Wedding Party
Kellie Daniel
Maid of Honor
The Sister: A true California girl, Kellie is the Hollister to Mackenzie’s Lilly Pulitzer. Younger by 4 years, Kellie lives in Pasadena, CA where she’s the Senior Social Media Content Creator for The Wonderful Company. Essentially, Kellie is the reason your favorite snacks like Wonderful Pistachios, FIJI Water, Justin wine and more, look so good on Instagram. She's the creative one who grew up modeling and being the theater star. Mackenzie was a competitive soccer player, student government leader and founder of her high school's school spirit squad. And if you think you recognize Kellie from the big screen, you’re not alone—she’s often mistaken for Emma Stone. Fun Fact: Their beloved family dog was named Kirby. Kirby is also a popular name for roads and neighborhoods in Memphis. Coincidence or kismet?
Emily Escobosa
Bridesmaid
The Memphis Best Friend: Emily is the incredible Director of Member Experience at Kappa Delta National Headquarters, located in Memphis. She’s a certified expert in event planning, operations and ensuring a good time. Soon after Mackenzie moved to Memphis, these two unexpectedly met at a Summer 2020 pool party. Even a global pandemic couldn’t stop two West Coast blondes from finding their soul-sister in Memphis! M& Em are the true definition of ride or die. They're a rare breed living in the 901, embodying Pacific tides can meet the steady roll of the Delta river’s run. Fun Fact: They're living in a land of Tigers and Grizzlies. However, Mackenzie, a California native, was raised by a USC Trojans father and UCLA Bruins mother. Emily is 110% Oregon Duck: she's an Oregon native and U of O alumna.
McKenna Huxton
Bridesmaid
The College Best Friend: Since their Elon days, McKenna and Mackenzie have gone from Sigma Kappa sorority formals to long-distance updates via phone and good old-fashioned mailed letters. Pledge class sisters, they bonded over McKenna’s Richmond, Virginia roots complementing Mackenzie's love of monograms even though they've since traded places: one headed for The Rockies and the other, The South. Now a married veterinarian living in Colorado, McKenna spends her days tending to her (animal) patients and weekends skiing the fresh mountain powder. On the reception dance floor M&M will take the lead, because those 2012 college classics are all they need. Fun Fact: Upperclassmen Elon students love to name their apartments, houses and off-campus fraternity houses. Mackenzie and McKenna lived in an off-campus apartment called, Candyland...McKenna's dad was their landlord.
Kirsten Johansson
Bridesmaid
The Hometown Best Friend: Picture this… It’s 2010 and you’re in an ACT prep class. While the class didn't really help with the ACT (ironic, given Mackenzie is a College Counselor), it did prove helpful in introducing her to who would become her longtime best friend. They went to different colleges and have both moved around for their careers in education and law. Kirsten currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she's a powerhouse attorney, wife and mother. Their ACT scores no longer matter; now, Bravo TV debriefs, wine and oysters fill their platter. Fun Fact: Mackenzie's first job out of undergrad was working as an Admissions Counselor at SMU in Dallas, Kirsten’s undergrad alma mater!
Abby Vidmer
Bridesmaid
The Career Best Friend: Not only do they look-a-like and equally love Lilly Pulitzer and pearls, but Mackenzie and Abby's professional paths also uniquely align. In classic college admissions fashion, during Fall 2017, they met at a college fair in Dallas. What started out as just being ‘road friends' quickly became a genuine friendship of mirrored paths, taking them far beyond their days of high school visits and college fair booths. Mackenzie and Abby both became college counselors at independent all-girls schools in similar cities (Memphis and Baltimore). Though most of their friendship has been long distance, they bring comfort and sparkle to one another’s existence! Fun Fact: While working full-time in Admissions, they each acquired their Masters in Higher Education...Mackenzie, from Boston University and Abby, from Georgetown University.
Grace Bricken
Junior Bridesmaid
The Matchmaker: Meet Grace, or shall we say, Thanks Grace. She’s the reason you’re even on this website! During an August 2023 Friday afternoon, Grace, a high school junior at the time, said the following 5 words, “Ms. Daniel, are you single?” And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how Mackenzie and John met. Yes, a 16 year old not only blindly set her college counselor up with her older cousin, but also wrote the plot of her very own Hallmark movie. Now a freshman at UT-Knoxville, Grace helped Ms. Daniel find a husband, Ms. Daniel helped Grace with her college apps, and sweet John has to buy Grace an annual Christmas gift symbolizing his gratitude for his little cousin's matchmaking success. Though Grace couldn't have anticipated this grand slam, she now has Ms. Daniel as part of her fam! Fun Fact: Grace's little sister, Whitney, and cousin, Sims, were each in Ms. Daniel's freshman advisory. You'll meet both at the wedding--they are readers at the ceremony!
Paul Gillespie
Best Man
The Older Brother: Affectionately known as, Paw-Paw, Paul is the oldest of the 3 Gillespie sons. He's a proud Vanderbilt Commodore, just like his father! He lives in Memphis with his wife, Paige, and their children, Trow, Bailey and Grace...you'll see them star as our Ring Bearer and (2) of our (4) flower girls which they will ace! Fun Fact: The first time he, his wife, Paige, and their kids met Mackenzie was by accident. John and Mackenzie had been quietly dating for a few months. They sat down for dinner at the Memphis Country Club when Paul's family waved from a few tables over...we think the fact Mackenzie works at Hutchison, where the girls go and Paige went, and that they were set up by their relative gave Mackenzie some street cred!
Stuart Gillespie
Best Man
The Middle Brother: Affectionately known as Shiny, Stuart is also a proud Vanderbilt alum. Though, he went to law school at Boulder and never left Colorado. An outdoors aficionado, Stuart who currently lives in Aspen, Colorado with his new wife, Alexis (also from California!). Who would've thought a NorCal and SoCal girl would both end up marrying Memphians? Fun Fact: Poor John had to patiently endure Stuart's June 2025 wedding without revealing his secret (he struggles keeping secrets)...he had already purchased Mackenzie's engagement ring (tucked away in his parent's safe) and was planning to propose a month later, which he successfully did in Maui :)
Steven Andrews
Groomsman
The College Roommate: A fellow charter member of the '518 Boys' group text, Steven Andrews, "Steven A," is also from Elon, North Carolina where he grew up with Dan. He's a real estate entrepreneur, licensed pilot and the world’s most intense High Point University superfan. He crosses over from NC to TN periodically to visit Dan and John. High Point vs. Elon is a dangerous rivalry line, but he knows Mackenzie tolerates this as long as she's given her wine. Fun Fact: Mackenzie was present when John asked Steven A to be a groomsman...yes, she created little groomsmen proposal boxes and made John formally ask each guy.
Dan Butler
Groomsman
The College Roommate: Originally from Elon, North Carolina, Daniel "Dan" Butler is one of the co-founders of the '518 Boys' group text, given he was one of John's High Point University freshman year roommates, in dorm room 518. He now resides in Nashville with his wife, Sarah, and their two adorable kids. He's also known as Lieutenant Dan...no really, he's a Boatswain's Mate Chief Petty Officer (BMC) in the US Coast Guard Reserve. He's an excellent jokester, story teller and bourbon drinking man, but most of all, he's Dan the groomsman. Fun Fact: Upon first meeting Dan, Mackenzie didn't lead with "Hi!" or "Nice to meet you." Instead, she looked Dan dead in the eye and enthusiastically shared, "I’ve been to your high school!" Without providing context that she'd been there for her job, while working in college admissions, Mackenzie just sounded like a very friendly, very specific private investigator.
Worth Morgan
Groomsman
The Childhood Friend: Worth and his family are longtime friends of The Gillespie's and the extended family. John's late father, Trow, was Worth's Godfather and Worth's dad, Allen, is John's Godfather. Worth is also very connected to North Carolina--him and many of his relatives attended UNC. Having a political career of his own, Worth is a true mentor and friend to John. Additionally, Worth and his wife, Bonner, are board game experts and are training their son Walter, to follow in their footsteps. With a deck in his hand and a heart of gold, Worth's a lifelong friend, as John has told. Fun Fact: Mackenzie knew Bonner before ever meeting John in August 2023. However, in 2022, John and Mackenzie both attended one of Worth's political campaign fundraisers without ever meeting (there's photo evidence proving they were an arms-length apart). A few months later, they were once again ships in the night: John and Mackenzie both attended Worth & Bonner's (Covid-19) postponed wedding reception, but they were both dating other people at the time and never crossed paths. It's a small, small world.
Paul Morrow
Groomsman
The Cousin: Meet Paul Morrow—the man, the myth, and the full-name legend. As John’s cousin and the son of Steve and Nancy (who hosted Thanksgiving 2025 that Mackenzie's parents were able to attend!), he’s your undisputed tech guru, man of sharp humor and one of those people who everyone calls by his full name. Paul Morrow lives in Memphis with his wonderful wife, Joy, and their two adorable daughters who complete our (4) flower girls. With petals in their baskets and walking arm-in-arm, sweet Mayfield and sassy Reeves will certainly bring you some Southern charm. Fun Fact: Mackenzie is Ms. Daniel when the girls see her around school, but she's Kenzie to them off-campus!