Emma & Michael
The Brides who Maid & the Men Who Groom
Mary Peterson
Maid of Honor
Mary is Emma's oldest sister and lives in a suburb outside of Chicago with her husband, Todd. Mary and Emma shared a room for a long time, and Emma's wardrobe grew significantly due to "borrowing" clothes. Emma stood in 2009 at Mary's wedding and was voted most drunk at the reception. We are hoping Mary follows in Emma's shoes for our wedding.
Connor Rooney
Best Man
Connor is Mike's brother and arguably the most mature of the Rooney siblings. Connor and Mike grew up around a love of Star Wars, video games, and everything nerdy in-between. Mike's confidant, Connor graduated from Purdue University last December with an engineering degree and is now part of the Army National Guard. As Emma says, he is now going to be her "big little sibling" that she never had growing up.
Ann Reineck
Maid of Honor
Ann is another big sister of Emma's. Ann is a major LOTR and HP fan and has bonded with Mike over this. Her son, Nels, is a bundle of joy and a future Harry Potter Head. She is married to Nick who is a barbeque master and was a history teacher in Emma's high school. Along with Mary, Ann introduced Emma to college life at a ripe young age.
Lou Elson
Groomsman
Lou is Emma's oldest sibling and only brother. As a kid, Emma called him "King Louie" and learned many karate skills from him. Lou is an amazing guitarist who knows more about music than anyone Emma has ever met. He is a wonderful dad to his amazing daughter, Abby and never fails to bring the party. A memory Emma will always have is when Lou threw her an epic 21st birthday celebration in downtown Madison. Emma still misses the earrings she flushed down the toilet that night.
Molly Rooney
Bridesmaid
Michael and Connor's sister, Molly cannot wait to finally get a sister of her own. The Golden Child of the Rooney clan (just ask about Mollyfest), Molly is an incredibly talented ballerina with Deleware's First State Ballet and just recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in communications. It's worth noting that Emma is also excited to have a sister/friend her age.
Ernie Menold
Groomsman
Mike's cousin, the two of them were inseparable at their family's mountain house in upstate PA when they were kids. Honestly, it's a surprise neither of them got hurt more than they did. They've now grown up together, filling their stories with adventures in Boston, Philly, and even Thailand. Ernie currently works for a marketing firm in Boston and is the most well-traveled person that Mike knows.
Hannah Busching
Bridesmaid
Hannah and Emma have been "best cousins" for over 27 years. They were terrified of each other at first, but became best friends quick. They also happen to share the strangest inside jokes you'll ever hear. Hannah is a Spanish teacher for high school freshman. She is a very adventurous soul and loves to travel. Hannah and Emma aspire to get dogs at the same time someday to host play dates.
Nick Severyn
Groomsman
Mike's roommate at Notre Dame, the two of them have gotten each other out of plenty of situations that in hindsight shouldn't have occurred in the first place. For example, be sure to ask about those hand sanitizers Mike borrowed for their quad. Since college, Mike and Nick have both deepened their friendship even as one personifies Gordon Gekko (Nick) and the other wants to be Chris McCandless, the guy from Into the Wild (Mike).
Mallory Vogeler
Bridesmaid
Mallory has been Emma's best friend since early high school when they discovered they were compatible by singing endless Britney Spears on the soccer bus. Mallory and Emma may live far away from each other but never fail to have a crazy good time when reunited. Together, they are karaoke masters and seasoned rum and coke drinkers.
Packy Griffin
Groomsman
Packy is singlehandedly the reason that Mike got a job and apartment in DC. Seriously, his first three jobs and second apartment in DC were due to Packy's "connections". Be that as it may, DC was a tough place to leave after all of the amazing memories the two made seeing multiple shows at 9:30 Club, grabbing some cheap beers on H Street, meeting up with the ruggers at Atlas Brewing, and absolutely destroying Kitty's Saloon on Mike's last night in the city.
Chelsea Giguere
Bridesmaid
Chelsea and Emma have been best friends in Montana for three years. They met through mutual friends and lived together for two years. During this time, they developed many jokes that would make any normal person not want to speak to them ever again. That is why they get along so swimmingly. Thanks to Chelsea, Emma has a sister in Montana and a dog nephew.
Collin Evans
Groomsman
What do you do when you go to a 4th of July party and know no one? Start a nerdy conversation with the nearest tallest dude and ignore the whole party while you blather on about Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Pacific Rim. Collin is now an SF transplant, but Mike was lucky enough to spend a week with Collin down in Patagonia when the Hawaiin native lived in Chile for the year. The biggest lesson from that trip: always trust glacier water over tap.