Stacey & Daniel
Wedding Party
Allison Bans
Matron of Honor
At 8 years old, Allison was convinced that her mother’s pregnancy with Stacey was a hand-delivered gift from God. Despite their age gap, Alli never missed an opportunity to celebrate her little gift and spend time with Stacey. “Love your sister and like your friends!" was a common refrain from Allison, bargaining with Stacey to hang on weekends. In reality, Stacey has always looked up to her older sister and best friend – following in her footsteps in the classroom and the pool (and often raiding her closet). Suffice it to say, these two are each other’s biggest fans, jokingly encouraging each other to “steal the spotlight” during life’s big moments. Aptly, Allison announced her second pregnancy just weeks after Stacey and Daniel’s engagement – the best wedding gift imaginable.
Matthew Gerth
Best Man
A club swimming teammate and long time childhood friend, Matt Gerth has been a mainstay in Daniel's life for years. Both as training partners and friends, they've always kept each other honest. In high school, Daniel infamously kicked Matt out of practice during a particularly uninspired performance. Matt was no pushover, though, besting Daniel for the 200 Freestyle state title in 2010 by seven tenths of a second. Post swimming, Daniel and Matt have remained close, regularly leaning on each other through the ups and downs of life. The glue of the friend group, Matt is quick to coordinate a boys weekend and always ready to fire up the "Zoom Bar" on a Friday. His relentless optimism, legendary shenanigans, and infectious personality have always brought out the best in Daniel.
Erica Pangilinan
Bridesmaid
Stacey and Erica met when the "real" real housewives of NY/NJ, Shari and Audrey, teamed up to share carpooling responsibilities and chaperone duties at swim meets. Since their introduction, it was rare to ever find Stacey without her taller and tanner best friend by her side. From the ages of 6 to 18, you could count on finding the two alternating between playing board games, brushing each other’s hair, and self-directing home music videos. Rumor has it that the depths of the internet still contains troves of cringe-worthy dance footage and "Mary Kate and Ashley" inspired photoshoots. Some twenty years later and living cities apart, these two are still closer than ever, and Stacey is thrilled that Erica is joining her for one more epic day of hair-brushing, photoshoots, and dancing.
Harrison Wagner
Groomsman
Harrison and Daniel also became fast friends through club swimming. They shared lanes and slogged through tough workouts but it was really post-practice fast casual that cemented their friendship. For a long time there was nothing more certain than finding the two, and likely some others they had recruited, at a north-side Indianapolis Qdoba crushing breakfast burritos and talking about life. As luck would have it, Daniel and Harrison would end up swimming together in college as well. Their three years overlapping at Princeton were good for two Ivy League Championships, some lively nights at Cloister Inn, and of course, plenty of trips to the Nassau Street Qdoba. During Daniel's senior year, the two even embarked on a noble experiment to live together in the hallowed halls of Whitman D314.
Leslie Brunnick
Bridesmaid
Leslie was one of Stacey’s first and closest friends at Princeton. A year older, Leslie showed how to be a high-functioning undergrad. First priority was academics, complemented by plenty of late night study breaks housing taquitos in the basement of a residential college. Next priority was a reliable social outlet. Leslie and Stacey were known to shut down a dance floor and were more than happy to lean into theme parties (most notably, the Bat Mitzvah). Finally, they valued uninterrupted rest, or as they called it, “dudding.” Between swimming, studying, dancing, or dudding, these two were all but inseparable during their college years. They've been close ever since, and Stacey couldn't be happier that Leslie has recently relocated to Boston.
Michael Vinyard
Groomsman
Mike is another (yep, you guessed it) childhood swimming friend. If Matt and Harrison were more natural talents, though, Mike and Daniel got by on old fashioned work. The two bonded over the grind and a love for the process. They honestly may have loved it TOO much, poring over results from the latest championship meet and even starting their own, cringe-worthy lifestyle blog dedicated to documenting their amateurish approach to nutrition and weight lifting. After years of calling each other teammates and friends, the two now call themselves neighbors, each living a short walk from the other in Boston. Their time spent together these days involves markedly less exercise, and usually involves a block of sharp cheddar cheese, some cold beers, and the Indianapolis Colts.
Brooke Purucker
Bridesmaid
Daniel and Brooke had very different takes on dating in high school. Brooke, the outgoing and popular one, had it all figured out, dating (and then marrying) her high school sweetheart. Daniel, clad in his mom's hand-me-down-jeans (yes, his mom's), never really figured out how to talk to girls in high school. So when Daniel brought Stacey home to meet the family, Brooke was a healthy mix of incredulous and skeptical, making Stacey work for her approval. However, it didn’t take long for Brooke and Stacey to become close friends. Brooke has quickly become Stacey’s number one hype woman and friend, never missing an opportunity to celebrate her soon-to-be sister.
Scott Purucker
Groomsman
Scott and Daniel may not be brothers by blood, but they've become brothers in every other sense of the word. Over the ten years that Scott and Brooke have been together, Scott has become an integral part of the Hasler family. For Daniel, Scott has in many ways become a "little, older brother", younger in years but a reliable sounding board and confidant. Indeed, Daniel routinely takes notes from Scott on his industriousness, humility, and propensity to think of others before himself. Scott and Daniel are at their best when tag-teaming a holiday weekend (with Scott on menu planning, of course) and Daniel is looking forward to a lifetime ahead of fun family gatherings.