Wedding Party
Carlea Jo Lauer
Maid of Honor
Mariah walked into her new apartment room with a high ponytail, a big smile, and more pep than a cheerleader, ready to meet her new randomly assigned roommate. That roommate was Carlea, who later confessed that, after their first meeting, she went to her friend and said, “Oh this is not going to work…” Little did she know, she was about to gain a lifelong best friend. From that moment, Mariah never let Car go. Over the years, their bond grew through countless late-night talks, shared adventures, and endless laughter. Carlea has been there for every step of Mariah’s journey, and now, Mariah couldn’t imagine her special day without the person who started as a random roommate and became one of the most important people in her life.
Michael Rossi
Best Man
Chris met Mike the day he was born, kicking off their lifelong bond as brothers. Chris always looked up to Mike, who was off doing cooler things as the older sibling. But as they grew older, they went from just being brothers to being close friends. Living together brought them even closer, and Mike has always been someone Chris could count on for support, laughs, and a bit of wisdom along the way
Chance Vance
Bridesmaid
On the first day of joining her sorority, Mariah sat next to Chance on the bus. The girl in front of them turned around with a knowing smile and said, “You should probably say hi. This is how I met my best friend last year.” And just like that, they’ve been friends ever since
Erik Mack
Groomsman
Erik and Chris go way back to 8th grade, when Erik was playing Trivium on his guitar in Mr. Neely’s class, loud enough for Chris to hear from the science room next door. Their mutual love for metal music kicked off their friendship, and they’ve been tight ever since. From jamming to their favorite bands to surviving high school together, these two have shared plenty of good times (and probably too much noise). Recently Chris was Erik’s best man at his wedding—a testament to their strong bond. These days, when they’re not reminiscing about the past, you can find them teaming up to dominate in Overwatch.
Cameron Swift
Groomsman
One day, it was just Mariah, living it up as an only child, and then—suddenly—Cam was there. From that moment on, life was never boring. Whether it was sibling antics, shared memories, or inside jokes, Cameron has been by Mariah’s side through it all. He’s not just her brother; he’s one of her greatest friends
Galen Geislinger
Groomsman
Galen has a knack for bringing people together, and Rossi is no exception. Galen introduced Chris to a few of his friends, forging connections that turned into lifelong friendships. Over the years, Chris and Galen have shared plenty of great memories, from trips up to Flagstaff during Galen’s NAU days to celebrating Galen’s wedding in November. Their best moment? When Chris witnessed Galen hit a hole-in-one—just like their friendship, it was unforgettable and one for the books.
Hannah Heard
Bridesmaid
When Mariah’s brother, Cameron, started dating Hannah, Mariah wasted no time. She decided then and there that she was going to hang out with Hannah—and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Over time (or maybe just because Mariah forced it), they became best friends. Now, Hannah isn’t just Cameron’s girlfriend; she’s one of Mariah’s favorite people
Jess Fernandez
Groomsman
Chris and Jess met after college, and their friendship grew over countless games of NBA 2K and watching sports. While Chris is a Bears fan at heart, he still cheers on his local Arizona teams with Jess, making game days even better. They’ve also hit Coachella and other music festivals together, building memories that stick. Through all the bogeys, Jess has been a great friend through it all.
Olivia Herpfer
Bridesmaid
Mariah and Olivia, or as Mariah likes to call her “Livi” met on bid day, Liv stepped off the bus, unsure of what to expect—until she was greeted by Mariah, her assigned “bid day buddy.” This little blonde ball of energy came running up, squealing with excitement, grabbed Olivia’s hand, and whisked her away into a sea of girls. Before Olivia could even process what was happening, she was covered head to toe in glitter. The glitter never went away—and neither did their friendship
Dana Geisslinger
Groomsman
Chris and Dana, or “Daner” as Chris calls him, became close friends after college, but they knew each other from high school. Thanks to Galen always bringing his older brother Dana to parties, the two hit it off. They bonded over their shared love for STRFKR, even catching their concerts together. Dana is always the guy who is cracking jokes and making sure everyone has a good time!
Maggie Reid
Bridesmaid
Chance always had a friend named Maggie who she swore reminded her of Mariah. Naturally, when Maggie and Mariah finally met through their mutual friend, it all made sense. They clicked instantly, and it felt like they’d known each other forever. Now, what started as a shared friendship has grown into one of their own—and Mariah couldn’t be more grateful for it.
Collin Sleasman
Groomsman
Chris and Collin met in college through partying and instantly hit it off. Collin has probably introduced Chris to more new music than anyone else, always keeping the playlists fresh. They lived together for a while and had plenty of good times. Now, Chris enjoys heading out to New Jersey to catch up and hang out.
Shannon Strong
Bridesmaid
In college, during sorority recruitment, Mariah and Shannon’s last names landed them side by side in line. That meant spending long hours standing in the hot Tucson sun with nothing to do but talk. What started as small talk quickly turned into giggles, whispered jokes, and a bond that couldn’t be ignored. Those alphabetically assigned moments in the heat were the perfect start to a beautiful friendship—and they’ve been inseparable ever since.
Trevor Rubinoff
Groomsman
Chris and Trevor went to the same high school and even rode the same bus home, but it wasn’t until college parties brought them together that they became friends. Trevor has introduced Rossi to a ton of good music, and they’d often meet up to shoot pool at The Beast. From casual hangouts to big adventures like Coachella, Trevor has been part of some of Chris’s best memories.
Lauren Van RysWyk
Bridesmaid
Mariah met Lauren thanks to Maggie, who invited Mariah to be their third roommate. What started as a practical living arrangement quickly turned into something special. Lauren introduced Mariah to new music (and maybe expanded her Harry Styles obsession), and they bonded over late-night jam sessions. Their friendship grew even closer on an unforgettable girls’ trip to Maui, and they’ve been friends ever since
Jeremy Collins
Groomsman
Chris and Jeremy met through work and quickly bonded over the classic show, The Office. Their friendship took off as they started hanging out to vent about work while battling it out on the sticks. One unforgettable moment was when Chris witnessed Jeremy hit a hole-in-one—coincidentally, on the same golf course where Galen got his first hole-in-one. Whether quoting Michael Scott, competing in their favorite games, or relaxing on the golf course, Jeremy has always been a go-to friend for laughs and good times.
Minnie
Honorable Mention
Minnie has been Mariah’s best friend for nearly 10 years, sticking by her side through all of life’s highs and lows. From bonding over Disney movies to sharing Cheerios (Minnie’s favorite snack, of course), their friendship is one of a kind. Unfortunately, Minnie won’t be attending the wedding—she made it clear she has an important job to do: protecting the house while everyone is gone. She assured Chris and Mariah that she’ll keep everything safe and sound, so they can enjoy their big day without a worry.
Mochi
Honorable Mention
Mochi and Chris have been best friends since the day he picked her up at the airport, and their bond has been unshakable ever since. You can usually find Mochi hopping around the house, loyally following Chris wherever he goes. Unfortunately, she can’t make it to the wedding due to her other pressing obligation: napping. Still, she sends her best wishes to the happy couple and wants everyone to know she’s celebrating in spirit—probably with a treat and a snooze.