Elise & Brian
Wedding Party
Kyle Kaufman
Best Man
Kyle has been Brian's best man in the making since he made his surprise entrance to the Kaufman family in 1982. Kyle and Brian spent many years traversing the Fairfield sewers as mutant ninja turtles, playing deer in the middle of the street, and putting off the occasional smoke bomb as cars drove by. Additionally, they share their love of the Grateful Dead, Phish, and their long suffering of bleeding Mets blue and orange. Finally, this October Kyle will fulfill his destiny as Brian's best man!
Natascia Flasch
Maid of Honor
Natascia and Elise have been best friends since first grade when every teacher liked Natascia more than Elise (about which Elise is not bitter). Through the years, Natascia and Elise have planned many events together, such as their dog walking business (which never came to fruition) and Natascia's bacon-themed 11th birthday party (which did, with the two of them as the only attendees). Natascia has finally forgiven Elise for getting "sick" at every one of her childhood birthday parties and has agreed to be the maid of honor in Elise's wedding!
Jonathan Lindsay
Groomsman
Jono has been Brian's friend since they met in New York fourteen years ago as servers. Since then, Brian and Jono have switched restaurants together, gone to many Mets games, faced off in the 2018 Superbowl, and teamed up to create Jono's famous monkey. Now Jono gets to repay Brian by being a groomsman in his wedding!
Haley Dirkes-Jacks
Bridesmaid
Haley is Elise's younger (but taller) sister and has known Elise since 1997 when she was born. Young, hopeful Elise was expecting chocolate and was instead, unfortunately, presented with her first baby sister. To make matters worse, Haley arrived home from the hospital NOT named Salacamanda. Naturally, Elise asked their parents to take baby Haley back to the hospital, but they decided against it and look where Haley is now! A bridesmaid in Elise and Brian's wedding!
Casey Huling
Groomsman
Casey and Brian met at Camp Billings many brisk Vermontian summers ago. This dynamic duo was always in charge of picking up the China for international night and are responsible for designing and building the famous Billings Tiki sign. They are proud Marrieta alumni and infamously got the camp van stuck in a mud pit one summer. Casey was an integral supporter in the planning of the proposal, and will now support Brian as a groomsman in his wedding!
Julia Dirkes-Jacks
Bridesmaid
Julia is Elise's younger (but MUCH taller) sister. Julia has known Elise since 1998 when Elise's oldest child syndrome truly kicked in. Elise has supported Julia through many endeavor such as her lace gloves phase in Jr. High, her creepy stuffed animal creations, and her refusal to wear pants for most of her life. Julia is now supporting Elise in the endeavor of her wedding!
Tyler Gardner
Groomsman
Tyler and Brian were Special Ops together at Billings during Brian's last summer at camp. Brian directed Tyler in his debut as Satine in the all-male staff performance of Moulin Rouge, truly cementing their bond. They shared the experience of the most freezing Patriots game of all time and have spent numerous New Years in Burlington. They once were in a singing group together, and look where Tyler is now! A groomsman in Brian's wedding!
Paige Dirkes-Jacks
Bridesmaid
Paige (Podge) is Elise's youngest (and only slightly taller) sister. Podge has known Elise since 2000 when Podge became the final installment of The Dirkes-Jacks Girls. With her pack fully formed, Elise's alpha qualities were cemented and she set off to lead the most delightful group of girls ever to grace the planet. Elise has been cheering Podge on at her many performances for years, and now Podge is cheering Elise on at her wedding!
Patrick Whitlock
Groomsman
Patrick and Brian met working at Ravenwood High School as the classic basketball coach-theatre teacher duo. Their friendship can be clearly seen as @RHS Basketball Tweets supportively about the Ravenwood main stage productions and @RHS Theatre Tweets encouraging students to come out and support the basketball team. It's precious. Patrick will now support Brian as a groomsman in his wedding!
Grace McKinney
Bridesmaid
Grace and Elise met their freshman year of college on Hank 3 when Elise was determined to find someone to go to mass with her. Grace has since been Elise's fellow melancholic bookworm who shares in silent reading dates at Fido when she comes to town. Grace has caused Elise dismay since leaving Nashville for graduate school, but she has stayed a faithful long distance friend, commiserating with Elise over the phone during Elise and Brian's very confusing NOT DATING friendship phase. She is now wholly approved of by Brian due to their shared love of Moulin Rouge, and a bridesmaid in Elise and Brian's wedding!
Gaz Smith
Groomsman
Gaz and Brian's friendship was founded in 2007 when he accidentally showed up at the wrong camp, but Brian and the rest of Camp Billings took him in anyway. Brian will never forget the day when Gaz lost to him in an inexplicably high stakes game of rock-paper-scissors and had to bleach his hair. Brian's other favorite story about Gaz is when he lost 30 minutes into an 8 hour Monopoly tournament hosted on a bus around Europe. This and other stellar stories have landed him the coveted gig of groomsman in Brian's wedding!
Madeline Santulli
Bridesmaid
Madeline is one of Elise's closest friends and a stalwart member of the Acklen House Legacy. Elise and Madeline have known each other since 2011 when they met on day one of VUcept group 21 and proceeded to traverse college as proud members of Pride Rock. Madeline has since become a Ravenwood Theatre Department number 1 fan, having seen every production since Elise worked at Ravenwood and weirdly insisted on strong support of her theatre teacher colleague. And look where Madeline is now! A bridesmaid in Elise's wedding!