Erin & Ryan
Wedding Party
Mary Kluesner
Maid of Honor
In 7th grade, I missed volleyball practice for an orthodontist appointment and my coach 'punished' me by moving me down to the C-team. Thankfully, it's where I met Mary. We've made it through awkward phases, breakups, long-distance best friendships, illegal activities, week-long country music festivals and more memories that we probably will never even remember together. Ryan also asked for her number once, but we'll leave the past in the past.
Logan Pitz
Best Man
Logan and I have been best friends for so long I cannot remember when it all began. I think of him as my little brother, as I am 31 days older than him. I was lucky enough to be best man in his wedding last summer and am quite worried that he may be out for revenge following my speech at his. To be honest, we have done so many fun/stupid things together that I am afraid of what he will come up with. Regardless of how much he makes fun of me on September 19th, I am extremely fortunate to have him as my Best Man.
Shannon (Gallagher) Hermsen
Matron of Honor
Really hoping I can make it through my own wedding day without mistakenly being called "Shannon". Shannon and I are the blondies of the Gallagher fam, so we learned to stick together pretty quickly as kids, especially when Katie would tell us we were adopted and Fedex would be picking us back up shortly. If you're confused how she's both a Gallagher and a Hermsen, she happens to be married to Ryan's cousin, Rob. Dating my sister's boyfriend's cousin was arguably the most Alabama thing I did while living in AL, but it all worked out. (Trust us, there's no blood relation)
Rob Hermsen
Groomsman
You ever try to explain to someone that your cousin married your fiancés sister with out making it sounding like someone should call the local authorities? Its tough man. Anyways, Rob has been a duel threat throughout my entire life. He has doubled as a friend and family. Rob has always been one of my closest friends and I am incredibly happy that he will be my cousin-friend-wife's sister's husband come September 19th.
Katie (Gallagher) Mendieta
Bridesmaid
I'm strongly considering hiring Katie as my personal trainer for the wedding - if she can come up with anything like the grueling fat camp she put me through as a kid, I'll be looking REAL good in that dress. Aside from forcing exercise and making me walk around with a clothes hanger pushed down over my shoulders to "correct my horrible posture", Katie was a pretty good big sis. We have her to thank for the hours of home video footage we now look back and laugh on - especially the scene where I get dropped on my head.
Hunter Westhoff
Groomsman
Hunter and I have been really great friends since about the 5th grade and had met because we were on the same basketball team. At that time, he was really easy to spot on the basketball court. He was about 3 feet taller than everyone else and had a perm long after perms were cool. I mean damn Hunter, that fro's circumference was wider than the actual basketball. Anyways, to be serious, Hunter has always the most selfless guy I know and I am lucky to have him as a friend.
Colleen Gallagher
Bridesmaid
Every day is a "Nash Bash" when your name is Colleen Gallagher! We made the move South together in 2015, me to Auburn and her to Nashville. Colleen was my home away from home for two years and always welcomed me with a nice comfortable spot on her apartment floor. She was also my go-to girl for boy advice, and was the founding father/co-creator of my infamous "7 Day Test" - if any boy could hold my attention for more than 7 days, he would be the one. (Congratulations Ryan, you passed!)
Padraig Gallagher
Groomsman
P-Diddy is Erin's "not so little" little brother. I have been fortunate to be able to see him grow from a smelly, 11 year-old boy to a absolute stud on the basketball court and baseball field. P, all of us in the family are incredibly happy you found out deodorant existed in the past couple of years. To be honest, he has some pretty impressive dance moves and I know he will be tearing up the floor September 19th. P, for all guests personal health, please do not forget your Old Spice. But, I could not be more excited to have P as a brother and get to watch him grow as a young man, mentally and vertically.
Mary Gallagher
Bridesmaid
Mary is the youngest of the Gallagher girls and reaps the benefits of being the 5th child, i.e.: she gets away with anything. On top of being a social butterfly, Mary definitely knows how to "ball out" - you'll know what I mean when you head to the cake ball table at the reception. She recently got accepted to Iowa State and will be living a short drive from Ryan and I by the time our wedding rolls around. Can't wait for those 2 am "pick me up" calls...
Mitch Frerichs
Groomsman
Mitch and I met at Wartburg our freshman year and from sophomore to senior year we lived together. We suffered many long, grueling hours in the library together until it felt like our heads were going to burst. Currently, Mitch is finishing up Dental school and is working towards becoming a Dental Surgeon. You know that saying "don't own a boat, but have friends who do"? Well Mitch, I'm counting on ya.
Anna (Hermsen) Maahs
Bridesmaid
Anna is the oldest of the Hermsen clan and the proud mother of the ridiculously cute flower girl. I first met the Hermsens WITHOUT Ryan being there - at one of his track meets. I knew I liked Anna when after one of his races she suggested..."Well, who wants to go to a bar?" Also, secretly wishing my future kids are half as cute as hers.
Adam Hoeger
Groomsman
If you're looking for some one to have a good time on the dance floor or shot gun a beer with during the wedding, Adam is your guy. Adam has always been one of the most outgoing and energetic guys I know. He has been one of my best friends since the start of grade school and am so happy to have him in my life. Anyone who sees him at the wedding, please do my a favor and ask him "Want to play a game?" or "Survey saaaaayyss".
Katelin (Hermsen) Donato
Bridesmaid
Katelin is the middle child in the Hermsen fam and therefore shares many traits with yours truly - she's the peacemaker, the planner and the wildly creative one. She also used to dress Ryan up in girl clothes and pull his bowl cut up into a high pony tail, so I really appreciate that. (If anyone is interested, I have photos) Katelin also just gave birth to the cutest little chunk! Did I mention I'm really happy to be joining this Hermsen gene pool?
Jace Modrell
Groomsman
I met Jace when I began Physical Therapy school at the University of Iowa. We got to know each other well while I was spending countless hours tutoring him all the way through school. Every once in awhile we would escape from our books, with our fellow classmates, and head down to Bo James for some big beers. Although we would not be able to stay long as Jace would typically get kicked out after a few hours. But don't worry Jace, there won't be any bouncers at the reception.
Andie Toledo
Personal Attendant
Andie and I first met in the decrepit building once known as Quadrangle Hall Dormitory on Iowa's campus. (It has now understandably been torn down). Andie thought I was a soccer player and I thought she was a way-to-cool for me hipster with a Ferris Bueller poster. Turns out she just need help with the wifi and I stole my jersey shorts from high school. Andie and I stayed close friends throughout college and now live it up together in Des Moines where you can probably find her ordering a round of Jose and you probably can't find me because I pulled an Irish Exit on her (again).
Bill Maahs
Usher
Bill is my sister Anna's husband. Him joining our family (for some reason he willing joined our crazy family) saved me, as growing up I was severely outnumbered by females and has been an amazing brother. Our wedding decorator better keep a close eye on him though. I have photographical evidence of him filling a flower vase with 5 full beers and drinking out of that for the rest of the night at my sister Katie's wedding.
Mandi Burkley
Personal Attendant
Mandi was also a resident member of the Quad Squad and a ~sister~ in Chi Omega. She had the pleasure of being my roommate our first semester in the house, which meant she learned to really love country music and was subject to my Sunday night pep talks. It was probably all that motivation that sculpted her into being the perfect human; teacher by day, barre instructor by afternoon and volleyball chearleader by (Wednesday) nights.
Nick Donato
Usher
Nick is my sister Katie's husband. The two of them just recently had their first child, Milo, just over a year ago. Although, he is a dad now, Nick plays video games more than a prepubescent teen. Even though he plays all the time, he still relies on me heavily to carry the team. Besides his lack luster video game skills, Nick has been an awesome brother to me as well. He is always willing to drop everything he is doing to help out someone in need, and I am very fortunate to have him in my life.
Mitchell Mendieta
Usher
Mitch was the first outsider to join the Gallagher fam, and increased the number of men by 50%. He's always down for an ice cold Busch Latte and thankfully gives me another person to root for the Hawkeyes with (it's tough in a Notre Dame household). Mitch welcomed me to the fam with open arms, probably because he was so happy to have another male at holiday gatherings, and I can't wait for many more Minnesota trips, beer runs and Iowa games in the future.
Sam Burds
Usher
Sam and I became friends around the 4th grade. He had just moved to town from St. Louis and I remember being baffled that a kid that age needed a subscription to Dollar Shave Club. I mean the kid must have had a 5 o'clock shadow out of the womb. Sam has always looked mature, but he has an even more mature personality. Which our friend group desperately needs. He is one of the smartest and dedicated human beings I have ever met and I hope I grow up like him one day.
Murphy
Goodest Boy
Murphy is the cute lil rescue pup Ry and I adopted this past summer! He has taught us many valuable lessons that we can apply to our marriage. The first would be to always be listening to each other (nothing gets passed those ears). Second, don't hold things in for too long - otherwise you end up peeing yourself at the bottom of the stairs on the way to use the bathroom. And lastly, when the sirens start to sound along your road of life, just howl along with them.