Our Wedding Party

Sarah Melder

Bride

Ijaz Afridi

Groom

Rebecca Cole

Maid of Honor

This girl has been in my life for 22 years and counting!! We met through church and the Waukesha Children's choir where we began singing together! We've written songs together, performed at events and coffee shops, went to camps and honor choir trips, and attended college together as roommates for two years at the University of Mobile, Alabama. Her family has been a second family to me, and I am so beyond blessed by them! We've had a long road and have crossed the friendship line into sisterhood. She introduced me to Ijaz and told me before we'd even met that she found my husband, so I guess she knows me pretty well!!! I love this girl to death and am so blessed and grateful for her.

Fahad Saleem

Best Man

Ijaz and Fahad grew up in Pakistan together as close childhood friends, and then Fahad and his family moved to the States and they lost touch for a while before finding each other again. Fast forward about a decade and now the best friends are both living in the states and Fahad who is now a husband and father of two boys is the best man in our wedding!

Rebekah Ryland Melder

Bridesdude

Rebekah (Ryland) is my youngest sibling and just turned 18 this last December which is insane to me! So we've been pretty close for about 18 years! We shared a room growing up, and had a blast outnumbering our big brother Josh. So excited to share this day with my siblings!! Love you guys!

Owais Shah

Groomsman

Rachel Gwitt

Bridesmaid

My beautiful friend Rachel who I've known since about 8th grade, beginning of high school, just had her first baby in the last few weeks which is so very exciting!! Due to giving birth earlier than expected she is no longer able to stand up with me at the ceremony, but she's still counted as my bridesmaid regardless!

Julia Krecklow

Bridesmaid

Julia and I have known one another for about 22 years as well!! We grew up together in Sunday school, youth groups, drama classes, and camps, and she's blossomed into such a beautiful woman and sister!! Her family was a second family to me, and I am so grateful for her and for them. She recently bought her first house which is pretty amazing, and she and I were roommates for a couple years which was a very memorable time in my life! Love you Jelly Bean!!

Omar Kurby

Groomsman

Dana Taylor

Bridesmaid

Oh, Dinosaur, where do I begin? Dana and I have also been best friends for 22 years - since age 5!! We have been through thick and thin together countless times, and I don't know where I would be without her! We grew up thinking her nick name Dino meant dinosaur when her mom actually meant dinamite... because she were such a cool kid. But we ran with the dinosaur idea our entire lives and now have matching dinosaur tattoos which I love so much and is a huge reminder of our friendship and how much she means to me! Her family was also a second family to me, and her house felt like home! I have been so blessed by this girl and all of my friends and their families for folding me into theirs! Can't imagine this day without them with me.

Sardar Ajmaal Ali

Groomsman

Paisley

Flower Girl

Paisley is almost 4 years old and will be celebrating her birthday with her twin brother Mason just 4 days after the wedding! They are my cousin Rhiannan's beautiful kids and they are so smart and growing up way too fast! So thankful that they are able to be a part of the big day!

Mason

Ring Bearer

Mason is the sweetest little boy! He's a great brother to Paisley and protector to their baby cousin Maliah. He brought me a ring pop when we were out shopping for his sister's dress, so he's been practicing his ring bearer duties and is pretty professional if I do say myself!

Maliah

Flower Girl

This little baby is so precious!! She is my cousin Natasha's daughter, and at almost 18 months old she is all over the place and getting into everything! Running around and smiling with the cutest cheeks! I wish she'd stop growing so fast, but she's growing into a beautiful healthy little girl and I'm so glad she's able to be my flower girl!

Tamra Melder

Mother of the Bride

David Melder

Father of the Bride