Mandi & Dan
Wedding Party
Emily Thomack
Maid of Honor
Mandi's childhood bestie #EMDI. Through awkward middle school years, fun filled days of school, parting ways and being reunited as Badgers in college and now still trying to figure out how to adult, Em has been my go to person for the good and the ugly. There's no one who knows me better than Em or anyone who I know I can always be my truest self around.
Brexton Turner
Best Man
Dan and Brexton met freshman year in Sellery Hall. All accounts of that original meeting have been lost, but Brexton was likely playing NHL hockey on his PS4 at the time. Dan and Brexton were roommates for the remainder of Dan’s college years. They have remained close through Dan’s travels in Africa and move to North Carolina, and through Brexton’s journey to become the greatest surgeon in the upper Midwest.
Mara Martin
Maid of Honor
We met during our first week at UW-Madison in our dorm, Bradley, became instant besties and have been since! As a fellow only child, we are the other's sister we never had - even sharing a bedroom for a year and being roomies for two years! Although we haven't lived in the same city since college, our friendship hasn't diminished and I love every minute we do get to spend together!
Jacob Borders
Groomsman
Jacob and Dan met at Peace Corps staging in Philadelphia in September 2015. Since that was approximately the last time Jacob got a haircut, Dan and Jacob have been friends for about the length of Jacob’s hair. Jacob’s Peace Corps posting ended up being in the same region as Dan, and Dan and Jacob ended up rooming together for every Peace Corps training. Their friendship has continued through the last two years as they became Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and both ended up living on the east coast.
Jesse VanCamp - Pierron
Bridesmaid
A friendship destined to be, we were coworkers during our time at the ALA and instantly became friends at a time they both could use a friend just like the other person. Although Jesse didn't get to actually meet Dan until a year and a half into our friendship, she was there for me through it all and was the most excited to meet him when he got to Milwaukee. My fellow event-planning, detail-oriented friend is my haven on all personal and professional things. I already know how much I will appreciate having Jesse by my side on my wedding day for so many reasons.
Richie Giza
Groomsman
Richie and Dan also met freshman year in Sellery Hall, probably around the time Richie lost and/or broke his last Blackberry phone. Richie and Dan roomed together sophomore year and lived together Dan’s third year of college as well. Richie is also on his way to becoming an amazing doctor in Pittsburgh. Richie (as well as Brexton) was actually present when Dan met Mandi for the first time!
Mary Kate O'Leary
Bridesmaid
Our good friend Zoe introduced us and we quickly became great friends. My friend was always game for my activities - plenty of college adventures that we will never live down, tailgates, nights at College Library and lots of long chats (often bike cruising around Madison), I am so happy to have MK in my life! Nothing has changed post college, although the type of conversations have changed slightly as we navigate being young professionals instead of college kids :)
Patrick Casto
Groomsman
Dan covered more miles with Patrick in the Peace Corps than anyone else, from terrifying overnight bus rides in the rain, to excruciatingly slow two-day train rides, to six-hour motorcycle rides through muddy mountain roads. Dan and Patrick (and Jacob) bonded over twenty-two-ounce warm beers during Pre-Service Training and have been friends ever since. Dan and Mandi look forward to seeing Patrick’s signature moves on the dance floor.
Julie Wanta
Bridesmaid
We were roommates sophomore year of college! The apartment was a merge of friend groups (we didn't know each other beforehand!) and with a total of 6 girls in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment, you can imagine how that situation could have went. Well luckily, I gained a wonderful friend out of it and we have been great friends since. Julie was integral in supporting me while Dan was away in Cameroon and we made so many special memories together especially during that time!
Kaustav Medda
Groomsman
After moving into her house on Breese St (also know as the street of Camp Randall!), Mandi & her roommates saw our neighbors drinking beer outside and went to introduce ourselves as college kids do. All roommates quickly became friends and Mandi has the pleasure of being friends with Kaustav since. What might have started off our friendship was their similarity in music; when Kaustav moved out to Cali for a semester they even created a Spotify playlist to share our new found favorite songs with each other. Kaustav is the kindest friend who always makes time for you, shares things that reminds him of you and is just inspiring to be around with his work ethic and personality.
Frances Stevenson
Bridesmaid
Dan's sister & my soon-to-be sister! Dan & Fran have always been close which I credit to their naturally inquisitive, intelligent personalities. They shared a lot growing up including a love of reading and the family dogs. Fran excelled as a "little sister" by finding Dan's buttons and pushing them often. I've always wanted a sibling and I'm so excited to get one through marriage!
Fallon Morrissey
Bridesmaid
Fallon and Dan met through Dan’s freshman roommate during a freezing Halloween night out in 2012. They have been friends ever since, throughout Dan’s travels to Kenya and Cameroon and a series of big life changes for both of them. Fallon was the first person Dan told when he decided to propose to Mandi, and she was instrumental in choosing the ring.
Joey Pierron
Usher
Bonus friends are the best - Jesse brought her now husband, Joey, into our lives when they started dating. Joey's big, warm personality made us love him immediately and makes him the perfect person to greet our guests. Don't worry, you won't miss him - he may be the tallest guest at our wedding.
Gab Tuggle
Assistant
If a move across country for Mandi meant meeting one of her best friends it was all worth it. Gab & Mandi quickly became friends while working together at the National MS Society. Gab is such a light in many ways and many peoples lives. She will bring joy to our wedding and I couldn't imagine not having her as part of the wedding in some way.