JESS AND GABRIEL
Wedding Party
Kaylee Keck
Maid of Honor
Kaylee is Jessica's younger sister, and the best sister in the world. She has an uncanny ability to make Jessica laugh, and they text or Instagram DM almost every single day. Both are engaged in a campaign to get the other to move closer, but the Lord has been very gracious in allowing them to be so close relationally even when they're miles (or continents) apart. Some of Jessica's favorite things about Kaylee are her tender heart, her willingness to confront Jess in her sin, their long phone and FaceTime conversations about anything and everything, her adventurous and tenacious spirit, her silly voicemails when Jess doesn't answer the phone, and her perfect ability to craft a text that will make Jess erupt into laughter from across the country.
Caleb Cook
Best Man
Caleb is Gabriel’s big brother and has known him from the very beginning (they are not twins, despite evidence to the contrary). Gabriel moved to Jacksonville in 2023 to be roommates (and bunkmates!) with Caleb while they were both still bachelors. They lived together for a little over a year before Caleb married Taylor (who happens to be his beautiful bride-to-be’s best friend) and moved out. Gabriel and Caleb still enjoy working out together a few times a week, and Gabriel is especially thankful when Taylor makes them breakfast afterwards and the three of them enjoy it together. Gabriel is looking forward to living close to Caleb and Taylor and “[stirring] up one another to love and good works” in their marriages (Hebrews 10:24).
Taylor Cook
Matron of Honor
Taylor and Jess have been best friends ever since they both moved into a house together in July of 2022. They immediately got along well and realized they are similar both in personality and tastes. They both love to decorate their homes, enjoy a Coke, romanticize their lives, laugh constantly, tell stories with a dramatic flair, and be way louder than the situation calls for. Jess had the privilege of being Taylor's Maid of Honor last spring when she married her husband Caleb, who is Gabriel's brother. As everyone who knows them is aware, Jess and Taylor are very calm and chill about being sisters, and haven't squealed or screamed in excitement even once. Taylor is a gift in Jessica's life, and she can't wait to share many more seasons together.
Matthew Cook
Best Man
Matthew is Gabriel’s first younger brother. Growing up they were called the “dynamic duo” because they were very mischievous kids. Gabriel has many fond memories of the various shenanigans they got up to when they were children. In 2020, Gabriel moved to Brentwood, CA to live with Matthew. While there, Gabriel enjoyed working out and getting swole (though it was more Matthew than Gabriel seeing success in that area), hiking and exploring the beautiful California landscape, and spending quality time with his nieces and nephews. Matthew is now married to his lovely wife Emily, and they have 7 children together. Gabriel is thankful for Matthew’s example of honoring the Lord through trials and his example as a godly husband and father.
Julia Ingoldsby
Bridesmaid
Julia and Jess have lived with many roommates in their lives, but they've been each other's longest running roommates (since July of 2022). Because of this, they've perfected the methods of making each other laugh, predicting what the other will say, and imitating each other's mannerisms and quirks. Julia was able to predict with 100% accuracy who Jess was planning to ask to be her bridesmaids (she immediately thanked Jessica for choosing her--even though she hadn't been asked yet). Julia is one of Jessica's dearest friends and she is thankful that they've been able to share so many joyful memories together. The sweetest years of roomie life have been the ones Jess has shared with Julia.
John Cook
Honorary Groomsman
John is Gabriel’s youngest brother and would be by his side at the wedding if he could be. Growing up, Gabriel and John enjoyed competing against one another in sports, and Gabriel remembers that John would often win. John loved spending time with his family, and his great sense of humor made every family gathering full of laughter. Gabriel and John shared their first apartment together in Pennsylvania for two years while John was finishing a degree in Engineering and Gabriel was working as an Apprentice Electrician. God took John home to heaven on April 16, 2018. Although Gabriel and his family miss John dearly, they know that the Lord is sovereign and that His plan for John’s life and death is perfect. Gabriel does not grieve without hope, but rather because of the glorious news of the gospel, is encouraged that John is spending eternity with Christ (I Thess 4:13-18). Gabriel and Jessica long for Christ’s return to see His face and be reunited with John.
Kelsey Manikowski
Bridesmaid
Kelsey Manikowski is a woman of many talents, one of which is her ability to adopt a person into her circle of love and never let them go. Kelsey decided she was going to love the Keck family when Jessica's older brother moved to Jacksonville in 2019, and she immediately adopted Jess as well when she moved here in 2021. Kelsey and her husband Josh (and now their daughter Mia!) have been a great blessing to Jess, both in their consistent friendship and care for her, and in always texting Jess to ask her opinion on what Kelsey is planning to serve for dinner.
Drew Barnard
Groomsman
Drew is Gabriel’s brother-in-law, and became a good friend after marrying Gabriel’s younger sister Anna in 2022. Gabriel is glad that God chose Drew to be part of the family, and has enjoyed getting to know him better. Since moving to Jacksonville, Gabriel has been able to spend lots of quality time with Anna and Drew at their home in North Carolina, help them with home improvement projects, and hang out with his nephew Z (who is soon to be a big brother!) Anna and Drew also always make a stop in Jax on their way to visit Drew’s family in southern Florida, and Gabriel enjoys spending time with them during those visits as well.
Melody Vaught
Bridesmaid
Melody and Jess met in 2017 when Jess started attending Griggs Memorial Baptist Church in Greenville, SC. Jess lived in Greenville and attended Griggs until July 2021, and Melody was a great friend to her during that time. Melody gives great hugs, is always down for an adventure, and is one of the sweetest friends in Jessica's life. Although Jess no longer lives in Greenville, Melody and she have continued their friendship through road trips to visit one another, FaceTime calls, and now, being bridesmaids in each other's weddings.
Ryan Shields
Groomsman
Gabriel met Ryan very soon after moving to Jacksonville and attending Grace Community Church. Gabriel joined the same Grace Group that Ryan was a part of, and Ryan also asked Gabriel for some help with demo and electrical work for a home improvement project. For the last year, Gabriel has been able to meet with Ryan consistently for discipleship, and he is grateful for the way the Lord has used Ryan in his life to help him grow spiritually.
Maggie Keck
Bridesmaid
Maggie is Jessica's sister-in-law, and she is a very fun addition to the Keck family! Maggie and Jess met in person in March of 2024, and it was immediately obvious to Jessica how perfectly Maggie fit with her brother Justin. Jess was able to decorate Justin's proposal spot when he asked Maggie to marry him last May, and she had the honor of standing by Maggie when they married in September. Jess loves how much Maggie loves laughing, being married to her brother Justin, Jellycat plushies, bird-watching, baking, and living life with joy and enthusiasm.
Graham Westbrook
Groomsman
Graham has been a close dear friend to Gabriel since the beginning of his adulthood. They met at a men’s Bible study group at church in Pennsylvania, and for more than a decade the Lord has given them a friendship as they go through different seasons of life. Though neither of them lives in Pennsylvania anymore, they still enjoy spending time together when they can.
Mia Keck
Bridesmaid
Mia is also Jessica's sister-in-law, married to her little brother Riley. Jessica has been a fan of Mia from the very beginning of her relationship with Riley. Mia is a kind, sweet, genuine, and thoughtful person, and she loves laughing (or, more accurately, just saying "that was funny"). Jess has loved getting to know her better over the last year, from Sunday afternoon phone calls with her and Riley, to lots of "Just Dance" sessions, to spending time with her during Christmas and her wedding to Riley. Mia is a woman who loves the Lord and loves Riley well, and Jessica is so thankful she's part of the family!
Scott Brodd
Groomsman
After Gabriel moved to the small town of Beach Lake, PA in 2016, he started attending Beach Lake Free Methodist Church, where Scott was the pastor. The Lord knew that Gabriel needed that church community for that season of his life, and Gabriel was blessed to be part of it for the four years that he lived there. Over those years, he was encouraged and challenged in his walk with Christ by Scott’s faithful friendship. Scott was also a great encouragement to him through the incredibly difficult loss of Gabriel’s brother John in 2018. Scott has been a true spiritual brother to Gabriel.
Blair Buselli
Groomsman
Gabriel met Blair at his church’s summer youth camp, and after learning that he was also an electrician, realized they had a connection (pun intended). Gabriel and Blair would see each other at various Bible conferences over the next few years, and in 2016 Blair offered Gabriel a job working for his family business. Gabriel was happy to accept, and worked for Blair for four years before moving to California to be close to his brother Matthew. Over those years, Gabriel was encouraged both professionally and personally by Blair, and is thankful for the way the Lord worked in his life during that time.