• Michael & Melissa

    April 27, 2024

  • We hope to see you soon

    April 27, 2024

  • Michael & Melissa

    April 27, 2024

  • We hope to see you soon

    April 27, 2024
Melissa Janiga
The Bride

Melissa grew up in Pflugerville Texas, a suburb of Austin, Texas. She played basketball, ran cross country, and most notably played soccer. Melissa went to the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with an Industrial Engineering degree from Lamar University. Melissa loves her work in technical staffing, she enjoys weightlifting and playing soccer on two recreational teams.

Michael Stramel
The Groom

Michael, aka “Stramel,” grew up in Liberty, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City. An eagle scout, he also played soccer, baseball and most notably ran cross country. He now weightlifts, hunts, fishes, and has participated in powerlifting competitions (having a squat personal record of 510 lbs. – whew!). Michael went to Rolla University where he became passionate about software development and is now a Staff Software Engineer at PayPal, working remotely. Friends and family describe Michael as reliable, kind, and thoughtful.

We're getting married!

April 27, 2024 — Austin, Texas

Our love

Our Story

From Melissa - I had just moved to Wichita to work as an Engineer for FedEx, I was out one night with friends I had met at my apartment complex. I had a great but short conversation with a girl named Anne Marie and asked if she wanted to go to dinner later that week. The day of dinner, she asked if her cousin could come along, they were in town from St. Louis, I said of course! Thinking I was heading to a girl’s night, I walked along Douglas Ave to meet them at this restaurant shaped like a train, Grand Station Bar. I was sitting at the table for three and in walks Anne Marie, but turns out her cousin is not a girl, it was Michael! Insert big smiles. The three of us talked the night away, it felt so nice to meet great people in a new city.

The next night Michael and I went on our first date, we then met each other out every day that week until he went home to St. Louis. The next month I flew out to visit him, and he planned an entire weekend of “surprises,” all very sweet and fun date nights. Although Michael initially said long distance wasn’t in the cards, he eventually came around (of course!!). With some help from video calling and Southwest’s amazing one-hour flights between Wichita and St. Louis, we were successful in making long distance work for 2.5 years.

We then moved down to Texas in March of 2022 and built a house in a suburb of Austin. The house finished in December of 2022, and the day we got the keys, Michael proposed!!!

Dec 14th, 2022, We Said Yes!

Two dogs (Leo and Murphy) and a kitten (Mika) later, we are so excited to complete our family by getting married. I love our story and can’t wait to continue it.

We will become a family in

  • Months
  • Days
  • Hours
  • Minutes
  • Seconds
Our Wedding Party

Thanks for being there

Cory Brennan
Best Man
Met at Missouri S&T in 2010

A fellow Engineer (Civil), hunter, weightlifter and boardgame connoisseur – Cory and Michael have been best friends since meeting at Rolla. From years of being gym partners, to double date trips to Universal, to exploring St. Louis, to game nights – their friendship is a lifelong one.

Katelyn Randig
Matron of Honor
Met in Middle School in 2003

Katelyn, or Katie, and I technically met playing basketball in 7th grade, Go Pumas! But it was while living together at UT Austin that Katie and I became a true duo. Katie was Homecoming Queen, is now a nurse, momma of one, and most importantly one of the most caring people you could meet! She does so much for me and the people around her, having our friendship is one of my greatest blessings!

Maddison Huffman
Maid of Honor
Met at Pflugerville High School in 2005

I met Madison freshman year in Mr. Plock’s 9th Grade AP Geography Class, we were best friends at first sight, and have been ever since! My true soul sister. Madison was Homecoming Queen of our senior class, cheered her way through college at Sam Houston, and landed in tech sales where she is beyond successful.

Michael Nedeau
Groomsmen
Met at Liberty Jr High School in 2004

Michael aka “Nodough”, ran cross country with Stramel in High School, and went on to run cross country for William Woods University. If you ever see Michael and Michael together, you can tell they have been best friends since junior high. From quoting Dumb and Dumber, to sharing goofy stories, to keeping up throughout life, Nedeau brings out the carefree in Stramel.

Austin Murdock
Groomsmen
Met at Missouri S&T in 2008

Stramel met Austin Freshman year of college when he lived across the hall in their dorm. They have worked together as Software Engineers at Maritz, Panera and most recently Amazon. If I hear Michael yelling at the computer upstairs, it’s because he is playing League with Austin. Michael and Austin have worked together, played together, and built a great friendship.

Raquel Rodriguez
Bridesmaid
Met at UT Austin in 2009

Raquel and I met Freshman year of college and lived together sophomore year. She is an Engineer working for Rent the Runway, living in Los Angeles. If I had a dollar for every time Raquel and I laughed until we cried, I’d be able to pay for this wedding, cash-money. I always look to Raquel for opinions, she is unbelievably thoughtful, smart, and considerate.

Boris Pallares
Groomsmen
Met at Coolfire in 2018

Boris and Michael met while working at Coolfire together in St. Louis. Now working for PlayStation in Madison, Wisconsin – Boris enjoys photography, traveling and spending time with the most adorable Corgi – Gammy! Originally from Cali, Colombia –Boris also shares with Stramel a love for software dev

Ivana Hicks
Bridesmaid
Met at UT Austin in 2010

A beautiful momma of three living in both Minneapolis and Austin, Ivana shares her lifestyle online and is my go-to for all beauty and style tips. When I met Ivana at the PCL library, we instantly had 7 different things to talk about. I remember us both laughing because even we couldn’t keep up. Ivana is strong in her faith, generous, and supports several charities – with rescue and humane efforts for animals being one of the closest to her heart.

Jeff Janiga
Groomsmen
Brother of the Bride

Jeff is Melissa’s older brother. Jeff is a Pressure Relief Chemical Engineer at Chevron Phillips in Houston. Always the funny man in the group, Jeff made sure to share all the stories he could when first meeting Michael, and still does. Thanks, Jeff!

Mayra Roman
Bridesmaid
Met at UT Austin in 2011

Mayra and I met while both attending UT, more specifically we happened to be on a Spring Break trip in Miami – the first of many beaches we would visit together eventually. Mayra lives in Davis, California and works in Philanthropy, she is a momma of one, she is passionate about politics, her friends and family, and making the world a better place. Mayra has a kindness about her that is infectious, she’s always laughing, and is one of the purest souls you can meet.

Felicia Fife
Bridesmaid
Met at Brookhollow Elementary in 2001

Felicia and I met singing in our Elementary school choir in the 5th grade. Apparently, I kept looking at her weird, and I’m glad I did because she is one of my oldest and best friends still to this day, we have stayed close friends for decades. Felicia is an accountant working for a custom home builder in Austin, she has the cutest little girl you could meet. From acting like airplanes in the courtyard of our middle school to being in each other’s weddings, Felicia is always making me laugh while telling it like it is.

Lydia Geisler
Bridesmaid
Met at UT Austin in 2012

A Director at Charles Schwab, living in sunny San Diego, Lydia is always traveling somewhere or achieving something, it’s hard to keep up! Lydia and I met in the PCL library while studying for finals, instead of studying Lydia and I shared what would be one of many long talks about life. Need a quick witty response? A high-achieving leader in the STEM industry? An amazing friend? Look no further!

Margarita Barrón
Bridesmaid
Met at UT Austin in 2011

Margarita, or Margie, lives in Miami, FL, working in Risk Advisory at Grant Thornton. Margie and I met at UT Austin through our several mutual friends – and I instantly loved her, her style, and her views on life. A certified personal trainer, Margie and I bond over a love of fitness and weightlifting. She’s up 37-17 in our Apple Watch fitness competitions, but if I’m going to lose to anyone – I guess I’d choose her, haha.

Trista Stramel
Bridesmaid
Sister of the Groom

Trista is Michael’s older sister, living in Kansas City, Missouri. Trista loves many things, but to name a few favorites, she loves puzzles, unicorns, Christmas, Birthdays, presents, painting, coloring, and good old fashion chatting. She’s one of the happiest people you could meet and lights up any room she is in.

Looking forward to seeing you!

04.27.2024

Questions

When & Where

Wedding Ceremony

St. Margret Mary Catholic Church
1101 W New Hope Dr, Cedar Park, TX 78613

2:00pm

Weddding Reception

Shooting Star Ranch
1704 Co Rd 285, Liberty Hill, TX 78642

Accomodations

A block of rooms have been reserved under the Stramel Wedding

Hampton Inn & Suites - Cedar Park
700 Central Park Dr, Cedar Park, TX 78613

Distance from:

Ceremony (8 min)
Reception (34 min)

Hyatt Place - Cedar Park
1315 E New Hope Dr, Cedar Park, TX 78641

Distance from:

Ceremony (7 min)
Reception (25 min)

Wedding

Timeline

  • 2:00 PM

    Ceremony

  • 3:30 PM

    Reception Begins

  • 5:00 PM

    Bar Opens

  • 5:30 PM

    Grand Entrance

  • 5:45 PM

    Dinner

  • 7:45 PM

    Dance Party

  • 9:30 PM

    Late Night Snack

  • 10:00 PM

    Bar Closes

  • 10:30 PM

    The Big Exit

Gift

Gift Registry

Things to do:

Austin Favorites

Questions

Frequently Asked

Attire?

Formal attire. We suggest that men wear a suit in any color or dress shirt with a tie, and women wear a cocktail dress or a nice pantsuit.

Transportation?

If using Uber and Lyft we suggest scheduling the day before in order to avoid a wait. (Wait times could be around 45mins if you do not) Our venue does allow you to leave a vehicle and pick it up the next day between 8am and noon.

Reception start?

3:30pm. Before the bar opens at 5pm, there will be non-alcoholic beverages, a charcuterie board, and plenty of lawn games!

Open Bar?

Yes! Our venue restricts the bar service to 5 hours, this will be from 5-10pm.

Michael & Melissa

April 27, 2024 – Austin, Texas