Jennifer & David
Wedding Party
Matt Stolt
Best Man
You don't expect to find a life long best friend at twelve years old. Entering sixth grade, on day one - no less, that is exactly what I found in Matt. Armed with nothing but sharp wits, eccentric ambition, and a rather heavy dose of adolescent immaturity, we managed to emerge relatively unscathed. Not only that, we went through Boy Scouts, all of Byron Center High School, all of Grand Valley State University, and beyond together. Navigating the complexities of life became a lot easier knowing that I had Matt with me.
Tyler Clow
Groomsman
I simply could not have asked for a better life coach. I met Tyler on the basketball court in middle school, despite him being far more athletically superior than I was. In spite of that, we found comradery and mutual respect for one another. No matter the differences in physicality between us, he never looked down on me or treated me as inferior. I have been down and out many times in life, and Tyler was there to keep me pushing through. Tyler makes everyone around him better by encouraging them to be the best version of themselves.
Josh Salamone
Groomsman
I thought I was "good" at video games, until I met Josh. He made playing online against skilled players look so easy that I wanted to be just as good, if not better, than he was. When we lived together years later, he first introduced me to the Information Technology industry. Despite me having worked in IT for years now, he still holds a mastery of the field that I can only hope to achieve. Josh has been a remarkable friend and mentor that keeps my ambitions, as well as my personal expectations, high.
David Klinger
Groomsman
As someone who is extremely neurotic by default, meeting your significant other's family can be quite the stressful endeavor. Jen's brother, David, made that process relatively less awkward. Given that we are almost the same age, have similar experience in Information Technology, and are naturally gifted at video games, it has been a blast bonding with one of my future brother-in-laws. It is going to be an awful lot of fun for David and I to find new and creative ways to mess with Jen.
Joel Fransens
Groomsman
One of the most genuinely kind individuals I have ever had the privilege of knowing throughout the tumultuous days of high school. Growing up in the far reaches of Byron Center, Joel and I found much in common with one another. Joel is a man that has been by my side no matter the circumstance. Whether it was celebrating a milestone, or picking me up after taking one of life's many punches, Joel was there for me. I am beyond elated to have him stand alongside me in celebration of the next chapter in my life.
Brianne Copeland
Maid of Honor
Brianne and I met at the ripe ol' age of 4, and have been heart sisters ever since. Having experienced most all of life's trials, tribulations and joys together, I feel so incredibly grateful to still be a part of each other's lives and to add this wedding to the memory vault. We once said that we would "grow up, get married, live across the street from one another and raise our families side by side, while sitting at a picnic table drinking from a pitcher of Mountain Dew." Now that I'm older, all I can say is Mountain Dew... eww. Haha! Although we may live across the country from one another now, the vision has not changed. Brianne is the sister I never had, a beautiful light in this world, and one of the greatest friends a girl could ever hope to have.
Julie Feenstra
Bridesmaid
When David and I met, I was grateful to find that he not only had a fantastic group of guy friends, but that one of the guys, Nate, was dating someone equally fantastic and I was not the only girl in the group. Julie and I first bonded over being the only females in the group, but also grew to become friends. She is a great listener, has a heart of pure gold, and is honestly one of the most genuine people I have ever met. It's pretty cool that I not only gained an amazing husband, but a wonderful friend as well.
Laura Olivas
Bridesmaid
After the rain comes a ray of sunshine and a rainbow, and Laura was that ray of sunshine. Laura and I didn't meet until a pandemic happened and she started dating our friend Matt. Our friendship was almost instantaneous as we realized how similar we were, bonding over our shared love of Gilmore Girls and tasty food, among other things. Laura is fun, silly, determined, and fiercely protective of her people. Unlike me, she is an incredible planner (and actually enjoys it) and her help in planning has been invaluable, which brings me to the part about the rainbow. The last two years have been hard, but if they hadn't happened, Laura wouldn't have been a part of the wedding and the wedding planning process. I can't help but feel that everything happened exactly the way that it was supposed to, and now we are finally able to celebrate with ALL of our dear family and friends, at our rainbow celebration. It's going to be beautiful.
Kristi Klinger
Bridesmaid
My very first "bonus sister," my sister-in-law, Kristi. Passionate about doggos, brunch and anything Friends related. She is just as fun and goofy as I am, and some of my most favorite memories are when we are laughing gleefully about entirely random things. Her laugh is infectious, she is always supportive, and I am glad to have her in my life.
Mary Young
Bridesmaid
My beautiful sister-in-law, Mary. If tenacity were to be personified, it would be Mary. Despite everything she has been through, she is still the most kind-hearted, supportive, and tender person. I feel blessed to have married someone with such a wonderful family and in doing so, I officially became an Aunt, which has been so fun! Mary's kiddos, our sweet niece and nephew, Brinlee and Lucas, will also be starring in the wedding!