Sarah & Alex
Wedding Party
Alex "GAlex" Barker
Bridesmaid
Sarah and Alex met the only way two alternative girls should meet - screaming lyrics at the barricade of a blessthefall show right after Sarah moved to Chicago in 2023. Since then, Alex has been Sarah's hype woman, pun queen, and one-woman pit crew. She’s always balancing a packed calendar with chaotic social plans and perfectly timed portmanteaus (the sillier, the better - trust us). Expect her to make friends with everyone in the room, be the keeper of 1,000 inside jokes, and fall asleep sitting up during a party.
Allison Harding
Bridesmaid
Allison and Sarah met in grad school over a shared love of running, questionable decisions, and carbs. Since 2010, they've raced across countries, chasing medals and experiences, and they have made it their mission to find the best post-run snacks. Allison is such a gracious person, that she never used her well earned “I told you so!”. During a multi-day race in Costa Rica, she warned Sarah that they were pitching their tent way too close to the ocean. Sarah didn’t listen. The ocean (and Allison) won. She’s adventurous, always moving, and down to try anything once - especially if it involves food, breathtaking views, or a good story.
Jeani Dierkes
Bridesmaid
Jeani and Sarah bonded over early shifts and too many espresso shots back in 2010 when they both worked at the campus Starbucks. Jeani's vibe is smart, sarcastic, introvert-core with just enough sass to surprise you. She’s the kind of person who can go from spreadsheets to second breakfast without missing a beat. Once, Sarah recognized Jeani's dog Samson at the park before she recognized Jeani, which is actually pretty on brand. These days, Jeani’s either deep in a fantasy novel, camping with her husband Nathan, or observing the frogs at her frog hotel.
Lauren Placek
Bridesmaid
Lauren and Sarah met at a goth night in Chicago when Lauren was dancing like nobody was watching, and it looked like she was having so much fun Sarah had to go and talk to her. She’s a soft-hearted nerd who spends her weekends sharpening her winged eyeliner to dance all night and eight hour video game sessions with her boyfriend, Colin. Lauren happens to be the reason so many of us have strong quads. Her commitment to wearing the cutest but least walkable boots means piggyback rides are practically a rite of passage. She’s the best gift giver Sarah and Alex know; her gifts are always thoughtful, always a little unexpected, just like her.
Schuyler Howell
Best Man
Alex and Schuyler have been best friends since a chance meeting in Alex's backyard when they were four. Since then, they've have gone down strangely complimentary paths together. Case in point: getting in trouble for violently destroying toys as kids, getting in trouble for smearing frosting all over the front of their middle school, getting in trouble at amusement parks for throwing food at the animatronics, and…well you get the idea. Besides the destruction though, they've shared an insane amount of great moments together as we have grown into the people they are today. From attending college classes together at UCF (Pirate Class, still the best), wrangling traffic accidents at their first real job, sharing pilot stories, and both commissioning as Air Force officers. He’s Alex's #1 gaming partner, and throughout it all, the best times and the worst times, the zombie slaying and the hedgehog racing, Schuyler has been there. He’s been a constant source of laughter, support, and trusted friendship that should never be taken for granted. Schuyler “gets” Alex like nobody else. Alex says it was an honor to be his Best Man over 10 years ago, and he couldn’t imagine this day without him as Best Man now.
Chris York
Groomsman
Chris and Alex met at UCF thanks to their friend Tim and a very questionable decision to take astronomy class…at the hospitality campus. Their friendship was built on late-nights full of Domino’s pizza, competitive rounds of Super Smash Bros, and a love of classic films. While they may have different opinions on modern art, they both agree that a Goosebumps-themed play in Philly was peak art. They both enjoy philosophical discussion about the meaning of life, especially on road trips…even the ones with stops in Roswell to look for aliens. They’ve shared everything from museum trips to military service, late night talks, and their complaints about life in uniform. Chris has always been the friend who is down for going anywhere, questioning everything, and laughing at the chaos. Whether they’re unpacking life’s big questions or just trying to find the best pizza in a new city, Alex knows life is better with Chris around, and Alex is honored to have a friend like Chris by his side on our wedding day.
Curran Butcher
Groomsman
Curran and Alex started off as nothing more than classmates in a Russian language class run with all the warmth and flexibility of the Soviet Union itself. Things changed with a surprising “wait, you know my sister?” moment as Alex learned that Curran was a close friend of Alex’s sister Emily. From that moment, a casual classmate became one of Alex’s close friends. Curran has since become a part of the family, joining for holidays from Halloween to Christmas, feeling more like a stepbrother than “just” a friend. He’s the kind of guy that shows up in award-worthy cosplay, builds Lego masterpieces for fun, and still manages to make time to crush boss battles in online games, all while debating the merits of various video game soundtracks. Alex and Curran also enjoy playing nerdy and complex board games together. They still share an appreciation for international cultures, though Curran and Alex’s friendship has evolved beyond those days of bumbling through Russian grammar and remembering the word for “aquarium” (and not much else), and is now a friendship full of curiosity, compassion, and laughter. Curran is loyal and kind, and it’s an honor to have him standing by Alex’s side.
Kyle Wilkins
Groomsman
Kyle and Alex's friendship goes all the way back to high school and they became quick friends. They did just about everything together: Teammates on the basketball court, golf course, and at track meets, and lettered in 3 different varsity sports together. As the only two dudes brave enough to join an all-girl choir, they sang the Beach Boys together, and even nailed a duet of the 1954 classic “Sh-Boom,” right there in the high school gymnasium. They were both on the homecoming court which Alex attributes to the inevitable consequence of being two of the most handsome seniors). Outside of school, Kyle and Alex were basically pro-wrestlers with their sweet moves, and shared other good times such as exploring the weirder parts of the internet and cruising around in Alex's 1973 Dodge Challenger. Their love of cars also led to a "custom" spray paint "paint job" on Alex's 2003 Dodge Neon and watching the races at the drag strip. Alex knew that Kyle was the right person to take care of his late father's muscle car. Kyle's friendship, loyalty, and humor have shaped Alex into the person he is today. They both became successful in their lives and serve their country. These former class clowns may not be trying to relive high school, but no one should be surprised to see them campaigning for homecoming court at the Senior Home someday.
Russell Marshall
Officiant
To the bride and groom, Russell is more than "just" the officiant. He's also worked tirelessly to help make this wedding happen - from helping Alex with his surprise proposal - to doing random wedding tasks for Sarah. The couple met Russell because Sarah can't refrain from commenting on people's band shirts, though this time she took it further and asked Russell to go to a concert with her, and they've been friends ever since. He's the type of person who always has a joke or a compliment ready, depending on the situation. Drink a Dirty Shirley with him, and you'll have a friend for life. He may not be the first person on the dance floor, but he'll definitely be the most enthusiastic!