Maid of Honor
Even though Riley ignored Abbey during every carpool trip to their after-school Spanish classes in elementary school, the pair reconnected in high school through their mutual involvement in theatre, newspaper, tennis, and eating every piece of contraband candy in the journalism department at Grand Island Senior High. They've spent spring break in Minneapolis, Thanksgiving in Copenhagen, Abbey's birthday in Prague, and many long nights on Facebook Messenger. Riley is probably silently judging your grammar but is nonetheless the most friendly Midwestern gal you'll ever find. Riley is currently serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon, where she teaches human biology and chemistry at a bilingual high school.
Best Man
Brian and Joe met during their freshman year at Hastings College when they rushed the same fraternity and dropped their music majors to pursue far more marketable degrees in history. Brian and Joe lived together for three years of undergrad, proofreading each other's papers, solving the worlds problems over coffee and liquor, and exploring abandoned buildings (which was totally 100% legal). Find Brian at the reception and ask him about the history of your house — he probably knows a lot about it, somehow. Brian is currently working toward a PhD in Public History at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
Maid of Honor
In August 2003, Haley and Abbey spent an afternoon playing Barbies after a "chance" encounter orchestrated by two crafty moms — and the rest is history. From homecoming dresses to wedding gowns, and seventh-grade track meets discussing how pale Joe and Abbey's future children would be to planning the perfect wedding, Haley has been there through it all. If you need any silly/embarrassing/not-appropriate-for-this-site stories about Abbey, Haley is your girl. She has the most infectious laugh and best comedic timing. A recent graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, Haley will begin her dream job in the Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit ay Bryan Medical Center — East Campus in Lincoln, NE this summer!
Best Man
Nathan first remembers Joe as the kid who ran off the stage crying at their piano recital in the fourth grade. In high school, Abbey and Joe tried unsuccessfully to play matchmaker between Nathan and Riley. We thought it too romcom-esque to make them walk down the aisle together — admit it, though, that would've been great. Nathan and Joe have shared their love of music for years, performing together in almost a dozen ensembles throughout high school and college. Catch Nathan dad-dancing at the reception, and when you have a conversation, don't be afraid to ask him to repeat himself. His voice is lower than the human ear can register. Nathan is currently working toward a Master's degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Northern Colorado.
Bridesmaid
Although Abbey and Olivia met during their freshman year of college, their relationship blossomed when they lived in a very, very small quad in their sorority house during their sophomore year (shared with bridesmaids Issi and Emma). Someday, she will undoubtedly become a marriage therapist to the stars — she is a fantastic listener and is always the friend with rock solid advice (and she has an encyclopedic knowledge of celebrity happenings). If you need an update on your favorite mommy blogger or a really, really good hug, Olivia has you covered. Olivia is currently serving as a programming fellow at Chicago Public Schools.
Groomswoman
Lexy and Joe have been the best of friends ever since their middle school romance flamed out. During that same seventh grade fling, Lexy was roommates with Abbey at a choir camp — that is an absolutely true story. In high school, Lexy and Joe became like family, taking over the back of the bus on the way to marching band competitions, eating most meals together, and performing together in all things fine arts. A recent Kansas State grad, Lexy is the wrong kind of purple wildcat, but we're not gonna push the envelope with her because she's going to med school and is way smarter than Joe. If you need a reboot at the reception, find Lexy — she's the life of the party. Lexy is currently a rehabilitation technician for all of the outpatient physical therapy clinics in Manhattan, Kansas.
Bridesmaid
Abbey and Emma met during their first moments of college: they were on the same airport shuttle to a pre-orientation program, before their first week at Northwestern. They lived together for three years of undergrad, spending lots of time watching Disney Channel Original Movies and playing board games. Emma is always there for a good vent session about worries big and small, and the very sound of her singing could make anyone weep. The moment the band plays a mid-2000s banger, find Emma for the best sing-along you've ever experienced. Emma is currently working toward a Master's degree in Speech, Language, and Learning at Northwestern University.
Groomswoman
Don't ask Melissa or Joe how they became friends — they've never been able to figure out. All we know for sure is that they worked together in the library at Hastings College and hung out together with Brian way too much in undergrad. Despite the lack of an origin story, Joe and Melissa have a lot in common: they care too much about people to go into careers with high incomes, they know more late-90's boy band lyrics than they'd like to admit, and they both have terrible knees, which is really concerning of people in their early 20s. If you see her next to either of the best men at the ceremony, separate them immediately because they'll be way too obnoxious. Melissa is currently working toward a Master's degree in Social Work and Legal Studies at Loyola University Chicago.
Bridesmaid
Issi is the ultimate plant mom, chef, baker, makeup artist, and fashion icon, and has served all in all of these roles in Abbey's life since they lived together in the aforementioned tiny room during their sophomore year. Equally eager to stay in and make a loaf of sourdough or to trek across the city for fried chicken, Issi is the ultimate supportive friend who loves to help her friends feel loved. She'll give you the confidence boost you need and throw in some very funky dance moves to boot! Issi is currently in the midst of applying for medical school, so that she can someday deliver all of Abbey's children while curing cancer and very annoying adult acne.
Groomsman
Amongst his college contemporaries, Nathan is known first and foremost by his universally agreed-upon nickname: "Kindness." Nathan and Joe met in the history department at Hastings College. Before that, because the world is ridiculously small, Nathan was Abbey's regular barista at her favorite coffee shop in Grand Island. Nathan's apartment, home to many gatherings of HC humanities folks, was affectionately named "Our Time" because of Nathan's resemblance to Sean Penn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Find Nathan at the reception — there's no better person to have a beer with. Nathan is currently working with Wells Fargo bank in Hastings, Nebraska.
Bridesmaid
When Natalie and Abbey's friendship started with a snowball fight to let off steam during a 16-hour day of editing a campus magazine during their freshman year, they knew it was meant to be. Although Abbey is no longer a journalist, Natalie is still the best person to investigate coffee shops, museums, love, and cinnamon rolls with. Joe and Natalie also spent a summer in NYC at the same time and got to go to a taping of Late Night with Stephen Colbert together (Abbey was not jealous, not even a little bit). Natalie is an incredibly insightful person and will probably take a Snapchat of you at the reception that identifies a deep truth about your personality. Natalie is currently working as an editorial fellow at The Atlantic in Washington, D.C.
Groomsman
Joe and Ryan first met at a scholarship interview that neither of them wanted to attend halfway through their senior year of high school. They became friends in the history department at Hastings College, while drinking the department office dry of coffee while writing their papers, presenting at conferences all over the country, and sharing Chinese takeout when they should have been writing the aforementioned papers. Joe, Brian, and Ryan have spent a lot of time together stroking each other's academic egos and praying over Turabian's Chicago Manual of Style. Take a photo of him in his suit at the reception because we've never seen him in anything but Hastings College polos. Ryan is currently working toward a PhD in History at Texas A&M University.