Wedding Party
Brooke
Maid of Honor
Brooke has known Brandon since she was a kid—starting karate when she was just 7 years old. (Fun fact: Brandon once forgot to announce 8-year-old Brooke’s birthday while teaching a class… and yes, she cried, and no, she’s never let him live it down.) Over the years, they trained side by side, eventually working together at the dojo and formed a rooted friendship, including way too many inside jokes to count. When Gillian came into Brandon’s life, Brooke and Gillian hit it off instantly—spending that first summer together practically inseparable. Their friendship officially began when Gillian invited Brooke to the Kalamazoo Zoo (an admittedly random but very on-brand first hangout). What started as a casual day trip quickly grew into a sisterhood filled with late-night talks, adventures, and an unshakable connection. They even traveled to Iceland together, proving there’s no one better to navigate both road trips and life’s big moments with. To say we’re grateful for Brooke is an understatement. She’s more than a best friend—she’s family. Her love, loyalty, and infectious energy mean the world to both of us, and there’s truly no one better suited to stand beside us as Maid of Honor on our wedding day. If you see her at the wedding, conversation topics could include: how many tattoos she has, yellow Redbull, the superiority of Taco Bell, Black belt, cat mom to a feline named Deputy, her (very real) hatred of being to hot, and she’s been pepper sprayed.
Mike
Best Man
Doing karate around each other until they both got their black belts, they did not become friends until they began working together around 2013, but through teaching, training and trips with friends and for competition, they became good friends quick. Mike has always been the friend to call, whether it was something big like moving in, or simple like a trip to the gym, Mike answered. Mike went from 10 second phone calls, to good, long, life talks on the phone after Covid. Gill is always super happy with the timing of these. We’re incredibly lucky to have him in our corner—not just on our wedding day, but every day. And let’s be honest—he’s also a total goofball, and we know he’s going to make our wedding day even more fun (and probably a little ridiculous, in the best way). We’re so grateful to celebrate this next chapter with him by our side. Conversation topics could include: Golf, golfing simulator, driving range, how's my swing look? 32 holes on a Sunday? And the inability to properly digest cheese.
Ashley
Bridesmaid
Ashley and Gillian go way back—all the way to their very first job at the MJR movie theater, where they met when Gillian was just 16. After a few years and a lot of growing up, they reconnected in 2020 thanks to TikTok (of all things!)—and it felt like no time had passed. From movie theater uniforms to big milestone moments, they’ve shared it all—celebrating their 21st birthdays together, girls’ trip, camping weekends, and many unforgettable nights. During Gillian’s college years, Ashley was always down for a visit—guaranteed a weekend to remember. They’d party until they dropped, hit tailgates, cheering, and dancing along the way. They’ve cheered each other on through life’s highs, Gillian is beyond grateful to have Ashley by her side on this special day. Conversation topics could include: Country music queen, Bud Light, loyal Swiftie, shotgunning champion, how much she hates being woken up andddddd she's engaged (yay!)
Matt
Groomsman
One of the biggest reasons Brandon continued karate was because of his friends like Matt. Countless memories from early on, trips, karate camps (roommates), tournaments and camping…they became the type that needed to be separated in class because only nonsense would happen. Matt endured countless exposures to the families second hand smoke just to have some great nights with the karate boys, the results will always be worth it. Even though they mess around a lot, Matt was the first friend Brandon showed the ring to. From karate mats to life milestones, he’s been there through it all. I’m genuinely grateful to have him by my side—not just because of the memories we’ve already made, but because he’s the kind of friend you want around for all the big moments. Topics: He will, unprompted, bring up a certain sparring match with the groom (my grandchildren will hear about it), undisputed nicest hair of the group, strangely strong forearms, and his lil cat.
kilee
Bridesmaid
Gillian has known Kilee’s husband for basically her entire life—they grew up together, practically in diapers, with moms who are best friends to this day. So when Kilee came into the picture, it didn’t take long for a new friendship to start forming. Over time, Kilee and Gillian grew incredibly close. From casual hangouts to milestones, they’ve shared laughs, late-night talks, and the kind of friendship that feels easy, natural, and full of genuine care. We’re so thankful to have Kilee standing by our side on this special day. Her steady support and thoughtful heart mean the world to both of us, and we’re lucky to call her not only a friend, but chosen family. Conversation topics could include: Mommy life with sweet little Alessandra (a.k.a. the real boss of the house), lashes, McDonald’s coke, target, why Hawaii is the ultimate escape (and how she’s always ready to go back).
Marcus
Groomsman
Marcus was Brandon’s coworker who specifically worked on the same days. Which led to some great memories teaching, and some arguments over who would be vacuuming that day. Watching the other teach, making jokes to the class only each other understand, it led to working times you cannot recreate. The times at “Marcus’ house” are always memorable and still happen. Lucky for Marcus, Brandon was there to get him started in the gym (no thanks necessary). And yes, Marcus has always been as self assured as he is now, which leads to some funny stories like his birthday at Boogie Fever…and his tumble at Madison Pub. If you see him at the wedding, conversation topics could include: Being a full-on FED (don’t worry, he’s cool—we think), Halloween, gym rat, The Jeepers Creepers franchise.
kendall
Bridesman
Kendall chose Gillian to be her friend during the very first week of college at Saginaw State University. They met at a college party, instantly clicked, and quickly became inseparable. By junior year, they were living together and creating the kind of memories that last a lifetime. Some of their favorite memories include Big Brother nights on the couch and Gillian attempting to play sand volleyball with Kendall—emphasis on attempting. And when it came to apartment life, Kendall was always the one taking out the trash—truly the unsung hero and ultimate roommate MVP. Even though they now live far apart, their friendship has remained rock solid. Kendall has a way of showing up—whether through a thoughtful text, a spontaneous visit, or a perfectly timed laugh—no matter the distance. We’re so grateful Kendall is making the trip to stand beside us. Having Kendall as a bridesmaid is not just meaningful—it’s a celebration of a beautiful friendship that has stood the test of time and distance. If you see her at the wedding, conversation topics could include: Crochet projects that may take over the entire living room, Coke Zero, Big Brother, a nurse by day (well, night), cat mom to Marceline 24/7, and coffee.
Owen
Groomsman
Owen is Gillian’s older brother— Like most siblings, Gillian and Owen spent a lot of their early years bickering over just about everything—from who got the front seat to whose turn it was for the tv. But beneath all the teasing and eye rolls, they were fiercely protective of each other. As they grew up, that sibling rivalry turned into a friendship built on mutual respect and shared humor. They’ve shared unforgettable adventures across the globe—from lounging on the beaches of Greece, to ringing in the New Year in Paris, to spontaneously taking a day trip to Albania. Owen currently lives in Germany, and we couldn’t be more thrilled (and grateful!) that he’s making the trip to be here for the big day. Before Brandon proposed, he did the honorable thing and asked Owen for his blessing—and now we get to celebrate this next chapter with one of the people who’s been there since Gillian’s very first. Having Owen by our side on this day means the world to both of us. If you see him at the wedding, conversation topics could include: Germany, he has been to 19 countries an counting and he really wants a dog.
Lauren
Bridesmaid
Lauren’s not only Brandon’s little sister, but she’s the matchmaker who brought the bride and groom together. Call it her intuition, or just luck, but without Lauren there’s a good chance this wedding wouldn’t be happening (so we really owe her). From the very beginning, Lauren has been one of their biggest supporters—she was actually the first person Brandon showed the engagement ring to and shared his plans to propose to Gillian. Having Lauren as both a sister and a bridesmaid is an incredibly meaningful part of this day, and they couldn’t imagine celebrating without her by their side. Conversation topics could include: Ask her about being a horse fairy, life outside civilization, raising chickens, or how to get a cheap flight to Florida (legally)
Chris
Groomsman
If you’re following the trend here, Chris and Brandon became friends through karate. If you saw how Lauren and Chris first met, you might be surprised that she's happy he’s in the wedding party. Chris was added to the Dojo Brandon was at in 2016, where they were able to teach classes together and hangout after work was over. Chris would always be down to come hang out no matter how late, or short notice. They seem to find themselves in weird little situations, like when a random man referred to Chris as “Lil Butter” after Chris said Brandon was “Toast”. Topics: Jiu jitsu, misbehaving cats (mainly Hodor), funko pop or pokemon card collection, how's the weather down there
Alyssa
Bridesmaid
Alyssa and Gillian are book club buddies (though let’s be honest, it’s just as much about the wine, food, and catching up on life as it is about the books). Their “reading” nights have become a cherished monthly tradition, filled with laughter, storytelling, and conversations that last well into the evening—whether or not the latest novel is even discussed. What started as a casual connection quickly turned into a genuine, lasting friendship. Alyssa’s warmth, wit, and thoughtfulness have made her such a special part of Gillian’s life. She’s the kind of friend who shows up with a bottle of wine and the perfect advice. Brandon and Gillian are beyond grateful to have Alyssa in their wedding—and they truly couldn’t imagine celebrating this moment without her by their side as they celebrate this next chapter. Conversation topics could include: happily hikes 10 miles just for fun, teaching, birds, books (duh), travel and she’s never without a trusty tub of Vaseline (don’t ask—just accept).
Brendan
Groomsman
Part of the school group of Brandon’s friends, Brendan, or better known “Bfeld”, has always been the upbeat friend you can count on to go on trips to the Cavaliers game, Kalahari, up north or just out to play basketball. His energy to always be doing something is shocking, good thing he has that nice company truck, because he’s always headed somewhere. One of the best shared memories between the two would have to be the final moments, watching JR Smith send it home in double overtime- in the greatest game we’ve seen in person. Brendan been a solid friend for years, always showing up. Glad he’s standing with me—wouldn’t be the same without him. Topics: Baseball, Busch apple, the company truck, and he shares an *unhealthy* obsession of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers with the groom.
Emily
Bridesmaid
Emily is one of those rare people who can light up a room without even trying. She’s effortlessly funny—the kind of person who will have you laughing until you cry, often without even realizing she’s the one who started it. Her quick wit, hilarious stories, and perfectly timed one-liners make unforgettable moments. Over the years, Emily has become so much more than a friend—she’s a trusted confidante, a constant source of joy. Whether it’s a casual hangout or a big life moment, she has a way of making everything feel a little more special (and a lot more fun). We’re so lucky to have Emily standing by our side on this day. Her love and energy mean the world to us, and we couldn’t imagine celebrating this next chapter without her. Conversation topics could include: Growing list of travel destinations, sushi dates, and concerts.
Nathan
Groomsman
Knowing the groom since he was in elementary school, Nathan has plenty of embarrassing moments to tell about Brandon, sadly, most of them are on video too. A neighbor to Bucky, the two would hang out nearly every weekend either in the pool, on xbox, or practicing pyrotechnics. No weekend was missing some sort of event or project, Friday night Jets pizza, where Nate knew 3 slices was the max until his allergy started to kick in, the weekends at Buckys will always be special to both of them. Even though now they live further apart, they continue to make the effort to hang out and see each other's families. Conversation topics could include: Proud dad of two boys, trains, life out in the country, can build anything, managing his personal petting zoo—complete with 2 dogs, 3 rabbits, 3 goats, 12 chickens, oh and he technically died once…