Maria & Edward
Wedding Party
Joseph Hagerty
Best Man
Ed's younger brother. At 6'4", Joe is like Bigfoot, if Bigfoot could play drums and also was a scientist. One time, we took a surprise family roadtrip to Big Sur National Park and didn't tell Joe (who doesn't love surprises) until we got him into the car, and I don't think he's forgiven us since. He's smart, funny, and the perfect choice for best man. Joe's currently pursuing a PhD in Chemistry at Purdue University!
Annabelle (Lake) Ruszkowski
Matron of Honor
Maria's younger sister! Annabelle lost a childhood bet over who would get married first, but has graciously agreed to be Matron of Honor anyway. <3 She and Maria spent all of their time together growing up, when they survived having five brothers to vote against them in every family poll (#rigged election). Maria spends all of her extra time plotting how to be more like Annabelle. Annabelle works in market research in Chicago, where she lives with her husband, Ben, in the most hospitable and cozy apartment Illinois has ever seen.
Kenton Colvin
Groomsman
Ed's friend from college and ROTC. In his free time, Kenton likes to casually run marathons as a workout and then bikes even farther for fun. One time after a college dance he ran 5 miles as the crow flies (i.e. through people's backyards and over fences) back to campus because he didn't feel like taking the bus. Kenton's an officer in the Air Force, and he's stationed in Kansas.
Stephanie Zaccone
Bridesmaid
Stephanie and Maria went to La Lumiere (high school) and ND together, and she is the reason that Maria and Ed met! An honorary member of the Lake family, Stef and Maria have roped the younger Lakes into many of their shenanigans. Stef is an Officer in the US Air Force, and is currently stationed in California.
William Lake
Groomsman
William is Maria's younger brother, and the only one who will let her wax poetic about Japan, social media, politics, or anything else. He will probably not read this, but he is known for his amazing one liners and expertise/commentary on sports. William is a junior at Marquette University, where he studies Computer Science and knows everything there is to know about their basketball program.
Maeve Hagerty
Bridesmaid
Maeve is Ed's younger sister and youngest sibling. She's an artist, a writer, and a musician, and she likes to draw really funny cartoons in the letters she sends to people. She likes to make fun of Ed's voice whenever possible. Maeve's studying communications at the University of Portland!
John Ragaishis
Groomsman
Ed's friend from college and four-year roommate. During our freshman year I moved into our dorm room first and took the longer bed, not knowing that John is 6'7". John currently runs the NSA from his garage in Vermont, but tells the rest of us that he works in "wealth management".
Grace Akin
Bridesmaid
Grace is one of Maria's friends from her law school class! They met on the first day of orientation, despite both being Double Domers. Everyone who knows them now is shocked to learn they never met before law school, because they do almost everything together. (Currently working off of the same pattern to knit a sweater!) Grace is moving back to Milwaukee, WI after law school to work in real estate.
Trevor Pfirrman
Groomsman
Ed's cousin. Trevor used to have a pet tarantula that went missing for almost a week in his house until his mom found it on top of their washing machine. Trevor is an officer in the Space Force and lives in Washington D.C.
Briana Dusling
Bridesmaid
Briana and Maria met on the first day of college, as first-year random roommates! This was such a smashing success that they continued to live together for their sophomore year, and were only stopped from continuing the streak by their study-abroad semesters. Briana works as a Project Manager outside of Ann Arbor, MI, where she lives with her fiancé, who is also a college friend!
Enrique Marcilla
Groomsman
Ed's high school friend. We were in 3 bands together in high school, and we were able to hit 110mph in his hybrid Toyota during a road trip up the coast of California. Enrique works in accounting/government contracting in San Diego, California.
Samantha Trevino
Bridesmaid
Samantha is Maria's younger cousin on her Dad's side! She grew up in Indiana, where she would plot schemes with Maria and Annabelle, before she moved up to Minnesota to get away from them. Sam is a junior at Loyola University, where she is studying Criminal Justice and Global Studies.
Christian Lake
Groomsman
Christian is Maria's youngest sibling, and the most successful in life thus far (sorry everyone else). We like to think his 6 older siblings and 4 in-laws were part of the equation, because his confidence and natural good-naturedness make him much cooler than Maria or the rest of the family were in high school. Christian is a junior at La Lumiere School, where he plays basketball, soccer, baseball, (and maybe golf?), because he cannot find a sport that does not love him.
Christina Pedulla
Bridesmaid
Christina is Maria's youngest cousin on her Mom's side! She grew up on the East Coast, but traveled to Indiana for Thanksgiving every year to spend time with the cousins. These visits would involve big sleepovers at Grandma's house or in Maria and Annabelle's room with all the girls. Christina is a junior in high school, where she knows everything there is to know about fashion, and works in a local Italian bakery.