Emily & Matthew
Wedding Party
Carolyn Kinde
Maid of Honor
Let us introduce you to the real life Luna Lovegood (if you’re not a Harry Potter fan then look it up and watch it!) Are you still watching? Yes Netflix, Carolyn and Emily are, and plan to continue doing so. They are professional Netflix binge watchers. Carolyn is the sister Emily never had; they’ve been best friends since birth; countless family vacations together have been had; even their Dad’s are BFFs. They simply can’t be separated despite living halfway across the US for most of their lives. Carolyn recently moved out to Utah with her fiancée Alex, and has become an avid biker, hiker, and rock climber when she’s not school teaching. Bond with Carolyn over the wonders of Utah, just please, no one bring up the ideas of getting tattoos after the reception!
Nate Cromer
Officiant & Best Man
(aka I Like to Party). Those of you who have only briefly met Nate may wonder why he’s been charged with so much responsibility between Officiant and Best Man. Little does he know, he’s been trying out for this position for years as he’s officiated numerous other friends’ weddings under our careful eye. Having become best friends with Matt in middle school and staying close to this day, Matt and Nate continue to hang out multiple times per year despite living 2,000 miles away from each other. This party animal has turned into a successful business man who works hard and parties twice as hard, recently being honored Milwaukee’s top corporate counsel. He’s also the only single one of the bunch, so keep your eyes out for this one ladies!
Laurel Karten
Bridesmaid
Emily and Laurel met during college playing club volleyball for U of A, and soon became locals at Union’s Whiskey Wednesday. Getting under-aged Laurel into a bar was never easier, it was a simple matter of wearing a dress and heels. I’m not sure who the worse influence was? When these two aren’t playing dress up, they’re eating chips and salsa, literally all the time. A weekend adventure between the two of them turns into multiple happy hours for chips and salsa. Laurel has parlayed her geology degree into an environmental engineering gig, traveling across the US. I’d say to talk to her about rocks or something, but we don’t want anyone falling asleep at the wedding. We will have a hard enough time keeping Laurel awake for the reception as it is!
Preston Smith
Groomsman
(aka Donkey) Every group needs its jokester. He's the least prepared airline traveler to exist, clumsiest person on land (yet most graceful on ice), and master of reciting jokes. Preston checks all the boxes for being a goofball (Donkey #1). It took until junior year at UM for Matt and Preston to meet, but they quickly became co-mayors of Dewey St in Ann Arbor during Master’s year. This included dominating fraternities in broomball, becoming locals at The Blue Lep, frequenting the IM gym, highlighting as the MGoBears at bball games, and hosting the wildest tailgates around. Hunt Preston down and ask for an animated and highly inappropriate joke, quote movie lines back and forth, or start a seal fight. Keep him away from the hard liquor or he’ll head bob (shoulder-cookie) all night!
Danielle May
Bridesmaid
Emily and Danielle didn’t meet until Laurel left Tucson and told them each that they needed to become friends in her absence, and boy did they! A champagne shortage hit Tucson, all puppies in the world were immediately two times happier, and everyone needed a Jeep. Danielle is an audiologist in Reno, but that doesn’t stop Emily and her from getting together multiple times a year for lake weekends, golf outings, and the wildest New Year’s Eve party around. Talk to Danielle about her furry, four legged kids or anything involving the color purple, but keep your eye on her to ensure some champagne survives until the toasts. ***Update she is pregnant so keeping her away from the champagne is even more important***
Ethan Hain
Groomsman
(aka Dad) Picture a brisk February winter morning. You’re curled up by the fireplace in PJs and slippers, drinking a scalding cup of coffee, attacking the Sudoku puzzle in the paper. You’ve now met Ethan, or as we affectionately call him, Dad. Don’t get me wrong, this guy gets fired up watching his favorite UM and New England sports teams; you might witness a rapid golf clap and sudden, “Yes” proclaimed following a key play. Matt and Ethan became friends in the clarinet section in marching band, and although Ethan took the industrial operations engineering (IOE, instead of engineering) route at UM, he is an aero consultant for a firm in Seattle. Feel free to initiate chats about anything Vermont (syrup, cheese, Ben & Jerry’s, cold weather) or planes and Dad will talk your ear off.
Kaylin Squyres
Bridesmaid
What do Shakespeare and Cardi B have in common? Absolutely nothing, other than Kaylin. This English major has a shared love for the classics, as well as any new age music with a beat which she self-proclaims as “bangers”. Upon moving to Tucson, Kaylin and Emily immediately hit it off while coaching Sunnyside High School JV and varsity volleyball together. This power duo has defined girl’s night: comfy pajamas, wine, and endless conversation. They have discovered excuses as bad as watching the bachelor/bachelorette to keep girl’s nights going strong. When it comes to wedding day don’t mention Cardi B to the DJ, we will be in a strict “bangers” only music environment. Instead talk to Kaylin about her volleyball career and black lab Ernie.
Jon Gentile
Groomsman
(aka JONATHAAANNN) Next is the gentile giant, Jon. The antithesis to Ethan, Jon will let the entire neighborhood know what's up. If you have a customer service complaint, he's your man. Jon and Matt also met in the clarinet section at UM, bonding over games of NCAA football on Xbox and working to improve Jon’s football catching (no more gator chomps). Matt soon convinced Jon to become a Packers fan, and the Pack followed suit by winning Super Bowl XLV the same year, cementing Jon’s fanhood. Jon was one of the few at school on winter break to partake in Matt’s 21st, and therefore is to blame for all of the night’s shenanigans which shall remain unspoken of. Jon is a field account executive providing technology to schools, get him talking about tech or his fleet of battery powered cars.
Chrissy Beebe
Bridesmaid
Chrissy is that rare younger sister that always invited herself to join in on Danielle’s plans, but is actually super cool. She’s basically the younger sister Emily never had; she checks all of the boxes: dog owner, loves champagne, up for just about everything, and played volleyball. She recently completed schooling in Phoenix, which was a great time for her and Emily to bond, but has since moved back to Reno to begin her nursing career. Hunt her down to nerd out on your Harry Potter fan hood. She’s basically Ginny Weasley, and her dog is even named Tonks. And get her a drink for being one of our essential workers!
Pat Chamberlain
Groomsman
(aka Patrice) I didn’t meet Pat until our 20s during trips to UA when UM was on break (thanks for the connection Nate), but I take credit for helping Pat grow up. Always the gullible one, I’ve assisted Pat in the search for Mermaid Cove in San Diego, proved to him that sunscreen is required in AZ, and taught him how to make muffins (you don't attempt to divide an egg into twelfths and put into each slot in the muffin tin). Pat quickly grew up and was the first to buy a house and get married. Even though we don’t still frequent the local country bars, we still hit up No Anchovies or Growlers for sports games. Looking to relocate to Tucson, Pat’s your real estate guru! If not, share a glass of whiskey with him and talk about NorCal or the importance of kickers in football.
Kenzie Meeson
Bridesmaid
Did you know that there were once a grand total of three Cleveland Indians fans living in Tucson (Emily, Kenzie, and Matt)? Neither did anyone else. Poor Kenzie was born into that sad, sad life of Ohio sports, but you’d never know it based on her optimistic and happy-going attitude. Emily and Kenzie met teaching science at Lauffer Middle School. From there they coped with the stresses of children and the other teachers by hitting up Guadalajara Grill during Wednesday happy hours for margaritas and the famous table-made salsa (you should try this during the wedding weekend if you’ve got time). Feel free to discuss anything Ohio related with Kenzie (except that one college that shall not be named), or maybe get some training tips for preparing for your next marathon.
Brit Bush
Groomsman
(aka B Dawg) Plan on this one to spend the evening serenading the DJ, performing righteous air guitar solos, and displaying the We Out Here (WOH) mentality – Don’t ask. Matt and Brit bonded through the Michigan student-run rocketry club, MASA, and spent the next five years of college grueling through long nights of homework in the library basement and straight up ballin’ at the central campus rec center. He had a brief lapse in judgement and took an internship with Lockheed Martin, but he’s had some sense return and now works as an engineer at Northrop Grumman in Huntsville, AL which he self-proclaims “Hunts Vegas”. Pop a crispy boy with this one and chat about your favorite bands or golf game.
Kyle McDevitt
Groomsman
(aka Krizzdy) Recently a new Dad himself (congrats bud), and not to be confused with Dad (Ethan), Kyle is the Mom of the group ensuring our safety during football tailgates and hazardous skiing situations. Whether it’s adding extra weight in the car for icy conditions, ensuring a timely bedtime prior to an early morning, or monitoring the speaker volume, Mom's looking out for our best interests. Matt and Kyle met at UM in aerospace and marching band, quite the fortuitous connection as Kyle is one of the most intelligent people you will ever meet. This guy pays more attention to TV commercials and critiquing them than the actual shows and sports themselves. Discuss a possible self-start up or technology with Kyle, but be warned as the conversation will certainly evolve into mountain biking.
Kyle May
Groomsman
(aka Mr. Burns) Matt & Kyle are the lucky halves of Team Babe (the other parts being Danielle and Emily), only meeting after college when Kyle would visit Tucson to see Danielle. The ultimate competitors, Matt and Kyle both despise losing. Put us on two different teams and expect to see some fireworks, but put us together and we’ll rival anyone. That goes for cards, drinking games, spike ball, basketball, and on and on. Heck, we’ve even become decent volleyball players after exceptional coaching from our ladies, winning a few 4v4 tourneys. Kyle recently left teaching to become a regional salesman for Reno Truss supporting the western half of the US. Go find him at the reception and show off your newest Patagonia garb or recommend some tunes for Burning Man.