Mara & Jack
Wedding Party
Mara Schmidt
Bride
I'm one of the ones getting married! Born and raised in La Crosse, WI. Our vision is to be as unique and non-consumer as possible in our wedding. I'm excited for everyone to join us for our wedding!
Jack Hamilton
Groom
I'm also getting married. Just think of the savings we'll see getting married at the same time & place as each other! Born in Cedar Falls, IA, I moved to the La Crosse area when I began my employment at Viterbo University. Now here for 16 years, I consider this area my home. I can't wait to party with you at our wedding!
Bailee Schmidt
Maid of Honor
I'm Mara's sister and I'm a bridesmaid. I've known Mara my entire life! I have her fully to blame for my taste in music and amazing fashion sense. Also Mara may have written this.
Cailin Hodgins
Ninja of honor
I'm Mara's best friend and I'm sharing honor duties with Bailee. Mara and I met in middle school when I moved to the area and have been best friends since. After college, I moved out of the country so I will be making the long trek from Chile for this wedding.
Chad Kolbe
Best Man
Ever put a set of headphones in your pocket that were perfectly coiled only to pull out a tangled mess? That's a little like how Chad and Jack met. Birthday buddies since 1983, their lives started out 50 miles from each other. Other notable near collisions included Chad doing his undergrad in Jack's hometown, later working at the same school, and Chad and Jack working at the same opera company before both settled down in La Crosse.
Justin Ellis
Groomsman
Born of a Norwegian whaling tribe, Justin was cast aside when his club foot became tangled in a fishing net. Later he was betrayed by a scorned volleyball on a deserted island and fled to Decorah, IA where he found Jack sitting alone at a bus stop scheming his next shenanigan.
Dan Durbin
Groomsman
Aiding/Abetting was the first crime Daniel ever committed in Iowa when he assisted in Jack's first attempt at escape from Luther College on the very first day of his 4 year sentence. Spiriting Jack and his "injured" roommate across campus on their long journey to Mayo Clinic and not alerting authorities during the first and subsequent residence hall floor meetings. Will he assist in an elopement? Allegations are exactly that until proven in court.
Mary Morris-Schmidt
Mother of the Bride
While she isn't the first person who ever met me (C-section baby!) she's the rock that holds the bride together. There's no shortage of love for anyone who needs it from this amazing person. :)
Richard Schmidt
Father of the Bride
The first person who ever met me! If you've met this man, you know that he's the life of any party. He taught the bride everything she knows about talking to people and cooking. If you are an introvert that doesn't know what to do or talk about, find this guy. Nobody will be easier to talk to.
Duane Hamilton
Father of the Groom
He's going to complain we didn't ask him to help with anything. We didn't ask because he's spent 40 years teaching Jack how to do it without knowing it.
Claudia Hamilton
Mother of the Groom
Gone but not forgotten - you'll find much of her craftiness and inspiration in many of the details Jack managed in planning this day.
Anthony Schmidt
Officiant
Even though state law doesn't explicitly say we can't marry ourselves, we opted for a professional. Couldn't afford one so we found a guy with a van who said he'd do it for $20.
Emily Wilkie
Asst. to the Asst. training the Special Asst. to the B & G
For funnies call her Maude or Vanessa, she'll answer. Jack routinely changed her name when she worked for him. If you see her running around like a crazy person, just know we asked her to run a bunch of errands and stay out of her way.