Wedding Party
Tara Sloka
Matron of Honor
Emma and Tara met while working as acute care OTs and quickly became close friends. During COVID, Emma was a regular at Tara’s apartment (along with Cassondra and Christine), making their place her second home and creating endless memories together. Now, with Tara and her husband, Matt, living just five minutes away in Wicker Park, the fun hasn’t stopped!
Cassondra Saul
Matron of Honor
Emma met Cassondra through mutual friends, Tara and Christine, and they quickly became close. Now, they work together as occupational therapists at Rush and are also pursuing their master’s in Health Systems Management, so they’re always supporting each other in both work and school. From work to travel to late-night study sessions, Cassondra has been by Emma’s side through it all!
Hailee Raue
Bridesmaid
Hailee is Emma’s oldest friend, dating back to 2nd grade. Mrs. Penn would joke that Hailee was their second daughter with how much time she spent at their house growing up. Emma feels so lucky to have a lifelong friendship like theirs.
Christine Laurenzo
Bridesmaid
Christine and Emma met while working in acute care and quickly became close. They shared a lot of great memories while living in Chicago, from work days to weekend adventures. Now, Christine lives in the suburbs with her husband and their one-year-old son, Ben. Emma is so happy to have her standing by her side on this special day.
Samantha Chmielewski
Bridesmaid
Samantha and Emma grew close over the last few years through exploring the city, fun nights out, and late night chats. Emma is so grateful for Samantha’s constant support and friendship and is honored to have her standing by her side on this special day. Fun fact: Samantha and Tara are sisters.
Tyler Nelson
Groomsman
Tyler and David met through mutual friends in Kansas City. David sublet Tyler's apartment so that Tyler could travel to Asia with his partner, Emma. Tyler and David grew close over brunch, BBQ, concerts, and unforgettable nights in Missouri. They can go on for days sharing inside stories. David is happy to have him standing by his side on this special day.
Nam Nguyen
Groomsman
Nam is David's older brother. Growing up with Nam made it easier for David, from learning through Nam's first experiences to being surrounded by his amazing friend group. The best childhood memories were playing football in the backyard, playing video games, and taking family trips to California.
Phil Schmitt
Best Man
David met Phil through his first job, Land O'Lakes, out of college. They hit it off through bar hopping, corporate politics, and world traveling - Japan, Italy, and Portugal. Fun fact: Phil is the one who introduced David to Emma.
Joel Bixby
Groomsman
Joel and David were buddies from the first week of college. They met playing board games on the dorm floors of Iowa State University. The next day, Joel and David saw each other walking to get breakfast. Joel asked David if he lifted weights because his calves were so big. History wrote itself after that.
Ben Cardelli
Groomsman
David met Ben through a mutual friend group in Kansas City. They lived on the same apartment floor in Westport. During the weekdays, David would knock on Ben's door to come hang out. On the weekends, they would pregame in the apartment and explore various bars in Westport. Ben's wife, Lauren, would throw the best parties, and David knew he had to always be there. Things are a lot tamer now. David enjoys hanging with Ben's family: Lauren, Leo, and Capri.