Erin & Joseph
Wedding Party
Sydney Krajewski
Maid of Honor
Sister. Best Friend. Enemy. From the moment Sydney was conceived, Erin knew she had a built in best friend. The exact status of that friendship may have changed over the years, but Erin could not imagine walking down the aisle without Sydney at her side. From years of playing pioneers to getting lost in the middle of the lake to taking college courses together, these two have seldom spent time apart. These two could not be more opposite but maybe that's why they work so well together. Without Sydney's approval of Joe, this wedding would not take place. She is the definition of a "Day 1, Ride or Die"
Nick Datilio
Best Man
Nick and Joe’s friendship mimics their favorite childhood books of Calvin and Hobbes in both its comic absurdity and in that both characters are differing sides of the same coin. Meeting for the first time in 2010 at 7:45am in their first college class at Kent State University, Joe and Nick became close friends quickly leading to them becoming roommates twice over the last 11 years. With wild adventures including frozen cars, working together in ticketing, to late nights playing games together these two have become close friends. Joe is a groomsman in Nick’s upcoming (October) wedding.
Mary Kathryn (MK) Allen
Bridesmaid
MK and Erin met on the first day of freshmen orientation at Ave Maria University. A mutual friend introduced them based solely on their matching energy levels. While they went on different paths throughout college, they kept a deep-rooted friendship. Erin had the honor of being there for MK on her wedding day, and now it's only fitting that she be there on Erin's. The fact that they are still friends after MK forced Erin to road trip with her in a car that had 5 year expired tags, no working horn, and broken windows, proves there is very little that could come between these two.
David Hionides
Groomsman
David has been involved in Joe’s life since Joe was born, acting as a father figure, mentor, and many times as the most annoying person on the planet. Many (including David’s wife Heather and Joe’s bride to be) describe them as identical in everything from mannerisms and humor to interests and hobbies, which is no surprise to those who knows them well. Joe’s fondest memories of his childhood are spending hours playing games with his uncle which he only won when David wanted to do something else. Joe still can’t beat him in games, but hopes to usurp the master as David gets older and older and loses his mind.
Madeline Smerdon
Bridesmaid
Madeline and Erin met as co-workers. It wasn't until they were forced to be desk neighbors that their friendship truly blossomed. They'd escape their woes by eating Frosty's in their hammocks at a nearby park. Sadly, Madeline abandoned Erin to get her MBA at Notre Dame. But don't let that fool you into thinking she has her life together. Madeline and Erin frequently turn to each other to relay all the life disasters they find themselves in. A shared love of musicals, northern Michigan, camping, and farmer's markets have led to many adventures!
Ben Cao
Groomsman
Joe met Ben during his two month stint at a public school in Canada during his sixth grade year at recess where they quickly developed a friendship spanning almost two decades. Joe ended up leaving the school, and later the country, yet he and Ben remained close friends despite the distance doing everything from youth soccer, gaming, and traveling between countries to see each other. While life has taken them in very different directions, they continue to remain close friends.
Ally Wilson
Bridesmaid
While Ally and Erin met in their first semester at Ave, it wasn't until that Spring that their friendship truly blossomed. Partnering up during Spanish class, they quickly bonded through Pink Panther quotes and sarcasm. Erin's extraverted and Ally's introverted natures pushed both of them out of their comfort zones and have led to many unforgettable memories. When Ally first met Joe back in 2017, she decorated her whole living room as a shrine to the relationship. Ally is proud to take full credit as to why Joe and Erin are walking down the aisle. Both Ally and Erin look forward to building homes next to each other and creating a connecting tunnel to continue their adventures.
Brandon Silich
Groomsman
Brandon and Joe both served as Military Police soldiers in the same military unit and deployed together to Afghanistan in 2013. They hung out so often overseas that if you ever saw them apart you were worried the other was laying somewhere hurt. Spending so much time together both during and after their deployment, they knew just about all there is to know about each other, including each other’s preferred “conspiracy theories”. Post-deployment, Brandon was an important support for Joe through some of his toughest times and helped him even more than Brandon knows. Battle Buddies for life truly means something for both of them.
Teresa Knauss
Bridesmaid
Erin may have met Teresa through Sydney when they were college roommates, but the two have always referred to each other as "twins." One particularly prominent, and strange, memory was when Teresa, without hesitating, applied essential oils on the bottom of Erin's feet when she was sick. Erin may not have necessarily asked for this gesture, but it solidified a lifelong bond. Since then, many nights have been spent watching the musical Cats, making gluten free food, exploring different cities, and staying up talking about all the things life has thrown at them.
Zach Cramer
Groomsman
Zach and Joe met during their master’s program in 2017 at Youngstown State University and connected very quickly given their unique personalities. While they have opposing views on almost everything important (including the hotly debated topic of preferred font type in professional documents), they found common ground in their passion to help and enrich the lives of students, complaining about work, and their love of games.
Eric McLellan
Usher
"Friend" of the Groom
Kyle Bowen
Usher
Friend of the Groom
Silvia Garcia
Junior Bridesmaid
Cousin of the Groom
Lucy Garcia
Flower Girl
Cousin of the Groom
John Garcia
Ring Bearer
Cousin of the Groom