Wedding Party
Dani D'Antonio
Maid of Honor
Melanie met Dani in the middle of high school and they've been best friends since 2003. After high school they went to the same college and then became roommates. They both left Chicago at the same time to move on to different careers and Dani now works as a cheesemaker and farmer. Mel and Dani tent camped while working on a farm in New Mexico for a month where they each met their first wild bears. They both love the mountains only problem is Dani picked the Appalachian Mountains and Melanie picked the Rocky Mountains. They now keep each other filled in during their weekly phone dates.
Mike Beckemeier
Best Man
Mike and Asher met in high school while in Visual Basics class and have been best friends since. Though they attended different colleges they have remained very close friends. Before moving to Montana, Mike and Asher would go biking almost every week at Forest Park, downtown St. Louis, or any local mountain bike trails. Other than biking, they both played lots of disc golf, went on many snowboarding trips to Colorado, camped, floated, and watched lots of Blues and Cardinal games. Melanie also considers Mike as her best guy friend (other than Asher) in St. Louis. The three of them have shared some great time together!
Taree Chadwick
Bridesmaid
Melanie met Taree working on theater projects in college. They bonded over being only children, sharing fashion accessories, knowing the episodes of the show Friends by heart and soon became BFFs and roommates. Mel and Taree love cooking together, going for walks, shopping at the farmers market and pajama day/movie marathons. Taree left Chicago to go to med school and now lives in Las Vegas which actually has a direct flight to Whitefish area!
Tom Reiter
Best Man
Tom and Asher met on the first day of 2nd grade when they were assigned to sit next to each other. Since they met they have shared in many adventures from sleepovers early on, to camping, fishing, hunting, snowboarding, floating, and cooking up awesome deer steaks and smoked trout. The most recent adventure was when Tom helped Asher and Melanie drive the entire trip from St. Louis to Whitefish to help them move to Montana.
Drue Smith
Bridesmaid
Melanie first met Drue, aka future sister in law, at the famous St Louis custard shop, Ted Drew's, on a warm summer night when Drue was home for a visit. Drue and Mel have lots in common, they both like farming, have worked on the Navajo Rez, enjoy crafting, cooking, kayaking, exploring, hiking, and camping. Mel and Drue recently won $200 on a costume contest while doing the Bourbon Trail which just proves with their powers combined "we're winners!".
Cody Null
Groomsman
Cody and Asher met in high school while in Ecology class. They have been on many exciting adventures together from mountain biking, skiing, floating and camping. They have also spent many hours playing Call of Duty, Halo, and Super Smash Brothers. A great memory from back in the day was when they would drive around in Cody's car blasting techno and having impromptu dance parties next to unexpecting drivers at stop lights while playing Darude's "Sandstorm".
Alena Slavasheuskaya
Bridesmaid
Melanie first met Alena when they were waiting tables at a 24-hr diner in Chicago while both working on their next career. Mel and Alena lived up the road from each other in Chicago and spent whatever day's off they had together brunching, shopping, eating, cooking, going to the movies and sitting on patios. Alena speaks Russian and English and she now works as an analyst on a consulting team in Chicago for Starbucks and Microsoft.
Patrick Gillett
Groomsman
Pat and Asher have known each other since attending the same high school. They have had some great times going to Blue's and Cardinal games, playing disc golf, floating down Missouri rivers and creeks, having huge bonfires, playing kickball and camping. Although Pat has never been skiing with him, Asher is determined to get Pat on the slopes.
Danni Rakus
Bridesmaid
Melanie met Danni in Grad School where they became the best study buddy duo ever and close friends. They immediately connected as they were on their second career. Mel and Danni spent many nights making studying fun and kept each other on track. They got to live as next door neighbors in STL, had twinsie Hyundai Accent cars and matching cats. Danni now works as an OT in Colorado.
Mo Muhammad
Groomsman
Mo and Asher first met when they were waiting tables at (the late and great - RIP) Macaroni Grill in Chesterfield, MO. Other than serving, they both attended concerts together, went bar hopping, floating, camping, and many other adventures. They both consider each other as "brothers from different mothers". Although Asher is living in Montana now, they have kept in touch via FaceTime.