Joan & Zach
Wedding Party
Tessa Judge
Maid of Honor
Tessa and Joan met as toddlers in ballet class and have been inseparable ever since. Tessa is the closest thing Joan has ever had to a sister, right down to sharing a bedroom at one point. They were best friends all throughout school, lived together in a studio apartment they affectionately named the "Dearborn Dorm" after college and have been by each other's sides for every major life milestone - no matter if they're living together or miles apart.
Maddie Bloss
Matron of Honor
Neither Joan or Maddie can remember how they first met back in high school, but they've been best friends since those days of braces and soffe shorts. Maddie is like Joan's older, wiser sister - always giving the best advice. Joan has counted on Maddie for a pep talk at nearly every twist and turn for over a decade, and she can't imagine what she'd do without Maddie!
Libby Schaefer
Bridesmaid
Libby is Joan's best friend from college, Indiana University. They met when they both lived in Foster dorms and joined the same sorority - Kappa Alpha Theta. They lived together their first semester in the sorority house and even shared a flat when they traveled to London to work at the same PR agency their Senior year. They've remained best friends since college, traveling to Europe together again and spending many nights playing Settlers of Catan with their partners.
Kathleen Brink
Bridesmaid
Growing up with two brothers, Joan always wanted a sister, and she finally got one when her brother married Kathleen in 2018! Kathleen has played the big sister role so well, setting the best example for a great career and a wonderful marriage - not to mention, the best advice on what to register for. While Kathleen has lived across the country in California for more than 5 years, their relationship has never been tighter!
Meredith Shevitz
Bridesmaid
Meredith is one of Joan's closest friends from home! They met Freshman year of high school and immediately became best friends, bonding over their mediocre tennis skills and love of politics. Even though Meredith and Joan haven't lived in the same city since they graduated high school in 2010, their friendship has never been stronger thanks to a nearly 24/7 communication stream through texting, snapchat and g chat.
Sarah Brattain
Bridesmaid
Sarah and Joan met in high school, where they studied nearly every day together for their AP Biology class. (Sarah is the only one who did something with that knowledge - she's now a Veterinarian!) Their friendship really blossomed when Sarah moved to Chicago in 2015, and they became roommates in an apartment that had an uncanny resemblance to The Shining. For two years they spent nearly every night drinking wine, complaining about their first jobs and watching HGTV. The girls have stayed close through many moves and different cities since.
Julia Friedman
Bridesmaid
Julia is one of Joan's closest friends from home! The two met in middle school and have stayed close ever since. They are the only two from their friend group who went to Indiana University, and they ended many nights at Kilroy's drinking water long islands and eating breadsticks together. Joan is so grateful to have Julia is Chicago for a little bit of home every time they're together.
Dena Weiss
Bridesmaid
Dena is one of Joan's closest friends from childhood! They met in elementary school through their neighbors, and stayed friends through their summer camp at the JCC and the bar/bat mitzvah circuit in middle school. They became best friends in high school, bonding over their summer lifeguarding jobs and late night karaoke drives around Indianapolis. The girls have stayed close through many different cities and moves. Joan is so glad Dena moved to Chicago after graduate school so they could live in the same city again!
Haleigh Nierman
Bridesmaid
Haleigh and Joan met through their partners (Haleigh is engaged to groomsman Manan) - but don't let that fool you, they've become the best of friends! Joan and Haleigh often joke that Manan and Zach would never see each other if it wasn't for their plan making. Joan can always count on Haleigh to have a cold bottle of prosecco in her fridge and to be the best sounding board after a long day.
Katie White
Bridesmaid
Katie is dating Zach's brother Jess, but Joan and Katie have become friends in their own right since she and Jess moved to Chicago a few years ago and the two bonded over their love of hot yoga! Joan couldn't feel luckier to be marrying into a family where she is getting friends in addition to family.
Jess Norman
Best Man
Jess is Zach's younger brother. While they moved around a lot as kids, it's Jess' latest move to Chicago that has allowed them to spend a lot more time together. Jess and his girlfriend, Katie, live a few blocks from Zach and Joan, and the brothers get together often to play tennis, watch sports or just to grab a beer. Zach can't think of anyone else he'd rather have by his side as his best man - his oldest friend and only brother!
Pat Grover
Groomsman
Pat and Zach went to the same high school, but they didn't become best friends until they lived in neighboring dorms Freshman year at University of Iowa. The two have identical senses of humor and hit it off right away. They lived together the final three years of college, and even though they've lived in different cities since, they stay in constant communication through text, instagram memes and Call of Duty.
Jay Morgan
Groomsman
Zach and Jay played hockey together in high school, but didn't become best friends until Freshman year at University of Iowa, where they bonded over having horrible roommates. Throughout their college years, Jay and Zach formed a group of friends that is still close to this day. Even though Jay and Zach live in different cities, they pick up right where they left off every time one visits the other - no matter what.
Manan Wagha
Groomsman
Manan and Zach met when they both worked at a company called FactSet in Chicago, fresh out of college. For the job, they flew to Connecticut for a training course, and were assigned to be roommates for the month. They did more drinking than learning about the company, and have been best friends ever since. Zach is standing up in Manan's wedding in October 2021!
Stuart Sankovitch
Groomsman
Zach and Stuart met at University of Iowa as Freshmen and lived together as Sophomores, forging a closer bond as the college years went on. When they both moved to Chicago after graduation, it was a no-brainer to become roommates again. The two lived together for three years, leaning on each other as they navigated their first jobs and the real world after college. They were even roommates when Zach and Joan started dating!
Parker Brink
Groomsman
Zach feels lucky to gain Parker, Joan's oldest brother, as a sibling. Parker and his wife Kathleen have been warm and welcoming to Zach since the first time he met them in 2016, and he couldn't be more grateful for their friendship. Zach and Joan often look to Parker and Kathleen for advice since they've paved the way for a lot of life milestones, including marriage!
David Ong
Groomsman
Zach feels lucky to also gain David, Joan's middle brother, as a sibling. Zach and David first formed their bond over their love of hockey, which relieved Zach because he thought nobody from Indiana knew anything about the sport. Zach can always count on David to keep the sibling group chat alive, keep him up-to-date on all things political and hopefully for free legal advice, if he ever needs it.