Lauren & Johnny
Wedding Party
Julie Lemaire
Maid of Honor
Julie lives in Lafayette, LA with her husband, Trevor and pets (Banjo and Opie). Julie and I have known each other for over 20 years! We go all the way back to our days in Midland, TX! We've shared many memories over the years: birthday/slumber parties, moving away parties (both our families moved to Louisiana in 2000!), being roommates in college for a year, being housemates for a few months in the spring of 2016, and then finally, Julie's beautiful wedding day in November of 2016. She's the sister I never had!
Peter Whallon
Best Man
Pete is my younger bro. About the only thing I have on him now is that I'm still better looking. I am grateful for his friendship through the years and the way that he supports me. It's an amazing thing to me, still to this day, that I have a younger brother. I was 14 when he was born. It was fun to come home from school to be with him and play about anything with him when we were younger. I am proud of Pete. He is a sophomore at Wheaton College in Illinois and plays on the soccer team there.
Heather Lanza
Bridesmaid
Heather lives in New York City with her fiancé Franklin. They will be getting married in the fall of 2018! Heather and I met while in college at Fordham University in New York City. She was a directing major and I was an acting major. We had a couple classes together, but it was one show called, "All Our Quiet Places" which was actually set in New Orleans, that really brought us together. We have remained friends, even after I moved away from New York, and we always make it a point to gather over tapas, wine, and most importantly, melted cheese and bread whenever I come back in town! She is the life of the party and always keeps me laughing!
Jon Bjork
Groomsman
I was adamantly opposed to Jon coming out to Boston to visit my family (and sister) the first time, truthfully. I hated the idea of someone coming to Bedford to see my sister Laura. She was my sister and I wasn't letting anyone near her. Well, he married her. And, well he's in my wedding. (Guess I was wrong.) Jon is one of the people I most admire in my life. He is calm and supportive. He has handled the loss of his two parents (within months after their wedding) with incredible strength and poise. He is a great friend to me. I think it's very unique and special that Jon and I have the relationship that we do. And, I'm glad he insisted on coming to Boston that time...
Katie Erb
Bridesmaid
Katie lives in Lancaster, PA with her husband Travis. Katie is Johnny's youngest sister who recently got married in May 2017 in Lancaster, PA in a beautiful barn wedding! I have gotten to know Katie well over the years that Johnny and I have been together. We've shared many good times together sitting around the dinner table chatting and sharing stories, helping plan out little details for Laura's wedding (her older sister), and then spending time together working on Katie's wedding this year. I'm excited to have Katie and Travis down to Louisiana to see a bit of my world after all of these years of meeting up North!
Matthew Schneider
Groomsman
Matt is the reason why I am getting married. No, really. Without Matty, I never would have met Lauren. I still remember the first time I saw Matty, running around on the soccer field (he's very quick!) with the other players I was coaching at the Stony Brook School in New York. This was 4 months before I ever met Lauren. Matty is a fighter, a warrior, a special breed. He is one of the brightest people I know. He has a gift of reassuring other people that everything will be ok. I love you, Matty. Thanks for being wiling to let your sister date your soccer coach. (I know it wasn't easy!) I am grateful for you and am honored to have you as a groomsmen in my wedding.
Laura Bjork
Bridesmaid
Laura lives in Randlph, VT with her husband, Jon, and two kids, Matthew and Thea. Laura is Johnny's other sister, and the oldest of the girls. We share a lot in common, not just our names (Laura Elizabeth & Lauren Elizabeth), but a passion for decorating and furniture projects as well! We will text each other with questions on what to do with a space, or how best to proceed with a project we are working on! And every time we are together, we make it a point to try and go out to one consignment store, because we also share a passion for shopping for clothes! I'm so excited to be gaining her as a sister, although, it's felt like we've been sisters for several years already!
Richard Schneider Jr.
Groomsman
Richard is one of the most interesting people I know, as he is an expert on many things that I know little to nothing about. (Examples include: Brewing his own beer and being an avid hunter.) I find myself so relaxed around him. He is easy going and easy to talk with. I appreciate his love of the outdoors and his desire to labor with his hands to build things. I spent two weeks rooming with Richard in Africa during a vacation back in 2014, and one of the things I remember most is how comfortable he made me feel. I really enjoy being with him and his wife, Shawna, and I look forward to years to come building our friendship.
Lindsey Alexander Ryan
Bridesmaid
Lindsey lives in Merrick, New York with her husband, Steve and their perfect dog, Blake! They were married on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in November 2016. Lindsey and I also met in college at Fordham University! And it was that same show, "All Our Quiet Places" that really kickstarted our friendship! Heather, Linds, and I are like the three musketeers, as much as we can, we do things the three of us when I'm back in New York City. Lindsey and I are scarily similar in our thinking, OCD-ness, and silliness. We are almost always talking in some strange accent, giggling, and attempting silly walks and dance moves whenever and wherever possible! She is my home away from home, at least when I travel to New York for work and need a place to crash.
Tovi Eliasen
Groomsman
Tovi Eliasen is one of the most unique friendships I could ever envision. Back in 2005, we were both students at Westmont College... and never knew each other. Fast forward to 2013, and we joined the coaching staff at Westmont at the same time. And it's been a blast ever since. No one has stood by me, pushed me, challenged me, supported me, in my time at Westmont more than Tovi. I am deeply grateful for this guy in many ways. We share a lot of passions. (Want to bore yourself? Come spend a car ride with us as we passionately talk about recruiting... for 8 hours.) Most importantly, this dude is a great father (Cruz and London) and husband (to Becca). I never would have thought that I could find such great friendship in my line of work.
Stacey Barrois
Bridesmaid
Stacey is currently in grad school at LSU in New Orleans, LA working on her CRNA. Stacey and I actually met when we were in Pre-K in Mandeville, LA. We were friends until 3rd grade when I moved to TX. But when I moved back 5 years later just in time to start high school, we picked up, almost exactly where we left off! She has come to visit me in every place that I've lived since graduating high school, coming to NY numerous times while I was living there to visit & even out to California in 2017! We've shared so many memories over the years from Putt Putt birthday parties, to working on school plays together, to shopping it up in NYC at Louis Vuitton, Tiffany's, and buying Christian Louboutin's at Saks 5th Avenue! She's always willing to go on an adventure with me!
Travis Smelley
Groomsman
I am grateful to have two brothers in my life. Peter is one. And Travis Smelley is my other. Travis is a senior at Westmont College and will be graduating with a degree in Kinesiology. I lived with Travis and his family (Russell and Allison) for over two years, after moving out to Westmont in January 2013. He truly is my brother. Through the years, I have watched him grow up and experience life. I am so proud of him. It all goes back to 2006, and bonding with this little 10 year old blonde kid... who just wanted to do flips off diving boards. I had just graduated college and was working at Westmont as an intern. And Travis became a part of my life, in a way I never would have imagined. I love you, man. And your family (my second family).
Rudy Ybarra
Usher
Rudy Ybarra is one of my favorite people to spend time with. Rudy and I come from very different places (Mexico and Boston), and probably could have gone through our lives without ever meeting... were it not for Dave Wolf (the head coach at Westmont). It's improbable what has happened since... many soccer games together, many late nights spent discussing football and life at his home, many conversations on car rides, many tacos. I am grateful to Rudy and his family for their kindness and friendship, and want to express my appreciation for how they have opened my eyes to the wonderful Hispanic community in Santa Barbara. I am honored to have Rudy in my wedding party, and know that he will likely be watching a soccer game during my wedding.
Jeff Aquilon
Usher
When I arrived at Westmont in January of 2013, I had a computer issue and contacted IT. That was the first time I met Jeff Aquilon. Since that day, very few have gone out of their way for me more than Jeff (and his family). Numerous times over the last 5 years, Jeff has reached out to me (and Lauren) to offer kindness and companionship. Highlights include: surfing (err, rather him trying to teach me how to!), biking, many meals together and conversations, and joining his family for Thanksgiving this past fall. Jeff has been loyal to me in a way I couldn't have ever expected (or deserved). I am grateful for him and his lovely wife Stephanie and family.
Matthew Winick
Usher
I met Matt Winick when he moved to Bedford in 4th grade. Immediately, I was jealous of his good looks and soccer skills. (He scored two header goals for our youth soccer team that spring and got $5 for each from our team manager.) I am still jealous today. It's crazy that all these years later (about 25), we still keep in touch. I would simply say this about Matty: he has remembered me and my family all these years later. He is immensely loyal. In one of the greatest gestures of friendship I have ever know, Matt helped take care of my dad (and literally helped save his life) when my dad had emergency heart surgery in 2011. (Matt was working at Mass General at the time.) Every year on my birthday, I get a text from this dude. Grateful for you, my brother. Always will be.
Justin Risma
Usher
During my four years at Wheaton, few impacted my life more than Justin Risma. Justin was my college roommate during sophomore year. Justin had this tremendous appetite for learning (he is now a doctor), but also this special quality of being down to earth and finding humor in small things. He was also a gifted soccer player and we had a lot of fun being teammates on the soccer team. Throughout college, Justin would humor me and play music (guitar) with me in dorm stairwells during study breaks and allow me to freestyle rap. One thing that stands out to me about Justin is that he has never stopped being loyal to me. He has been a great encouragement to me through this persistence to stay in touch. Justin and his lovely wife Kayla share three incredibly cute kids and live in Iowa.