Monica & Connor
Wedding Party
Michelle Kennedy
Matron of Honor
Michelle Kennedy is Monica’s older sister who consistently gets asked if she is the younger of the two. As a child, Monica looked up to Michelle as a role model, fashion guru, baking instructor, and best friend. When Michelle went to college, they made sure to add plenty of “Monkey/Shelly Days” to their calendars, which consisted of getting fancy coffees, completing killer workouts, cooking, and watching movies (Mean Girls being the favorite). When Michelle got married and started having perfect, fat babies, Monica became the coolest Aunt around obsessed with her niece and two nephews: Katie (8), Michael (4), and Mark (2).
Collin Peterson
Best Man
Collin moved from Atlanta to LA when both he and Connor were very young, the two spent most of their younger years trying to convince their mothers to let them have sleepovers and their cousins to play games. They've now lived together for the past 3 years and had more than enough sleepovers and games to last a lifetime. Nicknamed "goat boy", "raccoon" and "trash monkey" this guy will literally eat anything you put in front of him, or off your plate when you're not looking. Collin is the head Athletic Trainer and a professor at Multnomah University and will be pursuing his PhD at Oregon State University in the fall, Go Beavs!
Sarah Escherich
Bridesmaid
Sarah A.K.A. La Sarah Droppin’ is Monica’s cousin and spirit animal. The girls grew up making memories with all the crazy cousins at their grandparents’ home in Pasadena. In 2016 the cousins hit the road and did two quilt shows for Monica’s parents’ company where they hit record sales numbers and became bonded for life through struggles and giggling. Shortly after two weeks on the road together listening to Leon Bridges and dreaming of opening a coffee shop, Sarah interviewed and became a best in class flight attendant for American Airlines. She regularly surprises Monica with last minute layovers in Portland, and the two can often be spotted in the city’s fantastic selection of Brunch spots.
Liam Snashall
Groomsman
Liam is the second oldest Snashall boy and nicknamed "pretty boy" by his family. Connor coached a few of Liam's soccer teams growing up and one of their best shared memories was when Liam, sports goggles steaming, netted a last minute winner in the playoffs. Liam is going into his senior year at University of Portland as a Nursing major, recently studied abroad in Australia traveling through parts of Asia on his way home and now wears an anklet and uses chopsticks to demonstrate that he did so.
Katherine Bostwick
Bridesmaid
Katherine Bostwick goes by “Boss” and that’s not just because she can do 38 chin ups. Kate was a year ahead of Monica in 2010 and when this homeschooled jungle freak showed up on campus. Kate took Monica under her wing, and the teammates shared countless deep life talks and adventures on campus. When Kate wasn’t blasting Shania Twain and breaking weight room records, she was crushing every Biology and Neuroscience class UP had to offer. She finished Physical Therapy school at Regis University, and is now a Neuro Physical Therapist at St Luke’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho where she lives with her doggo Clyde.
Aidan Snashall
Groomsman
You might wonder what a kid this friendly and good natured is doing with the same last name as me, and I have to admit I've spent the last 18 years doing the same! Aidan graduates from St Francis High School in May 2020 and due to his hard work and dedication to his schoolwork, that is yet another glaring anomaly to his siblings, will be headed to Catholic University in Washington D.C. in the fall.
Katie Mardesich
Bridesmaid
Known only as Mardy to her friends, she joined the UP volleyball team in 2011 during Monica’s Sophomore year and the two have remained close friends ever since. While Monica was living at home in Grants Pass and working in her family business, she took frequent weekend trips to Portland to visit with her friends, and Mardy was always happy to host sleepovers with her friend and the several large bags of clothes and shoes that came with her. Mardy is quickly climbing the ranks at Perkins & Company accounting firm and is thriving as a dog mom in her hometown of Portland, Oregon.
Paul Auxier
Groomsman
A man of many names and talents, Paul brings quite a burst of "personality" to the wedding party! Since meeting during Connor's freshman year at UP, they've been rather unfortunate influences on each other but made many lasting memories in their 9 years of friendship. Paul somehow graduated in 2014 from UP and is now an independent logistics broker living in Portland where he enjoys supporting the Portland Timbers and sampling the countless breweries and restaurants the city has to offer.
McKenzie Oliver
Bridesmaid
Kenzi started at UP the same year as Monica, and they were in the same 8:10am Statistics class together their Freshman fall. They stumbled into class wearing sweatsuits ranging from light gray to dark gray (also known as grayfits) every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Once Kenzi moved off campus to a house with a full kitchen, Monica spent a lot of time there cooking, procrastinating homework and watching movies with Kenzi. Kenzi also lives in Portland and is a nurse at Providence St. Vincent.
Taylor Spooner
Groomsman
A man only his mother calls by his first name, Spooner is a spritely young chap Connor met while at UP living in their wonderfully scented all male dorm, Villa. What started over countless video games far past bedtime and later lead to being roommates along with Austin Frank is now a friendship based on trading insults, supporting Chelsea and making fun of Jeff. Spoon lives in Portland, works at Nike as a Data Analytics Manager and could use some sun before the wedding.
Ariel Usher
Bridesmaid
Ariel Usher played volleyball at the university of Portland a year ahead of Monica and went on to play professionally in Sweden and the Philippines. While at college together Ariel and Monica took a few classes together where Ariel would regularly either poke Monica to wake her up or just take pictures of her sleeping friend. Ariel and Monica stayed connected after college by going on epic girls weekends together, usually with Kate Bostwick. The highlight of these trips may have been attending a Shania Twain Concert where they gave Shania (a close friend) a 10 overall for her performance, and themselves an 11. Ariel married her college sweetheart Sam Westendorf in 2016 and they have a beautiful baby girl, Lennon.
Matthew Geiger
Groomsman
Not much taller than Aidan, Matthew is a college friend of Connor's and soon to return to the Pacific NW to be based at Fort Lewis after a few years away! Connor met Matt before playing in a recreational soccer game. Matt was doing pull ups from the crossbar asserting his dominance when Connor struck a ball from no more than 6 yards straight into Matt's chest, leaving a clear mark and Matthew gasping for breath. Connor lived to tell the tale and the two have remained close friends ever since. Matt graduated from UP in 2015, is married to his wonderful wife Suzanne, both of whom went straight into the Army after school, Matt becoming an Army Ranger and serving time most recently in Djibouti and Iraq whilst Suzanne has served in Hawaii. Ask him about the time he wore a tie out on New Years!
Micaela Snashall
Bridesmaid
Micaela is the oldest of Connor’s 3 younger sisters and attends Notre Dame Law School in the beautiful South Bend, Indiana. Don’t let that scare you off! “Micah” is a fierce friend with a fiery personality. So she is kind of scary but also never fails to have a good time with whatever company she’s in. Monica and Micaela bonded over running down a chicken on the 4th of July in 2018 and placing a stars and stripes top hat on it's head, among other adventures. Micaela will be spending the summer in Chicago working as a summer associate at Perkins Coie and preparing for her graduation in 2021.
Jeff Sullivan
Groomsman
Before meeting at UP, Jeff and Connor actually spent the 4 years prior competing against each other in high school soccer. After meeting and learning Jeff was a Tottenham fan, Connor quickly understood why Chaminade only won 1 of their 8 previous meetings. Jeff spends most of his time being tormented for his love of Tottenham by those around him including Connor's 10 year old sister, Camille, but always remains in good spirits. Connor and Jeff also graduated from UP together in 2015 and spent the year following as roommates in Jeff's NW Portland townhouse. Jeff works as a Market Research Analyst at Columbia Sportswear, drives a Subaru and desperately needs to shave.
Katie Kennedy
Junior Bridesmaid
Katie is the Matron of Honor’s daughter and Monica’s lovely niece. When Katie was born Monica remembers seeing her for the first time, and she never would have guessed that the little bundle of cuteness and blankets would turn into the clipboard wielding, school curriculum creating entrepreneur that is 8 year old Katie today. The most organized woman-child in the world, Katie is a serious crafter and wheelie rider when she’s not focused on her studies and commission art business. Monica and Katie both love the movie Frozen, singing and decorating for Christmas together.
Austin Frank
Groomsman
Widely know as "Superfrank", this legend just returned from a year abroad teaching in Chile and has now returned to St Francis in his new teaching position. Austin and Connor met around the age of 10 playing AYSO soccer, their dads quickly became friends and spent most Saturday mornings along with Collin at Lucky Baldwin's Pub in Pasadena watching Chelsea play. The two continued playing soccer as kids, into high school at St Francis and intramurals/club at UP, never winning anything of any real significance but having a hell of a time doing it.