Leah & Jake
Wedding Party
Bella Rodriguez
Best Woman
Bella and Leah first met when they were both in middle school. The two connected instantly, as Leah’s bubbly, outgoing, and warm personality made for the two to become best friends! Throughout the years, Bella has been lucky enough to watch Leah grow into the strong, determined, and amazing woman she is today. The excitement was high when Jake came into Leah’s life, as Leah was able to be the awesome person she was, but now alongside her new (and equally as extraordinary) partner. To say Jake and Leah are a good fit for each other is an understatement. Cheers to their special day!
Julia St. Amant
Bridesmaid
Leah and Julia met in high school as they went to neighboring schools but really got close in college. Julia would take the light rail to St.Paul almost every weekend to hang out, and they would spend Sundays ignoring their homework and watching Grey’s Anatomy. Julia was there the night Leah and Jake met on the Cowboy Jack’s rooftop, and it was definitely love at first sight! Their movie Sundays started happening less after that 🤣 It was clear from the moment they met that they would be in each other's lives forever! Julia cannot wait to celebrate the lovely couple in June.
Ezmae Stevens
Bridesmaid
Leah and Ezmae met at a “get-together” in high school and instantly bonded over their obnoxious humor and love of the trumpet. Ezmae often visited Leah and her mother, Mary, at a local bar they worked at together in St. Michael and eventually became part of the crew. Soon after, they became a part of each other's families. When Ezmae met Jake for the first time, she knew he was the perfect man for Leah. Ezmae is beyond excited to celebrate the love between Leah and Jake and bust it down on the dance floor in June!
Carly Olson
Bridesmaid
Leah and Carly first met when they joined the soccer team during their first year of college at Concordia, St. Paul. It didn’t take long for them to become inseparable. They ate every meal together, spent the weekend with family, took trips, and skipped class to watch SVU. When Carly met Jake, she quickly realized that he was Leah’s missing piece, and he brought out all the best parts of her. Leah and Carly have been talking about this moment, their weddings, and their futures for such a long time, and it is finally here! Leah has a heart of gold, and now she has Jake to share it with. Cheers to the best day to come!
Shannon Wynne
Bridesmaid
Shannon and Leah met while playing college soccer together at Concordia, St. Paul. Leah has always exuded a loving, lighthearted energy that can flip any situation into a good one. This included, but was not limited to, fitness conditioning, being yelled at by coaches for goofing off, brutal hangovers, etc. Watching Leah grow into the strong and confident woman she is today has been such a privilege, and further, watching her fall in love with Jake has been even better. The love that Jake and Leah share is so pure and unmatched, and Shannon cannot wait for the big day in June. See you on the dance floor!
Allana O’Donnell
Bridesmaid
Allana is Leah’s first cousin on her mom’s side, but the closest thing Leah had to a sister growing up. Leah has always inspired Allana to be the most authentic, selfless, and respectful person. From when Allana was afraid to sleep at anyone else’s house, to Leah dragging her along to sleepovers with her high school friends, they have always been the best of friends. Allana thanked God she had Leah there always to pluck her eyebrows, curl her hair and paint her nails growing up because she didn’t know how to herself. Allana couldn’t think of anyone more genuine to be her partner in crime. She could express her gratitude to Leah daily for inspiring her to be the most ambitious version of herself. Allana has always looked up to Leah as an older cousin, and she can’t imagine where she’d be without having Leah be such a big part of it. Now let’s party!!!
Hannah Pedersen
Bridesmaid
Leah and Hannah once had a professor ask them, “How is there possibly anything left for you two to talk about when you’re together all the time?” And that question pretty much sums up their friendship. Throughout college, they spent many long hours together on the soccer field, as well as in the classroom. But through it all, Leah was the friend everyone hopes to have. She was kind-hearted, loyal, and genuine. She was someone you could lean on during the bad times and celebrate with during the good ones. When Leah met Jake, it was clear she had found someone that matched her in the best possible way. Anyone who spends time with Jake and Leah can see that they bring out the best in each other. Their love is one worth celebrating, and Hannah can’t wait for their big day!
Jackie Flemming
Honor Attendant
Leah and Jackie first officially met in College and were roommates during their freshman and sophomore years. They played the four most awarding and emotional years of soccer together at Concordia. One day, during summer workouts, Leah told Jackie about Jake for the first time, and you could see the sparkle in her eye and the comfort she found in him. Jackie knew Jake was her person, and the rest is history, but she thinks Kona really sealed the deal!
Emily Moran
Honor Attendant
Emily and Leah are the family you choose. Their moms, Mary and Kimmy, have been best friends since kindergarten, and it wasn’t until they were older that they realized they weren't actually blood-related cousins! Emily has looked up to Leah her entire life. From her fashion sense (even the blue hair) to her poised confidence, Leah has always been a role model for Emily in every way. When Jake became a part of the family, it was like we couldn’t imagine life without him. Here’s to a lifetime of love and happiness!
Jon Cassens
Best Man
The oldest brother of the Cassens’ boys, Jon, has created quite the trail for Jake to follow. As a father, brother, and lover, Jake has tried to emulate his oldest brother for most, if not all, of his life, albeit largely unsuccessful. Jake has looked up to Jon in every facet of his life since birth. All joking aside, Jon loves to golf only second to his love for his three beautiful girls (Jamie/Wifey, Hazel, and Eden). Jon is dedicated to his work, and that work ethic has been clearly passed onto Jake. As for the brothers, our love of sports, music, and dancing has kept our bond close and will grow closer as we welcome our fourth brother (Leah) to the family.
Joe Cassens
Best Man
Joey is Jake’s older brother and the middle child of the 3 Cassens’ boys. He is the father to the flower girl, Charlie, and he and his wife, Shelby, just added a little boy, Grayson, to their family. Joey is a rehabilitation-driven chiropractor who practices in Shoreview, MN. The Cassens’ boys grew up in a sports-loving, competitive, caring, and supportive family. Their childhood was filled with many family trips, sports tournaments, home run derbies, and very competitive blacktop 2-on-2 basketball games. Now the family enjoys getting together for sports games, family pool days, concerts, and other outings. Joey’s fondest memory with Jake & Leah is while they were in Hawaii and did a bike ride down Mt. Haleakala. While it was a blast, and the views were terrific, they saw a daughter crash and run over her mom with her bike. Something they’ll never forget. Joey is so excited to welcome Leah into the family and couldn’t have picked a better person for his little brother. He looks forward to making more memories with the couple and watching them grow as they begin their journey as Mr. and Mrs. Cassens.
Michael Naughtin
Groomsman
Michael has been a friend of Jake’s ever since they met at Benilde St. Margaret’s basketball camp going into freshman year. Michael went to Indiana University, where he met his girlfriend, who he now lives with in NorthEast Minneapolis. Michael and Jake have spent a lot of time with each other over the last 10+ years. Over that time, they’ve shared many laughs and created many lifelong memories. It’s hard for Michael to pinpoint the actual source of their friendship; their love for basketball, their inner gamer, or their knack for getting involved in mischief. Whatever it is, Michael is thankful to have had such a caring friend in his life over the years, and he can’t wait to see Jake start the next chapter of his life in June with Leah. Michael is excited to continue sharing laughs and creating memories with the future Mr. and Mrs. Cassens!
Joe Burnley
Groomsman
Joe and Jake's earliest encounter dates back to high school basketball; Joe, a modest trash-talker for St. Louis Park High, and Jake, a successful point-guard prevailing as a superior trash-talker for Benilde St. Margaret's. Onward, Joe and Jake developed mutual friends who fostered a connection between the two, just in time for their freshman year at the University of St. Thomas. Prior to hanging out on move-in day, Joe wasn’t familiar with the Jake Cassens - who would go on to beat every ‘skillful’ NHL gamer on campus, whose swagger was second to none, knew every word to every song in every genre, possessed ‘Smoove’ dance moves, and was extremely generous. Naturally, Joe had no shame in spending the following 72 hours with Jake, the kick-start to a close friendship that many thought to have commenced several years prior. Joe currently lives in Chicago and is grateful to have hosted Jake and Leah over the summer, a weekend full of laughter while Leah relentlessly defeated Joe in card games. Joe idolizes Jake and Leah in their pursuit of careers that can change the lives of many; he looks forward to sharing memories with the future Mr. and Mrs. Cassens and is incredibly excited to watch their bond flourish as one, together.
George Boosalis
Groomsman
George first met Jake in 1st-period art class freshman year at Benilde-St. Margaret’s. They immediately clicked as friends - and ultimately as class clowns. George attended Saint John’s University in Collegeville, MN, and now lives in Minneapolis. Despite the shared rivalry with Jake's university, George looked past this and often spent time with Jake in the cities. In due time, George then had the chance to meet Leah (and his favorite dog, Kona). Whether it was meeting up with the two in St. Paul, Rochester, or Orono - great memories were to be had. The once-hailed class clowns may still love to joke around and have fun, but they both have embarked on science-related fields that have become their greatest passions. George is extremely excited to see Jake continue to take his next steps, and he is even happier knowing that it will be Leah sharing those steps with him.
Reed Wawrzyniak
Groomsman
Reed and Jake met at the tail end of their freshman year at St. Thomas through mutual friends. Shortly after meeting, they were already set up to be living under the same roof for their sophomore year, where their friendship really began. They remained good friends throughout their time together at college, but after graduation, when most college friends drifted apart, Reed and Jake became closer. That is when Reed knew that he had found a friend for life. Reed could not be happier for Jake, that he has found someone like Leah to share the rest of his life with, and he feels so lucky that he is able to be a part of their lives and big day!
Chris Philbin
Groomsman
Chris was Jake’s first friend when he moved over to Benilde, and they have remained the best of friends ever since. Chris, after high school, went to Wisconsin-Madison and is currently working in Private Equity in Boston. Chris and Jake have shared tons of great memories over the years, spanning from countless sleepovers at the Cassens’ house, Jake embarrassing Chris on the basketball court, intense battles in anything even semi-competitive, summers working at Nothing Bundt Cakes (B- employees), and getting in way too much trouble along the way. While in High School, Chris would not have guessed Jake would be the first of their group to get married; he is thrilled that Jake found such a fantastic girl to spend the rest of his life with. He is and will always be very proud of Jake!
Erik Johnson
Usher
Erik is the elder brother of the Bride, Leah. He is 28 years old and has known Jake since he and Leah met, and we have shared many great memories since then! Erik pours concrete for work and really enjoys the projects he gets to work on all summer long. He loves the outdoors and spends most of his spare time traveling around the midwest, fishing, exercising, jet skiing, snowmobiling, and snowboarding. His all-time favorite pastime is taking his three-year-old Springer Spaniel Zion pheasant hunting. He looks forward to seeing all your beautiful faces and greeting you at the door on Leah and Jake's special day!
Luke Johnson
Usher
Jake’s future brother in law, Luke, is a Nursing student at Winona State University. He is an avid outdoorsman and loves to spend time with friends and family. Luke and Jake enjoy watching the Minnesota Vikings together and can be an eccentric duo in any competitive environment.
Michael Johnson
Usher
Michael is Leah’s youngest brother. He will be graduating High School right before the wedding in the spring of 2022. He enjoys spending time with friends, playing sports, and doing everything outdoors. He is attending Minnesota State University, Mankato, next year to further his education in business. He says that Jake is just like another older brother to him. Someone who rips on him constantly and enjoys taking advantage of no longer being the youngest brother. Michael always knows how to get him back and loves his light-hearted relationship with Jake. Michael can’t wait to have Jake as his brother-in-law and be a part of the big day!
Hazel Cassens
Flower Girl
Hazel is Jake and Leah’s oldest niece. She is a fiery six-year-old going on 16! Jake and Leah’s favorite thing to do with Hazel is watch their favorite Disney movies and eat bowls and bowls of popcorn together. Hazel is extremely passionate about animals, especially horses, dogs, and cats. She is most excited about getting to walk Kona down the aisle at the wedding!
Eden Cassens
Flower Girl
Eden is Jake and Leah’s second Niece and younger sister to Hazel. Jake and Leah spend most of their time being coerced into getting Eden snacks and candy and listening to her make all the poop jokes a two-year-old can make. Eden is most excited about the Bundt Cakes and Macaroons!
Charlie Cassens
Flower Girl
Charlie is Jake and Leah’s youngest niece. Jake and Leah have had the pleasure of living with Charlie over the last year. Their favorite thing to do with Charlie is take her, and the puppies for “poop walks” in the summer, and they have had so much fun watching her become the best big sister this winter. Charlie is most excited about the dance floor at the wedding and hopes you are okay with listening to “As it Was” and “Thunder” on repeat all night long!
Kona
Ring Bear
Kona is Jake and Leah’s almost four-year-old mini-golden doodle. She is the snuggliest, sweetest, fluffiest, begger butt that ever existed. She is Jake and Leah’s whole world. Their favorite part of their relationship is co-parenting their little Kona bear. They can’t wait to have her be a part of their big day!