Jessica & Nathan
Wedding Party
Kate Yuill
Maid of Honor
Kate is Jessie's older sister, and the person who knows her best. Kate has always excelled in music (specifically percussion) and received her Master's Degree in Music Performance in 2017. Kate now lives in St. Louis and is a member of the United States Air Force Band. Nate is excited to be gaining Kate as a sister, even though she enjoys making fun of him often. Kate is an incredibly talented and amazing person, and Jessie and Nate are so excited to have her standing with them on their wedding day.
Matt Bissen
Best Man
The only people who have known Nate longer than Matt are their parents. Matt is Nate’s older brother. He’s a veteran, he’s incredibly smart, and he’s a great Dad. Being 6 years younger, Nate has always looked up to Matt, and you couldn't find someone better to be a role model. Despite being brothers, Matt is a whiskey connoisseur while Nate remains more of a pink lemonade flavored vodka guy, something Nate will always catch a little bit of flack for from Matt. But it's the little differences like that that make being brothers so fun. Nate could not have asked for a better best man.
Shanti Varma
Bridesmaid
Shanti is Jessie's best friend of 14 years, and she means the world to Jessie. Shanti lives in Milwaukee, WI and recently graduated with a Master's Degree in Public Health. Shanti and Jessie went to school together at Janet Berry Elementary School, and continued all the way to UW-Madison. They have had countless shenanigans together, including ditching any attempt at social gatherings when they were teenagers. Shanti and Jessie have always been inseparable, so Jessie is thrilled to have her be a part of this special day.
Cordel Weber
Groomsman
Cordel is one of Nate's oldest friends, their bromance started around 1st grade, and spanned through high school, 4 years of living together in college, two or three jobs together, and continues to this day even after finally moving away from each other. Together they might be the biggest (and only) fans of The Pete Holmes Show, and they've also created some of the most unhealthy foods known to man while working at Red Rock. Even though he's always ready with an insult for Nate, Jessie and Nate couldn't get married without him being a part of the day.
Ashley Beach
Bridesmaid
Ashley is Jessie's older cousin, and one of her earliest friends. Ashley lives in Michigan, and does amazing work as a social worker. Ashley is who Jessie always went to (and still goes to) when she had questions or needed advice. Nate has gotten to know Ashley as well, through three straight years of questionable antics in Nashville on New Years Eve. Ashley has an incredible heart, and Jessie and Nate couldn't imagine getting married without Ashley there supporting them.
Wyatt Paltzer
Groomsman
Nate and Wyatt met in religion class before the 5th grade. Wyatt was one of the only kids Nate knew from Oregon when the Brooklyn and Oregon schools merged after 4th grade. They've been close friends ever since, attending the same college and sharing a house senior year. If Nate is ever telling a ridiculous story, it almost certainly involves Wyatt, its why we love him. Wyatt's the type of friend that knows he's in the wedding before he's asked, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Emily Bissen
Bridesmaid
Emily is Jessie's future sister-in-law. Emily works at Action Coach in Madison, WI and always inspires everyone around her to live their best lives. Emily and Jessie have known each other for 6 years, and Emily has known Nate since he was in middle school. Emily is always there when Jessie and Nate need her, and they both consider themselves lucky to have her. Jessie can't wait to gain Emily as a sister, and is so grateful to have her stand with her on her big day.
Jake Kaboord
Groomsman
Jake and Nate have been great friends for a long time. When they're not playing Madden, or Fifa, or attempting to enter into a beer pong tournament together at their favorite bar, they're probably bickering about the Packers and Vikings, especially Kirk Cousins. So even though at the time of writing this Kirk has a better completion percentage, and quarterback rating, as well as more passing yards, passing touchdowns, and more yards per pass and yards per game than Aaron Rodgers, Nate won't mention it. Jake was a no-brainer for the wedding party.
Katrina Foss
Bridesmaid
Katrina is Jessie's older cousin, and has been in her life since they were both young. Katrina is a Health and Wellness Coordinator at an assisted living facility in Michigan. Jessie loves to spend time with Katrina at family gatherings, vacations, and their favorite place, Hilton Head Island. Jessie always looked up to Katrina when she was growing up, and she feels lucky to have such a tight-knit group of cousins. Katrina is an amazingly intelligent, fun and kind person, and Jessie and Nate are so happy that she is part of their wedding party.
Jared Novinska
Groomsman
Jared might be part of the reason Nate and Jessie are getting married in Colorado. Nate had never been to Colorado until Jared organized a hiking trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. This inspired Nate and Jessie to take their own hiking trip to Colorado a few years later. Jared has been a great friend for a very long time, and even though Nate and Jared attended different colleges it seemed like they were still hanging out and causing trouble almost every weekend. Jared is one of the few people who loves gyros as much as Nate, and that alone makes him the perfect groomsman.
Michael Chalker
Bridesman
Michael is Jessie's younger cousin. Jessie always considered Michael to be her partner in crime growing up, since they were so close in age. Michael currently is living his dream being a drummer in Nashville, TN. Jessie and Michael have grown up together, from playing games in their grandparents' basement, to both moving to new states. Michael and Nate have also bonded, particularly by doing karaoke together on a stage in Nashville. Michael's humor always has everyone around him cracking up, and his joy for life is infectious.
Neil Udulutch
Groomsman
Nate met Neil in college through another groomsman, Wyatt Paltzer. It hard to say exactly what bonded them, maybe sharing a house Nate's senior year with a bunch of goons, possibly adult beverages, maybe even the Cardiac Arrest from Glass Nickle, but definitely suffering though their last semester together, preparing for finals at Memorial Union. He's become a great friend to both Nate and Jessie, and they are thrilled that Neil will be standing up with them when they get married.
Ellie Bissen
Flower Girl
Ellie is Nate and Jessie's niece, and she will be 5 years old at the time of the wedding. Nate and Jessie have loved watching Ellie grow up, and they are so happy that she is going to be one of their flower girls!
Hannah Bissen
Flower Girl
Hannah is Nate and Jessie's youngest niece, and will be almost three years old at the wedding. Hannah is a complete joy to be around, and she'll be a wonderful flower girl!