Maid of Honor
Maddi is Gabbi's younger sister and best friend. She is almost exactly two years younger than Gabbi (two years and 4 days) and actually shared the same due date two years apart. Although their studies were very different, they both went to Drake University and shared two years on campus together. She lives in Des Moines with her fiance, Frank and is ALSO getting married this year.
Man of Honor
Nathan is Derek's younger brother. When Derek learned that he was going to be getting a brother, he bounced around the house on a loop-handled hop ball, shouting in exaltation. He's that excited that Nathan is one of his men of honor.
Man of Honor
Justin is Derek's younger brother. While Derek sometimes cried over not getting Christmas presents, Justin was always content with what he had. Derek admires that about him: his calm way of moving through the world. He's grateful to have that energy beside him on his wedding day.
Bridesmaid
Madeline and Gabbi met before the summer of their freshman year at Drake University where they spent 4 years terrorizing the music faculty with their antics. They spent some of the two best summers of their lives in Novafeltria, Italy singing with the La Musica Lirica opera training program. No one makes Gabbi giggle like Madeline and no one gets Madeline into as much trouble as Gabbi. Madeline lives in Dublin, Ireland, where she recently earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the Royal Irish Academy of Music and sings with the Irish National Opera.
Groomsman
Jack is Gabbi's younger brother and has also become a close friend to Derek. Not only has Jack been a great roommate to both Gabbi and Derek over the past 6 months, he's also a wonderfully supportive and kind brother and friend. Back in 2020, Gabbi consulted Jack on whether or not she should send a Christmas card to the "love of her life" hoping to maybe ignite a COVID romance with an old friend. Jack said DO IT! Jack is an amazing filmmaker and lives in Des Moines.
Bridesmaid
Mallory was Gabbi's first friend when she moved back to Des Moines in 2018 and also works with Gabbi at Blue Frog. Mallory is the kind of friend that throws you a 1/2 birthday party, writes a nasty review on an apartment building on your behalf, is always there for a laugh or a cry, and is one of the most loyal people you'll ever meet. Mallory lives in West Des Moines with her husband Jaxson and beautiful daughter, Gia.
Groomsman
Payton was Derek's first friend, next door neighbor, and fellow member of his boyhood boy band, The PX Boys (their one public performance was on the #16 bus and was, according to the driver, "...pretty good..."). Payton and Derek grew up together and spent countless hours playing in the lot between their houses on Villa Court. Their bond is nearly as thick as blood.
Bridesman
Andy and Gabbi met through a mutual friend in 2013 when she was looking for a roommate in Chicago. It was absolute love at first sight. A few weeks before moving to Chicago, Gabbi's Mom, Julie asked who she thought she'd have in her wedding one day and she said "I don't know why, but I just know this Andy guy is going to be a lifelong friend." And he is. Gabbi and Andy lived together for four years in Chicago (shoutout 834 W Bradley Place!). They spent those years growing up together but mostly acting like children. They spent a lot of time at Bobby Love's karaoke and cried laughing more times than they could count. Andy lives in Chicago with his partner, Dan.
Groomsman
Jordan was Derek's roommate at Otterbein. Although they only briefly shared that smelly room in DK their freshman year, Jordan and Derek became inseparable as journeymates through life's highs (Jordan's Broadway debut in 2016, Derek's solo album) and lows (their car going up in smoke in an In-N-Out drive thru in Los Angeles). They are soul brothers.