Ali & Andrew
Wedding Party
Claire Eustis Simmons
Matron of Honor
Claire is Ali's older sister. Claire and Ali know that Magnolia trees are the best for climbing, happiness is a warm puppy, and house guests mean running around in a mad last-minute cleaning frenzy. Claire is fiercely loyal, but Ali still drives her crazy half of the time.
Bjarne Bartlett
Best Man
Bjarne and Andrew met through Marching Band at Gettysburg College. Andrew ended up on Bjarne's dorm floor a lot (shoutout Rice 3C), so friendship was inevitable for the two trumpeters. Their shenanigans continued when both ended up working in Baltimore for 3 years after graduation, and they dearly miss Brewer's Art & One World Cafe. PSA: Bjarne is not Scandinavian.
Emily Reuschel
Bridesmaid
Emily and Ali are cousins, technically some version of 2nd something removed but they can never remember. Our grandmothers, Peggy and Jeanne, were sisters and we miss them dearly. 10+ hour road trips are a fact of life when your cousin lives on a farm in Western Illinois.
Steven McGrath
Groomsman
Steven's family moved from California to New Jersey in 2000, and Steven ended up coming over to Andrew's house so much that Andrew's mom began referring to him as "my other son." They bowled and played far more Super Smash Bros. tournaments and sports video games than they had any reason to. No regrets.
Krissy Mihail
Bridesmaid
Krissy is Andrew's older sister. Krissy and Ali first met at Thanksgiving in 2017. They quickly bonded over late night Spaceopoly games and decorating the board game pieces with snack foods. Krissy and Ali love to keep in touch by sharing photos of Jonah (Krissy's son) and Andrew often imitating whatever Jonah is doing.
Jon Mihail
Groomsman
Andrew met Jon when he began dating his sister, Krissy, in the summer of 2007. Back then, he was just "the Australian." Now, he's the brother-in-law following Krissy and Jon's marriage in January 2011. The two sushi enthusiasts get along quite nicely, even though Jon is a rampant Spaceopoly cheater and also randomly decided to start supporting the Mets. Strewth!
Jake McCabe
Bridesman
Jake and Ali met back in late 2015 courtesy of social media and his chocolate lab Lily. They’ve been fast friends ever since. Their brains operate in a similar fashion and they will happily make new friends wherever they go.
Tom O'Dell
Groomsman
Tom and Andrew go all the way back to early elementary days of Central Avenue School in Madison. They were in the band's brass section together through high school and also spent time on the same rec baseball and youth bowling teams. Tom eventually ditched the latter in favor of track & field, but through countless Yankees & Devils games, they've remained good friends.
Sarah Bahorich
Bridesmaid (In Absentia)
Sarah and Ali have been friends since singing "He's got the whole world in his hands" in Sunday School at 3 years old and they've never looked back. Sarah is Ali's oldest childhood friend. She is a confidant, ready to listen and always helps Ali to be her best. Sarah is unable to attend the January events but will be celebrating from afar at home!
Nick Oristian
Groomsman
Nick and Andrew also met through Marching Band. (Sensing a theme?) They were roommates for 3 years and quickly became the resident useless baseball trivia experts, though Nick far surpassed Andrew in general pub quiz savvy. Those skills came in handy at the Phoenix Emporium in Ellicott City for weekly trivia while Nick was in grad school and Andrew worked in Baltimore. Raise that 2015 championship banner!
Amanda McCully
Bridesmaid (in absentia)
Amanda and Ali met freshman year at Presbyterian College through Presbyterian Students Association. They became friends when Ali continually showed up at her dorm unannounced to say hello. Amanda is a person of continuous support and encouragement. She is unable to attend the January events but will be celebrating from afar at home!
Katherine Yealy
Groomsbru (in absentia)
Katherine and Andrew met in Marching Band. Surprise. Their weirdo senses of humor, love of Lincoln Diner cheese fries, and obscure Zelda references meshed well, and they also spent a semester abroad in Brisbane together. Katherine tried to escape to Wisconsin after graduation, but Andrew still visited a bunch. She is the groomsbru! (Just go with it.) Katherine just had baby and as such, won't be able to attend, but she'll be missed!
McKenzie Gribble
Bridesmaid (in absentia)
McKenzie and Ali met through their sorority, Sigma Sigma Sigma and Presbyterian College. From midnight McDonald's picnics on the Smyth Hall lawn to goofy breathing exercises McKenzie is always there to make Ali laugh and steadfast in her friendship. McKenzie is unable to attend the January events but will be celebrating from afar at home!
Koozie Eustis Mearns
Annoyed at Home
Meow. Enjoy my signature cocktails and Koozie favors.
Alyda Reuschel
Flower Girl
Alyda is Ali's goddaughter. Now that the wedding has been pushed back twice, Alyda has mastered walking & now just needs to practice not being a tornado in a fancy place. She also wishes that Ali didn't live quite so far away from Golden, Illinois.
Jonah Mihail
Ring Bearer
Jonah is Andrew's nephew, and he got to meet him when he was just 11 days old. Bonding while hundreds of miles apart is a challenge, but Jonah definitely enjoys making Andrew imitate his every movement. He'll somehow already be 5 years old by the time the wedding comes around.
Rev. Ellen Mearns Bechtold
Officiant
Ellen is Andrew's aunt and has been the pastor of the Milton United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge since 1997, and she also presided over Krissy and Jon Mihail's wedding in 2011. She loved meeting Ali when she came up to New Jersey for her first Mearns Christmas, and there's no one more perfectly well-suited to perform the ceremony!