Kailey & Nicholas
Wedding Party
Kailey Filben
Bride
Kailey Filben is the daughter of Byron "Buddy" Filben and Tracey White Filben. Kailey was raised in Glen Dale, West Virginia. She moved to Texas in 2019 to attend the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas for her bachelors in music education and percussion performance. Kailey and Nick met during Kailey's junior year at UNT during their African Ensemble class. Kailey and Nick currently live in Wheeling, West Virginia with their miniature dachshund, Lucky.
Nick Bruce
Groom
Nicholas Bruce is the son of Kip Bruce and Lori Lyons Bruce. Nick was raised in Cottage Grove, Minnesota and graduated from Henry Sibley High School. In 2021, Nick moved to Denton, Texas to pursue his bachelor of music education at the University of North Texas. Nick and Kailey met during the second semester of Nick's freshman year in the UNT Music Annex. Nick and Kailey currently reside in Wheeling, West Virginia with their favorite boy, Lucky.
Elaina DePetro
Maid of Honor
Elaina DePetro is Kailey's best friend. She is also Kailey and Nick's neighbor! Elaina teaches art and theatre at John Marshall High School. She and Kailey instantly clicked with their many shared interests and experiences, and they have been friends ever since they met in the summer of 2024.
Patrick Rodriguez
Best Man
Patrick Rodriguez is Nick's best friend since they met playing golf in elementary school. Patrick and Nick remained friends throughout high school, and now they even live on the same coast! Patrick resides in Raleigh, North Carolina. Nick is thrilled to have Patrick standing beside him on his big day!
Shelby Garrett
Bridesmaid
Shelby Garrett is Kailey's cousin. Shelby watched Kailey grow up, and being cousins turned into a beautiful friendship. Shelby is Leslie's daughter, who is Buddy's sister. Shelby currently resides in Bethlehem, West Virginia where she is always traveling to and from her theatre endeavors in Pittsburgh and Morgantown. Shelby and Kailey love to go on cousin day adventures with Nick and Josh!
Josh Garrett
Groomsman
Josh Garrett is Kailey's cousin and Shelby's brother. Josh and Nick met the first summer he traveled with Kailey to West Virginia, and they have been friends ever since. Josh is the Sherrard Middle School Director of Bands and John Marshall percussion instructor. Josh and Nick love to talk shop about school, drumming, and music in general.
Crosby Bishop
Flower Girl
Crosby Bishop has been an important part of Kailey's life since she was just two months old. During the pandemic, Kailey babysat Crosby every day and developed a very close relationship with the sweetest girl. Kailey and Nick love visiting Crosby, her brother Thomas, and their parents Marybeth and Cody!
Lucky Bruce-Filben
Ring Bearer
Lucky Bruce-Filben, Nick and Kailey's beloved long-haired miniature dachshund, will be delivering the wedding rings on the big day. Nick and Kailey brought Lucky home on July 20th, 2024. He will be 2 years old for the big day.
Thomas Bishop
Ring Bearer
Thomas Bishop will be helping to deliver the rings with Lucky. Nick and Kailey have known Thomas since he was born, and he is the funniest, sweetest, and wildest little boy you will ever meet! Thomas is also the brother of our flower girl, Crosby.
Tracey Filben
Mother of the Bride
Tracey Filben is Kailey's amazing mother. Tracey resides in Glen Dale, West Virginia, and she is the director of bands and theatre at John Marshall High School. Tracey and Kailey love to hang out and shop, watch trash TV, or talk about anything and everything. Tracey will be walking Kailey down the aisle in honor of Kailey's father, Byron "Buddy" Filben.
Lori Bruce
Mother of the Groom
Lori Bruce is Nick's mother. Lori resides in Cottage Grove, Minnesota with her husband Kip and their dog, Murphy. Lori works at St. Joseph's Catholic School in West St. Paul, Minnesota, where she was Nick's middle school teacher at one point! Lori and Nick love spending time together outside by a bonfire or downstairs in their home theater watching movies.
Kip Bruce
Father of the Groom
Kip Bruce is Nick's father. Kip resides in Cottage Grove, Minnesota with his wife Lori and their dog, Murphy. He is the district manager for HOM Furniture for the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. Kip and Nick love going on trips to get firewood, fireworks, or wherever and bonding over any topic that comes up in conversation.