Kari and Matt met in Homer, Alaska in July 2012. Matt was there working during the Summers on a halibut charter boat and Kari was visiting with her friend and her husband as well as Kari’s sister. Kari not only caught monster halibut and tons of salmon but also caught the love of her life.

They returned to Alaska the next year in July 2013 and everyone thought Matt would propose but he held out until September when he brought her fishing at the Kenai River. Matt pretended that his lure kept snagging and that he needed to change it. He pulled out the tackle box and handed it to Kari to choose a new lure. Inside buried in the lure beads was her RING! SHE SAID YES!

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Kari and Matt knew they wanted an outdoor wedding and a special place where all of their friends could gather and hopefully enjoy the outdoors as well. Since they were interrupting most of the groomsmen’s hunting season they chose “we interrupt hunting season” as their theme.

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The couple arrived early at Pine Peaks and quickly transformed the Event Center into their own. The groom’s mom, Kim, picked flowers from her garden for the tables which brought the room to life! The mix of colors and textures complimented the rustic theme.

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The Groom’s dinner was held Friday night “picnic style” with full utilization of Pine Peak’s prep kitchen and pavilion after a run through of the ceremony. Family and guests enjoyed a full night of getting to know each other and reminiscing about how they knew the couple.

The wedding day was “ROYAL” inside and out. The early Fall day was 70 degrees with a bright royal blue sky which matched the Wedding Party’s attire! The colors of the earth and sky came together with their beautiful flowers.

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The joyful I DO’s were shared in the garden with a clear blue sky overhead. To signify their union, the couple watered a “Unity Tree” together which they will plant and watch grow together. Family and friends cheered as the newlyweds were introduced for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. and the celebration began!

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The reception was held in the Event Center and pavilion. The dinner followed with Chef Brian of Maucieri’s Catering stealing the show with his fabulous Italian buffet dinner. The guests enjoyed a house salad with fresh bread, Sicilian green beans, Rose’ pasta, slow-roasted beef with brandy peppercorn sauce topped with fresh parmesan cheese. Wearing one of his many hats, Tony Maucieri Sr. served the tender beef to the guests.

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The couple decided to forgo the traditional wedding cake and served a Crosslake favorite “ice cream cake” made by Lake Country Crafts and Cones. The choices were white chocolate raspberry truffle fudge or French silk pie ice cream cake which was served butler style by the Maucieri’s team to the delighted guests. The celebration continued with a dance that went well into the night. Kate of Maucieri’s Catering made her specialty fresh baked pizzas in the wood fired oven. The guests are still talking about the wonderful food experience this wedding offered!
Along with being a fishing guide, Matt also has a business in the spring guiding snow goose hunts so they chose a snow goose as their mascot for the fireside room. We wish the Newlyweds a lifetime of adventures and hope that they enjoy the hunt together. May they forever “catch” all of the life’s blessings with the same enthusiasm and love that they shared with each other today!

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– Dave and Julie Peterson

Click here to view Facebook for Kari and Matt September 6, 2014

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