Maid of Honor
Kathleen (Kat) is the middle Lovain sister, and was Isa’s first best friend. She’s always been able to make Isa (and everyone she meets) laugh until they cry with her unmatched sense of humor. She’s also always been much braver than Isa, and can say whatever Isa is too nervous to say- like telling the barista that Isa was given the wrong coffee order. Kat and Isa grew up only a grade apart, and it’s been so much fun getting to grow up alongside each other. Isa always knew Kat would be her Maid of Honor, and couldn’t imagine getting married without having her by her side!
Maid of Honor
The only thing better than having a built-in best friend is having two!! Ava is the youngest Lovain sister, and made the Lovain family complete when she was born. Ava’s been a vegetarian since 2nd grade, and has always cared deeply about animals and the environment. Isa is a proud aunt to Ava’s kitten Shishu, bunny Coco, unnamed gecko, and orchestra of crickets. Ava and Isa have a shared love for Taylor Swift, reality TV, and being able to infantilize basically anything. Ava is silly, loving, and finds a way to make everything fun. Isa is incredibly lucky to have Ava as her Maid of Honor!
Bridesmaid
Elisabeth (Lis) is John’s sister– she is also one of the coolest people you’ll meet, and any time spent with Lis is guaranteed to be a blast. John and Lis grew up living all over the country and world. When John and Isa lived in upstate New York, they were lucky enough to make trips to New York City to visit Lis and her boyfriend Ethan! Lis inspires Isa to be a better skier, and they have a shared love of traveling. Lis has welcomed Isa into the Govern family with so much love. Isa, Kathleen, and Ava are so excited to be getting another sister!
Bridesmaid
Abby and Isa first met in Tennis Club in middle school, and became best friends through the sailing team, holding fake formals, getting into a car accident going to Krispy Kreme (sorry!), and doing LOTS of photoshoots all over Alexandria. Since then, they’ve had adventures all over- from surfing in Hawaii, to whale watching in Mexico, to wine tasting in Napa. Abby gives out the best advice, from things like the outfit Isa should wear or finding a crazy flight deal! They both love a good Google Doc, a Madame Pele, and wearing colorful dresses for every occasion. Abby is an irreplaceable friend who is always down for an adventure!
Bridesmaid
Morgan is one of the sweetest people in the world! She and Isa became close when they were in a murder mystery One Act play freshman year of high school- spoiler alert, Isa was the killer. Throughout high school, they were in countless plays, musicals, and choir performances together, and survived it all together. Fun fact: once she put out a fire in Isa's hair! Morgan is a crazy talented actress, and always has the best unexpected sassy comments. Morgan has been unconditionally there for Isa, and her friendship has meant so much to her while they’ve gone through all different phases of life together.
Bridesmaid
Caileigh and Isa became friends when they roomed together on a middle school band trip, when Isa scared Caileigh with her sleeptalking (I’m sorry!!!!). Somehow Caileigh still talked to Isa after that, and they got to grow up (and glow up) together over the last decade. They were co-Presidents of the Jesus Club in high school, had their first sips of alcohol together (one warm Bud Light), and took on the world of theater and choir (shoutout to Seussical the Musical). Caileigh is hilarious, always on trend, the life of the party, and is sunshine in human form.
Flower Girl
Rurie is our adorable Flower Girl! Isa and John were able to meet Rurie just a few days after she was born, and have watched her grow into an independent and hilarious almost two-year-old. John was blessed to be a part of her baptism as her godfather. Rurie lives in Minnesota with her parents Brandon and Jemin, and John and Isa can’t wait to see her steal the show on their wedding day!
Ring Bearer
Benaiah is our sweet Ring Bearer! His mom Colleen met Isa in high school, and they've been friends for the decade ever since. Benaiah lives in Maryland with his 3 older brothers and older sister Cylleen, who will be escorting him down the aisle! We're so excited to have him be a part of our special day.
Best Man
Short in stature but big in heart, Justin Liberman is the yin to John’s yang. John knew Justin in high school as one of the “cool kids”, but John and his friends soon brought him down to their level. Justin and John were rugby teammates throughout and took their team to the Florida state championship, then went their separate ways to West Point and the Naval Academy. Their school rivalry notwithstanding, they still found the time to march together in the inaugural parade and meet up at the Army-Navy game each year. Since graduating they’ve gone from being dumb lieutenants to jaded captains, but have always relied on each other for advice, experience, and friendship. Justin is John’s second self and an amazing Best Man.
Groomsman
Kevin Bauer is, among many things, John’s closest Polish friend. Since they first met in high school, Kevin’s keen sense of adventure and acute planning skills have been the glue that held their friend group together. Kevin knows when to get down to brass tacks and is always the man with the plan. Kevin’s dream is to sell his possessions and sail around the world; until then, he’s been happy to visit John in upstate New York or rural Georgia. John’s fondest memories with Kevin are whenever he loses all of his social awareness, whether getting haircuts from John’s roommates with kitchen shears, stripping to his underwear while ice fishing, or taking his high school prom photos with a tree. Hopefully you’ll see something similar during the wedding.
Groomsman
Preston Olinger (a.k.a Presto) came to know John as the lanky kid on his middle school cross country team. Presto was well known as the Gulf Coast High School Milk Chugging Champion (you can ask him for the video) and catching food in mouth like a seal at their lunch table. If John were to be stuck on a desert island he’d choose to have Presto with him - he can gut a fish with a filet knife faster than any salty sailor. Currently living in Boston with his girlfriend Zoe, Preston is always up for an outdoor adventure, whether it’s kayaking the Florida Keys, climbing a mountain in Maine, or building a tree shack in the middle of the Everglades. Presto is the Swiss Army Knife John wants in his pocket for any situation.
Groomsman
Jake Stoffel and John became steadfast friends on the Model UN team at West Point. As a fellow member of the “triumvirate”, they traveled the world playing make-pretend debate. Together they survived experiences like the Menton Death March in France, T-Posing on the Panama Canal, or playing laser tag in Montreal. After graduating, they moved to Columbus, GA for IBOLC and tried to recreate the college experience they never had. Sundays were for the “5 G’s” (Grill, Golf, Guns, Gains, God). John looks back fondly on Jake’s Deep-Fried Grizzly Burrito, boat trips on dirty Georgia reservoirs, and “golf getting weird” on the Nashville National course. Jake is a future lawyer and is happily married to Elodie, another Model UN couple (ask them about their wedding signature drink).
Groomsman
Brandon Breese and John were strangers at West Point until fate brought them together on Post Night, sitting next to each other watching all their preferences get taken, until only the dreaded Fort Drum, NY was left. From there blossomed a beautiful friendship. Brandon and John started out in the same IBOLC squad in Georgia, then as his neighbor through many upstate winters. Brandon saw John get engaged, making for a great engagement photographer. Brandon himself got married to his wife Jemin and celebrated the birth of his daughter Rurie, who John is a proud godfather to. When Brandon isn’t busy being a dad, you can find him studying medieval Catholic theology in his library or debating esoteric philosophy in online forums.
Groomsman
Misery loves company, and Jake Messenger was always great company for John at Fort Drum. Jake and John joined the same infantry battalion and spent the good times as Platoon Leaders and the bad times as XOs together. Jake was always there for John, especially when it came to helping “acquire” things to pass property inventories and spreading unit gossip. In 2023 they deployed together to Iraq where they battled the Baghdad air quality and indigestion at the DFAC. Together they helped keep each other sane in the gym or on “sightseeing tours'' around Baghdad. Jake is a certified wife guy, loves taking his massive Bernese Mountain Dog on walks, and correcting Times New Roman font to Arial on Army PowerPoints (and yelling at lieutenants about it).