Madeleine & Justin
Wedding Party
Morgan Merk
Maid of Honor
Childhood Friend of the Bride Morgan and Madeleine have been friends since they met at gymnastics in 5th grade. They instantly bonded over making up gymnastics routines in the backyard and flipping off the swing set and they only got closer when they went to the same middle and high school and joined both the cheerleading and gymnastics teams. Even from separate colleges and now states away, Morgan & Madeleine’s friendship has never wavered and Madeleine is thrilled to have her childhood best friend standing by her side when she says “I do”!
Mike Zylberman
Co-Best Man
Brother of the Groom Mike has been by Justin's side since birth, and while the older brother tormenting has declined over the years, the closeness between the two has only grown as they've grown and lead their own journeys. There is no one Justin would rather have by his side for the big day than his older brother Mike.
Colleen Nicolls
Bridesmaid
College Friend of the Bride Colleen & Madeleine met freshman year in Engineering 100 and have always had each other’s backs in civil engineering classes and now in the professional world where they’ve worked together at two different jobs. Madeleine has Colleen to thank for the introduction to Justin (as she is married to Justin’s bestie Brian) and Mads & Coll can often be found at the boy’s softball games with their pups. Even before JZ, Mads & Coll have been inseparable in Chi - the two have been confused for roommates, girlfriends and sisters more than once! Madeleine & Justin cannot wait to have Coll and Brian by their sides on their big day just like they stood up for them in 2021!
Kaulin Blair
Co-Best Man
Childhood Friend of the Groom Kaulin and Justin first met in middle school at Charlotte Wood, and became quick friends through their similar interests in sports, school, other sports, and more. Kaulin and Justin's friendship has only grown over the years, and includes multiple annual trips to visit each other in NY and Chicago every year. Kaulin has been around for all of the biggest moment's as Justin's friend including the night Mads & JZ met and it is only fitting that he'll be there as co-best man on the big day.
Cassie Arenz
Bridesmaid
College Friend of the Bride Cassie and Madeleine met at Women in Engineering camp before classes even started at UofI and they were instantly inseparable bonding over dorm life, Chem 102 and Calc 2. Cassie moved to Virginia after graduation but when she made her way back to Chicago a few years later the friendship was instantly picked back up where they left off senior year. Mads & Cassie have been through it all together (ask about our questionable dorm life decisions if you must) and Madeleine is thrilled to have her lifelong friend standing by her side on July 8th!
James Abers
Groomsman
Childhood Friend of the Groom James and Justin have been close friends ever since meeting at Greenbrook Elementary School in their early years. James has not only been a great friend to Justin, but has also been a friend to the whole family, often stopping by to say hello to the Zylbermans when he's back in the neighborhood. With over two decades of friendship under their belt, Justin and Madeleine can't wait to have him standing up with them on the big day.
Rachel Ramsay
Bridesmaid
College Friend of the Bride Rachel & Madeleine met when they rushed the same sorority freshman year at UofI and their friendship grew from there. From nights out at Kams to nights in on the couch as roomies and even to sharing a cruise ship cabin for a week Senior year spring break, Rachel has been a kind, trusted and down for anything friend! Even though the family link stops at sorority sisters, Mads joined Rachel’s family for numerous Easter’s and Bears games and even a dentist visit during their time in Champaign. Madeleine is thrilled to have Rachel standing by her side on her big day!
Matt Turk
Groomsman
Brother of the Bride Matt and Madeleine have been friends since birth. Although the friendship was rocky at points (he spit gum in Madeleine’s hair while playing mouse and cheese at a young age) it has continued to improve with age. Matt has always been a role model and a rock to Madeleine even when they fought over the car keys, he lost the shared cell phone and insisted on following all of the rules. Matt has welcomed Justin into the family since day 1 and adds humor to any situation as I’m sure you’ll see if we allow him to parachute through the ceiling as his entrance as he has requested. Madeleine and Justin are thrilled to have Matt by their sides on their big day.
Michelle McCloskey
Bridesmaid
Friend of the Bride Michelle & Madeleine met through Justin as Michelle is one of Justin’s closest girl friends that he trusted with the topic of a new crush. After meeting, Michelle and Madeleine became close friends often double dating with Justin and Christian but it was always a toss up of who was actually there for who as the girls would pair up and chat over wine while the boys did whatever boys do. Michelle & Mads have bonded over dating roommates, coffee walks, countless birthday celebrations and more and it only seems right that Michelle will be by Madeleine’s side on her big day!
Brian Nicolls
Groomsman
College Friend of the Groom Brian and Justin met their Freshman year at University of Illinois and became quick friends. They ended up joining the same fraternity, but with Brian joining a semester after, Justin had the opportunity to be his "big brother", which only brought the two closer. After graduation, Brian and Justin continued their friendship in Chicago, and it could be said Brian played a pretty major role in Justin and Madeleine's story, as Brian dating Madeleine's best friend is one of the reasons the two were able to meet.
Katie Moore
Bridesmaid
Friend of the Bride Katie and Madeleine met when Katie moved to Chicago and the two found each other living a block apart and two blocks from their other partner in crime, Michelle. Katie and Madeleine quickly bonded over coffee walks, their love of dogs and Taco Bell. During Covid, Madeleine and Justin formed a quarantine group with Katie, Michelle & Christian and many nights were spent ordering in, going on margarita walks and watching bad tv. Madeleine cannot wait to have Katie by her side when she marries Justin!
Mitch Fowler
Groomsman
Childhood Friend of the Groom Mitch and Justin’s friendship was another one that started at Charlotte Wood Middle School. While similar interests in sports (there's a recurring theme here amongst friends) and other hobbies kept them close, Mitch and Justin's friendship grew even further when Mitch spent a summer in Indiana with his wife Maddie. Mitch would make the drive to Chicago every weekend while he was there, where Justin enjoyed the rare opportunity of merging life between old childhood friends and post-college Chicago friends (it helps that Maddie & Mads have quickly become BFFs). It was an amazing opportunity for Madeleine to also learn more about Justin's previous "life" and both Justin and Mads can't wait to have Mitch standing up on their wedding day.
Gil Rivera
Groomsman
Friend of the Groom Gil is a close friend of both Madeleine and Justin. Gil and Justin first met through Madeleine, when Justin subbed on a kickball team for the two of them. However, Justin and Gil become quick friends themselves (Madeleine only got a little jealous), with a friendship forged on their love for the alma mater sports teams and the desire to never miss out on a social opportunity. Gil has become a constant as a friend of both the bride and the groom, always down to join for any activities and making great memories in the process. It is only fitting that Gil will be standing up with Justin and Madeleine on their wedding day, the only question is what side he will be standing on!
Mitch Prosperi
Groomsman
College Friend of the Groom Justin and Mitch became close friends while pledging their fraternity at the Universtiy of Illinois. From living together in college, to continuing their close friendship in Chicago, Mitch has not just been a friend of Justin's but a close teammate (literally - they have played softball, volleyball, tennis, dodgeball, bowling, kickball, soccer, football, and basketball together). It was an easy decision to have Mitch as part of the Grooms-team on wedding day!
Curtis Ng
Groomsman
Childhood Friend of the Groom Another childhood friend since elementary school (or member of the ESPN Bros, as some have named the group), Curtis and Justin have been close friends ever since the 3rd grade days of MLB Showdown Cards. Curtis' friendship has been a constant, with Justin's move halfway across the country and Covid not even being able to stop them from finding ways to hangout. Whether it was weekly video calls for poker games, impromptu trips to Vegas, or Curtis visiting Justin in Chicago for his birthday, their friendship has continued to grow stronger over time. Justin and Madeleine can't wait to have Curtis as part of the big day!
Ryan Drobny
Groomsman
Childhood Friend of the Groom Another childhood friend since middle school, Ryan and Justin have been close friends for years. Both as teammates and adversaries on the baseball field through the early years, to golf partners in the recent years, Justin and Ryan have remained good friends (even though Justin has to live in the presence of Ryan's favorite tortureable sports team like the Chicago Bears and Cubs). Justin and Madeleine can't wait to have him as part of the celebration on the big day!
Jack Colton
Groomsman
Childhood Friend of the Groom Ever since a 3rd grade birthday party at an A's game, Justin and Jack have been close friends. A constant partner-in-crime through high school, Justin and Jack have remained close even while living in different states by discussing their mutual love for running/racing, comparing training plans, and pushing each other to the next level, even while being a time zone away. While the goal one day may be to be standing up at a finish line together, Madeleine and Justin will gladly take for the time being Jack standing by their sides on their big day!