Niki & Alex
Our Wedding Party
Niki Paul
Bride
Niki (they/them) is Alex's bride-to-be and is consistently the bright-eyed spark which lights up any space they enter. Eternally hard-working and humble, Niki first attended Moraine Valley Community College, then the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and finally Purdue University Northwest to earn their degrees (the most recent of which was their Master's of Science in Education with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a specialization in helping those represented in the LGBTQIA+ community). From an early age, Niki unfortunately experienced waves of significant loss. While they wish their resilience had come from happier pursuits as opposed to grief, this didn't stop Niki from harnessing their constant desire to support others in every possible way they could. Today, our "Nik" is a powerhouse of empathetic care, knee-slapping humor, and unfailing love. Nik has a soul as beautiful as their trademark smile, and Alex couldn't be more grateful to be marrying them.
Alex B. Passett
Groom
Alex (he/him) is Niki's groom-to-be and, given his proclivities for storytelling, is thrilled for how this wedding day's story will be woven. A language-loving conversationalist, writer, and gamer, Alex attended Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English, plus a double-minor in Cinema Studies and Spanish Linguistics. "Since the womb," as he'd say, Alex has been an eager raconteur; stories and communication are his jam. And since his relationship with Niki, Alex has also become a strong proponent of mental and emotional health discourses, including advocating for the profound impacts of therapy. (No Master's though, of course; that's Niki's forte.) More than ten years ago, Alex introduced himself to Niki online; three days later, they met in person and he asked them on the spot if they wanted to date. Easily one of the most important questions of his lifetime has led he and Nik to their wedding, and Alex will be delighted to tell more stories with everyone on the special day.
Megan Harting
Matron of Honor
Megan (she/her) is Niki's closest cousin and a sister unlike Niki has ever had; in present day, they are closer than ever. Megan is married to Richard, who also happens to be one of Niki's and Alex's former coworkers and is still a great friend and cousin-in-law. (Megan and Niki will jokingly refer to one another as "sib-couslings", given their connection.) Megan is a co-owner of Angel Pawz Cavaliers in New Lenox, IL. She is as superbly hard-working and sharp-witted as she is considerate and loving, and Niki is honored to have her standing.
Jonluke Passett
Best Man
Jonluke (he/him) is Alex's brother by blood. He works as a Financial Advisor at Raymond James in New Lenox, IL and he dedicates himself as much on the clock to helping with financial planning as he does off the clock to his own physical fitness and love for video games, magic tricks, and more. He and Alex decided when they were both quite young to be each others' Best Men later in life; that said, Alex takes none of this for granted in present day and is still tremendously thrilled to have Jonluke at his side.
Sarah Sala
Matron of Honor
Sarah (she/her) is Niki's best friend, a mother of two (Nora and Jane) and wife to Bruno. Sarah and Bruno have been together for seven years. Sarah met Niki while they both worked at Marcus Theatres of Orland Park, IL in 2013, and to this day their bond is stronger than ever. Niki especially appreciates that, be it topics goofy or very serious, they and Sarah are always on the same wavelength. Sarah is as courageous a person as she is a doting mother and devoted friend. (And regarding her daughters, Nora and Jane also adore their "Auntie Nitty" and Nora herself is the Flower Girl for the wedding day.)
Collin Merli-Matthews
Groomsman
Collin (he/him) is Alex and Jonluke's brother not by blood, but as found family. He and Jonluke became fast friends at a very early age, and since then Collin has integrated deeply into the Bertacchi household. Collin works in Dispatch Operations at Archer Logistics in Crest Hill, IL and in his personal time he revels in League of Legends and all things Pokémon (specifically Bulbasaur). Alex has never taken family for granted, be it by blood or not, and he is incredibly grateful to have Collin at his side, as well.
Lynne Bertacchi
Mother of the Groom
Lynne (she/her) is Alex's mother and, as Alex coined many years ago, the "MB" (a.k.a. Matriarch Bertacchi) of the family. Living proudly and lion-heartedly in her mother Rose's footsteps, Lynne is undeniably the driven, ambitious, pedal-to-the-metal matriarch everyone in the family has come to cherish. She is an executive with Caterpillar, and her support for everyone under her wings cannot be understated. Niki and Alex wouldn't be where they both respectively are today without her love and guidance.
Rich Becker
Officiant
Rich (he/him) is Lynne Bertacchi's partner of five years, and has wholeheartedly filled the role of step-father to Alex and Jonluke. Rich served as a pilot in the Air Force, and his daughter Kimberly was recently promoted to Captain in the Navy. Asking Rich to officiate was a no-brainer for Niki and Alex; he is as generous, loving, and giving as it comes, and the soon-to-be-wed couple will be honored to be married by him.
Nora Sala
Flower Girl
Nora is currently three years old and is such a vibrant soul. In her free time, she enjoys watching The Octonauts, Tumble Leaf, and Bluey, and she loves her donuts, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and whatever else is on her mom's and dad's plates. There was no one else in Niki's and Alex's minds for the role of Flower Girl on their special day.