Liz & Matt
Wedding Party
Paul and Kathleen Galea
Bride's Parents
My parents are the most hard working giving people I know. They are my role models for how to create a life filled with laughter and adventure and a relationship filled with mutual respect with a lot of teasing. So a big thank you to my wonderful parents, without whom none of this would be possible (meaning both my existence and this wedding).
Joe and Beth Taylor
Groom's Parents
My parents are a huge reason for where I am today. They are not only my parents but a couple of my best friends, and the best role models I could ask for. They taught me to approach life with hard work and determination, but also with humility and a sense of humor. They have been supportive of every decision I have made in life, and have never been overbearing, but always have been there for me when I need advice. I cannot thank my parents enough for all they have done for me, including their help with this wedding. I know they are just as excited as we are (maybe more so?) to celebrate our special day!
Katie Galea
Maid of Honor
While I have the title of older sister Katie is the rock of the family. She is strong and determined and don't be mean to me or she will beat you up! Being only 2 years apart we grew up being close and have become even closer in our adult life. Katie is my travel companion, fellow dog mom and confidant. Matt and I are very close with Katie and her (soon to be) Husband Brandon making family gatherings even more fun. We are so happy they are both standing up with us on our wedding day.
Art Reyes
Best Man
Art and I met during the first week of college when he came into our dorm room suggesting that we take leftover donuts from a dorm party and sell them on the diag the next day. The man is an ideas guy and an innovator. In all seriousness, he is probably one of the most driven and passionate people that I know when it comes to his work. He is one of the most supportive friends that I have. The pic of us here is from when we roadtripped back home to Michigan from Portland, OR and stopped in Glacier National Park, staying at sketchy motels and eating at Guy Fieri’s favorite spots along the way. Truly one of the best trips I have taken. Art and Ashley (and Finn’s girlfriend Kona) live in Royal Oak, and we always look forward to seeing them (Finn and Kona included) when we can make it happen.
Meg Galea
Maid of Honor
Meg is the baby of the family and frankly probably the coolest of the Galea Girl's. I like to think this is because she was able to draw from both Katie and my best qualities. Meg is the family instigator and event coordinator. Matt and I always have a great time with Meg, she always makes us laugh and has the added benefit of telling us when we are doing something old or embarrassing (mostly me, Matt is still cool). We are so excited to have Meg be apart of our day to keep us on track and modern.
Kevin Poole
Best Man
Kevin has been one of my best friends since grade school, so we go way back. He is an Ohio State fan, as evidenced by this picture (taken in Ann Arbor our Senior year in 2007, one of the 15 or whatever times they have beat us recently, but who is counting), but I don’t hold that against him. Some of my best memories with him involve our yearly trips to Florida with my family while growing up, filled with a lot of Sega Genesis NBA Live ‘95 and Dr. Dre on our Sony Walkmen. Kevin lives in Cincinnati with his wife Meagan and their 4 boys (with a fifth on the way!), but we still manage to talk multiple times a week (usually about nothing important at all), and maintain a close friendship.
Rachel Schultz (Marsh)
Bridesmaid
Marsh and I met playing club soccer together at Michigan State and quickly became great friends and practically inseparable. Marsh and I truly went through the best of times, the worst of times and the most embarrassing of times together in college. While our college days have come and gone I have always been able to count on Marsh to have my back and make me laugh. Matt and I love spending time with Rachel, her husband Bryan and their two boys Nolan and Reece. I am so happy that she will be standing with us on our big day!
Kevin Bingle
Groomsman
Kevin and I have been friends since kindergarten and attended every level of school together through undergrad at Michigan. He is one of the nicest and most inclusive people I know, and for an only child like myself, his big family pretty much became the closest thing to having siblings for me. We definitely share our love for Detroit sports, as evidenced here with a photo circa 1997, as we witnessed a Grant Hill-led teal-clad Detroit Pistons squad get blown out by the Atlanta Hawks at home in the 1st round of the NBA playoffs. Good times. (Also worth noting from this picture that Kev never conformed to the bowl cut trend, but yours truly pulled it off well, in my opinion) Kevin and Tara live in Toledo with their baby Maggie, and it’s always awesome to see them when we make a trip home!
Liz Hoppe
Bridesmaid
Liz Hoppe and I also met playing club soccer at Michigan State. As a fellow center back I quickly learned Liz is as as driven and dependable as she is fun and outgoing. When I moved to Chicago Liz quickly went to work introducing me to new friends, getting me on a soccer team and showing both Matt and I all the great things Chicago has to offer! Liz is always up for an adventure and always keeps things light and fun. She is a great friend to both Matt and I and we are so excited to have her be a part of all our wedding festivities!
Brandon Hodges
Groomsman
Brandon is Liz's sister Katie's future husband, and has become a very close friend over the last few years. It is impossible to meet Brandon and not immediately like him. I can't say that I have ever seen him not in a good mood or with a smile on his face, and he is always a great time to be around. The pic here is of all of us at dinner in Hawaii a couple years ago, and Katie and Brandon made for great travel companions (including putting up with my complaining about airplane ear on the way home). I am honored to be a part of their wedding in the fall and happy Brandon is part of ours as well! Katie and Brandon live in the Detroit area, and I couldn’t be happier to have them as new siblings to hang out with when we come back home or when they visit us.
Michelle O'Donoghue
Bridesmaid
Michelle and I have been friends since middle school and and went to Michigan State together. I owe Michelle for keeping me safe and sane during a college summer backpacking trip to Europe where we traveled through Spain and Italy with way to heavy backpacks on a minuscule budget. Even though Michelle now lives in Boston we remain close as Michelle is my home improvement consultant, and recipe exchange partner. I am so happy to have Michelle be a part of our big day!
Will Glonek
Groomsman
Will knows me as well or better than anyone, including Liz, since he and I were roommates for about 8 years through undergrad and post-undergrad in Ann Arbor (where he also served as a good landlord). He and I have been friends since high school, and our bond over an obsession with Michigan and Detroit sports remains strong. Will and Heather live outside of Detroit with their baby Blake, and we will for sure be rendezvousing with them at a Michigan tailgate or two this fall in Ann Arbor.
Natalie Sinicropi
Bridesmaid
Natalie is an especially important person in our wedding party because she is not only one of my closest friends, but she also is responsible for introducing Matt and I! Natalie is a great friend to both Matt and I. From introducing us all the way to helping Matt pick out the engagement ring Natalie has been there every step of the way. So when you see Natalie at the wedding make sure to get her a drink, she deserves it for all the hard work she put into getting us all here for this wedding!!
Brock Martinez
Groomsman
Brock and I first met in the summer of 2007 at Camp Laurel in Maine, where we worked as camp counselors. Brock is the friend that keeps me grounded, as we can be pretty ruthless making fun of each other. Having said that, he’s also one of the most loyal friends I have. Also of note, he has been an integral part of some of my best times over the last 15 years, a decent amount of which are not eligible for publication on this website. If you want to have a good time at the wedding, find this guy. Brock lives in Madison and used to use his impeccable skills in peer pressure to convince me to drive 7 hours to Wisconsin/Chicago from Michigan on the regular. Happy that those drives are shorter now.
Ashley Reyes
Bridesmaid
Ashley is one of my newest friends as we met through Matt! The first time I met Ashley and her Husband Art, Matt wasn't even there. They invited me to get bloody mary's before a wedding in Wisconsin and I immediately felt comfortable with them both. Ashley is a great friend and fellow swissy mom. I feel very lucky that Matt's friends have such wonderful, fun and strong women as their partners and I am so happy Art and Ashley will both be with us on our wedding day!
Steve Kennedy
Groomsman
Steve and I have known each other since our early days as rivals in epic front yard football matchups at the Poole's annual OSU/Michigan parties. We ended up going to high school together and have been close friends ever since. We now continue our rivalry in a fantasy football league (one of the few sources of competition in your 30s) and share a deep love for the state of Michigan. Steve and Sarah live in Sylvania, and have always been welcoming to Liz and I staying at the house after big night out in Toledo.
Liz Bailey
Officiant
Liz and I have been friends since we were four years old. In our 26 years of friendship we have gone through a lot together. Liz is strong, confident and hilarious. All my favorite qualities in a friend. It was important to Matt and I that the person that married us was someone that we were both close to and someone who knew us well as individuals and as a couple. Liz and her husband Adam have been great friends to us through our whole relationship and we are so honored that Liz was willing to be our officiant for the wedding.