Caitlyn & Nicholas
Wedding Party
Avery Koeppen
Maid of Honor
Avery and I met when she transferred to my elementary school in 4th grade, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. For the past 15 years she’s been there through everything, from my middle school “boyfriends” to the day I started dating Nick. She’s watched our relationship from the very beginning and occasionally reminds Nick that she knew me first, though the two of them now have a great friendship of their own. Together, Avery and I have done it all: matching Justice outfits, “rescuing” (okay, stealing) a Yorkie and debating whether his name should be Smore or Smores before finally settling on Smores, living together in college, and now planning our weddings side by side. She recently moved to Charlotte with Josh, and even though I miss having her close, we make up for it with plenty of phone calls and visits. Avery has always been the one who makes me laugh, who I can talk to about anything because she’s such an open book, and who has been loyal to me from the start. I truly can’t imagine this day without her standing next to me.
Joe Palmieri
Best Man
Joe is my older brother, just four years ahead of me, so we’ve really grown up side by side. We’ve done just about everything together, from everyday life to traveling the world, and he’s always been someone I can count on. Whether it’s talking things through, catching a game, or having a drink, Joe’s the kind of guy who makes every moment better. I’m grateful to have him as my Best Man.
Caliyah Thomas
Bridesmaid
Caliyah is my cousin and was born just one month before me, so we’ve grown up side by side from the very beginning. In nearly every baby picture, I’m bright red and crying while she’s calm as can be—a perfect preview of our personalities. She’s the sweetest person, always up for anything, and loves her family more than anyone I know. We spent our childhoods inseparable—summers together, spring breaks in Florida singing in the backseat, choreographing dances, filming iMovie trailers, and dreaming up careers that would let us work and live in the same place (veterinarian, dolphin trainer—you name it). We’ve been two peas in a pod all our lives, and I’m so grateful to have always had her by my side.
Kam Tillman
Groomsman
I met Kam back in 6th grade and we’ve pretty much been side by side ever since. We went to the same college, played on the same intramural teams, and have done just about everything together along the way. We’ve traveled a bunch together already and plan to do plenty more in the future. He’s the one who put me onto a lot of music and has had my back no matter what. I’m really glad he’s part of this celebration.
Taeveny Thomas
Bridesmaid
Taeveny is my younger cousin, and we spent much of our childhood side by side. She’s the girliest, sassiest, and yet one of the most caring and motherly people you’ll ever meet. From countless Myrtle Beach trips to our frequent visits back and forth between North Carolina and West Virginia, every photo and video of her still makes me laugh and bring back the best memories. Recently, she and Quez welcomed their beautiful daughter, Mireya, and it’s been such a joy to watch her step into motherhood with so much love and grace. I’m incredibly proud of the woman she’s become and so thankful for the memories we’ve made together.
Josh Bond
Groomsman
I met Josh back in middle school, and we’ve been friends ever since. In high school, we made it our mission to try every item on the Taco Bell menu during lunch, which was probably not our healthiest idea but definitely one of the most fun. He visited a lot during college and eventually transferred to UNCW our sophomore year, which made for some great times. Josh has always been laid‑back and easy to get along with, and it’s great having him be part of our big day, especially since he’s engaged to the Maid of Honor.
Jessica Gaytan
Bridesmaid
I first heard about Jess through a mutual friend during our freshman year at UNCW, but because of COVID we didn’t actually meet until second semester after spring break. As soon as we did, Avery, Jen, Jess, and I clicked instantly—and we all wished it had happened sooner. From prank wars, to hours-long debriefs, to watching The Bachelorette, and to her patiently helping (or just watching) me spend an hour picking out an outfit for a night out, we quickly made up for lost time. Jess is goofy, energetic, and a bit of a lovable stressball, but she’s also the kind of friend who is always there when you need her. She now lives in Boston and is in PA school, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.
Teddy Johnson
Groomsman
I met Teddy freshman year of college when we got paired up as random roommates. He had a beach house at the time, so that quickly became the spot for us that year. We ended up living together for two more years off campus, making some of the greatest memories along the way, whether it was trips to New York or Vegas. Teddy has always been reliable and devoted to his friends, and I don’t think a random roommate story could have worked out any better.
Jenna Parker
Bridesmaid
I met Jenna at the same time I met Jess, and we all clicked right away. During college she balanced multiple jobs while still being our beer-loving girl who joined us for many nights out on the town. After graduation we finally had more time together, often catching up for hours over coffee. She’s an open book, just like me, and even though we’re both terrible at texting, every conversation feels like no time has passed. We also share the “high school sweetheart” story—hers is Gabe, and he and Nick get along so well, which makes it even more fun when we’re all together. Jenna has always been super chill and easy to be around, and I’m so grateful to have her by my side on such a special day.
Jason Rovnak
Groomsman
I met Jason the second half of freshman year playing spikeball, and we’ve been close ever since. He’s always someone you can talk to and relate to, and he’s a massive sports fan (Ohio State, unfortunately). Jason’s reliable, always there if you need him, and he cares deeply about the people in his inner circle. He’s also just a great guy to be around, and I’m really glad he’s part of this day.
Ruthie Zieverink
Bridesmaid
I met Ruthie in 2024 during our KPMG internship, and we instantly hit it off. She’s from North Carolina like me, which made it easy to connect right away. Ruthie loves to chat and is incredibly expressive, usually talking with her hands as conversations bounce from local lore to office gossip and everything in between. She’s the kind of friend who never makes you feel bad for sending long messages or going on a rant because she’s always ready to listen and match your energy. Ruthie went to UNC and loves studying, reading, taking walks, enjoying a good beer, and spending time with her golden retriever puppy, Skiff. She’s also always the first to say yes to a work break, whether that means grabbing coffee, taking a walk, or making a quick stop at Harris Teeter. I’m so grateful our internship brought us together.
Tim Sutton
Groomsman
Caitlyn has known Tim since birth. Their moms work together and have been best friends for years, so Caitlyn grew up around Tim and his twin brother Matt. They went to the same preschool, and Tim went to the same school as Caitlyn for kindergarten. Caitlyn carpooled with Tim and would go home with him after school to play until one of her parents picked her up. Our families have also spent many Christmas Eves together over the years, so Tim has always felt like part of the family. I met Tim my freshman year at UNCW at Jungle Rapids. We hit it off right away and spent the rest of college hanging out together. From plenty of parties, to annual Vegas trips, to even living in the same apartment complex, we’ve made a lot of great memories over the years. Tim is fun, driven, and someone who truly treats us like family. He’s been looking forward to this day just as much as we have, and I’m so glad he’ll be standing by my side.
Jenna Borko
Bridesmaid
I met Jenna during our KPMG internship in 2024, where she, Ruthie, and I quickly became a trio. She’s from New York and went to Penn State, and her mellow, go‑with‑the‑flow personality makes her one of the easiest people to be around. We’ve bonded over being older sisters and having high school sweethearts, which has been a fun overlap in our lives. Jenna is the kind of friend you can always rely on: steady, thoughtful, and genuinely caring. She even took care of me one night when I may have had a little too much to drink, which says everything about her character. We love hosting and attending each other’s dinner parties and catching up over good food, good drinks, and conversations that make you feel grounded. I’m so grateful she chose Raleigh as her home and even more grateful that our internship brought us together.
Matt Sutton
Groomsman
Matt shares the same lifelong connection with Caitlyn as his twin brother Tim. Matt is truly one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. We’ve bonded over the shared pain of being New York sports fans and have made a lot of great memories together, including a PCB spring break trip and a Vegas trip. Matt is always down for a good time and even went out with us the night before his first CPA exam (which he passed). Now that he’s back in Raleigh like us, we get to spend even more time hanging out. I’m really glad he’ll be standing by my side on this day.
Kayla Sobers
Bridesmaid
Kayla and I met when we started our full‑time positions in 2025, and I immediately loved her energy. She’s from Pennsylvania and went to Penn State with Jenna before transferring to the Raleigh office. We bonded quickly and could talk about anything from the start. We both love fashion, cooking, decorating, and all things creative, and she always has something to say in the best way. She loves cooking and hosting, and we love going out and grabbing drinks together. She even rang in the new year with me and my college friends, and I’ve loved introducing her to everyone. I’m so happy she moved to Raleigh, and I’m really grateful our paths crossed.
Mateo Echevarria
Groomsman
I met Mateo sophomore year at UNCW. He went to the same high school as Matt and Tim and a lot of our other college friends. He also lived in the same apartment complex as us. Mateo was at just about every party and trip along the way, including our Vegas trips. We bonded over our mutual love of J. Cole and spending time playing sports together. Whether it’s intramural sports, pickleball, golf, or anything competitive, Mateo is always in. He’s also easily the best golfer out of all of us. Now that he’s back in Raleigh like us, we still spend plenty of time together and he’s always down to go out. I’m lucky to have him as a friend and excited to have him up there with me on this day.
Christian Eckstein
Officiant
Christian is my brother by blood and Nick’s brother by choice. He grew up with me, of course, but he’s also grown up alongside Nick since he was 13. We’ve all fought like siblings, but we’ve also created countless memories together—from traveling across Europe, to college parties, to endless texts and hangouts. Christian has always been our honorary third wheel, and now he’s stepped into the role of the best “Guncle” to Palmer (his own proud title). He’s funny, thoughtful, and has always been there for both of us, making us feel so loved. It only felt right to ask him to be our officiant on such a special day.