Wedding Party
Anne Marie Mattarella
Co-Maid of Honor
Anne Marie and I have known each other since Kindergarten, but our friendship really took off in high school when we became best friends. Whether it is breaking out in song and/or dance, 4 hour long phone calls for no reason, cracking each other up with stupid inside jokes or everyone thinking we are arguing when we are really not. Our friendship has really grown over the years & through every move I ever made - she's been there through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows & we know each other like the back of our hand. Anne Marie is a sincerely loyal friend (scratch that, family at this point) & I cherish our friendship so much. She is my day 1 & hands down one of the best people I know. This day would be unimaginable without her standing by my side.
Aaron London
Best Man (Brother of the Groom)
Aaron is my younger brother - we are 2 years and 10 minutes apart. We shared everything together growing up - including birthdays. Normally our Mom would get us the same presents with slight variations - one year she decided to get us different toys thinking we would share and play together. It did not go well - that was the last time Aaron and I received different presents, even to this day. We have a classic big brother - little brother relationship; always trying to one-up each other but always proud when the other is succeeding. There was never a question on who would be my best man.
Katie Barcelona
Co-Matron of Honor (Sister of the Bride)
Katie & I hit it off early on - when our parents first met, at about 9 years old. Katie would sneak me into her bedroom closet where she hid a stash of candy & we would giggle and joke about everything under the sun. Fast forward through middle school & high school we shared a bedroom, a secret notebook to talk about all the boy drama at school (since we went to different high schools) & sneak out to play on the playground at night on the weekends. As we got older, we moved to different cities, but can always pick right back up where we left off. Katie is the sister & best friend that I never knew I needed - my true partner in crime.
Sam Levine
Groomsman
Sam and I met freshman year of High School. We hit it off quickly because we were both big into the same things and are both very competitive. We’ve spent hours playing ping-pong, old video games, and making bets on random events. Currently, Sam owes me $1 Trillion dollars in $1 annual payouts. He was always the guy to come up with missions. These could be for a variety of things; getting alcohol somehow, stealing a construction cone for no reason, or sneaking out of the house past curfew. One thing that has never changed between Sam and me - we are there for each other during the tough times in life. Both of us have dropped everything to fly out and visit when the other needs it. I'm very happy to have him with me for the big day.
Samantha Bush
Bridesmaid
Sammy & I met back in high school. Sam was obsessed with my hair and I initially thought Sam hated me (LOL) - but man, we were inseparable. All of the best high school memories involve Sammy (and most I can't mention here).... driving in the teal Ford Contour where you had to "roll the seat back", high school parties, lunchroom gossip, the list goes on. Sammy was and is SO COOL. She is legit the wittiest person I know & she will be able to get you up on all the latest pop culture & bravo news. But more than that, she is such an amazing person and friend - I would truly be lost without her.
David Sowell
Groomsman
David and I met in High School and quickly became best friends. Since moving out of Michigan in 2014 we have stayed close and still hang out consistently through video games, streaming movies /sports, and talking fantasy football. When David first met Elyse, he grilled her with questions to make sure she passed the best friend test - fortunately she did and the rest is history. I’m very excited to have David by my side on this big day - I can’t imagine it without him.
Ellie Mindick
Bridesmaid (Sister of the Bride)
Ellie & I actually share the same name but spelled differently (and we are both left handed!) - it's really fun to say I have a sister that is 9 months younger than me with the same name! Through the years, Ellie & I have played on too many volleyball teams to count & traveled all over the state to play. It was always great having a special bond of playing on a team together and winning some championships! Ellie is definitely the silly/goofy sister & life would be pretty boring without her. She is so compassionate & has a such big heart. Adam & I are thrilled to have her standing up by our side this special day.
Andrew Samoray
Groomsman
Andrew is my oldest friend, we met on the bus heading to our first day of High School. We both wrestled varsity all 4-years, which meant we spent all winter season together - either at practice or tournaments. It was always fun sparring with him because we would just fake working hard when the coaches walked by and hung out the rest of the time. Andrew got me into wrestling - he also got me my first, second, and third job. He has had my back since day one and I know I can always count on him.
Ashley Oberholtzer
Bridesmaid (Sister of the Groom)
When Adam & I first started dating & it was time for me to meet the fam, Ashley always made me feel so welcomed & included. From holidays that turn into intense game nights, a duel bach/bachelorette trip in Detroit, many amazing dinners at the Gandy Dancer & more recently a family trip up to Traverse City - Ashley & I have gotten closer & I seriously cannot wait to make many more memories together! I am thrilled to be gaining another sister and so happy to have Ashley standing up by my side on our wedding day!
Kurt Oberholtzer
Groomsmen (Brother-in-law of the Groom)
Kurt is my brother-in-law but has been in my life for more than a decade. He fits right in with Aaron and me as the older brother we never had. Kurt and I share a common love for the Detroit Lions and are both ultra-competitive. Anytime the family is together we play Ping Pong, Risk, Catan, and any other game we can find. Elyse and I are excited about starting new traditions and can’t wait for our families to grow together.
Laura London
Bridesmaid (Sister of the Groom)
Laura & I hit it off right away at a few family gatherings & share some inside jokes that we like to bring up repeatedly any chance we get (like don't sleep on Detroit & Michigan Pure). Laura & I share a passion of charcuterie boards & traveling. Laura is always such a good time & I am so looking forward to making many more memories together over the years to come. Adam & I are thrilled to have Laura standing by our side on this big day!
Noah Engerer
Groomsmen (Brother of the Bride)
Although Noah will be my brother-in-law soon, I have always felt a brotherly bond with him since we met 6 years ago. Every year, Elyse and I camp in Manistee on Lake Michigan with her family around the 4th of July. Noah and I have been able to spend a lot of quality time on these trips playing Euchre, hanging out by the campfire, and throwing the frisbee all day at the beach. He has always made me feel like part of the family and I am very happy to have him standing with me on my wedding.
Celina Jimenez
Bridesmaid
Celina & I met at an internship in San Francisco & pretty much clicked right away - we knew we were basically twins living on different sides of the country. It was hands down one of the best summers of my entire life, mostly thanks to Celina! Since I was renting a place in Berkley, which was close to an hour away, many nights I would stay with Celina at her apartment in the city & we would make all the food, dance to The Weekend & frolic around the Bay Area, all while still going to work 40+ hours a week! I definitely have Celina to thank for opening up my eyes to so many new experiences & omg the best FOOD. Celina & I have kept up a long distance friendship for the past 8 years (where does the time go?!) & frequently go on trips together with Adam & Charlie.
Adam Lewan
Groomsman
Adam Lewan and I met on the first day of college at CMU and have been friends since. Together we joined the business fraternity PSE, passed business calculus, and somehow graduated on time. Some of my favorite memories of college are the late nights with Lewan, sitting around the kitchen table talking about terrible business ideas and Bitcoin - all while drinking the cheapest alcohol we could find. In short - we went through the college experience together and I don’t think I would have made it through without him.
Lia (soon to be) Williamson
Bridesmaid
Lia & I are Dallas besties - we moved to the city around the same time & become close pretty early on (we also actually went to the same college & had mutual friends, but never met!). It is always the best time when Lia is around - from dancing to early 2000s hip-hop, working out, having wine nights, going on float trips & so much life in between - Lia & I are never far from each other's side, always laughing & having the best time. But outside of that, Lia has such a kind heart & I am so so thankful for her friendship. Dallas would truly not be the same without her & I couldn't imagine this important day without her by my side either!
Ryan Williamson
Groomsman
Ryan and I were both members of the business fraternity PSE at CMU, but we didn’t become close friends until I moved to Dallas in 2017. When Elyse and I first moved from Chicago we were very concerned about how we were going to make friends in a new city. Ryan made a world of difference by being a great friend right away, as well as bringing us into his close-knit group of friends. We are very lucky to have both Ryan and Lia by our side for our wedding day.
Alina Garcia
Bridesmaid
Alina & I met working at Saatchi & Saatchi in Dallas - while I cannot pinpoint the exact moment we went from being work friends to real life friends, it happened pretty fast. Over the years, Alina has become one of my closest friends, plus Frank (and Honey's) Godmother! From working late at the office, to happy hours, to music festivals & concerts, trips & wine nights in - Alina is down for everything, but truthfully, you can rely on her for literally anything. She is the kindest soul & such a loyal friend. Alina & I have been through so much in such a sort amount of time & I am forever grateful to have Alina in my life and standing up by my side on one of the most important days ever!
Ben Devereaux
Groomsman
I met Ben in my Sophomore year of college when he was a freshman. Ben immediately fit into my college friend group and roomed with us for the next 2-years. He and I become fast friends through our common love of sales and the drive to become a salesman in our professional lives. We spent a lot of time together at sales competitions around the country through the business fraternity, PSE. Although we live in different states, we’ve remained close friends.
Fantasia (soon to be) Silver
Bridesmaid
Fan & I met through Alina working at Saatchi & Saatchi in Dallas. Fan was definitely the gal EVERYONE wanted to be friends with - she was and still is a cool girl, for sure. Quickly Fan & I became more than "just work friends" & she had me saying y'all in no time. From festivals & concerts, working late, singing to the top of our lungs in the car, dancing at bars - there is really never a dull moment. Fan has such a genuine heart and cares so deeply for her friends. I am so grateful to have met such an amazing and strong woman that I now call one of my closest friends. As we go through some of life's biggest moments together, I couldn't imagine this day without Fan by my side.
John Payne
Groomsman
John and I were roommates freshman year at CMU. We shared a lot of great moments that you can only get from living together in the first year of college. During the second semester of our freshman year, the final for our main business class was a storyboard outline of a company of your choosing. On the day before the presentation, I was forced to start over as I did mine on Apple - which we were told multiple times you could not do and John had not started at all. Both of us had to finish a 1-month long project the night before.. We spent the night drinking and working. Somehow we ended up passing - to this day, it is my favorite college memory. I’m very happy to have John by my side for my wedding day.