Alison Polidano
Cousin - Couple Slide Show Producer & Officiant
I am the second oldest cousin to you but we have to agree that I am now the wiser cousin. ;-) We spend many a summer in Michigan starting trouble. My first flight was to see you when I was about 10 years old. I flew cross country to then get in a car with you in Seattle and drive to Portland, LA, Phoenix, St Louis, Chicago and Michigan to help you get safely home from PT school. We then flew to Europe. Besides speeding tickets, damaged legs involving a bunch of German doctors, and fights in the Luv we did pretty well! On our trip to Europe, Alison and I fended off a Bachelor party in Amsterdam that had a bag of weed in our hostel room the size of duffel bag!! I am sure Mike's party will be a bit more low-key. I am now married to Anthony a sports news caster, live in Michigan (Armageddon of the car companies) and have a 7 month old, Julien. Check out Julien at Alison’s baby BLOG, www.littlepolidano.blogspot.com. We can't wait for the wedding! -Alison
April Hoff
Northwestern PT School Friend - Bridesmaid
29 y/o SWF looking for fun and adventure along this journey called life. I like to travel, spend time with family and friends, sip pina colodas (amongst other things), and help my good friends plan their wedding. I have previous experience with bridal assistance to include: doing a bride's hair at the last minute, holding a mother-of-the-bride's tongue back from the groom's family, re-grocery shopping/cooking for rehersal dinner because the bachellor party ate it all the night before, problem solving last minute dress emergencies, and a successful heimlich maneuver on a mother-of-the-bride at the rehersal dinner. Thank you for the opportunity to partake in your beautiful day, I look forward to assisting you in any way I can :)
Kristi Martinsen
Childhood Friend since 1st Grade - Maid of Honor
Kristi and Heather have been friends since first grade. Long before Heather and Mike bought their matching road bicycles, Kristi and Heather road through their neighborhood to parks and to 7/11 for Fun Dip. Through middle school, high school, college and beyond Kristi and Heather would spend hours analyzing life as it related to men. Who would believe that there was anyone out there who could tame Heather's schedule and get her to settle down? When Heather met Mike, Kristi knew that this one was different, He cooked her dinner? She worked his commutes into her schedule? They bought a canoe together? Mike and Heather compliment each other and bring out the best in each other.
Kristi is so grateful to be a part of their lives, as they met and fell in love, as they prepare for the wedding, and for life as Mr, and Mrs. (Walenga) Wheeler. As a bridesmaid, I hope to be able to match Heather's amazing organizational skills, multi-tasking abilities, and friendship.
Judy Irvine
Social Sports Friend - Fashion Specialist
Judy has known Heather since early kickball days, which actually started about 6 years ago, not 20 years ago! Adventures with Heather and Mike have included braving the wildernesses of Alaska and West Virginia and despite "near death" experiences sliding down a mountain in Alaska and jumping out of white water rafting boats in West Virginia, Judy has survived to attend Heather and Mike's wedding and is thrilled that two people with such a zest for life and adventure are celebrating their relationship with family and friends.
A self-proclaimed "fashionista" Judy is also self-appointed "style guru" for Heather and Mike. She may be out of her element in the wilderness, but on hand to offer her opinion as to whether Heather should go with ivory or pearl.
To the couple, Judy would like to say that she is so happy that two people who compliment each other and bring out the best in each other are getting married. She looks forward to years of Christmas card letters and travel updates - although hopefully no airplane cancellations or delays will occur during the honeymoon!
Best wishes to you both!
Sara Kate Riegel
Kernan Hospital Friend - Bridesmaid
Sara kate hails from a farm in rural pennsylvania. She later attended towson university and studied occupational therapy, which was the best decision of her life because it gave her the opportunity to have a career where she would meet her great mentor, heather walenga. Heather has greatly influenced sara's life by getting her overly intoxicated inside and outside the continental united states, planning desperate escapes after being locked in a variety of structures from state parks to storage units, and death defying moments on the icy edge of Alaska's mountains. After heather's departure to west virginia, sara fell into a deep depression and now occupies her time watching fox news with fiance and petting her cats.
Leticia Braga
Richard Montgomery High School Friend - Reader
Tish is Heather's friend from their shared days at good ol' Richard Montgomery High School. While known to be fiery on the dance floor, Tish actually derives most of her energy from the sparks radiating off of Heather. This has made it difficult, therefore, for her to finish her doctorate hundreds of miles away in the Boston area. Fortunately, Tish will be moving back to the DC area at the end of the year to be available for bow-tying/gift bag-filling/insert wedding party duties here, and to work on her speaking voice so that it is adequately fine-tuned for doing a reading at the wedding. Oh, I suppose I'm moving back to finish writing my dissertation, too! In all seriousness, I can't wait to be a part of all of this and am really looking forward to us all being back within driving distance of each other!
Wendy Jeffries
Richard Montgomery High School Friend - Planner Extraordinaire 
Heather and Wendy’s adventures (and mishaps) started long ago as freshmen at Richard Montgomery High School. Neither remembers actually meeting or becoming friends but it might have had something to do with both of them talking so fast no one else could understand them. Soon enough, they had enough adventures together to be life long friends. Just a few highlights over the years: a ski trip that ended with more laughs (including Heather forgetting her snow pants and Wendy falling off a ski lift) then skiing, too many homecoming floats to count, Wendy dragging her boyfriend (as he had the car) 2 hours to see Heather play water polo at Brown, being each others’ New Year’s Eve dates at some random bar in northern Virginia, and Heather having so much fun at Wendy’s wedding she decided it was perfectly rationale idea to walk through downtown Baltimore barefoot. Last, but certainly not least, our standing date to meet at some random sushi restaurant to catch up on our latest love perils, life achievements, and just good old gossip.
As someone who has know Heather long time enough to have commiserated as partners on the seemingly endless emotional roller coaster of “don’t I deserve a Prince Charming? Oh, I found him….oh, wait, no I definitely didn’t….”, Wendy is so excited that Heather has finally found the person who recognizes how amazing she is, can put up with her consistent motion, and who makes her shine even more due to his love. To Mike, she says a million thanks for making Heather happy and she wishes him all the best as he becomes part of the unique and very loveable Walenga family. She can’t wait for continuing the relatively new double dates for sushi (though the girls only sushi nights must also continue!) over the coming years, tons more updates on their trips across the country or just across town, and other continued adventures together if they (hopefully) head back to the Baltimore/DC area to settle down.
Becky Walenga
Sister of the Bride - Bridesmaid
I apologize for the length of this “Bio”, but since Heather is the main lady of this wedding and I have known her the longest, second to my mother and father of course, I should fill you in a bit. That, and well let’s face it, I’ll only get to do this once so I better seize the moment.
If your short on time, then just see the pictures for a “Birds Eye View”.
Hello, I’m Becky Walenga. Also known as Heather’s baby sister, Lil’ Walenga, and sometimes thought, but not spoken, as the black sheep. I have generally regarded us, my sister and I, as opposites. And though probably far from the truth, we’ll start there.
“Think Opposite”
By now you’ve most likely seen my photo, so you know I have straight dirty blonde hair with blue eyes (“opposite”). No freckles, only birthmarks. I’m pear-shaped so to speak. No mountains only “ant hills”. I have not usually had a tummy, but I have been noticing there is always room for growth. The majority of my muscle mass is settled in and around my quads…I believe the term for this would be thunder thighs. I shy away from showing off these babies so they have reached a never seen before shade of white.
Heather = Upside Down Triangle Becky = Regular Triangle
As a young “hypochondriac”, my sister broke and/or sprained every wrist and ankle she has…and multiple times at that.
“Hmmmn…physical therapy. Cowinkie-dink? I think not.”
“Anywho”, I do believe I was responsible for the first of her many wrist breakages. She was training me on roller-skates. Or at least she thought she was. I was setting the stage for her career path.
“North Western please. We’re talking hands on experience.”
I suppose I owed her one. She had helped facilitate my first and only cosmetic surgery. Though, cosmetic surgery back in the 80’s wasn’t what it is today. My finger and Michael Jackson’s nose prove it.
Side Note:
MJ’s first nose job was performed in 1984. (A moment of silence. R.I.P.)
Becky’s left index finger was made whole again in 1983.
“Yes, that would be my ring finger. Hmmmn…no ring yet.”
Anyways, she was obviously teaching me a invaluable lesson here--Though at times necessary, cosmetic surgery doesn’t always improve appearances.
While were on medical business, our opposite nature was truly apparent when we compare chicken pox outbreaks. This is a case of 2 to 1.
I, of course, met the chicken pox with open arms. I was soon covered head to foot. Outside & IN. Apparently, I even had poxes down my throat. I definitely had over the genius record.
My sister, on the other hand, was a little more cautious. She let one pox settle on her tummy, one time. Then, like one of Dr. Seuss’s Star-bellies, she allowed herself to get 2 more poxes on her tummy. Who’s ever heard of such a thing? She had the chicken poxes 2 separate times and only had a total of 3 poxes. Give Me A Break!
You know what I have always found to be weird…the poxes were just on her belly? The Walenga “Carebear Stare”.
I’m still thinking she needs to watch out. They were probably just mosquito bites. I heard adult chicken poxes is the pits! Good thing she isn’t into pediatrics, like April.
As kids, despite my bad rap, I was a clean freak. I do suppose I didn’t really have a choice but to develop OCD when I was left with all the chores. At least the messier ones.
“Nature vs. Nurture--we hear my dad had that very same disease, The Oldest Child Syndrome.”
Were both too busy now to be OCD at the homestead, Heather just doesn’t feel guilty about it.
“Cinderellie, Cinderellie…”
Whatever “STATE” Heather’s home is in, it hasn’t stopped her love affair with cats. Seems as though Heather and Mike have already picked up an additional family member…a stray. He goes by the name of Boots. Boots he’ll need because, for right now, he is an outdoor cat.
I am a dog lover. Though, no great surprise that I have taken care of a cat or 2.
I currently have 2 massive dogs which has put a cramp on moving out. We’ll get there. If we can’t rent we’ll have to buy, or live in a brand new shed (smile).
Cats & Dogs could be a way to describe our youthful competitive nature. Yes, your sisterly bonds are not well founded until you rassle-tassle a time, or two, or three. We dabbled in all types of duos. We had wrestling matches, water fights, fist fights, tickle fights, Nintendo fights, pillow fights, and egg fights. Did I mention these were all in the house? “Yikes Mom, she started it!”
Anyways, I was a puncher and she was a kicker. This may be appalling to some, but try to think of us more as young tigers. We were helping each other develop that competitive edge. Heather was helping me learn the ropes. Pushing me to excel.
She had started these methods long before I can even remember. Apparently, my workouts started even before I had popped out of the oven. Heather, realizing my intolerance for liver and fish equated to lots of Burger King, went on the “fast track” to help me burn those extra calories. Boy, I wish I had a videotape of my mom trying to catch up to her. Who knows if I would have ever made it out if she hadn’t done all that running?
So anyways, Heather has no reason to apologize. But believe me she wouldn’t (wink).
“We Are Like 2 Magnets”
As we have gotten older I’ve realized we are not so different after all. Even from the very beginning…
Heather’s head got stuck on her way out of the oven. So we both ended up coming into this world by c-section. I supposed Heather does have a leg up with a little experience going down the shoot.
But hey, “C” is for cookie and that’s good enough for me.
This was not the motto growing up in school however. Both Heather and I were smart cookies. AP’s for Heather and Honors for me. Into college we both school hopped. Heather obviously walking, running, and swimming her way into a bachelors and doctorate. I skipped around for a bit and I’m still doing more research. My Thesis Being: “How many times can I receive an “A“ in Algebra 1 and still not remember a lick exactly 2 weeks later“. Of course, I haven‘t tested my theories on the foreign education system…so I have really only done half the research here.
No, the truth is I’m down right indecisive! With perfectionism and idealism to boot. I see myself doing so many things…but everything becomes a catch 22.
Side Note:
Has anyone besides me ever noticed how the number 22 appears in just about every single movie ever made? (Check it out: license plates, apt numbers, times on clocks, train numbers…..TRIPPY?…Does anyone find that odd?)
“This isn’t quite the smooth transition I looking for, but …”
Heather and I have a huge similarity when it comes to movies. We both love movies…and we both cry, no SOB, like babies. Yup, who knew our thick skins could melt into a blubbery mess with one good line of a movie. We are suckers! And this is definitely gifted to us thru genetics. My mom is a sucker for movies too! Good ol’ Mammadukes!
Now as much as we both received the gifts of generosity, compassion, and sympathy….allowing for the tears and ice cream (yummy, mint chocolate chip)….we were also given independence, strength, a hearty bullshit meter, a solid work ethic, and a healthy sense of duty. We are also incredibly spoiled!! Not in your average use of the word. None the less, still spoiled. For instance, we are still getting Easter baskets/bags. Heather still gets her orange Circus Peanuts and I still get my Jelly Bellys and chocolates. My mom just recently stopped putting a snack pack together for our sports trips. However, they didn’t give up coming to watch us play in our Adult League Games.
Yup, we are both still sport nuts. Here is a quick history of the sports we played growing up:
Soccer: Both Played. Heather was better with her feet and continued this into HS.
Softball: Both Played. Becky continued this into HS, All-star team, travel ball, and now coaches.
Field Hockey: Both Played in HS and still play in fall & summer tournaments for a an adult women’s club- team. “Go Dogs, Whoof!” We were in completely different positions but equally as good.
Basketball: Both Played well into HS. Heather played all 4 yrs of HS and even had a championship year. While Becky played on numerous select and travel teams but only had 2 years (by choice-regretfully) in HS. Though, Heather played in HS longer…I played longer overall….And sorry Heather, both parents agreed BCW = better at b-ball! Mom did hesitate to speak up. (mmmnn…contention!)
Synchronize Swimming: Heather swam. Becky Sank. I definitely was not designed for this sport.
Waterpolo: Heather started and swam in college and in various leagues/travel teams. Becky tried but was significantly younger than the rest of the team and opted out. We have to assume that because in this sport I didn’t have to swim upside down, therefore keeping the bulk of my weight (thunder thighs) below me like big pontoon cylinders…I would have been equally if not better at this sport. (JK Heather…this was all you).
Dancing Ballet and Jazz: (which was kind of a sport in the 80’s--hehee) Well, you know, I can’t remember if Heather danced or not?? If she didn’t…that explains a lot. Again, JK Heather.
Note to self: Put my children in a dance class when they are growing up! Like here singing ability she would like to believe she can. (chuckle- “Suck it up Heather, I will only get to do this once”).
Heather Would Tell You The Same Thing Only Rephrased And In A Different Order (wink)”
“Family Is The Key!”
Even if all else between my sister and I was different there is one thing that would not change…
WE ARE FAMILY. Down to the roots and right to the core. We have a love for family that runs deep. It’s why even our friends almost instantly become “family“. We just can’t help it. It’s in our blood. You are who you are and we love that.
I couldn’t be more excited that Heather has brought Mike Wheeler, and company, into our circle. And it’s even more super-duperly awesome that they have chosen to be together for the long haul.
At first I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Mike. She’s my sister…I naturally have to be cautious.
Mike has proved himself to be of solid character. He is creative and interesting. He is knowledgeable and humorous. And he is TALLLLLL! (wah-hooo…bring on the tall genes! )
Mike truly makes my sister happy. I believe my family, not just my sister, is grateful to have him in our lives. He has really put a pep in our step! These last couple of years have been “fuller”, “more complete“, “more joyful“, because of the addition of Mike. There are so many things already, in such a short period of time, that just wouldn’t have been the same. It’s been really neat to see this all come to be.
He didn’t develop this all by himself…so he can’t take all the credit here. Mike also comes with a amazing family. His parents have passed down many of their own gifts and interests which make Mike what he is today. Don’t worry Wheeler & Company…I won’t let him take all the credit!
You can’t beat that…a good guy with an awesome family. Way to bring home the prize.
It’s all to “perfect” really. Storybook so to speak. Heather will have a Disney wedding after all!
It’s time for another excellent parade!
“Trump---bada---dumpidee---doooooo!”
I can’t wait to get crafty with the event planning and décor, live it up with pre-wedding festivities (we already have had one fabulous engagement party), and see reunite with all the “FAM”. I hope everyone is just as excited to give their blessings and wish Mike and Heather a wonderful marriage. See you in June…if not sooner.
Elizabeth Kuhl, College Water Polo Teammate (feel free to add delinquent here) Elizabeth met Heather during the inaugural year of the women’s water polo team at George Washington University. From the minute Heather drug the “weenie” into the “hole” and proceeded to show her how to “play water polo,” it was clear a good friendship was on the way to being started. Heather probably didn’t know what she was getting into her senior year when agreeing to be my roommate, but the year we spent at 2501 K St. was my eye opener to what a fantastic, supportive, strong, caring, and strong person Heather is and always will be. Some of the fonder memories include our lovely toilet the proceeded to flood our bathroom and then take a permanent residence in our living room for a good few months, boys that spent the night in yellow and white striped underwear, trips to Shoppers, rocking out to “I wanna (you can fill in the rest!!), and well deserved glasses of wine after hard polo practices. Memories beyond college include the Drunk, Silly, and Stupid weekends, visiting in Chicago, celebrating New Years Day with a random guy and his drunk fiancé who was jealous of Heather’s and my beauty, and the recent ladies weekend in West Virginia. I feel so blessed to have Heather as a friend. She is the type of person that truly is only a phone call away, and I take great comfort in knowing that I can always call her when in need. Her honesty, support, and words of encouragement are what define her as a great friend. Heather’s smile and laughter are contagious and thankfully they are used often. Heather has always been a model of someone who achieves the goals she sets and whose ability to balance work and fun allows her to truly have it all. The happiness that she obtained when meeting Mike was half of the icing on the cake, the other half will slowly be placed as they embark on a happy marraige and the rest of their lives together.
