Katie Gaudreau tied the knot with Devin Joyce on Friday, following a previous cancellation due to the tragic deaths of her brothers, Johnny and Matthew Goudreau, who were fatally struck by drunk drivers while cycling the night before what was supposed to be her wedding day.
In a recent interview, Katie shared the “anxiety” she experienced while organizing the wedding, which prompted a change of venue. This decision was influenced by the absence of her brothers, who she described as “two essential parts” of the celebration.
“I really wanted to be with you the night before. I thought it’d be nice to just wake up together and not have to rush off,” Katie expressed. “We wanted a space where everyone could feel comfortable since there was a lot of anxiety about leaving the venue after the reception.”
Last August, Johnny and Matthew were tragically taken from them when Shawn Higgins, who admitted to drinking before the incident, struck them in New Jersey.
Since their passing, many tributes have emerged from the hockey community, including special honors during games by the NHL and recognition from Team USA.
Katie finally celebrated her union with her childhood love in front of 200 guests at St. Mary’s Church in Gloucester, New Jersey, followed by a reception at the Bellevue Hotel.
Reflecting on the past year, Gaudreau mentioned, “It’s tough to articulate how much has changed for me since last August. I remember the excitement and all the love we had while preparing. I can still see the joy on John and Matty’s faces.”
During the ceremony, her brothers were honored in small but meaningful ways. For instance, her father and Joyce wore custom suits featuring pictures of the brothers, and her bouquet incorporated the jersey numbers they wore in hockey—21 roses for Matthew and 13 spray roses for Johnny.
“Their love was always part of this,” she noted, acknowledging the bittersweet mixture of sorrow and joy she felt on her wedding day.
