Ellie & Zach
Wedding Party
Amanda Ratkovich
Matron of Honor
Amanda and Ellie met just out of high school through Amanda's husband, Justin. They became friends really fast and have become close over the years. Amanda owns her own business called Lilly and Threads and is a talented artist. She always has a smile on her face and is so full of joy. She is expecting a baby a month after our wedding, and we couldn't be happier for her and Justin! My favorite thing to do with Amanda is paint or run around downtown taking pictures of each other.
Courtney Bjurstrom
Maid of Honor
Courtney and Ellie met through a young adults small group a few years ago. They are now roommates and have continue to grow closer over the last year and a half. Courtney has such a zest for life and all things foster care. It has been so much fun to watch her grown as a person. My favorite thing to do with Courtney are the late night talks that we have about God and life.
Beth McLennan
Bridesmaid
Beth and Ellie met through a young adults small group a few years ago. They are now roommates and are Beth works for Planning Center, a church management software. It’s been so much fun to learn how to live with one another and to continue to go to the same church. We both have grown so much over the years and so has our friendship. My favorite thing to do with Beth is worship with her at church. It’s always such a sweet moment.
Bryson Bregant
Bridesmaid
Bryson and Ellie are sisters!! We have known each other our whole lives and have become not just sisters but friends as well. Bryson inspires me with her artistic skills, her spunk for life, and love for people. I love having our sister nights and getting to watch her grow over the years. My favorite thing to do with her is any kind of craft!
Abbi Wilson
Bridesmaid
Abbi is Zach’s sister and now Ellie’s friend (sorry girl you’re stuck with me 😉). She has literally been out of the country or state since I’ve met her and it’s been so cool to see her travel the world and experience so much of the life God has given her. She is studying psychology at Biola University and I can already tell she will be so successful in life. I am so excited to continue to get to know her over the years. My favorite thing to do with Abbi is Google Duo with her during her travels, or go shopping with her.
Joshua Wilson
Best Man
Josh is Zach's older brother (but let the record state he is shorter than Zach). In true brotherly fashion, Josh and Zach grew up wrestling and trying to best each other at pretty much everything. After leaving for college, their relationship deepened as they were able to connect on a heart-to-heart level. Josh's love for people's hearts, thirst for understanding the depths of the spiritual realm, and consistently pursuing personal and relational growth is an inspiration for Zach. My favorite thing to do with Josh is relaxing / playing games on a warm, sunny day at the beach.
Ben Rodriguez
Groomsman
Ben and Zach met freshman year at Pepperdine University, sharing the same freshman suite. Living in close quarters with one another, they got to know each other pretty quickly. While Zach was laser-focused on academic achievements, Ben taught him the value of relationships and became an amazing support / friend in Zach's life. One of my favorite things about Ben is his zest for FIFA and quirky dance moves.
Brandon Kelly
Groomsman
Brandon and Zach met playing softball with Gateway Church. Very quickly, Brandon and Zach connected with one another. Zach could tell there was something special about him. Brandon walked with Zach through some challenging emotional times of his life, and Zach has been incredibly blessed by Brandon and his wife, Shannon. They even let Zach move into their apartment for a few months when Zach was in transition with work. One of my favorite memories of Brandon and I was our trip to Sedona together . We camped in a small section off a dirt road in a tent with one another. It was tight quarters.
Nate Barton
Groomsman
Nate and Zach met sophomore year of Pepperdine University. They lived in the same suite sophomore year, and roomed together when they studied in Washington DC. Nate became like a brother to Zach, taking trips with one another, sharing life experiences and each others hearts. They led a house group together after coming back from DC. Zach is awe of Nate's creative writing skills, graphic design, and quenchless passion for the people of Jinja, Uganda. He is currently serving with Kibo Group with his wife, Falon, in Jinja, Uganda. One of my favorite memories of Nate is the day after arriving to DC, we were walking around the Washington Monument in 1 feet of snow, and Nate tackled Zach and started a snowball fight.
Jed Bregant
Groomsman
Jed is Ellie's brother!! He is a free-spirited individual who loves people so well. The first time Zach met Jed was when Ellie invited Zach over to the traditional Sunday evening family supper at the Bregant house. I was very inspired with Jed's array of records. Zach is impressed with how Jed loves his girlfriend, Tiffany, and his family. He has a passion for living holistically and treating people kindly. I'm really excited to get to know Jed more and more.