Wedding Party
Elyse Otten
Matron of Honor
Elyse and I met in our freshman year religion class, although it took 2 more years, a transfer out of and back to Central College, and a mutual friend making us suitemates for our friendship to begin. Over the years, Elyse has been a rock in my life and the friend I've shared every win, loss, and everything in between with. After a conversation with Elyse in which I swore off dating for a year, I bit my tongue as she was the first to find out about some guy named Chad. Elyse and Chad have the relationship every girl wants her best friend and partner to have and we are both so grateful for all she brings to our lives!
Kylie Smerchek
Bridesmaid
Kylie and I started this journey into the real world together when we both started working together at our first jobs out of graduate school. On any given day, Kylie and I can be found drinking way to much caffeine and getting into mischief but we make a pretty fun OT/PT team! Kylie is the kind of friend that can always put a smile on your face and who has always been a listening ear for the chaos of navigating adulthood. Kylie was also among the first to find out about Chad and pointed out very early on that he would probably be around for a while since I hadn't given him some horrible nickname after our first few dates.
Kelsey Hendrickson
Bridesmaid
Kelsey and I suffered through countless hours of OT school labs, practicums, fieldwork, and even COVID infections together to get to this point. Kelsey and I lived together and really bonded over our mutual weird-ness and jokes that I'm pretty certain nobody else would find the least bit funny. Over the years, our friendship has grown by thousands of miles but there is no better friend, even from afar, than Kelsey! During hard times, I know Kels is the friend to remind me of what's important and put life back into perspective while also building me up and making me laugh. I cannot wait to celebrate and get my goof on with Kelsey on this day!
Mikayla Pelzer
Bridesmaid
Mik was one of the first of Chad's friends that I met and I was certain I blew it when I accidently called her husband, Scott, the wrong name (sorry not-Ryan!). Mikayla and Scott are our go-to friends to turn any normal night or weekend into memories we cherish. Even though she encourages Houston to climb on our couch, we always know we won't be bored spending time with Mik. She has always been such a cheerleader and hypewoman for our relationship and is such a genuine, thoughtful, and hilarious friend that we are so excited to celebrate this milestone with!
Abby Jamison
Bridesmaid
Abby is Chad's sister and my soon to be sister-in-law. She is without a doubt your go-to gal for stories about Chad and all the questionable things he's done in his 30 years of life ;) I was pretty certain Abby was the stereotypical, intimidating big sister but was pleasantly surprised to be wrong as we've built a friendship I am so blessed by! She's been like a big sister to me as Chad and I navigate our relationship, becoming an aunt and uncle to Abby's son, Romello, moving in, and now planning a wedding. Her support has meant the world to us and I feel so lucky to be gaining her as a sister!
John Jamison
Best Man
John is my identical twin brother. I still instinctively turn around anytime I hear his name being called—which happens more than you’d think. Our journey as brothers has been marked by plenty of arguments and fights—but also by shared victories and memories I’ll never forget. I had the honor of standing as his best man at his wedding, and over the past eight years, I’ve watched him become an incredible husband and an outstanding father. Being an uncle to his two daughters—and to our sister’s son—has brought me a tremendous amount of joy. I’m so proud to have him by my side as I marry the love of my life.
Scott Pelzer
Best Man
Scott and I met shortly after college and have become great friends over the years. He’s my #1 hype man—whether I’m going for the green on the golf course or debating another beer, Scott’s always there to push me in the right direction: go for it. He and Mikayla have become our go-to couple, and some of the biggest supporters of Rachael and me—even after Rachael called him the wrong name at our very first get-together. We’re excited to have Scott standing with us on such a special day.
Brook Thompson
Groomsman
Brook is one of my closest friends and has been for as long as I can remember. From singing the national anthem to our kindergarten classmates before racing toy cars, to long summer days filled with wiffle ball and kickball, to sharing beers in a tent at Yellowstone—he’s been part of some of my favorite memories. We’ve done a lot together over the years, and I’m truly honored to have him standing by my side as I marry Rachael.
Dannon Anderson
Groomsman
Dannon and I grew up together and became close friends during our middle and high school years. Ever since, he’s been someone I can always count on. He’s the guy I call when I’ve got a long drive ahead of me or want to dive into a conversation about our shared love of comedy—or talk Bears vs Packers. As adults, work and life have put miles between us, but our connection always picks up right where it left off. Dannon has always been a loyal and steady friend, and we’re excited to have him be part of this special day.
Derek Barnette
Groomsman
Derek is Rachael’s brother and my soon-to-be brother-in-law. I first met him during a trip to Illinois for our first holiday together. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it didn’t take long to see what a solid, down-to-earth guy he is. Over the past three years, we’ve continued to build a friendship—whether it’s sharing stories, hanging out during family get-togethers, or talking about life. It’s also clear just how deeply he cares about his sister, and that’s meant a lot to me. I’m honored to have Derek standing with us on such an important day and excited to officially call him family.