Jordann & Christian
Wedding Party
Abby Donskey
Maid of Honor and Sister of the Bride
Being Jordann's little sister, I've known her my entire life. We've been best friends since that very day. I hangout with her more than most people would deem as "healthy", but that's all we've ever known. Some of our favorite pastimes include finding the best happy hours in the city (cheapest wine with the biggest pours), watching Bravo together until our TV times out, and catching live music whenever we can. I am so excited and honored to stand next to her as she marries Christian..a guy that came into both of our lives at the perfect time. Stay tuned for my Maid of Honor speech for more dirt on these two.
Abby Baumann
Bridesmaid and Officiant
As a Junior in college, I got a text message from my brother, Matt. It said, “Meet me at Echo Tap, there’s someone I want you to meet.” Upon first read, you’d think he was trying to set me up on a date. In actuality, he wanted me to meet his friend Jordann. I never went to the Echo Tap that day. It would be another 2 years before I’d actually meet her, under the guise of a job interview. We would go on on to work together for almost 4 years. Initially, I thought our relationship would function as a professional mentorship—a Dumbledore to my Harry Potter. Little did I know, she was actually a Hermione Granger to my Hermione Granger. Though we no longer work together, Jordann has been a constant in my life. My brother was onto something.
Angie Brunett
Bridesmaid
Jordann and I met when we were in the sixth grade. We bonded quickly, largely due to the fact that we were both angsty, punk-rock loving, middle school girls. We were a part of several semi-famous bands over the years, most notably, Gifted Savior ( with original hits Nino and cover of I’m Sprung-Remix (ft. T-Pain). When we weren’t busy making music, we spent our time with the other girls in our group (we called ourselves 7G) through our high school and college years. Jordann and I attended UW-La Crosse together and were on the same floor of the dorms. When Jordann transferred to UW-Madison, and ultimately moved to Chicago, we remained close friends with the help of me crashing family events and weddings throughout the years, becoming cat mommas, and living just a few short hours apart.
Angie Manwiller
Bridesmaid
I've been friends with Chris since college and met Jordann a few years later in Chicago. Jordann is one of the most smart, welcoming, witty, and fun humans I have ever met. Needless to say, we were fast friends and soon found ourselves planning too many weekday concerts & weekend brunches all over the city. Peer pressure eventually led Chris to join the friend group in Chicago where we all bonded over late nights in the Wrightwood apartment & witnessed Jordann and Chris start their relationship. Sharing a love of travel, I've been lucky to travel with the couple to Vietnam, Portugal, and most recently, Italy where Peter and I crashed their engagement! Jordann and Chris are a perfect pair and I couldn't be happier to stand by Jordann's side as they take their next step together!
Justine Braun
Bridesmaid
I've been in Jordann's life since the beginning and fortunately every stage since. Starting with the little kid years, where sleepovers were a regular deal and we could entertain ourselves with a costume box. Followed by the "awkward" years where Jordann couldn't stand to wear shoes, and preferred everything to be in cow print. Then the "extended awkward" years in middle school, where I was boy crazed and Jordann would make fun of me for having boyfriend's and didn't want to deal with the drama. Then came high school, and college...and with all that, the drama :) But through everything, our fun, quirky relationship always remained. She's my cousin by title, but more like a sister and best friend that I am so incredibly proud of and inspired by. I'm so happy for her and Christian.
Rikki Berchild
Bridesmaid and Sister of the Groom
The first time I visited Chicago, Chris pestered me about meeting his girlfriend. I think I’d been in the city for an hour before Chris made us head downtown to a BYOB sushi restaurant that Jordann had chosen. I could tell within the first 5 minutes of seeing the two together that it would only be a matter of time before she became part of the family. I know Jordann will make it as a Berchild because she has already survived several hour long conversations with my Dad, something we all must suffer in this family. I’d also like to mention, on a selfish note, my birthday & Christmas gifts have dramatically improved since Jordann came into Christian’s life. I am so glad that Chris & Jordann have found each other. Together, they undoubtedly will have a life filled with love & happiness.
Cody Johnson
Best Man
Hey, I'm Cody and I have had the pleasure of knowing Chris my entire life. We both grew up in Superior, Wisconsin and attended Kindergarten together and have been friends ever since. We've attended the same Grade School, Middle School, High School and College. After Chris' graduation from Law School in Boston, which I did not attend, we moved in together in Chicago, where I would like to take full credit for introducing him to Jordann! I couldn't be more excited to celebrate with these two on their wedding day.
Bobby Berchild
Groomsman and Brother of the Groom
As his younger brother, I've naturally known Chris my entire life. He was my first best friend and sharing a room with him for fifteen plus years made us even closer. He probably won't admit it but I think the two of us have used each other as a source of competition our entire lives. I'm willing to concede some areas to him like fashion and the deadlift. However, in other areas like hockey, video games, non-law school goals, or our army careers, he's always served as someone I'm trying to emulate and make proud. I've also been lucky enough to also beat him in getting married to my wonderful wife and starting my family a few years ago. Now more than ever, I am ecstatic to have him finally catch up. I am so happy that he has found Jordann to spend the rest of his own life with.
Matt Miller
Groomsman
As a college sophomore looking to make new friends, Berch slid into my DM’s my senior year when he found out I would be going to the U that fall. He instantly warmed up to me, I tolerated him, and we’ve been friends since. Through sharing hometowns, fraternities & post-grad school cities, we’ve spent some of the most fun times of Berch’s life together. Jord was one of the first people to welcome me to Chicago. Noticing when I got off the train that I had neither a marg nor a donut in my hand, she worked quickly to remedy both. Since then she’s been instrumental in helping turn Chicago into a city that I now consider a home. Through Vietnam vacations to podcast-laden WI road trips I’ve been lucky to watch their relationship grow & can’t wait to celebrate at their biggest theme party yet.
Matt LeClaire
Groomsman
I met Berch during our sophomore year of college. He had just transferred from Duluth and wore a lot of tank tops. We lived across the hall from each other for multiple years in school but didn’t really become close until after we graduated. Our friendship survived a bout of long distance while I lived in Iowa and Minneapolis and he in Boston, but our best years started when he moved to Chicago. I’ve always admired Chris’s loyalty, work ethic, and (most importantly) his competitiveness in recreational and fantasy sports. I’m also fortunate to be able to call Jordann a good friend, and someone who has become family in the 5+ years I’ve known her. I couldn’t be happier for these two and I consider myself lucky to be part of their day.
Peter Manwiller
Groomsman
10 years ago, Chris and I had a love/hate relationship. We teetered between buddies who played tennis, video games, or broomball together, and enemies who pranked, humiliated, and stole from each other. But luckily our relationship has evolved. A common love of traveling, sports, and good old fashioned beer drinking has made our friendship stronger than ever. I am so lucky to have a friend like Chris. Someone so honorable, witty, and courageous. Jordann and I quickly recognized each other as kindred spirits when I moved to Chicago in 2013. As post grads in an unfamiliar city, we found reprieve in our mutual obsession of music, Wisconsin things, & Matt Baumann. Jordann is the truest friend I could ever hope for. It's an incredible feeling to witness two of my closest friends get hitched.
Teddy Gerner
Groomsman
Chris and I have been friends since I met him at a White Sox game in Chicago just over 3 years ago. I remember feeling excited that he was moving, because I could picture him becoming a good friend of mine. Well, 3 ½ years later here we are. We share many things in common including our talent in intramural volleyball, our love for Fortnite, losing money in poker, exploring new spots in the city, and being under 6 feet tall. After moving to Chicago, I met Jordann through mutual friends. Over the years I came to realize that I can always count on Jordann to find the trendiest restaurant, pick out the perfect jams, and light up the dance floor on any occasion.