Jill & Kyle
Wedding Party
Mark Pankow
Man of Honor
Ever since Mark tried to steal my birthday 29 years ago, he’s played countless roles in my life. These have included but are not limited to: Younger Brother, Birthday Buddy, Childhood Playmate, Floor Store Entertainer, Road Trip Vocalist, Would-be Amazing Race Partner, Instagram Photographer, Wing Brother, Travel Companion (8 countries, countless states), and Best Friend. So when it came time to choose the wedding party, it seemed only appropriate to give him a new title to add to the list: Man of Honor.
Jeremy Dahl
Best Man
It would be easy for nine years and 2,300 miles to put a wedge between two people, but they never stopped Jeremy from being the best brother and best man in my life. Whether it was endless bottle feedings, lessons in soccer juggling, making me mixtapes, teaching me to drive stick, screechin’ joy rides in his car (sorry mom), or coming home all the way from Cali for Kairos, he made our time together growing up memorable and meaningful. Now he’s an eager entrepreneur, devoted husband, and fun-loving father I continue to be proud to look up to.
Katie Pankow
Bridesmaid
The day Katie was born I was a mixed bag of emotions: It meant I finally had the sister I’d been wanting for nearly nine years, but it also meant I would be forced to share my room (for a girl entering her middle school years, this was a big deal). Though we’re nearly a decade apart, there are plenty of things that bring us together, like terrible Ion movies at Christmas time, exciting games of Zombie vs. Katie, ridiculous selfies, and me being “so weird.”
Travis Ritchie
Groomsman
Who would’ve known that a decision to sit next to Travis in a Telecom 101 class at IU would blossom into a bromance for the ages? Since that fateful day, he and I have shared countless memories including late night gaming sessions, coding catastrophes, deep sea fishing excursions, concerts, and an unhealthy amount of hamburger helper. But what I appreciate most about Travis is that he’s a man who sticks by his values, friends, and those that he loves the most. Now a husband and father, Travis is someone I can always count on to lend a (big) hand and give me advice on life’s challenges. And it doesn’t hurt that he makes a mean smoked jerky!
Erika Williams
Bridesmaid
Cousin, confidant, and proud inventor of Chexies, Erika has been an important part of my life since birth. Though we were born cousins, long walks and even longer emails cemented us as friends. Plus, no Born family gathering would have been half as much fun without her! As the older and wiser of the two of us, she’s taught me many important lessons, like wait for the guy who’s willing to buy you a library (or have your reception in one).
Scott Pankow
Groomsman
Meeting your girlfriend’s brother for the first time can be a nerve-racking experience, but (e)Scott’s easy-going personality and accepting nature made me feel right at home during our first brunch together. He has an unparalleled passion for Latin culture and food, which is great for an avid Yelper (and eater) like me—I could eat Mexican food every day. He’s always eager to share his stories and cooking with those he loves!
Jacklin Nguyen
Bridesmaid
Jacklin holds the record for my longest-running unforced friendship (we’re not related, yet 26 years later she still wants to hang out with me). We made it through 18 years of school together bonding over young adult novels, note passing, Pixy Stix and other snacks, volleyball, roller blading, movie nights, boy talk, and Taboo (yes, the game—we take it very seriously). When we’re not speaking discernible English, we can often be found communicating via strange noises.
Caroline McNichols
Bridesmaid
When Caroline and I first met our sophomore year at Purdue, we were on track to graduate with degrees in the sciences. Now we both work in marketing… I don’t think the two are related. This is all to say that my life wouldn’t be the same without her! Between the breakfast clubs and boy talks, the Friends references and music festivals, the Spring Breaks and Apt 16 soirées, I have her to thank for many of my "good stories" and a lot of laugh lines.
Jes Carranza
Bridesmaid
Jes is the epitome of a partner in crime. Want to go sing karaoke? She’s your girl. Want to stop by Wrigley for baseball and beers on a Wednesday night? She’s game. Want to make frozen margaritas in the middle of the night in the dead of winter without waking up your roommates? She’ll help you find a way to work that blender on the balcony. Long story short, we lived and worked together for three years at Purdue and had THE BEST TIME doing it (and she recently moved from NYC to Chicago—YAY!).
Carolyn Green
Bridesmaid
Carolyn was my first Work Wife in the Windy City. Between our coffee breaks and g-chat time, it’s truly a wonder we got anything done. She has a bold spirit that’s inspired me to do some wacky things, like run a marathon and stay awake all night to participate in a 24-hour adventure race. Even though she now lives in Seattle, she was one of the first people to make Chicago feel like home.
Azalea Dahl
Flower Girl
A niece whose name is also a flower? This four-year-old was practically made for the job. Azalea made Kyle an uncle and is the “Little Girl” to Jill’s “Big Girl.” Some of our favorite memories with this bundle of energy include watching her sing every word to every song in “Frozen,” building rainbows out of clay, treasure hunting on the beach in Hawaii, and playing countless games of “pretend” (though Kyle still wants to know why he always has to be the monster). We can’t wait to watch her steal the show come August.