Wedding Party
Kayla Morgan
Matron of Honor
As Mariah's older sister, Kayla has always been there for her whether she needs a laugh, a hug, or someone to vent to. She's one of Mariah's favorite people to spend time with so when they're together, they spend lots of time chatting about life, playing with Kayla's two adorable sons, and making wildly niche references to movies they've seen too many times. She is hopelessly nerdy which is both endearing and informative (for me) so if you're a fan of anything in that realm, she's your girl. She's also fiercely loyal, a great listener, and a recovering aggressive hugger. 💕
Reann Lung
Maid of Honor
Reann is Mariah's younger sister and, like Kayla, Mariah loves spending time with her as well. They didn't always get along growing up (Exhibit A: the "Carrier Hijacking of 1995" where Mariah tried to sit on Reann when Mom brought her home from the hospital & Exhibit B: the "Flying Fork Incident of 2002" where noodles and forks were thrown at each other), but now they've moved past those bumps in the road and currently spend time bonding over their shared (and strange) sense of humor, trash talking Ohio State, and dreaming of lives where they can own pet raccoons.
Adam Rospert
Groomsman
It’s great to be an Edison Charger. Adam and Matt met in the hallowed halls of Edison High School, but their friendship really clicked in Columbus. Up for any adventure, Adam and Matt love making the most of life. They’ve spent countless hours together soaking up the sun poolside, discovering new music, throwing a bouncy ball back and forth, spinning the Wheel of Shots at Fours, and reaching an unprecedented Level 16 of The Mind (iykyk). Hello!
Breanna Kosmos
Bridesmaid
Breanna and Mariah met when Mariah lived in Mebane, NC for her internship during college (many MANY thanks to Kayla and Addison for allowing her to live with them 🫶🏼). Mariah picked up a part-time job at Vineyard Vines, not knowing that she'd end up meeting a life-long friend there (pretty hard to imagine that when you're folding clothes for preppy infants). The two hit it off and bonded immediately. They loved to drink coffee and talk about life, play egg roulette with friends (yes, things got goopy), and cheer on the Greensboro Grasshoppers (they were really there for the slushies). Breanna had the pleasure of teaching Mariah all about the charms of the South, such as Cook-Out and watering holes. They only lived in the same city for one summer but, even 10 years later, their friendship is still as strong as ever.
Alec Spriggs
Groomsman
Both an Edison Charger and Ohio University Bobcat, Alec and Matt go way back. Two-time “Best Bromance” award winners (Edison High School Class of 2012 Senior Superlatives and Ohio University Singing Men of Ohio Awards), the brotherly love between these two is well known across the great state of Ohio. Despite their mid-semester eviction from their first shared dwelling at OU’s Lincoln Hall in 2013, this tandem continued to terrorize residential advisors and landlords alike for the next 4 years at OU and beyond. Were it not for their lovely ladies, these two would likely still be living together, mattress surfing down stairwells, playing shirtless football in the rain, and throwing expired food onto neighbors’ porches. Needless to say, it’s best for everyone <3
Gillian Henning
Bridesmaid
Matt and Gillian met doing speech and debate in high school (haha nerds) so when he and Mariah moved to Columbus, Gillian bounded back into his life and met Mariah along the way. She became an integral part of the group and we fell in love with her eardrum-shattering laughter, insatiable hunger for games, and her spot-on R2D2 impression. Mariah and Gillian love to imbibe a good glass of wine, sing karaoke in G's basement, and sensually consume cocktail shrimp. She's a great listener, a hell of a friend, and always down for an adventure. ♥️
Alex Bixler
Groomsman
E…. E-D-I… E-D-I-S-O-N GO FIGHT WIN! A lifelong friendship born shaving-cream-clad on the practice greens of Catawba Island Club, the Fujita basement armed with Nerf guns, and the front seats of Matt’s Dodge Neon running late for school listening to “Jokes with Jeff’s Dad” on 98.5 WNCX Cleveland’s Classic Rock. Alex has also been a rock in Matt’s life since M&M’s first days in Columbus. They live for friendly competition on the court, a themed movie night for cinematic classics like Vampire’s Kiss, sipping on a longneck ice cold beer, a round of Mario Golf Club Slots, and laughing.
Gretta Reyer
Bridesmaid
A friendship born on the bricks of Athens 💚 Gretta and Mariah met freshman year after moving across the hall from each other. It was love at first sight, and they've been best friends/soulmates ever since. They love being in nature, being really good at dancing, and staring deeply into each other's eyes.
Ben Gerweck
Groomsman
With a keen sense of perception, the memory of an elephant, and a decade+ friendship with Matt, Ben could tell you things about Matt that Matt doesn’t even know about himself. In the ever-changing cycle of college doings, few things remain constant. One that did, however, is that every day after class (and sometimes before, between, or instead of) Matt was either walking into 30 Franklin to see what Ben was up to or Ben was walking into 18 Franklin to see what Matt was up to. From refrigerator basketball and dining room table tennis to summer skydiving or a Subway meal they’d never forget, Matt and Ben found magical moments at every turn. And still do.
Heidi Kranz
Bridesmaid
Heidi has the warmest, most contagious laugh on this earth and will make sure everyone is on the dance floor at the wedding. Matt introduced Heidi and Mariah after the two of them met in the Marching 110 (sooooooo much better than Ohio State's band, if you weren't aware). She and Mariah's friendship evolved as most do. It started with hand-to-hand combat during Fight Club at 18 Franklin and then really flourished once Heidi, Matt, and Mariah all moved to Columbus post-college. Wait, what? That's not normal? Huh...
Branden Henning
Groomsman
Matt and Branden… a duo born at OU that loves sports, NHL Hitz 2003, spreadsheets, Chipotle vinaigrette, and each other so much that they have to be reminded to perform vital human functions like eating and sleeping when they’re together. Legend has it that their photos together continue to make their significant others jealous with the way they look at each other. Some might call it “love,” but for Matt and Branden, “love” just isn’t a big enough word.
Lindsay Hamilton
Bridesmaid
Lindsay and Mariah met when they were 6 years old and have been best friends ever since! Lindsay and her husband, Blake, spent many weekends visiting OU (only getting their car towed once) and coming to Atlanta to visit Mariah and Matt. These days, Mariah and Lindsay love to catch up over a glass of wine and watch the kids be adorable while Matt and Blake talk about every hockey stat that's ever happened in history.
Danny Sabo
Groomsman
There are a precious few friendships that a person “couldn’t live without,” but there are even fewer that exist because they literally kept each other alive… in the depths of Ohio University’s natatorium. Danny and Matt became friends through the Leading Tones, Ohio University’s BEST a cappella group, but became brothers sharing a regulator in SCUBA class (and they say OU is just a party school). These two have more in common than identical twins, sharing seemingly infinite passions and laughs. In short, they love putting on a good bit, rooting for Cleveland sports, and pushing each other to Strive For Greatness. Dive buddies for life.
Rachel Calandros
Bridesmaid
Curses will rain down upon anyone who forgets that Rachel introduced Matt and Mariah. Rachel goes by many names (Jay, Jaybird, DJ Rachy Rach, etc) but she's best known for being one of Mariah's best friends from high school and college. Time spent with her is always filled with laughter, excellent beauty tips, and a heavy dose of sass.
Jeff Whitlinger
Groomsman
The only thing Matt and Jeff love more than spreadsheets is each other (but even then, spreadsheets might still come out on top). Hockey, trivia, and music are but a few of the other major links between this pair. They’ve truly never had a dull moment together since meeting at OU. Partly because they have so much fun, partly because Jeff can’t help but fill a quiet moment with a loud, inappropriate joke. Like it or not, he’s gonna Jeff!
Shelby Foster
Bridesmaid
Shelby and Mariah met while working within the hallowed halls of CNN in Atlanta. They were fast friends and spent the majority of their time laughing in Mariah's edit bay (on company time, of course), attending Run Club (okay, they were light jogs), and hitting the Buckhead Saloon on the weekends while trying to score as many free drinks as possible......I mean, they spent their time volunteering at shelters, helping old women cross the street, and helping aforementioned old women score as many free drinks as possible (this was pre-Matt, alright?!). She's got one of the quickest minds this side of the Mississippi and her jokes never fail to make Mariah's day. You'll know when she and Mariah are ready to hit the dance floor on the wedding night when they start calling each other "Brittany."
Joe Brenckle
Groomsman/Officiant
Matt and Joe formed a truly unbreakable bond at OU in 2016, teaching the same 7th graders at Nelsonville-York Middle School. As consistently as Matt went to this school every day for student teaching, he also went to Joe’s apartment every day after school for Netflix’s Animal Fight Night, food, and infinite laughs. As if this experience didn’t bring them close enough, Joe followed Matt to a far away land known as Kelleys Island after graduation for a summer working at The Village Pump. I’m sure Hillary Horton would agree, nothing cements a forever friendship like preparing thousands of yellow perch filets to the serene score of oil frying and receipts printing, Blackout Friday’s, the Doctor’s House, Nancy’s sauces, Mexican cuisine, the running of the bulls, Ron Weasley, making bail, cliff diving, and detached toenails. Love you to the Quarry and back.
John Michael Rodesh IV
Groomsman
Not to be confused with Matt and Mariah’s dog, John Michael Rodesh V… If you lived in Ohio University’s Lincoln Hall in the fall semester of 2013, you definitely heard the call and response, “Jooooooooooohn? Maaaaaaaaaaatt?” between their rooms no fewer than 10 times a day. Their times in the dorm, at Shively Grab n’ Go, establishing the greatest “Euph Years” dynasty the Marching 110 has ever seen, 18 Franklin dinners on scratched green plates, Molson Canadian’s in Flounders Chowder House mugs, and 2x speed Les Mis song recreations all contributed to a very strange and very special friendship that Matt wouldn’t trade for anything. When you see John, tell him his hair looks nice today.
Taylor Henning
Groomsman
They say that some people are “attached at the hip,” but in Taylor and Matt’s case, “attached at the wrist” would be more accurate. They didn’t think they could be much closer as friends… until they were literally handcuffed to each other from 2019 to 2020 (technically just 12/31/19 to 1/1/2020, but it did feel like an actual year). Seriously though, Matt and Taylor have always connected on a deep emotional level, since their days together at OU. When it comes to expressing their feelings and love for each other and their friends, however, Matt is more verbal, Taylor is more physical. Matt gets drunk and tells people how much he loves them. Taylor just cries a lot.
Tyler Monaco
Groomsman
Matt and Tyler didn't meet until 2018 and have made up for lost time in the years since, spending countless hours playing volleyball, failing to make their own beer, watching Game of Thrones, cheering on the Blue Jackets, dancing in their seats to musicals at the Short North Stage, duck hunting, and attempting Mario Golf’s Birdie Challenge (tournament greens, of course). The two share a love of Lego’s, Paramore, Formula 1, the occasional Black and Mild, advent calendars, and each other. Special shoutout to Tyler for being Matt’s trusted, undercover agent and helping him pull off the surprise engagement proposal!
