Wedding Party
Mary Miller
Maid of Honor
Courtney and Mary first met at an all women's soccer league when Courtney was in middle school. Mary enjoyed making jokes and pulling on Courtney's soccer jersey to slow her down. Little did they know Mary would later recruit and coach Courtney at Wilson College. Even though Mary moved on and went to coach at Penn State Mont Alto they remained friends and continued to play soccer with each other in various leagues. Mary convinced Courtney to play in the Virginia soccer league where Blake and Courtney met. Mary brings out the outgoing side of Courtney and has always been the encouraging and supportive friend who would give you the shirt off her back.
Jeff DuPont
Best Man
Blake joined Jeff's adult rec soccer team the winter season of 2010. In their first game together Blake scored a header off a corner kick by Jeff, while this foreshadowed their lasting friendship it over promised on Blake's ability to score. For the next 13+ years Jeff and Blake have been managing and playing together, totaling over 700 games of soccer. Their friendship expands beyond the field, including all the friendship staples like going to sporting events, hiking trips, helping each other move, and talking about life (and girls). On that last note, Jeff met his wife Kristin after Blake invited her to join the same co-ed rec soccer team on which Blake later met Courtney!
Lauren Heckman
Bridesmaid
Lauren has been a friend to Courtney since they were children playing soccer in the local AYSO league. Lauren played soccer with Courtney all through high school and also worked with Courtney at the local Subway. They remained friends through college and currently enjoy getting together to have game nights/play dates with her two daughters Mia and Abby.
Jamie Ergas
Groomswoman
Neither Jamie nor Blake remember how their friendship transitioned from it's beginning as adult rec soccer acquaintances. Approximately weekly (before Blake moved to PA) Jamie and Blake would practice yoga, or hit the gym, and shared jocular conversations challenging each others perspectives on the goings-on in their respective lives. Jamie is a thoroughly thoughtful person, and a dependable friend to Blake, still able to be relied on for a text "hi".
Sarah McGuckin
Bridesmaid
Courtney and Sarah first met at Wilson College when Sarah joined the soccer team. This is when she acquired the nickname "Duck" or "Ducky" because of how she chased after the soccer ball and because of her last name McGuckin. They later became roommates until Sarah graduated in 2013. They remained friends after college and continue to get together a couple times a year for (suitematesforlife) girls weekends. Sarah brings spunk and opinions to the group. She has a knack for planning and is usually the group "mom."
Jason Coakley
Groomsman
Jason and Blake were in adjacent hallways in Prichard dorm freshman year at Virginia tech, where they both majored in Computer Science. Taking most of their classes together they were habitually group members on all their projects and without Jason (and maybe a little help from Blake) they surely wouldn't have graduated. They've stayed in touch by playing video games online together most nights of the week ever since.
Hannah DeMoss
Bridesmaid
Hannah and Courtney first met at an orientation weekend that Wilson College was holding. Hannah initially thought Courtney was rude and was determined to not be friends. But once Courtney joined the team and clumsily fell over the soccer ball during a drill (at the first practice) and laughed it off with the rest of the team did Hannah feel that Courtney wasn't so bad. They later became close teammates with Hannah manning the defense and Courtney working the midfield. They became suitemates sharing a bathroom and housing together with Sarah and Katie. They remained friends after college and get together a couple times a year for (suitematesforlife) weekends. Hannah brings a love of horses to the group along with her bubbly happy personality.
EJ Coakley
Groomsman
Jason's older brother EJ joined in on the nightly video game fun, and he and Blake became fast friends. Battle buddies on the virtual war zone, the two have bounded. EJ can endure Blake's pithy criticism, and isn't afraid to clap back.
Katie Murphy
Bridesmaid
Katie a.k.a. Kmurph met Courtney during her freshman year at Wilson. Katie was the goalkeeper for Wilson until she graduated in 2013. Katie was one of Courtney's suitemates and was also in some of Courtney's veterinary technician classes at Wilson. Katie is the quiet one of the group, but has the best timed witty/sarcastic comments. Katie is also a huge book reader and can recommend tons of books to read by various writers. She also brings to the group a love of Marvel and Disney.
Tim Disen
Groomsman
Drew, Blake's friend and former manager, met Tim online playing video games in 2005. As Drew and Blake bonded at work during day they started gaming together at night, and Tim joined in on the fun. Blake introduced Tim to his larger group of video game friends, including Jason and EJ. Tim, living in Texas, is everyone's "internet friend". Blake was the first of the group to meet Tim in person when they both attended Drew's wedding.
Leah Bernecker
Flower Girl
Leah is Courtney's niece and will be 5 years old in 2024! Leah loves dressing up her Barbies, unicorns and horses, and being a help to others.
Hudson Bernecker
Ring Bearer
Hudson is Courtney's nephew and will be 8 years old in 2024! Hudson loves baseball, soccer or "kick and catch", games, and Minecraft.