Wedding Party
Lacey Gutzwiller
Matron of Honor
My best friend Lacey has been by my side since we met in 2001 at Lake Forest College. What started as being roommates quickly turned into a lifelong friendship built on endless laughs, shared memories, and how incredibly similar we are in all the best ways. Through every stage of life, we’ve been there for each other through the good times and the hard ones, always supporting one another no matter what. Over the years, she’s become more like family than a friend. She’s been my steady source of support through it all, and I can’t imagine anyone more perfect to stand beside me as my Matron of Honor.
Megin Nadirsha
Bridesmaid
From the moment I met Megin, Michael’s sister, we immediately clicked and felt comfortable with each other right away. I’ve loved getting to know her not only as my future sister-in-law, but as a true friend and someone I can always go to talk about Michael, share stories with, and laugh alongside. Having her in my life has made joining this family feel even more special, and I’m so grateful for the bond we’ve built.
Rhonda Torres
Bridesmaid
I met Rhonda in 2009 when we were working together at QPS, and we’ve been “trauma bonded for life” ever since — in the best possible way. We talk every single day, and she’s become one of those rare people who is a constant in my life no matter what’s going on. Rhonda is incredibly supportive and the ultimate cheerleader — whether she’s celebrating life wins with me or giving me a virtual high five on the Peloton leaderboard, I know she always has my back. We always have the best time together, whether we’re golfing, enjoying a spa day, or simply catching up. Even though we no longer work together, our friendship has only grown even stronger, which says everything about the bond we share.
Carla Cozzi
Bridesmaid
I met Carla in 2009 when she was a customer of mine at QPS, and we became instant friends almost immediately. After knowing me for just a week, she agreed to go skydiving with me—which pretty much set the tone for our friendship from the start. We’ve always connected easily, and as fellow Cancers, we have a natural understanding of each other and are alike in so many ways, from how we think to how we show up for the people we care about. She’s someone I’ve always felt I can be myself with, and over the years our friendship has grown into something really special and effortless.
Kristen Blumenthal
Bridesmaid
I met Kristen—aka “Feeney”—in 2001 at Lake Forest College, and we were roommates, which made our friendship strong from the very beginning. Over the past 25+ years, we’ve built a friendship rooted in loyalty, laughter, and always showing up for each other no matter what life throws our way. She’s also one of the only friends I can really talk sports with, which makes our time together even more fun. We’ve shared so many memories, inside jokes, and different chapters of life together, and somehow we still pick up right where we left off and have the best time whenever we’re together.
Jamie Carter
Bridesmaid
I met Jamie in 2002 at Lake Forest College during homecoming, and we became friends instantly after sharing a few beer bong hits that somehow turned into the start of a lifelong bond. From that moment on, our connection just clicked naturally and effortlessly. We were also roommates, which made those early years even more memorable and deepened our friendship in such a real, lasting way. Jamie and I still have so many inside jokes that can bring us right back to those college days and make us laugh like no time has passed at all. Over the years, she’s remained a grounding, steady presence in my life, and our friendship has continued to evolve into something truly lasting and meaningful.
Avery Cama
Junior Bridesmaid
My niece Avery, who is 12 years old, holds such a special place in my heart. I love watching her grow up and seeing her personality shine more every day—she’s incredibly smart, wonderfully sassy, and full of spirit. In so many ways, she feels like an extension of my late sister, Nahren, and I see little pieces of her in Avery all the time. I love being her aunt and being part of her life as she grows into who she’s meant to be. Watching her grow up is one of the greatest blessings in my life.
Liana Nadirsha
Flower Girl
Liana, Michael's niece, has such a fun and bright personality that lights up every room she walks into. She brings so much joy and energy, and I’m so excited to have her be our flower girl so she can dance her way down the aisle at our wedding. Having her be part of our day makes it even more special, and I can’t wait to see her shine.
Christopher Herbst
Best Man
I met Chris freshman year at Bartlett High School. We immediately became friends and shared a love for Chicago sports. After we graduated high school, our friendship grew into a brotherhood. We both attended college in Chicago and spent the majority of our time hanging out at each other’s places, attending sporting events and concerts, and even traveled to Spain. Through the good days and bad, I know I could always count on Chris to be there to enjoy the memories or to talk over a pint. I was honored to be his best man in 2021 and even more honored to have him be mine.
Clyden Moradian
Groomsman
Clyden and I have grown up together, and over the years he’s become one of my closest friends. Our parents have always been close, so from an early age we spent a lot of time together and always had a great time whenever our families got together. As we got older, our friendship only became stronger. We’ve bonded over a lot of shared interests — cars, football, video games, and, of course, food (not necessarily in that order). Through every stage of life, we’ve continued to be there for each other, and I’m incredibly grateful for the lifelong friendship we’ve built together.
Natan Khanania
Groomsman
Nate, better known as “Birdie,” and I met through a mutual friend. He earned the nickname because he used to come and go like a bird — always popping in and out. These days, though, Birdie gets his nickname because of his skills on golf course. I still can’t believe he picked up golf well after I did and somehow became better than me almost immediately. Even so, he’s one of my favorite people to spend time with, both on and off the course. Birdie is the kind of person who can fix just about anything and is always willing to lend a hand whenever someone needs help. Over the years, I’ve come to know that I can always count on him — whether it’s helping straighten out my golf swing or giving me reliable handyman advice.
Robert Padron
Groomsman
I met Rob later in life when he married my cousin, and it didn’t take long for us to form a close bond. Although I haven’t known him as long as some of my other groomsmen, I truly see him as an older brother. I’ve always admired the way he shows up for his family and friends with unwavering loyalty, and I know I can always count on him. No matter the occasion, we always have a great time together. Over the years, we’ve made countless memories on golf trips, and I’m looking forward to many more ahead.
Joseph Dunn
Groomsman
Joe is my closest friend from work and a fellow teacher at Minnie Miñoso Academy. He was actually the first person I met when I started there in 2010. Not long after we met, he invited me and his dad to the 25-year reunion of the 1985 Chicago Bears at McCormick Place. There was no chance I was turning that down, and that trip marked the start of a close friendship that’s lasted ever since. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to share countless Chicago Bears games with Joe, building memories I’ll always value. Even though we spend most of our days together at school, we still make time for our daily “lunch drives”—which rarely involve actually getting lunch. Instead, we end up driving around Bridgeport talking about sports, life, and occasionally reflecting on our students and the day. People joke that we spend too much time counting down to retirement, but I’m genuinely grateful to have a friend like Joe to share the years—and the workday—with along the way.
Sargon Nadirsha
Groomsman
I met Sarge when he started dating my sister, and eventually became my brother-in-law. At first, I was the protective older brother, but it didn’t take long to see how happy he made her—and that made me happy too. Being part of their wedding in 2017 was an honor, and I’ve been grateful ever since to officially have him in the family. Sarge and I are complete opposites in many ways. He’s talkative, I’m not. He’s into fashion, I’m not. But despite those differences, we tend to think alike when it comes to the things that matter. We both value family deeply, and we share a serious appreciation for good food. Even though he lives in Arizona, I can always count on Sarge to keep me in the loop on new places to eat in Chicago. That’s just one of the many ways he stays connected and involved, no matter the distance.