and has celebrated with me through some of the best. Kelsie is a dime a dozen, and anyone that knows her is lucky. It was such an honor to stand up in her and Nick’s wedding in September of 2018, and I’m so grateful to have her do the same for me and Christian!
Haley Moulton
In 2020 after moving to Traverse City during the middle of the pandemic, one thing I did not have going for me was any girl friends. So I did what any lonely girl would do - fired up Bumble! BUT, the Friend version BumbleBFF (yes, that is real, and yes, Christian knew and helped me set up my profile). On our first friend date to Rare Bird (shout out), we immediately put the pieces together that she grew up with Christian & Bentsen in Midland- small world! Not only did we immediately find friendship through BumbleBFF, her and Bentsen (one of Christian’s groomsmen & our closest friends) found each other through our friendship and began dating. They now live together in Traverse City and it is a friend group dream come true! I never expected to find someone from Bumble that would end up standing in my wedding, but Haley is the type of person you speak with once and feel like you’ve known forever. Her amazing ability to communicate, give comfort, encouragement, and shoot it to you straight when needed are some of the reasons I value our friendship so much. I’m so grateful to have someone I’ve already grown so close to in my short time in Traverse City!
