Alexandra & Ian
Wedding Party
Melanie Espada
Maid of Honor
Melanie is my younger and only sister, she is 15 and a freshman at my old high school. I always ask her opinion, she's like another me. We fought many times as children but as we grow older and I see her evolving into an amazing woman, I could not imagine anyone other than her at my side.
John Ellis III
Best Man
Knowing John since early 2000, we have surely been through a lot. Sleepovers where I would toss his entire room to have a stuffed animal war, to air-soft battles where he would shoot me in the face. Growing older to paintball wars and destroying kids souls. To even more recently where John witnessed me eat 20 grilled cheese and almost get arrested within 30 mins.
Rachel Krutulis
Bridesmaid
We met a our new adult job within a few days of beginning, through all the training and hard work, we became closer and closer. She is one of my closest friends, and she has become closer to me than any of my childhood friends. I can say that my wedding will be amazing with her in my bridal party, and I am very lucky.
Mike Gilanyi
Groomsman
I met Mike almost five years ago when I was reffing hockey, and thought I had seen the tallest most awkward hockey player ever in a beer league. We began to play on the same team and we quickly became close friends. We even built a bar together......more like I stood there and he did most of the work. It was a good bar.
Connor Denton
Bridesmaid
Connor is Ian's younger sister. I met Connor during a family get together. It was a very casual event. Connor had asked me how everything was going with her brother, I mentioned I had never met anyone like him. She started talking about how she used the way her brother treated women as a scale to judge the guys she was dating. She definitely looked up to Ian. I always liked that about Connor. She is very down to earth, but not one to mess with. When I was thinking about bridesmaids I couldn't think of anyone better to stand next to me as I got married than the one who knows him the best.
Steve Smith
Groomsman
I met Steve when I lived in Winthrop Harbor when he is was a Police Officer. I would come down and visit while he was at work and make sure he was hooked up with energy drinks and food. We once did a ride along together and watched someone shoot off 5K in fireworks. He still calls me bird chest to this day.
Cody Koeller
Groomsman
I met Cody when I got to my first unit in 2013. We joked around, and tried to make drill less lame. He then got promoted and made me push the pavement on more than one occasion. Now we both work in the same building and bond over guns, knives, and pull out couches... He also took me to a place entirely made of cheese once and it was legit.