Sami & Alex
Wedding Party
Taylor Frank
Matron of Honor
Taylor has been one of Sami's partners in crime since high school. Although Sami didn't think Taylor liked her at first, it turns out Taylor was just shy. They have shared many adventures together, both locally and abroad, from nights on Broadway in Nashville, to taking on the streets of Prague. Taylor is married to one of the groomsmen, Gus, and both played important roles in Alex and Sami's engagement.
Jeremy Brunner
Best Man
Jeremy has been Alex’s best friend since kindergarten. Growing up down the street from one another, Alex, Jeremy, and Jeremy’s brother Matt were as thick as thieves, spending most of their time together outside of school. They remained close through college with Alex spending many weekends sleeping on Jeremy's couch in Madison. Though Jer now lives in Boston, the two remain as close as ever.
Kelsey Borchardt
Bridesmaid
The 3rd piece to the trio friendship with MOH Tay! Sami & Kelsey enjoy fitness endeavors together (and also the adult beverages provided after), from running their first half marathon in Door County to a recent Tough Mudder in Indiana. She is married to one of the groomsmen, Brad; you'll find the four of them cheering on the GB Packers at Lambeau every season!
Mitch Ronzia
Groomsman
Mitch was Alex’s roommate for two years while they attended UW-La Crosse. Alex takes credit for playing matchmaker to Mitch and his wife, Emily, one of Alex’s good friends from high school. Apart from being one of Alex’s many matchmaking success stories, Mitch and Alex also enjoyed a shared love of Lynyrd Skynard, especially after a long night on the town.
Kim Clausen
Bridesmaid
Kim & Sami met on a club volleyball team and would meet every season in high school across the net. They ended up going to UW-LAX for college together where their friendship really took off. You'd find these two and fellow bridesmaid, Terah, playing volleyball every chance they got!
Andy Sterling
Groomsman
Andy is Alex’s older brother. With a seven year gap between them, Alex excitedly played the role of annoying younger brother until Andy left the house for college, taking every opportunity to interfere in Andy’s social life. Alex and Andy grew closer as they grew older and today share a close bond, planning annual trips to see Phish when they have time.
Nicole Pavlik
Bridesmaid
These two survived nursing school together with fellow bridesmaid, Kristin, and were roommates for a few years on Brady Street! Even with the stress of school they managed to make many memories like a week-long adventure during the 2019 Polar Vortex, running their first half marathon together, and a 36-hour birthday trip to Vegas.
Michael Bonin
Groomsman
Michael and Alex have known each other since grade school. Early on, their friendship revolved around football - Flag Football at the YMCA, Varsity Football in High School, or Fantasy Football with the boys. Alex even broke Michael's hand in Middle School football practice (completely accidental). Nowadays, they spend their time together getting into trouble in Milwaukee and still play Fantasy Football, with Michael recently defeating Alex in the playoffs.
Justine Dubel
Bridesmaid
Justine was there to see Sami & Alex's relationship from the beginning as a fellow coworker at The Waterfront. With many late nights and busy schedules, the three of them became close friends. Over the years they have enjoyed many weekends visiting each other across the state and many birthday adventures!
Bryan Nagy
Groomsman
Bryan and Alex have been friends since middle school. What brought them together was their shared taste in music, frequently making plans to record cover albums of varying themes. Bryan and Alex still maintain plans to record a long-awaited Christmas record, to be released Winter 2023.
Kristin Schmidt
Bridesmaid
O-Chem and a now very close mutual friend from Texas, Hunter, brought these two friends together in college! With fellow bridesmaid Nicole, they all endured nursing school together, which only brought them closer. Even with busy schedules, they have always found time to make room for core memories over the years.
Brad Borchardt
Groomsman
Brad and Sami have been good friends since high school and now he has become a close friend to Alex as well. Before Sami and Alex even started dating, they became friends when Alex performed the truffle shuffle on a public picnic table during Oktoberfest in La Crosse. They share their love for classic vinyl records, always introducing each other to new music and sharing their favorites every year. Brad lives in Green Bay with his wife, Kelsey, who is also a bridesmaid.
Cass Pupp
Bridesmaid
Club volleyball brought these two friends together back in middle school. They spent many late nights causing chaos with their team at weekend tournaments throughout the years and were then rivals across the net in high school. Besides their love for volleyball, their friendship has continued to grow stronger into adulthood as they have celebrated many important life events together.
Gus Frank
Groomsman
Gus is married to Sami’s maiden-of-honor, Taylor. Gus and Alex became friends after Gus retrieved a role of toilet paper for Alex while he was stuck in a Pick an’ Save bathroom. That was the first time they met. It’s only been up since then. Gus and Alex have been all over the world together. In fact, Gus had a front row seat when Alex proposed to Sami in Florence, Italy.
Abby Kuehl
Bridesmaid
Abby & Sami met at Ripon College for one of Abby's birthday parties; she was dating her now husband, Nate, who is a close friend of Sami's from high school. They would see each other on occasion over the years but it wasn't until after college that Abby became one of Sami's closest friends. Abby is always the life of the party, so you'll undoubtedly find these two together tearing up the dance floor.
Brandan Benzing
Groomsman
Brandan is one of Sami's closest friends from high school and the best Senior prom date. Sami spent most of the summer after her senior year as an honorary member of the Benzing household. Even with some distance between them during and after college, their friendship has always remained strong. Thankfully for Alex, he got the stamp of approval since Brandan has always been the "older-younger" brother to her.
Emily Ronzia
Bridesmaid
Emily is one of Alex's closest friends from his time at UW-Lax. Though they have known each other since middle school, Emily will claim that Alex and best man Jeremey bullied her throughout grade school...a claim Alex vehemently denies (suspiciously, no comment from Jer). But in Alex's defense, he is the one responsible for introducing her to husband another fellow bridal party member Mitch.
Colin Linscott
Groomsman
Colin is one of Sami and Alex’s closest friends in Milwaukee. Though a former roommate of Sami, Colin and Alex clicked immediately upon meeting; so much so that Colin didn’t even know who Alex was at the time and for a brief moment believed Alex was a party-crasher. Colin still lives in downtown Milwaukee, frequently accompanying Sami and Alex in their weekend adventures.
Terah Stackhouse
Bridesmaid
Terah was one of Sami's roommates in college. You could find these two playing volleyball at Pettibone Beach or up on the bluffs at the Alpine Inn in La Crosse. They celebrated many September birthdays together while in college, frequently playing pool at their beloved Chucks bar.
Caleb Colon-Rivera
Personal Attendant
Caleb, Sami & Alex met back in college through multiple mutual friends. It just goes to show that this friendship was meant to be! There is never a dull moment when these three are together and have enjoyed many fun adventures in La Crosse and Milwaukee alongside bridesmaid Justine.
Austin Karraker
Flowerman
Austin met Sami and Alex when he moved to Milwaukee in 2018. A recovering middle school history teacher, Austin and Alex frequently engage in heated, but thoughtful conversations on current events, politics, and other toxic subjects matters. Sami & Austin share their love of country music from nights at Red Rock in Milwaukee all the way down to the honky-tonks in Nashville. The three of them have made it a yearly event completing Tough Mudders in different cities across the country.
Brett Walker
Usher
Brett was Alex’s closest friend during Alex’s freshman year spent at UW-Whitewater. Brett and and Alex were thick as thieves during this time, taking all 18 credits their spring semester together. While they may have wanted each other dead by the end of that semester, it was still filled with memories neither will soon forget.
Jesse Stansell
Officiant
Jesse is a longtime roommate of Sami & Alex. More importantly, he is also their favorite bartender. Jesse has shared many special moments with them both. Alex fondly remembers the days in their apartment during the midst of the pandemic playing old video games for hours on end. For Sami, their friendship dates back to the early days of college, although they became closest when she moved in with him and some of the other members of the Brady Street Crew back in 2018.