Annalisa & Christopher
Wedding Party
Elizabeth Ritchie
Maid of Honor
Liz and Annalisa have been best friends and adventure buddies since preschool in 1999. As adults, they’ve travelled to 7 different countries and 9 national parks across the US together. In 2022, their friendship expanded to include Matt, Liz’s husband, and now Chris! Liz is Annalisa’s go-to for all seasons in life and she can always count on Liz to be there with her signature positivity and honesty. Annalisa was so proud to watch Liz fulfill her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian! Liz is currently working for Paws with a Cause.
Zack Migdal
Best Man
Zack and Chris met at MSU in 2011. They lived together both during and after college, where they shared a love for trivia, music, craft beer, and Detroit sports. Many evenings were spent playing darts, listening to vinyl, and speculating the future of the Lions. When Zack first met Annalisa, he very quickly told Chris that she was a “keeper.” Zack and his wife, Antonia, have been living in her home country of Australia and are moving back to Michigan in the fall of 2024! Zack is Chris’s closest confidant and he is so excited for him to be Best Man.
Alison Christiansen
Bridesmaid & Officiant
Alison and Annalisa met during graduate school at the University of Michigan. They share a mutual love for a well-executed plan, boozy brunch, and strong female friendships. Annalisa credits Alison with reigniting her love of reading again when she'd lost it during graduate school. When Annalisa and Chris first started dating, Annalisa insisted he had to meet Alison ASAP, so they flew to Washington DC where Alison works to get that critical "thumbs up." Chris got that thumbs up -- so much so that Alison will be serving as the officiant for the wedding ceremony!
Hunter Lund
Groomsman
Chris and Hunter have been friends since attending MSU together. Both studied political science and quickly found common ground in their inquisitive conversations about policy. Hunter and Chris share passions for travel, pop punk, and interesting restaurants. Chris stood up in Hunter’s wedding in 2022, and is excited to have Hunter be a groomsman in his!
Arianna Wilder
Bridesmaid
Annalisa remembers finding out that she was about to have a younger sister -- it's actually what motivated Annalisa to immediately potty-train herself. She wanted to be the big sister and set a good example from then on. Arianna turned out to be the younger sister Annalisa always needed -- fierce, competitive, and outgoing -- the perfect balance to younger Annalisa's shy, reserved personality. From sharing a room growing up, playing sports together in high school, and cheering each other on at all other major milestones in life, Arianna has been part of Annalisa's core memories. Annalisa is so excited to hear the roasting Arianna gives her during a sister-speech at the rehearsal dinner!
Nat Baetens Grae
Groomsperson
Nat and Chris met while working on a political campaign together in 2016. They quickly became friends over their love of music and tacos, and shared worldview. Chris learned that the guitar player in Nat’s band was leaving, and quickly raised his hand to join in. From late night parties after working 80+ hours a week to late nights performing at bars in Detroit, Chris and Nat have forged a lifelong friendship. Chris never expect performing together at an Alanis Morrissette cover gig would lead to them standing up in his wedding! He is so excited to have Nat on stage with him once again.
Aubrielle Wilder
Bridesmaid
Aubrielle is Annalisa's youngest sister, and probably the most effortlessly "cool" sister among them. At a young age, Aubrielle brought music into the Wilder household and was the only member of the family to inherit their great-grandmother's talented singing voice. Annalisa is so excited Aubrielle is traveling the world and considering following in their mother's footsteps and becoming an elementary school teacher. Aubrielle will give a vocal performance during the wedding reception and Annalisa will definitely be tearing up like she has at all of Aubrielle's performances and graduations.
Mark Jones
Groomsman
Mark and Chris have been close friends since second grade where they met doing puppet shows in class. From elementary school to college and now both members in their band Hung Up, Chris and Mark remain close to this day. Mark first met Annalisa when they surprised each other by both showing up to Chris's house when Chris wasn't home! They walked in through opposite doors and both screamed when they startled each other! After more than 2 decades of being friends, Chris is so excited for Mark to stand up in his wedding.
Sarah Wagner
Bridesmaid
Annalisa and Sarah met in graduate school at the University of Michigan and have supported each other through breakups, moving to new apartments, getting new pups, and everything in-between. In 2023, Sarah managed to secure tickets so Annalisa could live out her dream of attending Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour concert! It brings Annalisa so much joy to watch Sarah come into her own since graduate school, take on new challenges, and most recently, become an exceptionally creative Dungeon Master for their all-women's DnD group!
Garrett Simonis
Groomsman
Garrett and Chris have been friends since their days at MSU. After graduating, they continued to grow close over a shared love of the same kinds of music, golf, and Michigan State sports. Annalisa was first introduced to Garrett at an MSU-UM tailgate in East Lansing, where Garrett let her know that she had "hair like a Norse goddess." Just a few years later, Garrett will be standing up in the wedding!
Nikki Meyers
Bridesmaid
Nikki and Annalisa became fast-friends in undergrad at WMU. In fact, they became friends so fast that Annalisa was invited to go on Nikki's family vacation to Mexico a few months after they met! Annalisa, Nikki, and Nikki's husband, Keith, have been a trio of friends since 2015 and take turns visiting each other in metro Detroit and Illinois. Annalisa is so excited to have Nikki stand up with her during her wedding, just like Annalisa stood with Nikki during her wedding to Keith in 2019!
Nick Baetens
Groomsman
Nick and Chris have been friends since Chris joined the band in 2017. Now seven years later, they will be rocking the stage at the wedding! Chris and Nick have traveled together, recorded two albums together, and seen each other through good and hard times. They continue to bond over their shared love of music, video games, and silly internet culture. Chris had no idea that joining a band would bring such great friends, let alone ones that would be standing up in his wedding!
Lisa Maillard
Bridesmaid
Annalisa and Lisa's friendship was forged on the scalding-hot beaches of Seychelles during their climate change research with the UNFCCC. If they could survive giant spiders and driving on the opposite side of the road along steep cliff faces, they can do anything. Lisa and her partner, Peter (groomsman), and their pup Louise are part of what makes Metro Detroit feel like home for Annalisa.
Chris Hole
Groomsman
A brother in name, Chris Hole has been one of Chris Ross’s closest friends since their freshman year of college. CR visited CH in China when he was teaching abroad, which sparked his love for international travel. They lived together off-campus in college in a house that shared a love for music, laughter, and community. Now in medical school in Denver, Hole will be making his way back to Michigan to stand up in the wedding!
Lisa Dinon
Bridesmaid
Lisa and Annalisa's friendship began over their shared hatred of mosquitoes. The first time they met, Annalisa was applying Benadryl to her bites. Over the course of their first semester, they were attacked by the insects while doing outdoor research multiple times. Lisa and Annalisa have remained close since graduating and both live in metro Detroit. Annalisa has always admired Lisa's adventurous spirit and her love for Michigan. Lisa was Annalisa's only friend brave enough to complete the 46 mile backpacking trip across Isle Royale with her and her sister. They survived the trek, got some great photos, and met an author that landed them as characters in a book about vampires! Annalisa was so excited to see Lisa adopt her adorable doggo, Poppy, this summer and can't wait to celebrate with her at the wedding!
Jon Austin
Groomsman
Jon and Chris met their freshman year at MSU. Over the past decade, they’ve spent many nights up late playing video games and sharing a lot of laughter. At the bachelor party, Jon led the whole group though a session of DND! He did a great job of making everyone’s characters have a personal flair for them. Chris is so excited to have Jon be part of the wedding!
Megan Allett
Bridesmaid
Megan is Annalisa's cousin and they grew up across the street from each other. They were essentially raised like sisters and Annalisa has watched Megan grow up and become a true free spirit. Megan has always impressed Annalisa with her interest in exotic species and her house full of both warm and cold-blooded pets. One of Annalisa's favorite memories with Megan was when she drove her and her friend to see Warped Tour for the first time in Chicago. It was Annalisa's first experience with some of Megan's favorite bands at the time and it was SO hot that day! Annalisa's car broke down on the way home for hours, but Megan was calm as a cucumber through it all. Annalisa is excited to have Megan be the calm to her crazy during the wedding day!
Eddie Miller
Groomsman
Eddie and Chris first met in the MSU dorms while Eddie was a Resident Assistant. Needless to say, Eddie's chill approach to enforcing the rules quickly made him the cool RA in the dorm. Since Chris moved back to Metro Detroit, Eddie and his wife Shelby have become part of the regular trivia quartet, even winning a few times together! We share a love of music, whiskey, and all things nerdy. Chris is extremely excited to have Eddie stand up in the wedding!
Stephanie Baker
Bridesmaid
Stephanie, Chris's younger sister, was the first member of Chris's family Annalisa met when they were just friends. It's safe to say that the idea of having Steph as a bonus friend was a plus to being with Chris! Steph and Annalisa have become expert step-dancers together, enjoy a glass of wine during their book club, and share a mutual love of travel and exploration. Annalisa is SO excited to have such a fun, creative, and welcoming sister-in-law stand up with her during the wedding!
Peter Durak
Groomsman
Peter and Chris's friendship blossomed as Chris joined Annalisa's volleyball crew and began to play DnD! Bonding over basketball and music, they quickly formed a tight friendship. The sole Gen Z member of Chris's groomspeople, Peter brings the fashion and youth to the group! Both Peter and his partner, Lisa, will be part of our wedding party, and have filled Chris and Annalisa's lives with laughter, community, and expertly marinated meats!
Brooke Karasch
Bridesmaid
Brooke has been in Annalisa's life since late elementary school and met through Liz. From an early age, they shared a love for big words and being nerdy -- and that part hasn't changed! Annalisa has enjoyed visiting Brooke in all the interesting places she's lived from Fargo, North Dakota to Muncie, Indiana. Brooke recently accepted a job in Oregon and Annalisa can't wait to go see her and her adorable pets, Denney and Freya, again!
Nick Baker
Groomsman
Nick, Chris's brother-in-law, was one of the first people in Chris's circle to meet Annalisa. Nick and Chris share a love for travel, Michigan State athletics, craft beer, and sci-fi/fantasy novels! Chris and he have traveled with family, won trivia, and played on many a kickball team together in the decade that he and Steph have been together. Chris officiated Steph and Nick's wedding in 2021, and is so excited to have Nick part of his own wedding day!
