Hallie & Josh
Wedding Party
Emily Kraus
Maid of Honor
Emily is Hallie’s younger sister. Truth be told, she and Hallie fought like cats and dogs when they were kids — sometimes they disliked each so much that they walked on opposite sides of the street on the way to the school bus stop! Throughout their childhood, their mother told them they’d grow up and love each other, and it turns out she was right, because now they’re incredibly close. Emily recently moved to the Seattle area, where she teaches first grade. She has an unyielding passion for her profession, but when she’s not molding young minds, she loves cooking, gardening and spending time with her boyfriend, Dane, and their new adopted pup, Lily. Hallie loves to brag about her and is beyond lucky to have her as a sister.
Ben Abrams
Best Man
Ben is Josh's older brother of 3 years. As most older siblings do, Ben had a lot of influence on Josh's development into the nerd (man?) he is today. Without Ben, Josh may never have found his love of video games, LEGOs, or marching band. But Ben's interests weren't the only things that rubbed off on his little brother; Ben's strategic thinking, leadership skills, and confidence also helped shape Josh into a functioning person. Josh loves having Ben as an older brother, and they have grown steadily closer as they've gotten older (it helps that they haven't shared a room in years). Ben lives in San Diego, close to their parents, where he works as an Electrical Engineer. He loves beer, cooking, and recently started his amateur film career where he has received several awards.
Kate Kraus
Maid of Honor
Kate is Hallie’s youngest sister. She is a spunky gal who has always marched to the beat of her own drum. Hallie and Kate are the oldest and youngest of their family, so it’s no surprise that they’ve always been different in many ways. But despite their differences, these sisters have always cheered each other on as they each took on new challenges. Kate lives in the Los Angeles area, where she works as an esthetician. She loves practicing yoga, spending time in nature, and has recently discovered a love of sketching and painting. She is a free spirit in every sense of the word, and when we get caught up in the daily grind of our routines, Kate brings a sense of spontaneity and exuberance to our lives that nobody else can.
Corey Vonder Reith
Groomsman
Corey has been one of Josh's best friends since sophomore year of high school. They weren't initially friends because Josh thought Corey was uptight, and Corey thought Josh was a jackass. But through spending a lot of time together in marching band, and Corey being able to drive a year earlier than everyone else, they became fast friends and were lucky enough to go to UCSC together. Corey has been one of Josh's most reliable friends; having helped Josh through many difficult times over the years. He is one of the most compassionate, fun, and genuine people you will meet, and is always willing to lend a hand. Corey works as a Program Analyst in San Diego, and loves to spend time with his family, support the Padres, and bike around with his dog Indy.
Julia Martin
Bridesmaid
Julia is Hallie’s best friend from UC Santa Cruz. She and Maura were roommates freshman year, and happened to live in the same dorm building as Hallie. They quickly welcomed Hallie into their friend group, and thank god they did, because they remain Hallie’s best friends ten years later. Like Hallie, Julia now lives in the Bay Area, where they often talk so long during their dinner dates that they shut down nearly every restaurant they go to. In her free time, she loves to travel and go on adventures with her boyfriend John and their dog, Falcor. Julia has always provided Hallie with a valuable sounding board, and has been especially supportive of her as she and Josh plan their wedding. Hallie simply doesn’t know what she’d do without her.
Charlie Jake Herald
Groomsman
Jake (or how he will tell you now, Charlie) is Josh's other long-term best friend from high school; rounding out the trio of Josh & Corey. If their friend group were the three parts of the human psyche; Josh is the Superego, Corey the Ego, and Jake would rightfully be the Id, as he is sure to inject chaos and fun into everything they do together. Jake always looks for the positive side of things as he believes there is no such thing as a bad time with the right people. He also delights in pushing Josh's comfort zones (which we all know Josh needs). Jake's fierce loyalty, lightheartedness, and thirst for new experiences makes him an invaluable friend. Jake lives in San Diego where he works as an EMT, and loves video games, the nightlife, and his dog Paige.
Maura Paxton
Bridesmaid
Maura is also Hallie’s best friend from college. She lived with Julia during their freshman year, and instantly became Hallie’s friend when they met on Halloween night of that year. Together the three of them have supported each other throughout college and into young adulthood, and now their friendship continues to transcend time and distance. Maura lives in Corvallis, Oregon, where she works for a non-profit that certifies and supports organic farmers. She bikes, hikes, runs and is constantly impressing the people around her by her capacity to challenge herself. She recently planned a gorgeous wedding of her own to her now-husband, Aaron, and has already been an invaluable wedding resource to us — but more importantly, she’s a lifelong friend to Hallie.
Turner Kraus
Groomsman
Turner is Hallie’s brother. Growing up among so many sisters wasn’t always easy for Turner, but it led him to become the most cool, calm and collected guy we know. He’s also incredibly clever — he never misses an opportunity to land a good pun, and on any given day, he’ll more than likely be wearing one of his dozens of witty t-shirts. He lives in Sacramento with his girlfriend Kristen, where they both work as staff engineers for environmental consulting agencies. Ever the scientist, he has perfected the art of brewing delicious coffee, and has began to venture into the world of beer brewing. Hallie has loved watching Turner become the smart and savvy guy he is today, and Josh could not be more thrilled to be getting another brother.
Bryan Vanetten
Officiant
Josh met Bryan while working in San Francisco and was immediately inspired by him. Bryan is a deep well of all kinds of knowledge, and loves sharing interesting tidbits and facts. Anyone who knows Bryan can confirm that he is pure, unbridled energy. He is always hungry for new information and adventures, and loves to include others in those experiences. Bryan is eloquent, enthusiastic, and welcoming to everyone; which is why we thought he would make a great Officiant! Bryan resides in Seattle where he works as a Solutions Engineer, but he is inherently nomadic as he is always out soaking up what life has to offer with his different colored shoes on.