Lauren & Justin
Wedding Party
Mickayla Glosemeyer
Maid of Honor
Mickayla and I met when we were 5 years old, several years had passed and we reunited at Timber Wolf Lake, A Young Life Camp, in 2014. I went up to Mickayla at camp and asked her if she remembered me. Immediately, we were attached at the hip. Mickayla has been a constant in my life ever since. We have been to Marshall's so many times together that we have a system of how we must walk through the entire store to see it all. Mickayla and I have the same sense of humor and crack each other up, and quite literally find just about everything to be funny. We are ultimately the type of friends who are content just being together, sitting around doing nothing, going out, or working out. It doesn't take much as long as Mickayla has a White Claw, (LOL) and we have each other.
Richard Willis
Best Man
It all started sophomore year of high school at basketball tryouts. Long story short, he did not make the team and I did. All I remember is following him to McDonald’s and letting him buy me a sandwich. At this time we weren’t even close friends or even friends at all. Richard is my chicken buddy for life. As soon as we got our drivers license, I kid you not, we have spent so much money on food. Our goal junior year was to eat at every chicken place in Oak Lawn and around other towns. Even when we have disagreements we're still best friends. Sometimes he hurts my back because I carry him through basketball and Call of Duty, but if that’s the biggest burden from this friendship, I can’t complain!
Mckenna Poling
Bridesmaid
Mckenna and I met at a church retreat in college and her and I quickly became best friends! We were playing a game called "Brotherhood of seriousness" as you can imagine with our personalities, we were definitely struggling to be serious. We went to dinner and further got to know each other and became nearly attached at the hip. If you really know me, you know I am a 'grandma' and go to sleep at like 9 PM. Some nights I would already be asleep, and she would call and ask me to come spend the night at her house. I can't believe she convinced me to get out of bed! We loved going to Krispie Kreme when the hot light was on for free donuts and driving around blaring "Redneck Woman" on repeat. Mckenna made my college experience spontaneous and memorable, she is so much fun to be around!
Keegan Fitzsimmons
Groomsman
Keegan & I met sophomore year at Trinity Christian College. We lived on the same floor. and hit it off being on the same track team. The rest is history, I was a sprinter and he was a long distance runner. Even though we never practiced with each other we always hung out after practice. Years later we have gotten very close, especially junior and senior year of college. We've traveled lots together and made many great memories along the way. If you have time when you meet him ask him about his thoughts on biking, his bench press, and when he plans on making the big move to MO. Keegan is truly one of my best friends. Without him, college and life post grad wouldn’t have been the same. Even taking trips to Pella, a tiny town in Iowa, is fun when you have a friend like Keegan.
Morgan Schroeder
Bridesmaid
Morgan and I met freshman year at Washington High School. We were in the same friend group and both ended up going to Missouri State University. We were roommates junior and senior year of college, we truly had some of the best times at Deep Elm. We grew close as we were both education majors and had all our classes together. Which meant we had lots of quality time and good conversation walking home from night class when the Bearline had shut down for the evening. We had many game nights, tons of belly laughs, and many food runs. I would like to see the stats on how many chicken strips we ate together. (Morgan was such a regular at Freddy's they recognized her and called her out for her frequent visits so she started going to the other location across town).
Derek Schapiro
Groomsman
Derek and I met freshman year of Oak Lawn Community High School, but it wasn't until Derek came home from the Peace Corps that they really got close. We began working out together and walking his dog Maia around the park. Growing up, I was the shy kid in the friend group. I still wonder why my Oak Lawn friends hung out with me when I was so quiet and would not say anything. I’m grateful that I’m completely out of my shy phase...and now you get what you get! If you love dogs or the environment you will get along with this man! Over our years of being friends, we definitely had some great times together traveling to Iowa and also just taking walks with Maia around his neighborhood. I am the most grateful for him always having my back and encouraging me to go for Lauren!
Colleen Kuchem
Bridesmaid
Colleen and I went to bible study in high school together for years. We would sit at Panera every Wednesday and laugh until we cried. We would get so off topic and tell story after story, laughing so hard we were silent and tears were always streaming down Colleen's face. We have shared some of the best laughs I've ever had. I'm telling you, it is impossible to feel anything other than joy when anyone is around Colleen. Colleen is encouraging, wholesome, cheerful, and speaks Truth into other's lives. One of my favorite memories with Colleen is when I went up to Michigan and surprised Colleen at camp. Such a sweet time at our favorite place!
Sean Finley
Groomsman
Sean and I met junior year at Trinity Christian College on the track team. We were both sprinters and jumpers. Sean and I love to nerd out on superheroes, anime, and we always have an argument over who is the faster runner between the two of us. "Most the time he won, but don't tell him I said that." - Justin. I could talk to this man forever about future goals, One Piece (let me know if you have seen this show) and debate who’s faster. He always pushes me to be my best, and to think bigger not smaller. I am here now in Missouri because he believed that I can make it. Watch out world, this man is going places! Shoutout to Sean for introducing me to Upwards, where I met Lauren.
Rachel Timms
Bridesmaid
Rachel is like the sister I never had, she's 6 months older than me so we really have grown up together from the beginning. In our free time, Rachel and I have made up several original songs, dance routines, and pranked Linda, Rachel's mom, more times than we can count. Please ask Linda to introduce you to "Jean Telkerson" that was just one of our many, mischievous pranks. Rachel and I interchangeably call each other "Clark." Feel free to do the same, we like to say it's universal. When we aren't pulling pranks, you can find us building puzzles, quoting Home Alone 2, going to Target, getting ice cream, hot tubing, or sitting around the fire in either of our back yards.
Josh Kopp
Groomsman
Brother of the Bride Josh is the baby of the family. I told him I'm gonna call him Bubba until he's 60. He and I are either best of friends or at each others throats. It's gotta be the age gap, but at the end of the day Josh always loves everything I love. When we go out to get food, he always tells me to order for him because I swear we have the same pallet when it comes to taste. Josh is a homebody, whereas I am spontaneous and hate being in one place for a long period of time. I guess my brothers and I really are polar opposites, yet we all get along and life wouldn't be the same without them.
LeighAnn Berry
Bridesmaid
LeighAnn and I have known each other since they were in preschool, but it wasn't until 5th grade that we became best friends. LeighAnn walked up to me at recess and pulled the cliche, "can I be your friend?" The rest is history, LeighAnn and I quickly became inseparable. Our friendship is truly like none other, we can be so goofy and it makes absolutely no sense to anyone but us. We even made up our own "language" in high school, (it contains maybe 10 words but we know exactly what we are talking about). I had her home phone memorized and still do. LeighAnn has always been the life of the party and is someone I can always count on. I have loved seeing LeighAnn's sons Kayden and Keagan, grow up and be a part of their lives.
Matt Dail
Groomsman
Matt and I were freshman your suite mates, who was more like a roommate. Remember when we first met at blueprints? We looked so awkward next to each other. I remember looking at you and thinking, "can I throw this guy an alley-oop when we play basketball?" The answer is no but if you need a great shooter on your team, Matt is the man! I’m so grateful for the times you played 2K with me once a month when I was good at the game in college and let me kick your butt. I spent so much time in Fulton, IL at his family's home during and post college. I truly can say that good old Fulton is my second home and I love your family like it’s my own. I appreciate you more than you know and thank you for putting me on Clash of Clans!
Laurel Reichmuth
Bridesmaid
I met Laurel through Morgan, when she moved in with us senior year of college. It was a perfect fit, and we had many games nights getting competitive playing Uno, and we all loved Bachelor Monday. Laurel refers to herself as "Momma." She always follows the rules, is the wisest one of the bunch, and always follows directions to a T. It wasn't until later that I found out that I stressed Laurel out when I cook because I am an avid believer in just eye balling it, I don't find the need need to actually follow a recipe or wait for the oven to be fully preheated. Nonetheless, "Momma" is such a great friend who will hype me up, laughs at the stupid things I say, and is a constant friend. I'm so thankful she moved in senior year! Live, Love, Deep Elm!!!
Nathan Kopp
Groomsman
Brother of the Bride Nathan is my older brother. He and I interchangeably call each other "lad." You will most likely only hear him call me that, I rarely hear my real name come out of his mouth. Nathan and I are old people at heart. We fall asleep when we sit in front of a TV, we naturally wake up super early, and go to bed by like 9 pm max. Growing up, he and I have always been complete opposites. His sophomore year of high school, my eighth grade year, we became best friends. We would sit in my room every night and he would play the guitar. One year, we even made a Christmas CD, our band name was called "The Shattered Tea Cups." Be thankful you didn't receive your own copy. Nathan loves to make fun of me, and give me a hard time. Isn't that what sibling love is all about?
Caroline McGowan
Bridesmaid
Caroline and I have known each other since grade school. The "gang" has always been tight, and Carol has always been my hype girl. As talkative classmates, to coworkers at the YMCA we have had so many good times over the years. Since her sister married my cousin, it is always a bonus seeing her at family functions and making any gathering a great time. Although the gang doesn't get together nearly as much as we would like, we never skip a beat and we always pick up where we left off. You can almost always count on the gang to make prank calls, eat a whole pack of Oreos, and cause trouble when we're together. I can always count on Carol to give solid advice, make me laugh, and she is the most fun plus one to any family wedding!
Travis Ray
Groomsman
It all started freshman year of college when Travis visited Matt and Evan, we all went to Buffalo Wild Wings. After that, we raced and I beat you of course. But that was the start of a great friendship. I appreciate you opening up your home and letting me hang with you most weekends after college. Definitely some great times Playing Bohnanza, Black Ball, and Monopoly and going to H and B’s after church for some great food. I’m grateful for all of our adventures, and there are more still to come. Some of my favorite times have been TJ's Bachelor party, brewery tours, and all the game nights we've had.
David Michaels
Groomsman
I truly don’t remember when David and I first became friends. I just know it was in middle school. I believe we got a lot closer in our later years in high school and college. Tuna and cheese sandwiches are still tasty to this day, I always ate these on our way to and from track meets and everyone hated it on the bus. There's never a dull moment with us going out to eat. You always have my back and I will always have yours! Unless you back into me again with your car. PS it was all his fault and he should’ve went! But no hard feelings! You never know what’s gonna happen when we get together. I’m looking forward to making more memories with you!
Michael Glosemeyer
Officiant
Childhood friend of the Bride I have known Michael since I was 5. He and I actually reconnected before Mickayla and I did through YoungLife and bible study. Of course, since his sister and I are best friends, I have spent so much time with him and his family. I love them all and I am so grateful for them. Michael, Mickayla, and I have also had some of the best times at camp, and all hanging out together cracking jokes, and laughing until we can't breathe at game night.