Mackenzie Mendenhall & Nick McGhee
Wedding Party
Josie Millard
Maid of Honor
Josie and Mackenzie have been best friends for over 15 plus years. From attending dancing classes together from the age of 5 and 6, to walking to school together in junior high on the trail. To puppy dates with Remi, Dotty May, and Ginger. They have always been together at the hip! Since the beginning of time Josie and Mackenzie have been planning Nick and Mackenzie’s wedding. Including a fake wedding in junior high now becoming real! Josie has also been a part of the family forever and continues to spread her love and joy with both families as they grow.
Ben McGhee
Best Man
Ben and Nick have been together since the womb… literally! Being a twin brother was not always cracked up to what people think it would be, from bickering over the Xbox to competing in Karate, everything was a competition between these two! Nick has the trophy to prove it too! They of course had fun in high school swapping seats and causing confusion, but as they aged they began to show their differences. Ben graduated from St. John’s College of Nursing in 2022 and has sincerely been Nick’s best buddy since Day 1!
Riley Mendenhall
Bridesmaid
Riley and Mackenzie have always had a special relationship some days both a nightmare and others both loving sisters. From playing with Play-Doh, frog hunting when dad would mow, to sharing clothes not giving them back and arguing about it later, to Riley telling Nick he needs to pick up his feet she wants an engagement already! While Mackenzie is the older sister Riley likes to make it clear she is the BIG sister! If anyone has been waiting for this it’s Riley- Roo gaining another brother, who she calls her Nicky-poo!”
Brandon Elliott
Groomsman
Brandon has been friends with Nick since 5th grade. They’ve managed to stay in touch over the years even as Brandon has gone on many journeys through the military. Nick has dubbed Brandon as the busiest man on planet Earth, you never know where he’s ended up! From the nerdy kid he was best friends with in high school to the gym rat he is now, both men have changed drastically throughout their friendship and will always be on each other’s side as life continues to change!
Luna Tsuzuki
Bridesmaid
Mackenzie and Luna met in college at McKendree. They originally lived down the hall from one another and Luna was known as the quiet Japanese girl that always waves when she walks by. Soon into the second semester of freshman year COVID had picked up and room accommodations were being made. Luna had lost her roommate, as well as Mackenzie in the fall. Both were being placed in different locations. Mackenzie being stubborn not wanting to move from Baker, knocked on Luna’s door asking if she wanted to be roommates. From then on the friendship grew and loud mouth Mackenzie brought little quiet Luna quite out of her shell! Luna and Mackenzie have lived together both at school and home with Luna being “adopted” into her American family they are glued to the hip.
Chase Davis
Groomsman
Nick and Chase have been friends since 5th or 6th grade. Chase has always been causing mayhem in the friend group, using his size to his advantage especially in middle school. Chase also serves in the military where he did a 6 month tour in Africa in 2022-2023. While he may seem scary at first, Chase has a heart like no other and Nick can always count on him.
Zoey Thixton
Bridesmaid
Zoey and Mackenzie met in 6th grade. Mackenzie was the first person to talk to Zoey, as Mackenzie was also the loudest person down the hallway. Zoey and Mackenzie quickly became friends and ended up going through life together. Including take their first college classes together, their senior year of high school. Mackenzie is now Auntie M to Zoey’s daughter and Mackenzie god daughter, Aurora! Zoey over the years has become family to the Mendenhall’s and loves them like they are her own.
Hunter Gouin
Groomsman
Nick and Hunter have been good buddies since high school. Their friendship started in the woods where Nick was lighting him up with an air soft gun thinking he was such a nerd. Since then, they’ve grown extremely close and while the little jabs at each other never ended (especially cardinals vs cubs) their friendship has continued to grow. He is a collegiate athlete with a championship metal in car soccer (eSports).
Anna Leitner
Bridesmaid
Anna started out as Mackenzie’s resident in Barnett hall, when Mackenzie was a community coordinator. The first real experience Anna had with Mackenzie was when she stormed in her room to listen to the wall to see if Anna’s neighboring dorm was currently “home.” From then on Anna begin to learn the crazy person Mackenzie was. In the spring semester Anna took over as RA on the second floor of Barnett where Mackenzie also lived and helped train. It was then that Anna and Mackenzie truly became friends and both embraced the craziness of one another.
Ethan Brownback
Groomsman
Ethan has been friends with Nick since Spanish class in high school. He got Nick his first “real” job at Cancun back in 2017. Ethan has always been known as down to do anything or go anywhere and is always just a call away. Ethan is also in the military and can share a story or two about his time in Guam and pacific island Diego Garcia!
Rory Johnston
Bridesmaid
Rory also started out as Mackenzie’s resident in Barnett hall. From the beginning Rory quickly figured out the unique individual Mackenzie was. As Rory often could hear Mackenzie singing all the way on the other end of the hallway or running, skipping, cartwheeling, or rolling down the hallway past her door. From dealing with Mackenzie’s craziness for a year down the hall, Rory decided she would live with Mackenzie the following year. With Luna and Belle at Rory’s side to take on the crazy of living with Mackenzie. Rory and Mackenzie could never go shopping together either, while they always said they would be right back… they never were. Instead they would be gone for hours on end.
Riley Jones
Groomsman
Riley has always been known as the life of the party. Nick and Riley have been buddies since high school and worked together at Cancun as well. They love to grill each other especially with football and love to golf, fish, hike, and drink together. Riley is also a high school football state champion, despite him missing a kick in the big game! He also is a collegiate champion in car soccer (eSports).
Andrea Fraser
Bridesmaid
Andrea and Mackenzie have known each other since about 7th and 8th grade. Andrea first met Mackenzie through a mutual friend, Hannah, for a birthday party. Later Andrea and Mackenzie became friends, and closer friends in Highschool when Andrea started dating Nick’s twin brother, Ben. Mackenzie would go to almost all of Andrea’s softball games not only home but also away for both Rec and high school. Andrea would also attend the occasional golf outing for Mackenzie as well. Today they will go out on the golf course to play a round of 9, whether it be with the two of them, Nick and Ben joining, or a group of friends. Andrea and Mackenzie’s friendship has since then been like no other.
Tyler Moushon
Groomsman
Nick met Tyler through Ben at nursing school. Nick originally had taken a class with Tyler at Lincoln Land but they never made the connection until after the fact! They both love the Bears and Tyler brings a special energy around whenever he enters the room.
Allie Fitzgerald
Bridesmaid
Allie and Mackenzie met through mutual friend Andrea. Andrea went to nursing school with Allie and became pretty close. Andrea started to bring Allie around to our friend group and soon after becoming good friends with Mackenzie. After starting to date Riley, Mackenzie, Nick, Allie, and Riley have had adventures together including hiking in Turkey Run state park. Not only has Allie and Mackenzie had many memories on these adventures but also growing their friendship into what it is today!
Austin Mendenhall
Groomsman
Austin is Mackenzie’s brother and soon to be Nick’s brother-in-law! They’ve known each other now for 10 years. Austin goes to school at SIU Edwardsville studying history and can spit facts like no other! He has played hockey forever and loves to root for the Penguins.
Allyssa Yard
Bridal Attendant
Nick and Mackenzie meet Allyssa through the friendship of Nick’s brother Ben and Allyssa’s boyfriend Tyler (also a groomsmen). Allyssa has been a fun free spirit to the friend group and always bring a good time with her! She loves animals and they love her, just ask her about the family of foxes she befriended!
Haley Lind
Bridal Attendant
Haley is Nick’s sister and Mackenzie soon to be sister-in-law. Haley is a quiet and sweet individual that always has a smile and a warm welcoming hello!
Londyn Loftan
Flower Girl
Nick and Mackenzie have watched Londyn grow up into the beautiful, smart, sweet little girl that she is! Londyn is now a big sister of two and is a huge help to mom!
Aurora McDonough
Flower Girl
Aurora is Mackenzie’s god daughter, and just like her Auntie M she is full of sass and attitude! Full of sweet smiles she always fills everyone with happiness and joy!
Sofia Maluly
Flower Girl
Sofia is daughter to Mackenzie’s Brazilian aunt Luiza. This will be one of Sofia’s first times to the USA as well as meeting the rest of the Mendenhall family aka her American Family!
Hayden Mendenhall
Ring Bearer
Hayden is the youngest of the Mendenhall grandchild and the most rotten. Hayden is Mackenzie’s cousin. Nick, or as Hayden refers to ‘ick’ and ‘Mack’ have watched Hayden continue to grow up into the ball of energy he is!!
Hunter Mendenhall
Ring Bearer
Hunter also Mackenzie’s cousin! Hunter is a Sweet and caring one of a kind kid who is creative in the most unique ways! Nick is also one of hunters favorite buddies to plan games with especially in the pool!
Lucas Fox
Usher
Lucas is Nick’s cousin. He is a freshman at Pleasant Plains, plays in the band and loves video games. Lucas is also the oldest son of the officiant Rachel Fox!
Caleb Fox
Usher
Caleb is Nick’s cousin. He is 11 and goes to school in Pleasant Plains. He’s a karate ninja so watch your back around him! Caleb is the youngest son of officiant Rachel Fox.
Rachel Fox
Officiant
Rachel is one of Nick’s cousins but Rachel has also known Mackenzie since the age of 2 working for Mackenzie’s grandma Kolleen Mendenhall! (if you ask she’ll tell you her favorite story!). Rachel is down to earth and always a joy and brings a whole lot of fun everywhere she goes!
Jessi Dooley
Wedding Singer
Jessi is Nick’s cousin who truly has a gifted voice! Jessi sings in a band as lead singer, Branded, as well as plays the guitar and keys! Jessi is one of a kind and has an amazing Pterodactyl impression!