Wedding Party
Karen Raska
Officiant
Aunt Karen is both my officiant and a bridesmaid because choosing only one role for her never felt right. She has always been a woman with more strengths, heart, and personality than any single title could ever cover. For my entire life she has been so much more than my aunt. She is the person I laugh with the most, the one I go to for advice even when I already know I am not going to follow it, and the steady support system every girl hopes to have in her corner. Nothing I do ever throws her off. She handles my chaos, my big personality, and all my antics with patience and humor. There is a warmth and confidence about her that reminds me so much of my grandma. My grandma was funny, blunt, and always ready for a good time, and Aunt Karen carries that same spirit in a way that I truly cherish. Having someone who brings that energy back into my life means more to me than she probably realizes. Through every stage of my life she has stayed by my side, never wavering, always showing up, and always making me feel understood and loved. I am forever grateful for that. Having her play such a big part in my wedding day feels exactly right, and I am incredibly lucky to have her in my life and standing with me on a day that means so much.
Kay Bishop
Matron of Honor
The one and only MOH could only ever be Kay. She is the longest friendship I will ever have, and I am so proud to say that. She has been with me through every season of life, from childhood sleepovers to being college roommates, and now she is also my sister in law. I am so grateful she married my brother, because someone has to put up with his antics, and she does it with more patience than anyone I know. Kay has always been my level headed friend, the one I turn to when I need honest, realistic, and smart advice. She has seen every version of me and somehow still chooses to stay. We grew up doing everything together. We danced together, spent Sundays at church together, and I even taught her how to ride dirt bikes. We were the kind of kids who would ride around town with me pulling her on a scooter with a rope, and of course we went straight into Grandpa’s New Holland store like it was nothing. Those memories are the kind you never forget. She has been the best friend I could ever ask for. Loyal, steady, patient, and always there when I need her. I could never picture growing up without her, and I cannot imagine my wedding day without her standing right beside me. God truly blessed me with her.
Jillian Parker
Bridesmaid
Jillian and I got close back in high school when I somehow managed to pull her out of her shell, and we have been inseparable ever since. From bonfires to snowmobiling trips, we have always found a way to have fun together. Over the years she has become the person I can talk to on the phone for hours about absolutely anything. I am so thankful for that kind of friendship. We laugh constantly about how random we are, how forgetful we can be, and how we somehow end up giving each other life advice even though neither of us really knows what we are doing. We swap nursing stories, talk through whatever is going on in life, and always end up laughing at ourselves. She also helps me channel my inner cowgirl through her, which I love more than she probably realizes. She has been such a blessing in my life, steady and genuine in a way that is rare. I am so grateful for her and for the friendship we have built.
Katie Landel
Bridesmaid
I met Katie in the middle of absolute chaos at work when she asked me to set up a chest tube on my very first day in the Royal Oak ER. She was completely in her element, calm and confident, being the badass nurse she is. I remember being so impressed by how sure of herself she was, but even more by how kind she was to me when she had every reason to be too busy to bother. That moment set the tone for everything that came after. Our friendship formed fast, but never in a way that felt forced. It was effortless to be around her from the start. We feed off each other’s energy, laugh at the same ridiculous things, and somehow manage to lean on each other through all the ups and downs of life. She is the kind of friend you can show up to as your real self, no explanations needed.
Meghan Flanagan
Bridesmaid
Meghan and I have known each other for as long as we can remember. We grew up together at Durkee, spending summers swimming. She was especially impressed with my trampoline skills back then and honestly, she has been a little obsessed with me ever since ;) Even though we are still not totally sure if we are second cousins or something else, our connection has always felt like soul sisters. Over the last few years we became inseparable! We laugh constantly, share jokes no one else understands and somehow always end up in our own little world. She is my favorite concert buddy, my line dancing queen, my favorite yap buddy and the person I can lean on through anything. I am so grateful that life has kept us side by side. Love you, toots.
Rachel Dexter
Bridesmaid
Rachel and I are soon to be sister in laws, and I could not be more excited. From the very beginning she made it effortless for me to blend right into the family, and she has become someone I can lean on for absolutely anything. What more could a girl ask for? Over time we discovered just how much we have in common. We both love working out, enabling each other’s Amazon addictions, talking all things medical, and playing the air guitar to classic rock after one or two too many. And truly, she could probably beat anyone at this wedding in a push up competition. How badass is that? I am so grateful that life is bringing us together in this way, and I cannot wait to officially call her my sister in law.
Katie Obriecht
Bridesmaid
If you know Katie you already know she is the kind of person who can turn an ordinary day into a story that absolutely should not have happened, but somehow did. We have collected memories together that feel like a mix of laughter, survival, and whatever happens when two ER nurses are let loose in the world. We have traveled to Myrtle Beach & Florida together and met some very questionable people on the beach, some with teeth and some with one tooth. We have gone sky diving because apparently working in the ER was not enough adrenaline for us. We have had nights where we drank way too much and woke up with blurry memories. And of course, we survived the worst Spirit landing in all history. The kind of landing that makes you rethink your life choices and whether you should have written a will before boarding. But we walked off that plane like champions. Back at the Clem, we were the kind of ER nurses who could handle anything. We changed patients together, tag teamed chaos together, and she even helped me perfect my PEG tube skills thanks to bop bop guy (RIP), who will forever live in our memories whether we want him there or not. Through every shift, every trip, every questionable decision, and every ridiculous moment, she has been steady, loyal, hilarious, and full of heart. She is the friend who shows up, who makes the hard days lighter, and who makes the good days unforgettable.
Chris Johns
Best Man
Chris and I have known each other since our grade school days at IC. We went our separate ways for a while, but years later he reached out out of the blue and invited me on a duck hunting trip. We hadn’t talked since we were kids, but somehow it felt completely natural to pick things back up. Since then, we’ve spent a lot of time together! We enjoy working out, snowmobiling in the winter, hunting, boating in the summer, and putting in plenty of hours in the barn. Over time, he’s become one of the people I trust and enjoy being around the most. What started as a random reconnection turned into one of my closest friendships, and I’m grateful for it.
Justin Clark
Groomsman
Justin and I met playing lacrosse at LTU, and it didn’t take long before we were spending more time together off the field than on it. Between early workouts, ripping around on dirt bikes, long days out on the water and convincing ourselves we’re qualified to install custom exhausts on cars, we’ve covered a lot of ground. He’s the guy who somehow makes every plan more chaotic but also way more fun. Through all of it, Justin has been the kind of friend who shows up when it counts. He’s steady, loyal, and always down for whatever questionable idea gets thrown out next. I’m lucky to have him in my corner!
Joey Badalamenti
Groomsman
Joey and I have been friends since high school, and somehow we’ve managed to stay just as close through every stage of life since. We went from playing hockey and lacrosse together to surviving multiple years as college roommates at LTU. Which is an experience that probably deserves its own documentary. Between late‑night study sessions, early‑morning practices, and the kind of roommate chaos that only makes sense in your twenties, we’ve seen each other at our best and our absolute worst. Through all of it, Joey has been one of those steady, reliable friends you can count on no matter what. We’ve shared a lot of laughs, a lot of miles, and probably way too many questionable decisions along the way, but I wouldn’t trade any of it. He’s been a constant in my life for a long time, and I’m grateful for the kind of friendship that sticks on the field, in the dorms, and in "normal" life now a days!
Scott Bishop
Groomsman
Scott is my soon‑to‑be brother‑in‑law, and from day one he made it incredibly easy for me to feel like part of the family. He’s genuine, steady, and the kind of person you’re immediately comfortable around. We’ve built a great friendship and love that how we have so much in common! We share love for hockey, hunting, talking construction and pretty much anything that gets us outside or competing a little. One thing that’s always stood out to me is how important he is to Jessica. She’s lucky to have a brother who’s as reliable, supportive, and solid as he is, and I’m grateful for that too. He’s played a huge role in her life, and because of that, he was just as important to me when it came time to ask for her hand. I asked him for his blessing along with her dad, because he deserves that respect and carries that kind of weight in her world. I’m thankful to be joining a family with someone like Scott in it, and I’m looking forward to all the years of memories, traditions, and brother‑in‑law moments ahead.
James Dexter
Groomsman
James is my brother‑in‑law that I genuinely appreciate the role he plays in our family. Anyone who can handle my sister, Rachel, with patience and a sense of humor definitely earns a place next to me on my wedding day. He has been steady, respectful, and good to her, and that matters a lot to me. We have shared plenty of nice family dinners over the years. I also end up helping him fix things around his house from time to time, Im just a call away! It is usually simple stuff, but it has become an easy way for us to connect. Those small moments have added up and helped build a comfortable, genuine relationship. What I value most is how well he treats my sister. Knowing she has someone reliable in her corner gives me a lot of peace, and I am grateful for that. Having him stand with me on my wedding day feels right, and I am glad he is part of the family.
Morgan Lockemy
Groomsman
Morgan and I became friends through our shared love of duck hunting, and that connection turned into a friendship that gotten more important to me over time. There is something about freezing mornings in the blind, 4am pick up's before sunrise and the kind of conversations you only have when you are half awake and waiting on birds that builds a real bond. From the start, he has been someone I can count on, whether we are out in the marsh or just catching up after a long week. We have had plenty of great nights together, both going out and staying in. Some of my favorite times are the simple ones, like firing up the grill and turning a regular night into something memorable. He brings an easygoing energy that makes everything feel relaxed and fun, no matter what we are doing. Over the years, that consistency has made him one of those friends you genuinely appreciate having around.
Tommy Marchin
Groomsman
My cousin Tommy has always been the closest thing I ever had to a brother. We were born only seven months apart, and from the time we were little we were side by side in just about everything. We grew up on hockey rinks, golf courses, and in the woods hunting together, and those years built a bond that has always felt stronger than just being cousins. He was the person I competed with, learned from and laughed with through every stage of growing up. Even now, with him living in a different state, nothing about that connection has changed. We still talk often, keep up with each other’s lives, and fall right back into the same rhythm whenever we get the chance to see each other. The distance never really mattered because the foundation was always there. He has been a constant in my life from the very beginning, and I am grateful for a relationship that has stayed solid no matter where we live or how much time passes.
