Rehearsal Dinner

The Lift

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Our Wedding

We met in&nbsp;August 2023&nbsp;at&nbsp;Moeller Brew Barn in Monroe, Ohio, not knowing that our casual first date was about to turn into a full-blown trivia competition. Neither of us had planned on playing, but instead of bailing, we&nbsp;teamed up and gave it a shot.&nbsp;The trivia questions didn’t leave a lasting impression, but the conversation did. We talked&nbsp;nonstop, quickly realizing how much we had in common, including a shared French heritage. The conversation was so easy that before the night was even over, Kati&nbsp;kissed Carl mid-sentence, which was probably a sign that things were off to a great start. For Carl, there was&nbsp;an immediate connection—he thought she was&nbsp;stunning, smart, and incredibly easy to talk to. Was it love at first sight? Probably not. But there was something different about this one. For her, love wasn’t instant, but it was&nbsp;effortless. Every date, every conversation, and every weird, hilarious, or unexpected moment made it clearer that this was something real. Then, one night, Carl accidentally let it slip and&nbsp;blurted out “I love you” while saying goodnight, surprising us both. Since then, we’ve shared some&nbsp;incredible experiences, including seeing&nbsp;Badflower in concert&nbsp;that September,&nbsp;traveling to Arizona, completing a double-black-diamond hike despite having little hiking experience, and eventually&nbsp;moving in together in April 2024. These days, you can usually find us&nbsp;wine tasting, playing games with friends, or hanging out at home with our cat. Even though Kati&nbsp;knew it was coming, Carl still managed to pull off&nbsp;a surprising proposal. He planned an evening that began at&nbsp;Bossler Mansion in downtown Dayton’s historic district, where he proposed on the grand steps. He even arranged for a&nbsp;photographer to capture the moment, followed by a&nbsp;photoshoot and an amazing dinner to celebrate. It was a little overwhelming, a lot exciting, and exactly how it was supposed to be. From a trivia night surprise to moving in together, every step has just felt&nbsp;right. We’re excited to celebrate with the people we love and officially start this next chapter—married life.

From Trivia Night to Forever

Our Story

Photos by @karlychristinephotography

Photos

Kim is not only the person marrying us but a true friend. Bright and endlessly positive, Kim has been a continuous presence throughout our wedding journey. Including helping me get ready to be proposed to! She loves to read and bake in her downtime, and when she’s with us, she brings a genuine kindness and cheerful energy to game nights, lively conversations, and dinners, making everyone feel right at home.

Kim Brendlinger 

Kaitlyn came into my life exactly when I needed her. Since then, she’s become one of my closest friends: the person I can count on for marathon dinners, big life talks, spontaneous plans, and a good game night. She’s married to Kim (our officiant!) and together they have three perfect dogs, Archer, Dinger, and Nova, whom I will gladly babysit any time. Kaitlyn is thoughtful, logical, always up for anything, and somehow makes every conversation feel both hilarious and grounding. Having her by my side is a no-brainer, and now Carl even gets to join in on our four-hour dinners.

Kaitlyn Brendlinger

My sister, mi hermana, has always been the calm in my chaos. We’re opposites in a lot of ways, but she’s the one who knows exactly how to ground me when stress or perfectionism creeps in. She’s the big sister in every sense of the word: steady, loyal, and unshakable. Whether she’s wrangling my nephews, her pets, or me during wedding planning, Rach brings a sharp sense of humor and a whole lot of heart. I wouldn’t want to do this without her. 

Rachel Ausgpurger 

If you know Faith, you know the sunshine she brings isn’t just a coincidence. She’s bright, fun, and refreshingly drama-free. We’re kindred spirits with matching energy and a shared love of keeping things light and real. She’s the one who convinced me to do karaoke in public for the first time, at her own bachelorette party, no less. Faith has always been one of my biggest validators and loudest supporters. She doesn’t just show up; she uplifts and makes every moment more joyful. I couldn’t imagine this day without her sparkle and heart.

Faith Berry

Heather and I didn’t meet on night shift, but we’ve definitely survived it together. Fueled by caffeine, grit, and the occasional shared brain cell. She’s spunky, generous, and just the right amount of fiery. She’s the first person I text a cute cat photo to and usually the first one I call when I’m feeling social on a Friday night. Whether she’s cheering me on or flying past us in the Air Force 10K, Heather brings her whole, authentic self everywhere she goes. She’s pure gold, and I’m so lucky to have her standing by my side.

Heather Robinson 

Skyler is the life of every party. She’s outgoing, unfiltered in the best way, and somehow always in the loop. She’s the friend I call when I need to vent, laugh, or get the full scoop. Tea included, judgment not. We met while serving at the country club, and her energy was impossible to miss from day one. Beyond her bold personality, she’s a fiercely dedicated mom and a fierce friend. She shows up with heart, humor, and her signature skate shoes, and the vibes wouldn’t feel right without her.

Skyler Kohl 

Nick and I go way back to high school, where we technically studied chemistry and physics together, but let’s just say he handled most of the formulas while I provided plenty of commentary. That balance somehow turned into a great friendship full of laughter, inside jokes, and the kind of support you can always count on. These days, we’ve swapped homework for Bengals games and long lunches with his girlfriend Elizabeth, and Carl. Having Nick by my side feels nostalgic, and the kind of full-circle moment that makes this whole day even better.

Nick Gieske 

Chad and I have been friends since fifth grade, when we met through my cousins. He lived just down the street. From football games in Mr. Groover’s backyard to intense Madden battles (we definitely broke a few controllers), our friendship has always been full of competition and laughter. In high school, we were practically inseparable, and even as life took us in different directions, our bond never wavered. He’s been part of every chapter so far, and I’m glad he’ll be part of this one too.

Chad Gibson

Austin’s been one of those friends who just gets it. He’s always been supportive of Kati and me, and I’ll never forget how excited he was when I told him about her. Our friendship goes way back, built on a lot of laughs, good talks, and rounds of golf where he somehow always outdrives me. Even after he moved to Iowa last year, we’ve stayed just as close. He’s the type of friend who shows up in all the ways that matter, and I’m really looking forward to having him there with us.

Austin Seibert

I met Ty after college through mutual friends, and he quickly became one of the most genuine people in my life. When I first showed him Kati’s profile, his immediate reaction was, “I like her, you should go for it.” That early encouragement meant a lot. Since then, he’s been cheering us on every step of the way. We’ve spent countless hours at Dave & Buster’s (he somehow always wins big), and when he’s not doing karate, he’s cracking jokes or showing up exactly when needed. Kati and I are lucky to have him in our corner.

Ty Tester

From day one, Derek has always had my back. Whether making sure I felt included, offering solid advice, or just being there when it mattered most, he’s shown up time and again. He even took me to my first concert (Mac and Wiz, still legendary). Growing up, he made sure we soaked up every experience possible. I’m just glad he’ll be there, like always.

Derek Boyd

Colin and I go way back to high school, where he became one of my closest friends. He was the country boy of the group. Always ready for an adventure, never without a wild story. Some of my favorite memories are from weekends at his family’s cottage, just hanging out and enjoying life. Colin was also a standout wrestler and made sure we never forgot it. There’s no doubt he’ll bring his signature energy and humor to the wedding, just like he always has everywhere else.

Colin Stevens 

Hannah and I share the same birthday just one year apart. In high school, she was my confidant, the one I could always count on to listen, give honest advice, and keep my secrets safe. That bond only grew stronger over the years. These days, Hannah is a proud mom of five (yes, five!) and thrives in the beautiful chaos of it all. Her warmth, patience, and sense of humor are just a few of the reasons I admire her so much. I’m so grateful to have her in our lives and standing with us on this special day.

Hannah Berlund

Taylor and I have shared a lifetime of memories, from family gatherings to spontaneous hangouts that somehow always turned into adventures. She’s been a source of joy, laughter, and the occasional reality check. Never failing to bring lightness and authenticity to every moment. Her vibrant spirit and steady support mean the world to me, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have her here with us on such a meaningful day.

Taylor Berlund

Wedding Party

Q + A

We have blocked off rooms at the nearby Courtyard by Marriott hotel for the Friday before and the Saturday of our wedding. It is important to note that the rooms have been held under a Courtesy Agreement, so be sure to reserve any required rooms at your earliest convenience. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1753216689975&key=GRP&app=resvlink__;!!FOfmI8qiWcWBHqypJtzENF0!1A70X1iD5ke04pxL-GHHOm9cH_deoQN-Kr-AmSj7E8BYpSjzNvdKiAwZpzyhdo6A_Zb_ecM-e10LlrAiFvfBzaM1myBNptve$

Katherine & Carl

Katherine & Carl

Things to Do

Toxic Brew Company

The Century Bar

South Park Pizza Tavern