Whitney & Ryan
Wedding Party
Courtney Schmidt Drain
Matron of Honor
Courtney and Whitney first met in Mrs. Walsh’s Kindergarten class at St. Patrick’s Catholic School. Although Courtney was always a high-performing athlete and Whitney was an advocate for theatrics, they found common ground in their love of girl-power country music and spent many recesses performing a variety of Dixie Chicks and Shania Twain songs for adoring audiences of elementary students. Court and Whit braved some of the world’s tallest roller coasters on their bi-annual trips to Cedar Point and once crashed a fancy party in NYC. Courtney graduated valedictorian of the Lowell High School Class of 2011 and became a decorated college athlete playing soccer at Hope College. She then went on to study medicine at Wayne State University and is now a practicing orthopedic surgeon. Today, you can find Courtney in Grand Rapids with her husband: Elliott, son: Bode, and dog: Tucker.
Brent Kutcher
Best Man
Being the brother closest in age to Ryan growing up in the Kutcher household, Brent received the most free advice and unsolicited coaching from Ryan than any of his other siblings. Some say that a competitive video game rivalry growing up would strain Brent and Ryan’s relationship later in life, but nothing could be further from the truth. During their time at Michigan State, Brent became indoctrinated into Ryan’s group of friends and therefore, they have done everything together. They both work at GM, snowmobile together all the time, pull each other waterskiing, and both witnessed Kenneth Walker III’s 5 Touchdown performance against Michigan in 2021. Whitney and Ryan are honored to have Brent represent them in the wedding as their best man.
Taylor Nyson
Bridesmaid
Taylor was Whitney’s first friend. When Whitney’s parents decided to put down roots in Lowell, they were quickly welcomed into the horse community of Greater Grand Rapids - of which Taylor’s family are extremely prominent. Though neither Taylor nor Whitney ever caught the “horse bug,” they bonded over their love of God’s other creatures. Taylor also attended St. Patrick’s and would go through twelfth grade alongside Whitney. Throughout high school and beyond, Taylor became Whitney’s travel buddy - going on trips to France, NYC, and Nashville together. Notably, Taylor and Whitney were spotted on the plaza of the Today Show in the fall of 2015. She is now an accomplished financial analyst at Amway and lives with her husband, Alden, in Lowell where they give a place for a variety of species to call home.
Matt Kutcher
Groomsman
The youngest brother in the Kutcher household, Matt is famous for his contagious enthusiasm and for holding the record for most broken bones by far. Many say that Matt and his friends grew up tougher because they were constantly playing sports in the neighborhood against their older brothers. Matt left the state of Michigan after college and has lived in Dallas, Atlanta, and Nashville while working for AT&T. Ryan and Matt have had many adventures together in these destinations including ending up in a brisket-induced food coma at the Stockyards in Ft. Worth or walking home from a night on Broadway in Nashville during an active Tornado warning.
Sarah Kramer
Bridesmaid
Last, but most certainly not least, Sarah rounds out the St. Pat’s crew. Memories with Sarah (aka “Kramer”) are countless. One of Whitney’s favorites was when they co-starred in Annie, Jr. in 7th grade - Sarah as Grace and Whitney as Miss Hannigan. Another highlight was frolicking through France together during a high school-sponsored trip abroad. After graduating from Northern Michigan University, Sarah moved to Seattle to earn her Masters in Athletic Training. To get to Seattle, Sarah converted a minivan into a mini-motorhome and made a solo cross-country road trip. She kicked off her journey by visiting Whitney in NYC where she magically found free street parking for the entire weekend! She now works at Seattle Children’s Hospital. When not working, she can be found doing a variety of adventurous, mountaineering activities and can always be counted on for a good belly laugh and a recommendation for a craft beer.
Sam Muench
Groomsman
Friends since the second grade, it would be hard to find Sam and Ryan apart for any significant amount of time. Sam and Ryan were attached at the hip through every step of their childhood. As boys Ryan and Sam spent time developing life-long ping pong skills and as the least successful fishermen in Oakland County. Ryan and Sam spent so much time together growing up people began to say they were twins – which of course they leaned into as their favorite party trick in college. Ryan and Sam ski and snowboard with each other each year, most recently they traveled to Utah where Sam rode the famous “Johnny Tsunami” log at Brighton Resort. When Sam isn’t charging double black diamonds, you can find him saving lives in the cardiovascular operating room at Beaumont Hospital. Sam lives with his equally talented wife McKenzie and their dog Benny in Ferndale, MI.
Jennifer Deacon
Bridesmaid
Ryan’s older (and wiser) sister, Jenny, quickly became like an older sister to Whitney, too. Jen is always the Hostess with the Mostest! A lover of games, many a game night have been hosted by Jenny - Catchphrase, Telestrations, and even some questionable rounds of What Do You Meme? have all been played around Jen’s dining room table. Jenny is always the first person to offer a listening ear and sound advice. She’s generous, smart, and so welcoming. She instantly made Whitney feel like a part of the Kutcher family after the first hug she gave her. Jenny lives in Commerce Township with her husband, Jeff, and their dog, Jack.
Jeff Deacon
Groomsman
Jeff Deacon is best known for being the first person to infiltrate the Kutcher family by marrying the groom’s sister Jennifer. Now a pilot for Delta Airlines, Jeff has had an accomplished career as a flight instructor in Phoenix, AZ and as a captain for Sky West based out of Detroit. In the time Jeff has been around, him and Ryan have bonded by playing on the same hockey team and competing in pinball at the Kutcher house. Jeff would rather be on Van Etten Lake in Oscoda, MI than reading this right now.
Lauren Kutcher
Bridesmaid
Lauren “Lo” Kutcher is the youngest sibling of the Kutcher kids. Similar to Jenny, Lauren is the younger sister Whitney never had but always wanted! As a member of Gen Z, you can count on Lo to capture and caption the perfect Instagram pic or Tik Tok video. She’s also the adoring dog aunt to her “Shmoopy” aka Whitney and Ryan’s dog, Kirby. When not studying business at EMU or earning some serious cash money babysitting, Lauren can be found on the boat, hanging out with her family, or DM’ing Whitney videos of Golden Retrievers on social media. Lauren is a junior at Eastern Michigan University and lives in Wixom, MI.
Max Dunigan
Groomsman
Max and Ryan became friends in Room 1312 of the College of Engineering at Michigan State. Max overheard Ryan talking with a classmate about an upcoming Spartan Ski Club trip. Max quickly joined the conversation, decided to room with Ryan on that trip to Copper Mountain, CO and the rest is history. Max is the best wakeboarder on Loon Lake and has coached Ryan in the sport for nearly a decade. Max and Ryan also enjoy riding snowmobiles together, dominating a set of cornhole boards, or being wildly inconsistent teammates on the golf course. Max recently made a career change to join an excavating company as an estimator but the most important title he holds is as the Commissioner of our fantasy football league. Max and his lovely wife Mackenzie just finished building a house with their bare hands in Dewitt, MI.
Abby Claybaugh
Bridesmaid
Abby is, for all intents and purposes, also a Kutcher sister! Abby is the longtime girlfriend of Ryan’s younger brother, Matt, and she has been an unofficial member of the Kutcher Fam for almost 15 years. Having been on many family vacations together, Abby and Whitney always stick together and have fun getting in on the Kutcher family antics! Some of Whitney’s favorite memories with Abby include karaoke nights in the condo at Table Rock Lake, going out on Broadway in downtown Nashville, and making an emergency stop for a bathroom while on the party bus from Jenny & Jeff’s wedding ceremony to the reception. When not singing or songwriting, Abby can be found in Nashville with Matt.
Tanner Cottrell
Groomsman
Tanner is Ryan’s first friend and they have known each other almost their entire lives. Ryan and Tanner lived across the street from each other in the 1990s leading to an immediate and lasting brotherhood. In middle school – Tanner and Ryan had terrible haircuts, played a little bit of soccer, and a lot of video games – most notably Dance Dance Revolution. In college, Tanner joined the world famous accapella group, The Spartan Dischords, where he honed in his singing talents and learned how to play 2-man. Tanner now lives in Denver, CO where he enjoys skiing in denim and leading short, quick, easy hikes for unsuspecting out of town guests.
Zoe Beloncis
Bridesmaid
A fated seating chart in high school choir led Whitney to Zoe. Side by side in Mr. Balaam’s soprano section, the two had no treble becoming best buds. After a few rave musical performances and a season cheering the Red Arrows on to a State Final, Zoe and Whitney decided to try their hand as roommates at Michigan State University. Success! The twosome (plus a neighbor’s hamster) called 258 Shaw Hall home and then moved off-campus to The Wedgewood. Both only children, Zoe and Whitney found a special sisterhood together. Zoe now lives in Cleveland with her Jack Russel Terrier, Remy.
Nicholas Sommers
Groomsman
Nick and Ryan became friends as 8th graders in Ms. Shylan’s art class where they bonded over a love of the Detroit Red Wings and the song “The Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stefani ft. Akon. Nick and Ryan maintained a close friendship and a mildly successful YouTube channel through high school and college. Nick is an elite hockey and Super Smash Bros. (N64 version) player. He was responsible for teaching Ryan how to play organized hockey and they went on to win 2 beer league championships together. In 2018 Nick and Ryan became roommates and survived the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic quarantining together. Although they are no longer roommates, they have perhaps the most bitter fantasy football rivalry and yet somehow maintain a close friendship. Nicholas and his girlfriend, Alyssa, live with their cat, Sadie, nearby Ryan and Whitney in Royal Oak, MI.
Ellen Deppe
Bridesmaid
Though neither an engineer, Ellen and Whitney’s paths crossed by way of General Motors. After Ryan and Ellen’s now-husband, Matt (also in the bridal party), became work buds, it was just a matter of time before the girlfriends would be introduced and start their own love affair. Ellen and Whitney shared an instant connection and bonded over their taste in music, creative tendencies, and love of having a good ole time. Matt, Ellen, Ryan, and Whitney have spent many lake weekends together during the summer and cozy dinners during the winter. Ellen and Matt live in Grand Rapids and became parents to a little girl, Sylvia, in February 2023.
Matthew Deppe
Groomsman
Matt and Ryan met early on in their careers at General Motors. Though Ryan initially resisted Matt’s early attempts at friendship, they found common ground at the Chipotle on Mound Road in Warren, MI and a friendship was born. Ryan and Matt spent summers putting the pain in Payne Lake by wakeboarding until their arms fell off. They spent time on the high seas of Lake Cumberland on a couple of houseboat trips and even spent a week together skiing at Whistler-Blackcomb. Matt Deppe is perhaps most famous for blowing a 3-1 series lead in the 2018 Clarklake Pickleball Championships to Ryan and groomsman Max. Matt now lives in Grand Rapids, MI with his wife Ellen where they welcomed their first child in February.
Timothy Putlak, Jr.
Groomsman
Timmy is Ryan’s cousin from Chicago, IL. 4 years older than the groom, growing up, Timmy was (and still is) literally the coolest cousin of all time. Timmy and Ryan spent plenty of time together growing up on Table Rock Lake near Branson, MO. You could find them fishing, tubing, or trying to perfect the 360 on a kneeboard. Timmy was an accomplished college hockey player at Illinois State where he was voted unanimously to the All-American hair team as a freshman. When Timmy wasn’t at the rink you could find him at The Gorge Amphitheater touring with Dave Matthews Band or on a hike with his lovely wife, Jacey and their 10-month-old daughter, Maizy.
Geoff Todd
Groomsman
Geoff and Ryan’s friendship dates back to Loon Lake Elementary School where they were best known for their performance reciting poetry in the 3rd grade talent show. They were by each others’ side all the way through their time in the College of Engineering at Michigan State. Ryan and Geoff started a proud legacy of yearly ski trips out west when they joined the Spartan Ski Club at Copper Mountain, CO in 2012. Nowadays you can find Geoff with his wonderful wife Kendal at CJ’s brewery or at your local cars and coffee in his GR86.