Rachelle Smith - Bridesmaid
Rachelle & Alyssa met in 2019 while playing football for the Saskatoon Valkyries. The team took a trip to Las Vegas a couple months after they first met, and that trip kickstarted what would turn into a lifelong friendship. These two have all kinds of fun memories together - building furniture, sneaking into floor seats at concerts, having a bear on their campsite in Banff, midnight ocean swims in Greece - this list could go on forever! The best part about this friendship is that they will always say yes to any adventure as long as they're in it together.
Brooks Johnson - Groomsman
Brooks and Jared met in the early years of high school (Grade 10) when they both went out to play for their high school football team. From there the friendship grew into what it is now. From playing sports in high school together to swimming in the pool at Brooks' childhood home, these two have had many adventures together. Recently, life has gotten in the way of being able to see each other in person but that hasn’t put any damper on their friendship. Hangouts have turned into catch ups through phone calls and texts but they always make sure to put time in their busy schedules to sneak in the odd dinner date or drink as Brooks and his family pass through Saskatoon.
Lauren Whyte - Bridesmaid
Lauren & Alyssa (better known to each other as Lorne & Funk) have one of those friendships where they aren't even sure how they met, or exactly how long ago, but over their 10+ years of friendship they've grown to be inseparable. They share a deep love of sports which includes them playing flag football together, supporting each others' football/rugby games, and watching NFL, WNBA, and March Madness games. You can most often catch them together on the sidelines of Badgers rugby games cheering on Jared, or at Sports on Tap with a beer in hand watching professional sports on the big screens!
Matt Janzen - Groomsman
Matt and Jared first came in contact with each other while they both attended SaskPolytech in pursuit of their careers. Since those days in school they have managed to stay really good friends, even when living in different cities. Both these guys’ live incredibly busy lives, but whenever they get the chance to meet up it was as if they were back in school - all smiles and lots of laughs! Now that Alyssa and Jared have moved to Saskatoon it has been much easier for these two to see each other between having their regular weekly beer nights when Matt isn’t working on the road, to helping one another with house projects.
Liv Tolmie - Bridesmaid
Liv & Alyssa met through the Saskatoon Valkyries in 2016. They won the league championship game that season, and the party they experienced together that night was one for the record books! Alyssa's favourite quality about Liv right from the start was her honesty - she is the friend that will always tell you the truth even when it's hard to hear. In 2019 when Alyssa told Liv that she wanted to cancel a first date because she was too nervous, Liv made her promise that she would go, and now here we are - planning for a wedding that never would have happened if Alyssa went through with cancelling that date! Alyssa, Jared and Liv always joke that Liv is the "only reason" the couple is still together! While distance has been a factor in their friendship recently, these two can always pick up exactly where they left off and are as close of friends as they've always been.
Dylan Goosen - Groomsman
Dylan is Jared’s middle brother and also Jared’s go-to mechanic. Growing up together you would have never guessed that these two would be as close as they are. They got on each other’s nerves a lot, but despite the wrestling and torment they caused one another they have learned that family is #1. These days the two of them are always trading labor or tinkering with something and they really enjoy each other’s company.
Amy Funk - Bridesmaid
You might have guessed this one because they look identical - sometimes mistaken for twins, other times mistaken for mother/daughter - but Amy is Alyssa's little sister. Sisters are meant to be close, but these two truly share a one of a kind bond. They share some common interests and also some polar opposite hobbies, which is what makes their friendship so unique since they are always learning from each other. Growing up, Alyssa played more of the babysitter role to Amy since they are 10 years apart in age; one of Alyssa's fondest memories of her early 20's was being able to coach Amy in hockey for a few winters. Now that Amy has grown up, this dynamic has shifted into a close knit friendship that they will both cherish forever. They are always planning for their next adventure together!
Bryden Goosen - Groomsman
Bryden is Jared’s youngest brother. He too butted heads with Jared during their childhood but usually won the fight (with mom's help) being the baby of the family. They have always shared a love of video games, board games and water polo. Though Bryden may not be very handy, he is almost always happy to help with any task. Bryden being a nurse also means that there will always be a medical professional at all of the family job sites.
Reese Janzen - Flower Girl
Daughter to groomsman Matt & his wife Adrienne, Reese is a cute, spunky addition to our lives and we are so happy to continue to watch her grow into the amazing woman she will someday become!
Owen Johnson - Ring Bearer
Son to groomsman Brooks & his wife Megan, Owen is a fun loving adventure seeker that keeps his parents on their toes! We are excited to be part of the adventures yet to come!
Alex Wojcichowsky - MC
She wears many name tags - Alex, Woj, Biscuit - but no matter what you choose to call her, she is the same huge hearted, loving friend to everyone in her circle. She met Alyssa while playing for the Saskatoon Valkyries in 2015, in fact she is one of the few people that have played longer than Alyssa has, and these two hit it off right from year one. Now, nearly ten years later, they still always have each other's backs and would do anything for each other. Woj and Funk truly believe they have telepathic powers since they are always on the same page with everything they do together! They share a common love of football, but their friendship has expanded well beyond that over the years.
Adam Hendrickson - MC
Adam and Jared met only a few summers ago when Adam came out to try rugby for the first time, but the two of them really hit it off. They have shared many fun games played on the pitch and many more fun adventures off of it. Adam has always been the comedic relief of their friendship - with his quick wit and bubbly personality it is hard not smile and laugh when he is in the room.