Kara & Mitchell
Wedding Party
Lauren Kirkby
Maid of Honor
Lauren is Kara's younger sister and built-in best friend for life. They grew up in Austin, Texas and Lauren now lives in New York City, doing financial things that Kara will never understand. Kara can't wait to have Lauren stand by her side on her wedding day!
Chris Conanan
Best Man
Chris and Mitchell were roommates all four years at Boat School (U.S. Naval Academy). They have never let a deployment in the Navy or the Marine Corps get in the way of their friendship, and they consider themselves brothers separated at birth. They look forward to the next time that they can live on the same coast! *For incriminating photos of Chris, please explore Mitchell's Facebook album titled, "A Look Back at Chris Conanan Over the Years."
Hillary Hayes
Bridesmaid
Younger sister of the groom. Hillary and Kara became great friends when they both lived in Dallas and played on the same flag football team for a philanthropic organization. Mitchell and Kara met at Hillary's wedding in Nashville in August 2019. Hillary put absolutely zero effort into setting up her brother and her friend, so thankfully Kara's dance moves and Mitchell's stunning good looks brought them together!
Ben Petrisin
Groomsman
Ben and Mitchell met as Plebe Summer roommates when 18-year-olds were forced to make their beds 6 times per day. Ben turned Mitchell's love of surfing and skateboarding into new passions for snowboarding and wakeboarding. Remarkably, Ben trusted Mitchell with his top-of-the-line wakeboard boat for two years, which even more remarkably, Mitchell didn't break. Ben and Mitchell spend their spare time searching for retirement property on the Gauley River.
Fiona Norton
Bridesmaid
High school best friend of the bride! Fiona and Kara have been inseparable since age 16. From countless sleepovers, studying for high school exams, learning to wakeboard on Fiona's parent's boat, and "adopting" each others' families (Kara is still holding out for a proposal from Fiona's nephew, Gavin), to supporting each other through big transitions and being in each other's weddings, these two are friends for life!
Randy Scott
Groomsman
At the young age of 7, Mitchell met Randy as they attempted to conquer the sketchy Sachse rope swing. 8 years of select soccer kept these two inseparable. Randy's parents adopted Mitchell every summer, and the boys spent countless hours surfing in the Outer Banks. If all goes according to plan, Randy's parents will build them a permanent surf shack for retirement in the Outer Banks.
Maggie Pratt
Bridesmaid
High school best friend of the bride! Maggie and Kara's friendship began on the volleyball court at age 14, when Maggie initially disliked Kara due to her lack of skill (thankfully, Kara improved quickly). Their love for volleyball, the movie "Fired Up," Perry the Platypus, and being the exact same height ensured that their friendship would survive attending colleges on opposite coasts. Maggie and Kara are most famous for their "Turn My Swag On" by Soulja Boy Tell'em music video to "pump up" their high school volleyball teammates.
Tim Labresh
Groomsman
*Viewer discretion advised on above photo* Tim and Mitchell were in their first Navy squadron together for a year before they discovered that they were meant to be best friends. They built their friendship over many nights in the booths at the Hot Tuna Bar & Grill in Virginia Beach, affectionately (and predictably) known as "Tuna Booths." Tim and Mitchell knew their friendship could survive anything when they spent two-and-a-half days towing a custom sports car 3,000 miles from Virginia to San Diego. These two never go more than a few months without playing a round of golf or going on a trip!
Sarah Rondorf
Bridesmaid
High school best friend of the bride! Sarah completes the Kara/Fiona/Maggie/Sarah quartet. Sarah and Kara consider themselves "twins" (their names rhyme and also they're both really awesome). They originally bonded while writing an Epic Story in high school sophomore English class, and now bond over marrying military men!
Mark Sachse
Groomsman
Mark, Randy, and Mitchell all met for the first time at the deadly rope swing in Mark's childhood backyard. After surviving the swing, Mark kept Mitchell and Randy constantly entertained, from fishing to high school soccer to roller blade hockey. Mitchell thinks Mark is the funniest guy he knows. Hopefully one day they will find Sherbert the parakeet thriving in the hills of West Virginia.
Whitney Ballbach
Bridesmaid
The bride's best friend from college! Whitney and Kara lived together during their senior year at Elon University, and Kara rejoiced when Whitney moved from Philadelphia to Dallas a few years after they graduated. From hosting epic themed parties in their college apartment to traveling all over the country together (Nashville, Chicago, Colorado, and who can forget the Spring Break cruise?), Whitney and Kara do it all. They can't wait to "Toast in the Air" at the wedding!
Cameron Bouton
Groomsman
When most people flew to Mobile, Alabama to eat Domino's Pizza for their Flight School Solo, Cameron grabbed Mitchell and they decided to go to a casino in Biloxi instead. Assigned one hour for lunch, the pair spent three hours indulging in the all-you-can-eat buffet. While on deployment in Bahrain, when given the option to have their own king bed in rooms with people they didn't like, Cam and Mitch decided to share a room with single beds for the entire 6 months. A year spent deployed (read: partying) in Bahrain bonded Mitchell and Cameron for life, and they look forward to a relaxing retirement in Pensacola.
Emily Haring
Bridesmaid
Cousin (well technically, second cousin) of the bride! Emily and Kara remember meeting at a family reunion at the age of 9, but their friendship truly blossomed when they both enrolled at Elon University as first-year students. By the grace of God, both Kara and Emily found jobs in Dallas after graduation and share countless memories exploring the city and living together in Kara's condo! Kara enjoys people asking her if she is related to Taylor Swift (Emily has historically had an uncanny resemblance to the music icon).
Colton Kirkby
Groomsman
Favorite (and only) brother of the bride! Colton is Kara's younger brother and possibly the Favorite Kirkby Child. They grew up in Austin, Texas and Colton now lives in Houston, doing financial things that Mitchell will never understand. Kara has almost never seen her adult brother cry, but he shed tears of joy (and then hung up the phone) when he heard that Mitchell proposed! He is by FAR Mitchell's favorite brother-in-law.
Heather Walker
Bridesmaid
Heather and Kara met while working together at VisitDallas/Dallas Sports Commission, and quickly became friends. Kara has lived with Heather twice (even though Heather was worried that living together would ruin their friendship... spoiler: it didn't). Kara has introduced Heather to FitBits, steamers, Kendra Scott jewelry, semi sweet chocolate chips, the world of Amazon Prime, and countless other life-changing things. They share a love for cats, home improvement projects, and long walks through the neighborhood!
Peter Kelly
Groomsman
When told to "blend in" and "not look American" while on deployment, Cameron and Mitchell wore normal street clothes... "Peeber Kelli" showed up to the airport in a cowboy hat. It was at this moment that the "Three Amigos" were born. Peter was "The Godfather," organizing the glow-stick parties, go-kart races, and all-you-can-eat buffets on Thursday nights in Bahrain. Pete was always gracious enough to lend clothes to Cam and Mitch, despite the fact that he is 5'10", 110 lbs and Cam and Mitch are 6'2"+, 220 lbs. Peter can't wait to sit at Table 1 and watch Mitchell marry a girl way out of his league.
Margot Burton
Flower Girl
Margot is the bride and groom's niece, and when she heard that Mitchell and Kara were getting married, she immediately asked, "who is going to be their wedding girl?!" With years of experience under her belt, we wouldn't dream of having anyone but you, Margot!
Violet Petrisin
Flower Girl
With a smile that will light up the room, Violet is the raddest purple Jeep off-roader in all of San Diego. When not operating as CEO of Cuteness-R-Us, she pursues her side-hustle with Margot as Best Flower Girls West of the Mississippi.
Chiron Conanan
Ring Bearer
Son of the best man and possible future helicopter pilot. Mitchell has taught Chiron only his best phrases, like "Dude, TOTALLY" and "Totally, DUDE!" Chiron loves his Uncle Mitchell and will be the best ring bearer in the whole town (unless he gets distracted by a helicopter flying by).