Casa Ristorante

Rehearsal Dinner

Union 12

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Spring

Our Wedding

"Nice Sneaks"

Chris' Version In September of 2022, my Cedarville soccer teammate, Grant Kovac, and I met at a Cedarville Homecoming game, where I was also able to meet his wife Dani-Joy (DJ for short). It had been some time since Grant and I were able to connect, and after only briefly meeting DJ at their wedding that Labor Day Weekend, I was very excited to get to know her. I recently had moved to Richmond, IN for work, so being an hour away from them was something I was really excited about! But as fate would have it, DJ had a stunning blonde best friend who seemingly popped up out of nowhere and joined us during the middle of the soccer game, sitting to the right of DJ. Soon after her arrival, Grant introduced me as "Chrando" (my college nickname) but then quickly provided my actual name since it more or less confused her. We both said hi before proceeding back to our conversations.&nbsp;But just a few moments later, Hannah attempted to compliment my shoes by saying "Nice sneaks", but no one heard what she said. It grabbed my attention, and she nervously rephrased her statement with a jumbled: "Uhhh nice sneaks, I mean...I like your shoes!" I replied with a quick thank you before we went back to our conversations, and she soon left the game with perhaps a bit of embarrassment and me disappointed she didn't stay longer.&nbsp;I wanted to ask Grant more about her, but I refrained because I was going on a first date to a Colts game the next day and felt bad about cancelling last-minute. Nevertheless, I decided to take a Gen Z approach by following her on Instagram that night to at least let her know that I noticed her.&nbsp;That Monday morning after my date, I received a text from Grant asking how my date went and that "Atty" (Hannah's nickname) was interested in me. Beyond stoked, I realized I was already going to be in Cedarville that Wednesday for work, so Grant set up a plan for me to come over to his place for dinner and have Hannah, his neighbor, stop by to play games. Grant was pivotal in elevating my level of interest from "intrigued" to "ready to ask out asap" by highlighting her soccer ministry she was involved in, her passion for fitness, and obvious devotion to the Lord. But I did not back up my level of enthusiasm with any sort of action, as I was as nervous as could be and did not even attempt to even ask for her number or see if she wanted to go on a date. Instead, Grant once again did the legwork and gave me her number and left me to decide what I would do next. That next morning, I asked if we could FaceTime that night, to where I asked her out for dinner at one of her favorite spots in Dayton, Thai Nine. On Wednesday, October 12, we went on our first date, and I knew right away that she was someone I wanted to marry (evidence in the Notes picture). She was exactly who Grant had described her as: someone faithful to the Lord, passionate about sports ministry, a dedicated friend, and an easy person to talk to. Most importantly, she was kind of person I wanted to marry, and the following dates quickly confirmed that she was even more than I could ask or pray for. Hannah is generous with her time and resources, she is extremely competitive in anything she does, she is organized and responsible, she is a diligent worker, and she is deeply committed to her friends and family. I had always desired to be with someone who saw life as a mission to reach those in our circles of life with the gospel, and Hannah was exactly on that same wavelength. What we saw in one another was confirmed by God through the affirming support of our friends and family, and we made it clear soon into the relationship on that we wanted this to lead to marriage. On September 22, 2023, I asked Hannah to marry me near the Pier Lighthouse on Lake Michigan in Michigan City, Indiana. We had friends and family coming that evening for what Hannah believed to be a birthday weekend celebration for me -- since I was turning 29 on the 24th -- became a surprise engagement party! We had planned that weekend months in advance, and I knew right away that it would be the only time I would have considered proposing.

Nice Sneaks

Hannah's Version It starts with Chris back wayyyy back in 2013 -2015 attending Cedarville University to play soccer, followed by me in 2016-2020 attending Cedarville to play soccer for the yellow Jackets. Fast forward to the weekend of October 2nd, 2022. This weekend happens to be homecoming at Cedarville University. I lived in Dayton Ohio at the time, a 30 minute drive from the school, so I couldn't not to go to the Soccer games to catch up with old friends and teammates. As fate would have it, my best friend DJ was watching the game with her husband Grant, and his friend "Chrando". I sat next to DJ, and as one does, objectively noticed that Chris was attractive, but more importantly that I liked his shoes. Grant introduced us and I proceeded to say Hi and that I liked his shoes. We did not speak the rest of the day. Saturday night comes around and I found myself thinking about Chris, (and he followed me on Instagram so of course I was wondering if he was interested in me) but I also I probably shouldn't leave out that I had a 3rd date on Sunday night with someone else. Sunday afternoon comes around and I am over at Grant and DJ Kovac's house and Grant is grilling me about the date I am going on and I am grilling him about Chris. All I can say about that night is that I found out Chris was single and I did not go on a date. That same week Chris happened to be in town for work and was having Dinner at the Kovac's. I of course stopped by to play games and Chris and I got to meet and hang out for the first time. Chris asked me on a date the next morning and the rest is history. I knew very quickly that Chris was someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and 10 months later he proposed at one of our favorite spots on the beach with a few of our friends and families. Some of my favorite things about Chris and I together for those that have not gotten the chance to know us dating. 1) We are both incredibly competitive and enjoy playing pickleball, ping-pong, banana grams, and pretty much any other game or activity we can compete together or against each other. 2) We both value and enjoy working out followed by making dinner together. 3) WeWe are so excited to celebrate what the Lord has done in our lives individually and now together with all of you.

Our Story

Photos

Dani-Joy (DJ) is one of my closest friends, and truly more like a sister and part of the family. We met freshman year of college playing together on the Cedarville Women's Soccer Team, but really became good friends our last two years and then more like family living together in Dayton, Ohio for two years after college. Our friendship has been characterized by spontaneous adventures (surfing, roller blading, kayaking, and many other random hobbies), traveling (camping, hiking, the beach, dancing with Grandma Judy, and lots of last minute booked flights/road trips), working nightshift at the same hospital (always sleep deprived, but high on life), and most importantly a desire to follow the Lord.  DJ has been a support system, someone to depend on and encourage me in many different seasons of life. I can truly say that I don't think I would be marrying Chris if it weren't for DJ's role in my life, she is a life-long friend and I am so thankful to have her by my side as I marry Chris. 

Dani-Joy Kovac

Heidi Atkinson

Abigail Atkinson 

Taylor Muir

Karis Atkinson

Courtney Ashburn

Anna Aloisio

Kaitlyn Schoenbein 

Sophie Walther 

Nick is my brother, my best friend, and my best man! It was so obvious he would be the best man that I never officially asked him; rather, he immediately stepped into the role once Hannah and I got engaged. Nick is a youth pastor at a church in Orem, Utah, where he has lived the last 3 years. Nick played four years of Division 1 soccer at IUPUI and was actively involved in Campus Outreach. He may be the most compassionate and funniest person I know, but he is inferior to me when it comes to looks, ping-pong, video games, and athletics. Find Nick trying to steal the show pretending to be the best dancer on the floor!

Nick Anderson

Cameron is my childhood best friend, and I was the best man at his wedding this past May! He and I met in fourth grade when he moved to Fort Wayne from Indianapolis, and we instantly became friends since we were also on the same club soccer team. Growing up, we spent countless days playing outside with neighbors, competing in driveway basketball and ping-pong, and spending snow days mastering the legendary SSX Tricky GameCube game. We have shared many incredible memories such as weekend lake trips, high school soccer games, and youth group church camps. Cameron is a graduate of the Air Force Academy and is stationed as a pilot in Little Rock, Arkansas.  

Cameron Georgi

Jake is a great childhood friend from Fort Wayne. We met in Mrs. Nunn's class in 1st Grade and regularly were in the same classes together in Middle and High School. Jake and I played on many soccer teams together, including Homestead High School and indoor leagues with our friends. He and I are big Manchester United fans and have shared our love and frustration with the team's form over the years. We also went to Indiana University together, enjoying some of the best times going to IU sporting events together and nights at Kilroy's and Brother's. I was a groomsmen in Jake's wedding in 2020, where he married his high school sweetheart, Jessica. Jake, Jessica, and their daughter Thea (our flower girl), live in Omaha, Nebraska where Jake is a Family Medicine Resident at UNMC. Catch Jake with a glass of whiskey in his hand and refusing to dance. 

Jake Herber

Kyle is another childhood friend that I met in Mrs. Nunn's 1st Grade class at Deer Ridge Elementary. Along with Jake and Cameron, Kyle was regularly in my classes throughout K-12 and someone I played basketball with in middle school. Kyle was a standout basketball player at Homestead High School and has since taken his talents serve as a Performance Trainer for elite basketball players out in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kyle, Jake, and I went to Indiana University together, where we watched plenty of basketball games together and celebrated plenty of wins at Kilroy's on Kirkwood and Brother's. He is as loyal of a friend as you can have, as he makes time to show up and support the passions of his loved ones, and I am thrilled he is able to stand with me on my very important day. Kyle is the life of the party and will surely be on the dance floor to rev up the energy! 

Kyle Togashi

Chase is one of my best friends and cycling teammates. He and I met at Indiana University and built Chi Alpha Cycling together. We also raced together on Apex Cycling for several years. Chase is an ICU Nurse at IU Health in Indianapolis and also works part time as a professional bike fitter for a bike shop in South Indianapolis. He's a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to making espressos, cocktails, building random things with Michael, and learning new hobbies. I personally wouldn't be too surprised if Chase tried to serve as the bartender for part of the night because he think he can make better drinks for the guests :)  

Chase Madsen

Jon is a friend of mine from Indiana University, where I coached him while he was a rider for Chi Alpha Cycling -- my Little 500 team. I knew Jon from back at Homestead High School, and he soon joined the Little 500 team once he started school at Indiana University. Along with Chase, he helped build the foundation of the team by focusing on utilizing bikes to share the gospel while competing with the best of teams. Jon is quite the conversationalist and will talk your ear off if you're not careful and sitting by yourself at the wedding, so watch out! 

Jonathan Frazier

Juan is one of my childhood best friends from Fort Wayne. We went to middle school and high school together, and played soccer for the Homestead Spartans. Juan is a medical resident in Miami, Florida and unfortunately will not be able to attend due to scheduling conflicts. Nevertheless, we share many great memories together playing loads of FIFA and Call of Duty at our houses, road trips to concerts and soccer games, and playing plenty of Amish Pool and eating brownies and pizza. Juan is extremely devoted to his friends and will do anything for them under any circumstance. 

Juan Diego Valdez Infante

Grant was a teammate and roommate of mine while I played soccer at Cedarville University. We roomed together my sophomore year and his senior year before I transferred to Indiana University, in 4-person overflow room in Brock we called "The Soup Kitchen". He and I were part of a Bible study with our coach which had a tremendous impact on our spiritual walks in building regular intimacy with the Lord and making disciples in any space we were in. Despite leaving Cedarville, Grant and I still kept in touch over the years, meeting up at Chipotles as he was driving through Fort Wayne, getting front row seats to a Mumford & Sons concert, and visiting Dayton where he settled down in. One of our most recent "catch-ups" eventually led to me meeting Hannah for the first time at a Cedarville Homecoming soccer game in September 2022. There is no doubt that Grant and his wife and our matron of honor -- Dani-Joy -- set up Hannah and me. I have looked up to Grant since I was a freshman at Cedarville, as he was consistently devoted in his faith and studies, and also brought so much joy to those around him, especially the soccer team. He and his wife DJ live in South Milwaukee, where Grant is a Director of Product Management. Thank Grant and Nick for making a fire playlist and then rocking out on the dance floor with the rest of the squad!

Grant Kovac

Michael Pappas

Wedding Party

Q + A

In Columbia CityMake yourself at home in one of the 67 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. 42-inch flat-screen televisions with satellite programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected. Bathrooms with bathtubs or showers are provided. Conveniences include desks, and housekeeping is provided daily.With a stay at Holiday 

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Columbia City an IHG Hotel

Atkinson-Anderson Wedding Block-off dates: Thursday, July 25, 2024 -Sunday, July 28, 2024 Reservations for attendees must be received on or before Monday, June 10, 2024.

Hampton Inn Ft. Wayne-Southwest

Check-In Time: 4pmCheck-Out Time: 12pmMust reserve by July 4th,2024

Staybridge Suites Fort Wayne, an IHG Hotel

Travel

Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

A strong collection of restaurants and breweries to enjoy as you stay in Fort Wayne!

The Landing

Promenade Park

Historic hot dog diner in downtown Fort Wayne that's been around for over 110 years, a must go to!

Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island

816 Pint & Slice

Head downtown after the rehearsal dinner on Thursday night AND after the wedding for great drinks near the riverfront. A nice collection of summer beers and cocktails in a very fun environment.

Hannah & Chris

Hannah & Chris

Registry