Wedding Party
McKenzie Bacon (Hayes)
Matron of Honor
McKenzie, the middle child and my complete opposite in every possible way, is the calm to my chaos… most of the time. Recently married herself, she’s already survived wedding planning once, so I knew she was the perfect partner-in-crime for my big day. Organized yet occasionally unpredictable, endlessly supportive, and always ready with a laugh (often at me), I’m beyond lucky to have her by my side, not just as my sister, but as my matron of honor and my lifelong partner in shenanigans.
Maia Hayes
Maid of Honor
Maia, the youngest of our sister trio, is basically my personal mirror; same personality, same sense of humor, same occasional knack for running our mouths. She’s the devoted mother of Daisy, the sassiest pitbull in town. She is also a core member of Peter's spin group, often making sure he's on the right bike or just talking shit. Maia’s energy, wit, and uncanny ability to finish my sentences make her an irreplaceable part of this day, I’m lucky to have her by my side.
Crystal Osowski
Matron of Honor
Crystal and I go way back to the days right out of college at Zenefits, when she was laser-focused on climbing the career ladder and I was just trying to collect a paycheck to survive grad school. We didn’t become inseparable overnight, but once life (and layoffs) caught up with us, we found our rhythm and a friendship that’s full-on unshakable. Crystal is the ultimate “vibe queen”: she’ll make sure we eat at the best restaurant, snag the perfect seat with the best view, and somehow craft the ideal seating chart for any event. And let’s not forget her starring role in Peter’s proposal, making sure that I was gaslit enough to not think the proposal would ever happen. Basically, she makes everything look effortless, which is why I’m beyond thrilled to have her as my matron of honor.
Arseña Smith
Bridesmaid
Arseña came into my life through Peter and the Midwest friend crew I “inherited,” and I quickly realized that every friend group needs someone who can simultaneously be the responsible caregiver and low-key the fun enabler. As the oldest of three, she naturally shares the “keep everyone alive and organized” role with me, but don’t let that fool you, she’s also the friend who will always say yes to a spontaneous trip to Greece after knowing you for about five minutes. She and her husband Mike took the leap and joined us for Yacht Week, and since then, she’s become one of my dearest friends. Fair warning: in our group, every single person has fallen victim to Arseña’s legendary nightcap, so be prepared to drink responsibly… or not at all.
Aimee Hammer
Bridesmaid
Aimee originally came into my life as Crystal’s grade-school best friend, but we clicked immediately. We really became close after she gave me a great tour of Indianapolis (her home during grad school). She’s the friend who somehow loses everything… and yet somehow still manages to keep everyone else in check. Aimee’s caring nature shines through in everything she does: she’ll psychoanalyze your feelings when you need it, make sure no one is ever alone, and isn’t afraid to lay down the law when someone’s acting out of line. Basically, she’s equal parts heart, humor, and accountability and we wouldn’t change a single thing about her (well… maybe help her keeping track of her keys).
Audree Lopez
Director of Social Media
Audree is a New York City fashion stylist, maximalist extraordinaire, and all-around aesthetic wizard. She somehow knows the perfect angle, the right lighting, and exactly how to make everything look effortlessly iconic—both on camera and in real life. People may know her online as @audreekatelopez, but in person, she’s basically a walking mood board with a camera in hand. Audree will be making sure every detail of the wedding is captured beautifully and helping us keep all things fashion on point… basically, she’s the friend who makes sure we all look as good as we feel.
Stella Hruby
Junior Bridesmaid
Stella might just be the most talented person we know under the age of… well, let’s just say “too young to drive.” As the daughter of the Best Man and Peter’s niece, she clearly comes from good stock, but she’s earned her own spotlight with her amazing singing voice and harp skills that could make angels jealous. Stella and I bonded over our shared love of reading, which means she’s also dangerously good at convincing people to start “just one more chapter” at 10 p.m. Smart, musical, and delightfully persuasive, Stella is the perfect junior bridesmaid to have by our side on the big day.
Scarlett Hruby
Flower Girl
Scarlett was clearly born for this role. As the daughter of the Best Man and Peter’s niece, she’s practically wedding royalty, and she knows it. An aspiring fashionista with a knack for making every outfit look like a runway moment, Scarlett brings style, charm, and just the right amount of sass to our big day. Scarlett has been patiently (or not-so-patiently) waiting for Peter and me to finally tie the knot longer than I have. Since December of 2018 to be exact, when she requested the position of Flower Girl at the age of 3. Scarlett may be small, but her personality—and her sense of timing—is larger than life.
Mike Smith
Officiant
Yes, you read that right. Mike Smith. It’s basically the most average name in the universe, which somehow makes him extraordinary in every other way. Mike is a recovering Catholic who bravely agreed to marry us, proving that his faith in friendship may be even stronger than his faith in church pews. As the eldest and wisest of our friend group, he’s basically the human version of a life manual, full of guidance, experience, and a few questionable dad jokes. His own marriage is thriving, so we figured if anyone is qualified to guide two people through the ceremony, it’s Mike. Beyond all that, he’s one of our closest friends, and having him officiate our wedding means our vows are in the hands of someone who truly knows our hearts, and also won’t let us mess it up. We can’t imagine anyone better to help us start this next chapter, even if his name might require clarification at the DMV.