Matron of Honor
Melanie is Meryl’s older sister and best friend. Meryl spent many hours of her life just following Melanie around and trying literally to follow in her footsteps. Unfortunately, Meryl has never quite been able to emulate Melanie’s dance skills which all will get to see out on the Crested Hen dance floor. In recent years, Melanie welcomed her fun loving husband Chris and her sweet daughter, June (the flower girl) into the clan, but she still has time for marathon phone calls with Meryl almost daily.
Best Man
Andrew started out as "Mini Meoli," yet grew not only to be bigger and more talented than his brother (to say nothing of his successful transition into adult life and strong career prospects), but much more fun too. The latter part will be crucial as he's asked to keep things lively for a male half of the bridal party that can charitably described as washed.
Bridesmaid
Victoria and Meryl met during their college days. Once Meryl learned that Victoria was a fellow Jersey girl who also had a love of Star Tavern pizza, she knew they were destined to be friends. Victoria and Meryl moved in together in Jersey City where they continued eating pizza and got each other through many 14 hour work days at the KIPP schools in Newark with wine, Bravo, and take-out.
Groomsman
Jesse, too, got the social gene from his father, and is by-far the most educated of the Meoli brothers. The first four decades of his life were most notable for his European travel and his binder of baseball cards for players he dubbed worthy of joining "The All-Ugly Team;" the addition of his fabulous wife Gabi and daughter Lara to the family has rightfully overshadowed all of that.
Bridesmaid
Meryl and Erika met while playing on the monkey bars at recess in Kindergarten and have had many adventures since. They spent most of their childhoods getting into mischief together -- taking a dip in the neighbors pool, selling their own original artwork, and occasionally spying on Sarah. Erika can also be credited with Meryl's fashion sense. Meryl called her most mornings before school, asked what she was wearing, and then wore the exact same outfit. She still calls Erika for fashion advice to this day.
Groomsman
Matt took a chance on a Baltimore Sun internship candidate whose featured clip was a profile of a hockey teammates who went on The Challenge, eventually launching an ideal career for Jon and a friendship built on reality television, The Fast franchise, and That Thing You Do! He watched with joy as the Meryl and Jon rekindled their relationship on North Port, and more recently helped reveal Meryl's kickball stardom.
Bridesmaid
Sarah is Meryl's oldest friend. They grew up just two houses away from each other on Forest Avenue and have shared many days and nights just "hanging out" on Sarah's front porch. In their youth, Meryl and Sarah spent far too much time at the local 7-11, eating Sour Patch Kids, Slurpees and befriending the store clerks. Their pursuits are a bit more mature these days, but only kind of.
Groomsman
When the Groom moved to Baltimore for good, Matt told him to be on the lookout for his friend RDunn at Bartenders. In the ensuing years, they shared dozens of rounds of golf, some good and bad Michigan football, one memorable World Cup cycle out of two, and laughed through it all. Ryan and the Groom won the Public Health O Day Golf Tournament at Exton in 2016.
Bridesmaid
Melissa is also a part of the Forest Avenue Crew. Melissa hosted some epic games of manhunt and always had all of the best toys and snacks at her house growing up. Melissa and Meryl's friendship evolved into shared road trips to their respective colleges in Maryland and a mutual love of cute cat photos. Melissa was a great listening ear when Meryl decided to rekindle the romance with Jon.
Groomsman
Luke and the Groom shot down the idea of friendship before they even met, owing to the rivalry between their high schools. They've spent the last decade proving that notion wrong as Loyola and later Scores hockey teammates, Baltimore Sun Media Group employees, and current financial supporters of Baltimore's Classic Five golf courses.
Bridesmaid
Ilana is Meryl's older and wiser sister-in-law. She and Matt (Stevenson) got married in July of 2012, also in a barn. However, Ilana has been a member of the Stevenson family since Meryl was in middle school and still believed she had a future as a basketball player. Meryl hasn't grown taller since, but their sisterhood has.
Groomsman
The Bride's brother was always a major influence in her life, but came to life for the Groom in the well-stocked bookshelf of his childhood bedroom when he stayed in Glen Ridge. All volumes were returned. He has since come to view him the same way she does: as a smart, curious, and caring presence who had the good sense to get out of the writing business and into a stable profession like medicine.