Wedding Party
Anna Brockhoff
Matron of Honor
Liz and I met in our sophomore year of High School. We shared a few classes and most importantly a very memorable study hall period. Outside of school we would hang in my parents' basement with our group of friends and bond over movies, music and Chinese food. While we may not be considered as childhood best friends, it has certainly felt like we have grown up together. We have shared in each other's laughter, tears, joys, heartache, college/career changes and other life changes over the last two decades. It is an incredible honor to stand by Liz's side as she reaches this next great milestone in her life. Congratulations to the future Mr. and Mrs. Watt! Cent'anni!
Chris Francis
Best Man
Jake and I have been close friends since our first year of college. Despite having vastly different majors, we ended up as neighbors on the seventh floor of our dorm. We quickly became close friends and would become roommates for the next three years. From then on, Jake has been a constant and incredibly supportive presence in my life. Even when he didn’t have exams to study for, he’d still hang out with me in the library while I prepared for my medical school entrance exams. No matter how busy life became, Jake was always there for me. I was lucky enough to have him by my side at my wedding, and now I’m deeply honored to be here for his.
Katie Stone
Maid of Honor
Liz and I met at Loyola on the oncology unit when she was just a new grad nurse. We soon became work besties and bonded over margaritas at Marias and the love/hate relationship of being a nurse. Liz eventually transferred to another unit but we remained close as we were roommates in Forest Park. Some of our favorite memories include hosting St. Patricks Day parties at our apartment, traveling to NOLA, enjoying concerts, drinking wine post-shift, and our occasional Costco runs. While we don’t work or live together anymore, we remain best friends.
Patrick Francis
Groomsman
I couldn’t be happier to be standing by Jake’s side as he marries Liz — the perfect match for on of the best guys I know. I first met Jake when he was sharing a dorm with my brother, Chris, and it didn’t take long before Jake became like a brother too. Over the years, Jake has always been there when I needed him - whether it was changing a flat tire in the freezing cold or just being a reliable friend to share a craft beer with after a long week. From playing golf (where Jake’s patience has been tested more than once) to traveling and discovering new places, Jake and I have shared plenty of laughs and even more unforgettable memories. I am honored to celebrate this next chapter with Liz and Jake and can’t wait to see what’s ahead for them.
Erika Mathis
Bridesmaid
Liz was my student-guide when I transferred to Mother Guerin for senior year. While I wasn't thrilled back then to start over in a new school, I was relieved to have been paired with someone nice. But I wouldn't have ever guessed that she would become a life-long friend! Unlike friendships that drift apart after high school, ours (luckily!) went in reverse. We got to know each other better throughout college years and beyond, bonding over all the things that come with being a full-grown adult. I am overjoyed to see my sweet friend start a new chapter with the love of her life and incredibly honored to be part of it. Love you, Liz!
Mike Dowmon
Groomsman
Jake and I met during my brief stint attending UIC and we really connected during the time after through my wife, Kristen. I’ve always been more introverted and am truly fortunate that Kristen connected with Jake and Co. during her tenure at UIC which afforded me the opportunity to spend a lot of time with her group. From New Years party’s and late nights out, to nerding out over shared hobbies, to bantering and just enjoying the company, Jake quickly became one of my closest friends and confidants. Jake’s incredibly generous of time and spirit and is someone I know I can go to about anything, because he’s a person who does drop everything in an instant to make sure the people who are important to him feel just so. He’s thoughtful, chronically jovial, present in the moment, and fair and direct to a fault. Jake’s my brother, and I am proud of and humbled to participate in this chapter of Jake and Liz’s story.
Rachel Plant
Bridesmaid
Liz and I have known each other since birth. Our moms have been best friends since grade school as they went on many trips together and got through nursing school together right after high school. Liz’s mom is my godmother and my mom is Liz’s godmother. Liz and I grew up together attending each other’s birthday parties, holiday celebrations, graduations, and most recently, showers and weddings. We have maintained a special friendship growing up with our mom‘s maintaining theirs. The four of us enjoy going out for brunch and seeing musicals at Drury Lane. Little did we know as kids that we would be working as nurses together on the hematology/oncology floor at Loyola. We spend half our times finding each other nursing reels and memes and then we laugh and then we cry. Liz and I love going out for Mexican food, attending St. Patrick’s Day parades, double dates with our guys at breweries and anything to do with lights and festivities! Liz has the biggest heart and I am so lucky to have her in my life! We have been through so much together and have always been in each other’s corners. I cannot wait to see her finally marry the love of her life!
Jordan Rowe
Groomsman
I remember the day Jake walked over from his class to come talk to the me as the new kid in school I was always a fairly quiet kid, and I was scared shitless on my first day! But he came over and introduced himself and it's been downhill since then! In our over 20 years of friendship I've come to view Jake as more of a brother than just another friend. Not just from the weekends we would spend together shooting each other with airsoft guns or as we got older, the late nights out having a good time in our 20's, but because he's always been the kind of guy you can call to be there for you. I'm beyond excited that he's found someone that see's these qualites that I’ve come to see in him, but can also stand to be in the same room as him for more than 5 minutes! All joking aside im honored to be there for his big day and even more so that hes asked me to be there for him.
Brittany Francis
Bridesmaid
I first met Liz after she started dating Jake. Jake and my husband, Chris, have been close friends since their college days, and he has been such an important part of our lives. So when Jake met Liz, we were overjoyed to see how happy she made him--it was clear from the start that she was his perfect match. Together, Liz and Jake are an amazing couple. They're easygoing personalities and incredible sense of humor make them so much fun to be around--they truly light up the room. Liz and I hit it off right away, bonding over our shared love of great food, shopping, and cocktails. I'm so honored and excited to celebrate their special day and the beautiful life they are creating together.
Dan Murillo
Groomsman
Jake and I have been friends since our early days at Memorial Elementary School. With our friendship extending close to 30 years (good God that is a long freaking time), we have had more than our fair share of moments that have been hilarious, stupid, and stupidly hilarious. Whether it was regular hangouts between trips to a local candy store and White Hen in Tinley Park as kids, listening to Tubthumping by Chumbawumba while playing a Resident Evil game during a sleep over, trips to Dave and Buster’s, Odyessy Fun World, and now our adventures on various golf courses, Jake and I have have many dumb stories and he has been an incredible friend. I’m more than elated to celebrate this next chapter of his life and be a part of something special.
Jori Baker
Bridesmaid
I first met Liz in grad school. It was clear immediately that we were destined to meet and become friends. We have had so many good times including passing notes in class (which consisted of lyrics from early 2000's songs), delicious dinners, concerts, visiting an elephant sanctuary, and of course Liz & Jake's St. Patrick's parties. It is an honor to stand by Liz's side on her wedding day.
Steve Serio
Groomsman
Jake and I first met back at Memorial elementary school. I believe we were always meant to become friends not just because we have a lot of similar interests and the same twisted sense of humor, but there are actually ties between our families that go back much further than that. One day while I was talking with my grandma about Jake she dropped a bomb that she actually dated Jake’s grandpa! Incredible that we would become great friends all those years later. We have shared countless incredible and fun moments together during the 25 plus years we have been friends. One story that I believe embodies our friendship goes back to high school during summer break. Jake and I have always liked science/engineering and one day while we were just hanging out at his house we decided that we should make a potato canon. We got in his infamous red jeep and went to Menards to get all the materials. After building it in his garage, Jake’s grandpa let us use his large yard to test it out and boy did it work! Potatoes were soaring in the sky and we loved every shot we took.