Wedding Party
Rachel Urbiha
Team Alisha
I hardly have a memory that doesn't involve Rachel. She is my lifelong, ride or die, truest best friend, as we grew up living across the street from one another from 15 months old. We're the kind of friends who would get on the school bus in the morning, write notes to each other during the day, and if we didn't immediately go to the other's house after school, we used walkie-talkies to keep in touch until dinner. From preschool to high school graduation, learning how to drive, first sips of cheap alcohol, big loves, brokenhearts.. to now first homes and having babies.. I simply cannot do life without her. I stood beside her as she married the love of her life in 2018 and now she gets to do the same for me, something we truly talked about at sleepovers, lifetimes ago. Rachel, her husband Alex, beautiful little ones, Lauren and John, and furry one, Ollie, live in Marquette.
Taryn Goodman
Team Alisha
Taryn moved down the street from me at the end of 5th grade. It took sitting next to each other on the bus for us (and Rachel) to begin one of the greatest friendships I have ever known. The three of us were inseparable from that point, until Taryn moved to California at the start of 8th grade, but even then distance meant little for as close as we were. A few flights across the country, hours of webcam chats (yeah, way before Facetime..), and too many calls and texts to count later, Taryn moved back to the UP to finish her undergrad degree at NMU as I was doing the same! We picked right up where we left off, just with far more alcohol and nights out than back in our middle school days. I'm so grateful that we've been able to share so much over the last almost 2 decades-- graduating college, standing in her wedding, and seeing her work towards her doctorate!!-- and that our friendship has endured it all yet remained unchanged! Taryn and her husband, Justin and their 2 fur-babies Sloan and Kona, live in Fenton, Michigan where Taryn is finishing her degree in Occupational Therapy.
Allie Taylor
Team Alisha
Allie and I met working the best worst job either of us have ever had, at a dine-in theater in Missoula, Montana. I had been living in Montana for maybe 2 months when we met, so I feel the universe made it clear that one of my reasons for living in a new place was to meet her. Her infectious optimism, willingness to adventure and her incredible ability to stories really sealed the deal in becoming best friends. Our friendship is full of the most memorable experiences-- cutting down Christmas trees in the mountains, failing at making pickles, driving to Canada, accidently seeing wild orca whales, sawing box springs in half.. and ALWAYS drinking (too much) coffee.. we have the absolute best time together. Distance couldn't touch our friendship, as it's withstood moves from Montana to Michigan, Arkansas and New Mexico. My life is better and brighter with Allie in it, near or far! Allie's job recently moved her to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she lives with her fiance, Kyle and fur-baby Roux.
Kaylee Arnsparger
Team Alisha
My younger sister. The spit fire of the bunch. If you don't know Kaylee, she will make herself known. She's my go-to for whenever I need a reality check, vent sesh, or a wild time. We are the bag-drag sisters, and dynamic duo that have survived sharing a bedroom through childhood, love/hating each other for years, and a lot of real life shit. She knows me like few do, and for as much as I might have protested in my teenage years, I always want her around. She makes me laugh harder than anyone, has an excellent closet I love to steal from, and is a person you just want to spend time with, literally anytime anywhere. I'd trade most anything for a trip to target, getting Starbucks or a walk by the lake with her. And as of November 20, 2019, she's given me the greatest gift, the best job title I'll ever have, and a lifetime bestie, my nephew named Jaxson. Kaylee and Jaxson live just a few miles away in Marquette, where Kaylee is finishing her degree to become a Registered Nurse and Jaxson (3 years old) loves monster trucks and being covered in dirt.
Tori Arnsparger
Team Alisha
My older sister and day one bestie. We were born two years and one day apart. From playing princess (where I was always the “royal dog”), to joining high school swim team as soon as I could, to moving out to Montana and living with her after she (literally and figuratively) blazed a trail out west. She was who I chased after growing up, always wanting to do and be just like her. For both being Taurus’s, we are quite similar yet so different. Near or far, we can always speak the same language (random lingo or an exchange of glances), can spout lyrics from classic 90s hits on cue, and we are nearly always laughing until we’re crying. Though life has historically sent us different directions in careers, interests, and to different states, she is so solidly in my corner and I’m endlessly grateful to call her my sister and friend. Tori and her husband Adam, will welcome baby Nolan into the world in June, and live in West Ishpeming with their fur-child-awaiting-promotion-to-big-brother, Milton.
Sophie Adams
Team Brook
Sophie is my twin! Though as kids we were described as “polar opposites”, we have always been each others best friend and truest support system. We didn’t spend more than a day apart until college when we went to different schools. Sophie pursued a marketing degree and Masters degree in business before getting a job in Detroit. Eventually, I found the courage to move out of Marquette and to the Detroit area to be closer to my bestie. We were as tight as ever! Twins taking on the city! Shopping at the Eastern Market, confusing my clients at my gym, doing Spartan races, sneaking Fisher (my dog) into Sophie’s 13th floor apartment, and getting drunk at football games downtown with our friends. Even in 2020 we had the chance to live together again when Sophie moved into my rental house for a few months as she prepped for her big move to Paris. She’s lived in Paris the last few years getting her third degree and we have continued our close friendship over FaceTime calls that literally last hours. She is now planning her move back to the USA, specifically St. Louis. To call ours a “friendship” is doing the word a massive kindness. For everything in my life Sophie has been my team. For me, she is all I need on my side on my biggest day.
Holly Ulbricht
Officiant / Team Brook
Holly is my older sister! She currently lives in the Cincinnati area with her husband Brian and two kids, Abe and Louise. Holly was always a fun big sister. She was older than Sophie and I by enough years that she was always a sibling to admire, not to fight with. She played with us in the woods in Saginaw, would captain the boat for us on Marble Lake, she was our chauffeur when she got her license and I even lived with her for a month in Cincinnati during a college summer. I wanted Holly to stand with me, but the choice for who should marry us could literally not have been more clear. Holly is supportive, loving, vibrant, a great story teller, and truly admired by myself and Alisha. Holly being our ‘online minister’ was the absolute first wedding decision we made and it took no deliberation. We waited MONTHS before asking her because we wanted to ask in person. And as you can see, she graciously accepted.
Abraham Ulbricht
Flower Child
Abraham (Abe) is my nephew and he is 5 years old. He loves spending time at his grandparents house on the lake, riding his strider bike, and climbing on everything and everyone. Abe takes after both of his parents, as the natural life of the party.
Louise Ulbricht
Ring Bearer
Louise (Lil Wheezy) is my niece and is 3 years old. She loves looking at books, playing with her big brother, and chasing the dogs. She is also the worlds greatest hugger but you need to earn it first, which only makes it that much more special.
Jaxson Derouin
Flower Child
At 3 years old, this kid has more spunk, zest for life and laughter in him than anyone I know. His endless curiosity, obsession with monster trucks, and fascination with anything that crawls makes him so fun to be around. He really loves his dog cousins, Fisher and Milton, being in/near the lake, and spending time with Mimi (Grandma Val).