Clare & Mitchell
Wedding Party
Isabelle Honigfort
Maid of Honor
Hi! My name is Isabelle, or as Clare calls me; Bell, Bella, weirdo, giggly puff, etc…she likes nicknames, Ok? Anyway! I’ve known Clare for over 10 years and all I have to say is life with her is an adventure. The journey started in middle school when we basically lived together 2-3 days a week and has continued strong through different high schools and college hundreds of miles apart. Clare’s someone who picks you, whether you like it or not, and sticks in your life forever. She’s the type of person you always want to be around, and I’m forever grateful God brought her into my life. I’m beyond excited to share in her special day and welcome Mitch into our family, he’s one of a kind just like clare. I love them so much.
Adeline Honigfort
Maid of Honor
Hi, there! I am Adeline. I claim the title of being Clare’s younger sister. We may not share blood, but she has been a playfellow, role-model, and bully like all older sisters are. We have walked through all of life's major mile-stones together, the tight ponytails, zebra print craze, first pimples, orthodontist appointments and all around awkward phase of life. Now, it is not braces that overcome our smiles, but the joy of a 12 year long fruitful relationship. Our relationship has been built on board games, strengthened by time, and fueled by dark room chit chats and goodnight-giggles. Everyone needs a Clare, and I am beyond grateful that God knew I did and put her in my life at such a young age. Clare’s heart aches for holy adventure and she makes you want to live life to the full while living out your faith with fervor, for her, those two are inseparable. I am ecstatic that Mitch has asked Clare to accompany in her pursuit of holy adventure, and I am thrilled that I get to witness the moment THEIR holy adventure begins. Cheers to fruitful friendships! Cheers to holy adventure! Cheers to Clare and Mitch!
Ashley Campbell
Bridesmaid
Twenty-Two years ago, God blessed me with another cousin. Little did I know that Clare would become my best friend, Amazing Race partner (if we ever audition), my spiritual guide, and my late-night toe… lacing… well y’all will just have to ask Clare about that one. We’ve become inseparable over the years, even though she continues to move further away from me. I guess the saying is true, distance makes the heart grow fonder. The thing I love most about Clare is that she lives life to the fullest. No matter what she does or where she goes, everything is going to be “Amazing” and “So cool!” Her enthusiasm rubs off on everyone around her and you can’t help but love every moment with her. I’m so happy Clare found Mitch who matches her enthusiasm and love for life! I’m so honored to stand by Clare’s side and watch her and Mitch on their next adventure together as husband and wife.
Meta Stephens
Bridesmaid
When I first met Clare in 2016, all I knew was that she was my brother’s new girlfriend. I had no idea that she was one of the warmest, most enthusiastic, and most caring people in the entire world who would become a permanent part of my life. She blended perfectly into my family, but what is always so clear is the love my brother has for Clare. I have never heard Mitchell laugh harder than when he is with Clare, although I have also never met two people more competitive when it comes to a good game of cards or Catan. I could not be more excited to officially welcome Clare into our family! (Even though she has already felt like a sister for a long time!)
Claire Merriman
Bridesmaid
When I first met Clare as a 6th grader, for some reason I decided I didn’t like her. Our moms conspired against us and forced us to hang out together at Clare’s house. I tried my best to get out of it, but when I finally got there I realized that she and I were practically the same person. We became fast friends and many referred to us as cla(i)re squared. We spent more time together than apart in grade school and had the best time in high school. She is the person I have shared some of my happiest life experiences with. When she met Mitch, I wondered how anyone could know and understand Clare the way I do. Well, after I met him and saw them together I knew that their relationship was formed by God. They are each other’s better half and I’ve seen both of their relationships with God blossom since they met. They are always laughing and goofing off together. They’re the only couple I’ve genuinely enjoyed being the third wheel with! I’m so glad that I ended up going to that play date with Clare all those years ago because I’ve gained a friend for life, and now I get to stand beside her as she marries her best friend!
Jordan Besore
Bridesmaid
Clare and I became friends at our high school, Cor Jesu Academy. (CJ sistas for life!) Clare's outgoing personality, punny nature, absolute love for life, and her care for those she loves have always drawn me to her. There are too many memories with Clare to recount, from deep talks in The Jeep TM, to prank week during Spring Break, and through quarantines coming home from Europe. Clare is one of the most special people I've ever met. She is an amazing, faithful woman, and I am grateful to call her my friend. I am so blessed to stand by her on her big day!
Bridget Hodges
Bridesmaid
I had the great pleasure of living with Clare for around a year and a half during our time in college. We first became roommates during our study abroad semester in Rome. While before this we had never really had a conversation, I soon found out that she was an excellent person to share a room with, due to her inspiring faith and endless amounts of joy and energy! Clare has truly helped transform and deepen my faith due to her witness, and I will forever be grateful for her friendship. My favorite memories with Clare include going to Mass and Adoration together, rapping through the streets of Rome, late night giggles, befriending Swiss guards, exploring her new spot in Seattle, and becoming THE faces of TCU’s study abroad website. I was also privileged to spend time with Mitch throughout many of these experiences and can honestly say they are made for each other! God has blessed me with the example of Clare and Mitch’s beautiful, faith-filled relationship, and I know He will use their marriage to show His love to everyone they encounter! I am blessed to know both of them and have the chance to be a part of their big day!
Emma Bouillion
Bridesmaid
I first met Clare, before she even came to TCU. I was given her number, so I could talk to her about TCU before she transferred. I had no idea then, that throughout the next three years, she would become one of my dearest friends and biggest blessings in college. We have so many great memories, but my favorites were always the simple times, when we just sat and talked about life and our faith. One thing we always talked about was how special it was to have a friend that “just got it”. Clare is joy-filled, outgoing, adventurous, brave, intentional, and very quirky. She’s definitely not like most girls….. and she has the most energy of any person I have ever met in my entire life. Seriously, I don’t know how she does it. If you have ever been around Clare and Mitch, it is so obvious how much they love God and love each other. One of my favorite stories about them is when Mitch came to visit at TCU. We were leaving the commons, after playing some game. As we were walking towards the car, Clare remembered that she forgot her phone. Mitch said, “I grabbed it for you”, as well as remembering to grab her keys and literally all of her belongings she forgot there. It was at that moment, I knew they were perfect for each other. I am so excited and honored to be a part of this day and to witness to Clare and Mitch’s love. My prayers are with them always.
Adriana Mcadoo
Bridesmaid
Hi there! My name is Adriana McAdoo also know as Clare’s adopted big. I met Clare my junior year of college and immediately knew that I needed to be her friend. Clare is the kind of person that makes a lasting impact on every person she meets. It doesn’t matter if you talk to her for 1 minute or 1 hour you remember her and she remembers you! Back in college Clare would get the phone number of every person she talked to and add an emoji or note next to their name. When events for church, our sorority, or just for fun came around she would invite the people she just met so that they would always be included and know they were loved! I’ve never met a person as inclusive and loving as Clare Holman. It’s an absolute honor to be included in Clare and Mitch’s day and witness the start of their lives together. Clare and Mitch are two incredible people who together are going to change the world around them.
Truman Stephens
Best Man
Mitch and I go back a while; for him, really as long as you can go. Once an annoying, persistent, curious, and caring buzz-cut boy, I’ve seen him grow into a slightly less annoying, persistent, curious, and caring Jesus-looking man. Needless to say, the person standing at the altar on September 3rd has come a long way from only wearing my giant hand me downs and setting his alarm 5 minutes before carpool leaves. I’m excited to celebrate the first step on a long journey of growth and joy for Mitchell and Clare. Any complaints on the wedding day, can go to our mother, thank you.
Josh Kalapala
Groomsman
Mitchell and I met a few days before our first day of class as freshman at Loyola University. We were assigned together in a serve group to clean out an elementary school and reorganize the textbooks for the classrooms. Little did we know that we would become such great friends and roommates. Our adventures have included Snowball fights in 20 below weather, musical jam sessions, months of pranks, crazy sports, and trips to Urgent Care. Amidst our time of endless inside jokes, crazy food inventions, and hilarious impressions, I have admired Mitchell’s welcoming nature, outlook on life and his devotion to God. His prayer life and convictions are inspiring to his faith family, and God has given him a giving heart that looks after each person that he encounters. I am certain that his marriage to Clare will be a blessing to the two of them and a blessing to others.
Jeffrey Lillard
Groomsman
Mitchell and I go back to our days at Loyola University. My first memory of him comes from a night of playing “shots” - our beloved, fast paced billiards game involving the q ball and 8 ball (there is no actual alcohol involved in the game). Back then he was a baby faced, short haired young man, and I was a ripped jeans wearing, slightly older, but still young man. Now he has much longer hair, and I no longer wear ripped jeans. Through the years of change we have grown our friendship deeper through living together, sharing deep dish pizza, and drinking gallons of Oberweise chocolate milk. Our friendship has grown to be one I don’t want to imagine life without!
Carson Berry
Groomsman
Carson, the dominant one in he and mitchs long term relationship, will be watching over the proceedings at the wedding. He suggests against misbehavior from any guest at the venue.
Nathan Inserra
Groomsman
It all started with Mitch accepting my invite to join our Goal-ar Express indoor soccer team in high school. We quickly became great friends through SLUH and Diamond Kings baseball, late night games of Catan, perfecting the art of sweeping concrete at RV Wagner, going on multiple road trips throughout the country, studying abroad in Rome together, and keeping in touch through it all. It’s been an honor being beside Mitch and Clare the past 5.5 years and I’m excited to be there with them in September!
Joe Boyce
Groomsman
From a psychological perspective, Mitch Stephens is a fascinating case study. Mitch is a middle child, a product of two lawyer parents and as a child had staggering OCD. Insider sources claim that as a boy, he refused to leave his home unless he was wearing bright red socks pulled up as high as possible, preferably to his knees. Upon meeting Mitch, I observed his behavior as quiet, but in a matter of weeks my assumptions were proven wrong. Quick to laugh and quicker to roast, Mitch Stephens’s actions reveal a sarcastic sense of humor, an undying loyalty, and a knack for long distance relationships. From sharing a love of westerns to driving me to the emergency room at 100+mph, I’m thankful for the chance to get to know Mitch and ecstatic that Clare will be around to see how he evolves next.
Matt Castañeda
Groomsman
Mitch and I grew in friendship through our love of bottomless IHOP choclocate milk and wii baseball. We worked at Camp Wojtyla last summer where we learned to talk in Italian accents and where we would shine flashlights into each other’s eyes at 1:00 am. Spending the summer together with Mitch and Clare taught me so much about relationships, and it has been a gift to get to be their friends as they prepare for the sacrament of marriage.
Tim Mellen
Groomsman
I’m typing this after 6 months of hiding under the turtle statue at the city museum in St Louis. Mitchell has approached with bated breath several times over the last couple months but has yet to find me. Hide and seek was once a hobby but is now a lifestyle. The only things of this world I’ve survived on have been iHOP chocolate milk and wii baseball for entertainment (undefeated 18-0 against Mitch all time). While he sleeps I pray. Pray on his downfall. The game only ends when Mitch decides to spend the rest of his life with the most goated hide and seeker of all time, Clare. Blessed and grateful to call Mitch one of my closest brothers. The last year of fellowship has drawn us both closer to the Lord who will ultimately fulfill. Watching and walking with him as he pursues vocation with Clare has allowed me to witness the beauty of the vocation of marriage and how God is able to work in so many lives that Mitch and Clare have touched. Excited to stand and pray with the rest of y’all in September as Mitch and Clare enter into vocation! Love y’all God bless! 2 Chronicles 21: 18-19
Andrew Erker
Groomsman
Mitch and I met when I was a freshman at Loyola Chicago. We first knew each other through mutual friends and hung out at random “guys nights” and other events through Loyola’s campus ministry. Quickly, Mitch and I became friends through our love of Chacos, long hair… and sarcasm, of course. When Mitch went to Rome and Covid came along, I was nervous that we would lose touch. However, I would say we’ve gotten much closer in the years since! Truly, I’m thankful for the wonky two years the pandemic brought on our college experience, because it led to me spending an absurd amount of time at Mitch’s apartment, The Shire. During this time we’d watch marvel movies, and play board games, all the while Mitch became one of my closest and most genuine friends. I’m truly honored to be standing up there with Mitch on his big day, and I am so excited to see how Mitch and Clare will continue to bless the world around them!
Jonny Yacoubian
Groomsman
I met Mitch during my time at Loyola University Chicago. I got to see the changes from short haired boy Mitch to long haired Man Mitch. Mitch has inspired me everyday with his fashion sense of Chacos and Man-buns. Other than frequenting his apartment known as “the shire” for shark week videos or binge drinking Oberweis, my favorite memories have to be from our time abroad in Rome. The Balduina boyz had many trips to the Vatican and old bridge gelato. I really got to see the joy that Mitch and Clare live with while we were abroad. I can easily say that Mitch is one of the most intentional and genuine friends I have. I cannot wait to hear about all the married game nights where Clare destroys Mitch in Catan.