Lauren & John
Wedding Party
Natalie Pirc
Maid of Honor
Natalie and Lauren share a special bond being twin sisters. Since they were born they have done almost everything together. Dancing, shopping, eating, you name it! It was tough when they separated for college in 2013, Lauren attending ISU and Natalie attending IU, but that did not stop them from many Facetime calls and visits! Now they get to spend lots of time together as they both live in Chicago! Fun Fact: Lauren has a scar on her left hand from when Natalie scratched her in 5th grade! But don't let this fool you, as Lauren used to chase Natalie around the house with scissors (don't worry, they were child sized!)
Nicholas Russo
Best Man
Nick and John are the only two siblings in the Russo Family. Being two years apart, they have had the opportunity to experience everything in their lives together. Everything in their lives includes the countless fights they shared growing up together. Getting older may have been an opportunity for them to grow apart, but it only brought them closer together. Who would have thought. John will always know that his brother will be there for him no matter what. Fun Fact: John has never beaten Nick in a fight.
Emma Sulski
Bridesmaid
Emma and Lauren have always been two peas in a pod. They were always the closest cousins growing up and loved spending time together having sleepovers, making videos, and just being silly little girls. It's special that they've continued to stay close even as they grow up! Fun Fact: Lauren and Emma went to see Taylor Swift's Reputation Tour in Chicago. They ended up getting tickets for seats that were two seats apart from each other... but luckily the girls in between them were nice enough to let them sit together!
Jake Sulski
Groomsman
Jake is Lauren’s first cousin. Jake is Lauren’s only boy cousin on her mom’s side of the family, making him a brotherly figure ever since Lauren was born. John will never forget the stories Lauren shared to him about how important Jake, and the rest of Sulski family, are to her, especially being there in the toughest times of their lives. Now, Jake, John and Garret love spending time together with their families, reminiscing about each other’s pasts, but developing a new future together now being family with one another. Fun Fact: Back in the day, Jake was notorious for hilarious family videos, especially "Shiny Pants" as he impersonated an Irish Leprechaun.
Mia Volpe
Bridesmaid
Mia and Lauren have been best friends since high school! The two girls met when they both made the varsity dance team at Lyons Township High School! They have been inseparable ever since. Rooming together in college, joining the same sorority, and now both living in Chicago! Fun Fact: Mia and Lauren had Spanish class together in high school. They would pass notes to each other and joke around with their teacher "Senor B" about how they were on "Los Poms" (poms).
Michael Dambra
Groomsman
Michael and John are first cousins on John's Mom's side, the Dambra Family. Growing up, there were only four cousins in their family. Michael was the leader and John (Johnny) was the caboose. John will never forget the countless memories they had growing up, especially the pranks they shared on their grandparents, Joan and Frank. John will always look up to his big cousin. Fun Fact: Ask Michael about the time he took John's Dad car while his parents were on vacation.
Marissa Wayne
Bridesmaid
Marissa and Lauren are the perfect duo, best friends, and partners in crime (literally). After joining the same sorority in college, they instantly became obsessed with each other. Constantly pulling pranks in their sorority house like filling Oreos with toothpaste and adding vodka to the OJ in the refrigerator, they may have gotten on other girls' nerves. They don't care... they are who they are! (Which is why they are best friends) Fun Fact: One day while living in the sorority house Lauren and Marissa created a fake diarrhea mixture with things they found in their kitchen. They put it all over the toilets and even in girls' shampoo bottles. This joke did NOT go over well and the two of them had to go into hiding for a few days to hide from being accused!
Garret Schlotter
Groomsman
Garret and John (remember that name for a future entrepreneurship a.k.a. Garret and John Industries) on paper could have just solely been acquaintances for dating the Pirc twins. It's instead been nothing but a brotherhood. Garret is John's wing man whether it be sports, advice, or just a friend. Garret can always make someone smile and laugh no matter what circumstance. John can't imagine his life without Garret. He is truly the life of the party. Fun Fact: Garret leads the all time Putterball matchup between he and John.
Melissa Brown
Bridesmaid
Mel and Lauren also met after joining the same sorority freshman year of college at ISU. These two are a friendship match made in heaven... as they are both the tiniest of their friend group! This means they look great in photos together, as they actually look tall (or normal sized) standing side by side! Aside from this friendship perk, Lauren feels so lucky to have a friend like Melissa who radiates sunshine and is always there for support! Fun Fact: Lauren and Melissa threw their boyfriend/fiance Matt and John a joint 25th surprise party! They took the boys to Parlor Pizza beforehand and celebrated with dessert taco sundaes.
Tim Goldrick
Groomsman
John met Tim in 7th grade after John’s family moved from Champaign to Western Springs. Tim was Johns first friend, a friendship that he will cherish forever. They grew up together and became life long friends with passions in sports and coaching basketball together. John is extremely thankful for how much he included him no matter what circumstance. A true brotherhood for life. Fun Fact: Tim and John would play basketball every morning before going to school with their friends in John's driveway. It was fun for everyone, except John, who would start every school day in sweat.
Catherine Benson
Bridesmaid
Lauren and Catherine have been gal pals ever since meeting freshman year of college. The two girls ended up joining the same sorority, and share an equal passion for being weird. From sporting "tiny hands" around the town in Austin to making up their own song lyrics (Divorce your wife, cuz I'm Bored!!) they are definitely equally as strange as the other! Fun Fact: Catherine requested the song "Tequila" every time the girls went to a new bar while visiting Nashville. She got her wish a few times (ugh).
Mike Garabedian
Groomsman
Mike is John's cousin Julie's husband. Julie and John spent their childhoods growing up together and John couldn't ask for a better match for Julie other than Mike. Mike has been a part of the family from the beginning, and from an Italian family perspective, "he passed the test!" Mike and John share the same devotion to the Chicago Cubs, well maybe Mike has the edge. They enjoy going to Wrigley Field to watch as many games possible. John is so thankful to have Mike a part of his family. Fun Fact: Ask Mike anything related to the Cubs. He'll know the answer.
Morgan Basso
Bridesmaid
Morgan and Lauren met at ISU after joining the same sorority. These two share a love for many things including John Mayer, lake house trips, and of course cats! No matter what they are doing, whether it's watching true crime documentaries, grabbing dinner, or going out on a Saturday, they always have a blast together! Fun Fact: The first week of college (before the two were even in the same sorority) they both rode a small campus van to visit the U of I campus. Morgan, you may not even remember this! They did not even know each other yet, but after meeting they both discovered the other one looked familiar from this bus ride.
Frank Gatto
Groomsman
Frankie is John’s cousin. You may think first cousin, but it’s actually a fourth cousin of Johns. Family is the most important aspect in John’s life and he couldn’t imagine what it would be without Frank and the rest of the Gatto family. John will never forget holding him as an infant and taking him to the Brookfield zoo with his Mom. Now, John can see him grow up and turn into a bright, caring young man. Fun Fact: Frankie and John spent their childhoods creating Brio train track designs in John's basement.
Marissa Remus
Bridesmaid
By now you can probably guess how Marissa and Lauren met... that's right, their sorority! Marissa and Lauren are pawfect for each other as they both have an equal obsession with dogs (especially golden retrievers) and even cats! The two girls also have a special bond, because they both teach little ones! Fun fact: Marissa Remus once told her classmates in a college class that if she could switch places with anybody for one day she would choose Stella Pirc (Lauren's Golden Retriever).
Joey Gatto
Groomsman
A younger brother to Frankie, Joey is another one of John’s cousins. Joey is a fun, loving cousin that always has a smile on his face, no matter how much trouble he is in. With Frankie, John will always remember all the jokes they would pull together on John’s Grandma, Joan, and will always remember all the memories their families shared together. John will never forget holding Joey at his Grandma’s house right after he was born and now has Joey driving him while being a passenger in the car. Fun Fact: John owes Joey to take him to Shenanigans Bar to try to beat his score on a punching machine.
Oden Russo
Pet of Honor
Oden is Lauren and John's fur baby and pride and joy. After adopting him in June of 2018 he has become part of the family. He brings so much craziness and happiness to their lives! Fun Fact: Lauren and John adopted Oden on June 20, 2018