Wedding Party
Jorim Whitely
Groomsman
Jorim and I met at Comstock Park high school where he was a grade below me. While we were friends then, we did not get close until just this past January where I truly believe God put us in each other’s lives at a perfect time. If you ask anyone about Jorim (or as many know him JoJo) they will tell you that he is someone they enjoy having around. I can’t even count all the times this man has made me laugh. He is very kind and personable and I think that draws people to him. For me personally he was a bright spot in a lonely season of life. He’s very positive and encouraging like when he says all you need to get jacked is to take morning creatine.
AJ Gillespie
Groomsman
Aj and I met playing pickleball and became brothers when our mutual friendships led us to drive to Lansing to watch the Nebraska Volleyball Women’s team play the Spartans. We bonded over NAs and late night Raising Canes. Aj is a man of God, intentionality and being present. He also happens to be a pastor at the church Sav and I go. I love having him as a friend because it is rare experience to have a pastor school you not only spiritually but physically on the pickleball court too. He’s also a top 10 greatest smack talkers of all time.
Adryn Byl
Groomsman
Adryn and I met through the young adults ministry at Res Life and grew close playing indoor soccer together. Cannot forget about Joeys Tavern. Adryn is someone with a fiery faith that you can always count on to get the people going. I’ve loved seeing him step into new ventures and put on the mantle of leadership for his ideas. Whether we’re at the driving range of sitting poolside it’s always a treat to hear whats on his mind and how God is moving in his heart. His hips do not lie.
Justus Chupp
Groomsman
Justus and I met at a MBL family night playing spike ball. Our mutual love for volleyball and hanging out with great people soon led us to becoming friends the summer we met. Justus has a stoicism that I admire. He is calm and thoughtful in situations which I believe has lead him to a level of certainty navigating rough places and topics. His heart is very open and waiting for God to whisper. He very much can get hype though and is not afraid to emote on foreign children. I love that it takes very simple things to make him laugh and enjoy himself such as doing burnouts in Patricia.
Elijah Mikel
Groomsman
Eli and I met playing basketball on the outdoor court at Cornerstone University. I knew immediately him and I would be friends when he started talking trash having just met me. Eli is one of those guys you can feel confident sending into any group of people knowing he will come out with new friends. Speaking with him at all will show you he is thoughtful, intentional and considerate. I’ve especially enjoyed seeing how his perspective has changed in the past year with him stepping into a leadership role in UCO campus ministry.
Kevin Gaston II
Groomsman
Kevin is my elder brother and him and I met shortly after I was born probably. It’s a little fuzzy. Kevin has known me the longest of anyone in my wedding party and has seen more of my good and bad times than almost anyone else. Kevin and I came from the same soil and it was not soil that was always watered or the best for growth. Despite that, he has continued to move forward and grow and mature. It’s always cool seeing what people with roots like are make achievements despite the environment. Im proud of him for his new position at Acrisure Amphitheater and intend to get him back for making me cry (in a good way) on my bachelor party.
Xavier Longoria
Groomsman
Xavier is my nephew and has always reminded me of a younger version of myself. I was very young when he came into the world and he has more often than not felt like a little brother. The only time that changes is when we play sports…any sport. Im talking basketball, football, volleyball, pickleball, soccer, ping pong, cornhole, tennis, bowling, wii boxing or anything else, at those times… he becomes my son. Xavier, know to many as Zay Zay or Googli, I’ve had the privilege to closely watch grow from a newborn baby to the young man he is right now. He is someone that very much values his independence and for being as young as he is, he’s not afraid to tell you his opinion and I respect that. He acts nonchalant most of the time but is very easy to make laugh if you stare at him long enough. I’ve also never seen him lose a fight to a woman.
Samuel Borisch
Groomsman
Sam and I met in advanced P.E. At comstock park highs school our sophomore year where he quickly showed me how pathetic a 10 minute mile was. We became close friends talking about fishing and he was very welcoming to me to the point where I lived with him and his family for close to a year near graduation. Sam has lived away from Grand Rapids for a bit now but I will always think of him like a brother. Honestly the best way to describe Sam is sharp and goofy. His wisdom and intellect is only matched by his ability to make me laugh using nothing but a key and peele reference. He is a fountain of knowledge on many topics and can likely carry a conversation about whatever you bring up. I very much credit sam with starting the process of smoothing out some of my more jagged edges when I first met him.
Jon Borisch
Groomsman
Jon and I met through his brother Sam and developed a friendship through proximity at first that grew stronger as we came to know one another. Jon is around 3 years younger than I but has always been mature and clever for his age. Jon is passionate and excels at everything he puts his mind to. Being close to Jon often meant getting a front row seat to whatever he was focused on at the time. A few examples were: chess, cooking, quantum physics, the gym, spanish, psychology… the usual things for a young man. Most of all though Jon has always been a passionate and sincere and loving person. He will always be a brother to me.
Josh Andree
Groomsman
I believe I met josh on the pickleball courts and was taken away by his beautiful eyes. I knew I had to have him… as a friend. Josh is one of those friends that I believe has the same mission as myself, that being to serve. We have oftentimes gone with each other to fulfill that mission and every time we do its near and dear to my heart. Hearing Josh speak and expound on what is on his heart is like listening to a poet. He is by far a kind man and someone who is well traveled (which I’m jealous of) enough to have perspectives outside of your vanilla American.
Leya Allen
Maid of Honor
Leya is the classic middle child in all the best ways. She’s unique, effortlessly funny, and unforgettable. No one makes me laugh the way she does, usually without even trying. One of my favorite memories with her was a girls’ trip up north, where we decided to teach her how to play spoons. She was around sixteen and managed to lose every single round. Then, on what had to be the 30th attempt, she finally grabbed a spoon. The look on her face, pure shock mixed with total triumph, sent all of us into hysterics. We were laughing so hard we had tears streaming down our cheeks. Leya is always able to entertain me. I genuinely look forward to her random FaceTime story times—sometimes she calls me up to four times a day just to talk about the most random things, and I love it. My sisters truly brighten my days. Leya and I share countless memories, and while I’m at it, I’d like to publicly apologize for that unfortunate incident when you were four and I may have broken all your fingers. In my defense… it was kind of your fault.
Ella Allen
Maid of Honor
My Ella Bear, the baby of the family. You’ve grown into such a beautiful, bright young woman. You love scary movies and Halloween, which happen to be the two things I fear most. So while we might not bond over horror marathons, we connect in all the best ways: through books, shopping trips, and good food. Ella is easily the friendliest of the three of us. She’s always the first to wrap you in a hug and remind you how much she loves you. One of my funniest and most unforgettable memories with her involves the worst scary movie of all time, Midsommar. Our bedrooms shared a wall growing up, and I could hear the creepy soundtrack through it. I texted her to turn it down because I had to be up early for work. A minute later, she came into my room and told me I shouldn’t go in the next day because she had a “bad feeling.” Looking back, I probably should’ve listened. The next thing she knew, I was in the ER getting stitches. That story sums up Ella perfectly, even as the youngest, she always looks out for us.
Hailey Raab
Bridesmaid
I met Hailey in 2022 at GVSU. We were in the same dissection class (RIP Judy and Greg), where we bonded over our shared obsession with the cardiovascular system. By the time I moved into her house in 2024, she had become a third sister to me. She’s taught me how to ride horses, reminded me to stay humble whenever I beat her in both board games and card games, and supported me through some of the hardest chapters of my life. Hailey isn’t just a friend, she’s family.
Helen Tuitel
Bridesmaid
I met Helen working at Jose’s in 2022, and we became best friends immediately. Her positive energy and bright outlook on life have brought so much joy into mine. She’s challenged me, pushed me to become the best version of myself, and loved me even when I struggled to love myself. Most importantly, she has always stood by my side.
Emily Koon
Bridesmaid
Emily Sarah has been one of my best friends since 2012. We survived middle school, high school, and college side by side. We even lived together our senior year, and those days were some of the best, filled with late-night talks, endless laughter, and way too many snacks. From our long road trips, singing at the top of our lungs, to being each other’s go-to dance partners, Em and I have truly been through it all. Her laugh is infectious, and she can light up any room the moment she walks in. She’s truly one of the best.
Kailey Durant
Bridesmaid
Kailey moved to Goodrich our freshman year of high school, and we became best friends instantly. She’s the reason I chose to go to Grand Valley. I honestly couldn’t imagine life without her, so I followed her there! We always shared a bed together, waking each other up with our strange noises, and spent countless hours playing mermaids. She’s a genius when it comes to writing and edited every one of my college papers. She even taught me how to curl my hair and apply makeup properly (at the ripe age of 21). Kailey would give the shirt off her back for anyone. She is kind, thoughtful, and endlessly caring, and I’m so lucky to have her in my life.
Hannah Macklem
Bridesmaid
Hannah was one of my very first friends at Goodrich. As kids, we were always trying to convince our moms to let us have sleepovers on school nights, which, of course, never worked! Over the years, Hannah has pushed me and inspired me to chase my dreams. She is one of the hardest workers I know and truly an inspiration. We’ve been friends for almost 20 years, which is honestly mind-blowing! As little girls, we dreamed about our weddings and being each other’s bridesmaids, and now I’m so grateful to have a friendship that has lasted through it all.
Abbi Borisch
Bridesmaid
Abbi is Nate’s youngest sister, and having her in my life has been such a joy! She’s an incredibly talented singer and actress, and one of the hardest workers I know. I love our coffee dates and teaming up against Nate—it’s always a blast. Her love for the Lord is inspiring, and it’s beautiful to watch her grow. I’m so excited to gain another sister!
Emma Leist
Bridesmaid
Emma was the one who ended my time as the only grandchild. While I loved being the center of my grandparents’ attention, I loved becoming a big cousin even more. Growing up, Emma and I were raised more like sisters, and somehow she always gets roped into helping me out. Whether it’s picking me up from the airport at midnight or driving out to Grand Rapids just to visit, she is always willing to spend time with me. I’m so excited to have her by my side!
Anna Leist
Bridesmaid
Oh, Anna… the youngest granddaughter. Anna and I have an ongoing feud over who Grandma’s favorite is (it’s obviously me), and we’re constantly fighting over who the spare bedroom belongs to (also me). Anna has a bright future in softball and the kind of witty personality that keeps everyone laughing. She may not be Grandma’s favorite, but second place really isn’t so bad! I love you, Anna, and I’m so excited to have you by my side.
Olivia Leist
Bridesmaid
OJ was the first brunette in the family. She’s an incredible soccer player, a math genius, and an all-around great friend to Ella Bear. Like Emma and me, Olivia and I were raised more like sisters. Even though she makes fun of me 24/7 for always thinking I have a brain tumor, I love her nonetheless. She’s also usually the only person willing to stand up for me at family functions, which honestly says a lot.