Maid of Honor
Hannah’s sister and lifelong built in best friend! Hannah feels so lucky that no matter what state she’s lived in, Julia aka Bean has been right there with her. From showing sheep at the 4-H fairgrounds, to traveling around the world, to going to UK sporting events, Hannah and Julia are a dynamic duo that love experiencing everything together! Hannah has always looked up to her and Julia has always been her voice of reason and person she can count on.
Best Man
Kyle is one of the sharpest minds Drew knows. Drew met Kyle at Brescia University, where their friendship blossomed on the cross-country and track team. He had the honor of helping recruit him, and their shared passion for running and coaching brought them even closer. Although Drew didn’t pursue coaching, Kyle did—and he’s thrived in it. They still talk track and workouts all the time. With his quick wit and their shared sense of humor, he’s been a constant source of laughter and inspiration in Drew's life.
Bridesmaid
Hannah met Cecilia on her very first day of starting her Masters at UK’s College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment. As soon as they started talking Hannah and Cecilia realized they were the giggly ones of the cohort. Cecilia is now in medical school at UK and Hannah is always her practice patient. She’s incredibly intelligent and Hannah enjoys being her cheerleader along the way!
Groomsman
Dylan or as most know him as 'Massey' is another cherished friend of Drew that he met at Brescia University on the Track team. Known for his infectious humor and adventurous spirit, Dylan is the guy you can always rely on in a pinch. Their bond grew through countless gaming sessions and shared meals, and he’s always brought a vibrant energy to every moment they've shared. His outgoing nature and loyal friendship make him a joy to have in our life and a part of our celebration.
Bridesmaid
Hannah met Court when she was 1 year old. A cousin that felt much more like a sister. From traveling all over the country together, singing church songs and playing sports together at St. Mary’s, to carding sheep - they’ve just about done it all! Court is a beautiful person inside and out and Hannah feels so lucky she, Julia, and Court could grow up so closely together.
Groomsman
Mike is one of Drew's oldest and most reliable friends, someone he met back in high school. They ran track together, spent way too many nights playing video games, and practically had a second home at Taco Bell. Mike has always been the kind of friend who pushes Drew to be better — on and off the track — while staying endlessly loyal. His presence is a steady reminder of the value of lifelong friendship. Drew and Mike were two of the best 800m runners in Kentucky during their senior year of high school. And although they didn’t have a team large or fast enough to form a 4x800m relay, they both qualified and medaled individually — and have referred to their friendship as "2x800" ever since.
Bridesmaid
Sylvia and Hannah became fast friends — within days of meeting, they were having Game of Thrones marathons together, and puppy dates. They soon discovered a shared love for all things Disney Magic and bonded over their mutual sense of fun. One of Hannah’s favorite memories is their trip to Park City, Utah, where they went skiing and snowmobiling. Sylvia always has the best ideas for spontaneous adventures, and she and Hannah are constantly planning their next trip together!
Groomsman
Luke came into our life in a totally unexpected way—through his and his wife Sylvia's golden retriever. Drew is the biggest dog lover of all time, so he couldn’t resist saying hello, and that simple moment kicked off an incredible shared friendship with Hannah and Sylvia. Luke is the one who inspired Drew to pursue a career in software engineering, and his mentorship and encouragement were instrumental in his journey. His support, intelligence, and down-to-earth friendship have shaped a huge part of our story.
Bridesmaid
Hannah met Lainyn on a spontaneous trip to Chicago when Paul Shanks, her now-husband, flew her in for dinner with just 10 hours' notice. Lainyn is one of the most genuine and kind-hearted people Hannah has ever met. Her laugh brings absolute joy to everyone around her. One of Hannah’s fondest memories with Lainyn was helping plan her and Paul’s proposal at Tony’s in Lexington — it was such a thrill!
Groomsman
Brent is a close friend Drew met at Brescia University, and he even helped Drew pull off the surprise proposal to Hannah. They ran on the track team together, and he was someone Drew could always count on—whether he needed a solid study guide or a good laugh. Brent is competitive, thoughtful, selfless, loud (haha), and always fun to be around, which makes him such a meaningful part of this celebration.
Bridesmaid
Hannah met Lauren while working at Claiborne Farm, where Lauren quickly became a mentor and friend. She showed Hannah the ropes and even encouraged her to foal out a mare within her first three hours on the job — a memory that still makes Hannah laugh. Hannah has always admired Lauren’s incredible work ethic and her thoughtful, dependable nature. She’s the kind of friend who’s always there when you need her, no matter the circumstance!
Groomsman
Josh has been a major part of Drew's life since their days in youth group. He was one of the first people to make Drew feel welcome after he changed schools, even though they didn’t attend the same one. Josh has a hilarious sense of humor and was a big influence on his faith, helping guide Drew spiritually even though he’s younger than Drew. They've shared a love for bourbon, epic ultimate frisbee matches, and countless meaningful conversations over the years.
Bridesmaid
Hannah met Mary on her very first night ever being at UK. They both went to a transfer student dinner and Hannah introduced herself by acting like she was excited for hot dogs. After both Hannah and Mary couldn’t hide that neither of them like hot dogs they laughed and became best friends ever since. They were inseparable at UK - going to every single UK sport or activity they could find. She showed Hannah the ropes in Lexington, and is the reason Hannah fell in love with this city from the start!
Groomsman
Chase is both Drew's cousin and great friend—though he didn’t realize they were related until after he helped recruit him to Brescia University's Track team! They uncovered their family connection through a Facebook conversation involving a relative, and it’s been a cool twist in their story ever since. Chase, Drew, and later Kyle would binge the office together after classes and practice. Their shared love of sports and past work experience together helped build a strong friendship. Chase is dependable, passionate, and a dedicated hype man.
Father of the Bride
Bobby has always shown Hannah the most care, love, and support. He’s shown her how important creating a strong foundation is, and that she can do anything she puts her mind to. Although he didn’t realize he would be wearing Kentucky Blue so much in his life, it just goes to show how much trust he’s always had in his girls. No matter what crazy idea Hannah had, going to UK, working for Disney, traveling abroad to Australia, Bobby never doubted in Hannah and that means the world.
Father of the Groom
Michael has taught Drew a lot about hard work and perseverance. He’s been someone Drew has looked up to for his consistency and drive, and always respected how he carries himself. Drew and his Father share passions of both being Kentucky Wildcat fans as well as for bourbon collecting—it’s those hobbies that brought them closer together and sparked a lot of fun conversations along the way.
Mother of the Bride
Lois is a light in everyone's lives. She is always the big kid in every situation as life is more fun that way. She has always encouraged Hannah to *dance* and take chances, and never take a single breath for granted. Hannah will forever be grateful for this encouragement, love, and support. She has always reminded Hannah that having faith in God will always lead her on the right path.
Mother of the Groom
Kimberly has been an incredible influence in Drew’s life. They share the same sense of humor and competitive streak, and she’s passed on countless life lessons that Drew carries with him to this day. As her only child, she has always gone above and beyond to make him feel special — whether it meant cheering him on at every baseball, football, theatre, or track event, or making sure he had just the right pair of running shoes. Her selflessness and unwavering support have shaped Drew into the person he is today. Her belief in teaching Drew to recognize his value and worth is something he carries into every part of his life.
Ring Bearer
Austin is the adventurous and bright son of Hannah’s cousin Erika. He loves living life on the farm, and Hannah always enjoys hearing his stories. He’s taught her how to fish and loves telling her jokes — which never fail to earn a good belly laugh! Both Hannah and Drew admire his zest for life and the way he’s always eager to help others and learn something new along the way.
Flower Girl
Ellie is the daughter of Drew and Hannah’s close friends, Luke and Sylvia. Hannah and Drew have known her for her whole life and proudly go by “Uncle Drew” and “Aunt Hannah.” They've been there for special moments like Grandparents’ Day when her family couldn’t make it, and they’re often her go-to babysitters for Luke and Sylvia’s date nights. Ellie is bright, energetic, full of personality, and hands down the happiest little University of Kentucky fan they know.
Usher
Hannah met Paul during her second year of grad school. Paul was a standout student — focused, reliable, and always willing to help. When Hannah needed assistance conducting a 24-hour study with her steers, Paul stepped in without hesitation. He continued to support Hannah and their colleague Mindy through nine more research studies. While those studies taught them the value of persistence, the most meaningful takeaway was the sincere friendship they built and their shared passion for agriculture. Paul is always up for a boujee life experience, and he and Lainyn are the hosts with the most — treating everyone around them with utmost respect. Every year, Paul, Lainyn, Julia, Bobby, and Lois gather for the annual Shanks/Herzing reunion, which is always an absolute blast!
Usher
Adam is one of Hannah's first cousins. They both share a passion for agriculture and their country! They spent many summers together riding bikes, playing sports like kickball and baseball in Grandpa and Grandmas back yard. Adam has a tremendous work ethic and can fix anything. Hannah knows she can always count on Adam to show up and be there to help out. We are so excited that Adam is going to double as an usher and a Pseudo-videographer for the day.