Savannah & Chi-Dao
Wedding Party
Ellie Eidson
Maid of Honor
Ellie and Savannah have been cousins for as long as Savannah can remember, which is great for her because it means she has never known life without Ellie in it. Growing up a couple of states apart never lessened the fun they had; in fact, it only seemed to multiply whenever Savannah visited Lake Hubert in the summer. Together they would go extreme tubing, bike to town for ice cream, play mermaids, and watch movies that they were too young to see. They had plenty of fun in the sun, but they truly shined in the snow, skiing every inch of Snowbasin and beyond. From lakes to mountains and even all the way to Barcelona, and eventually ending up living just a street apart in North Loop. Savannah can always count on Ellie to show up for the people she cares about, to keep the good vibes going, and to always say yes to a trip to Red Cow.
Matthew Hertel
Best Man
Although Matt and Chi-Dao worked together at General Mills, their friendship sprung from numerous grill outs at 3300 Girard, bagels at Common Roots, pull tabs at the VFW, Topper Stix in the park, and exploring the dive bars of Uptown Minneapolis. Whenever they had a life or work problem, they would get a bottle of scotch and figure it out together. Matt is one of Chi-Dao’s most trusted confidants. Despite moving to Miami and then Seattle, Matt has always been a phone call away or up for a last minute dinner in San Diego, New Orleans, Portland, or London. He is also the only friend that comes to visit Minnesota every December for a catch up over a steak at Murray’s and a glass of bourbon. Matt goes out of his way to make things memorable, from finding little known travel spots to cooking with local ingredients.
Katie Fisher
Bridesmaid
Alpha Omicron Pi has a saying: "Not four years, it's for life," and that saying can truly be applied to Katie and Savannah. Thanks to AOII, the two found themselves living together for the rest of college and even studied abroad together in Florence, Italy, where they devoured pasta and bottles of wine. They became certified chocolatiers in Switzerland and even got to experience being kicked out of a country together! While Katie lives in Chicago as a skilled graphic designer and soon-to-be yoga teacher, their friendship has only grown sweeter with time, with weekly Facetimes and daily GIFs between the two. Katie is an incredibly kind and creative person, will go above and beyond for the people in her life, and is one silly goose.
Sean Brosnan
Groomsman
Sean and Chi-Dao lived in the same dorm at Notre Dame. Their friendship started with college football and has grown through the years with fun trips to exotic locations like Istanbul and Thessaloniki to the more routine places like Oklahoma City. Sean has seen the world- attending a royal wedding, taking in a F1 race in Bahrain, and admiring street art in Athens. He is currently on a mission to visit every state, with 8 left to go. He’s also one of the most friendly people you’ll meet and makes friends with any stranger, especially fans of the teams that play Notre Dame. His big heart came through when he moved home to Pittsburgh from D.C. after his family needed him. Sean will always be there for the people in his life.
Olivia Call
Bridesmaid
On the first day of 6th grade, Olivia sat down next to Savannah and told her that she looks like a cupcake! If Savannah is a cupcake, then Olivia must be the cherry on top because she made growing up in Utah that much sweeter. They auditioned for the same plays and danced on and off the stage throughout school, and when Savannah got her license, she zoomed by to pick Olivia up. They survived braces, lockers, and not getting cast as the leads in the high school musical, so their friendship is meant to last. Olivia is currently crushing it in Utah, getting her master’s, and can often be found outdoors exploring. She is very outgoing, thoughtful, and just a joy to be around.
Joseph Mitchell
Groomsman
Joseph and Chi-Dao met as Freshmen in High School. They both appreciated academics and shared an appreciation of mainstream hip hop music, including Nelly, Kanye West, and Nas. Joseph and Chi-Dao have stayed close and grown together through high school, college, and careers. Joe shares his eclectic interests with everyone, including tagging butterfly migrations, managing aquariums, and collecting Central American Exile poetry. They regularly go to Timberwolves games, witnessing some of the biggest wins and losses for the team. Joseph approaches life with a smile and strong intellectual curiosity. He’s the friend that always helps you see the positive in any situation and enjoy the moment
Lisa Sicard
Bridesmaid
Savannah and Lisa met on the first day of college orientation. Even though they lived in different dorms, had different majors, and joined different sororities, something just clicked. Their friendship made it through all four years and beyond. They’ve traveled together, from having the best meal of their lives in Austria to eating endless empanadas in Puerto Rico. After college, they lived together for a few years, and Savannah will always call Lisa her roommate, no matter how much time has passed. They even share an engagement date, exactly one year apart. Savannah knows her life wouldn’t be the same without Lisa. She’s the friend who always shows up for the people in her life, who’s always down for a long walk, and who will always get a sweet treat with you.
Vas Sakamuri
Groomsman
Vas and Chi-Dao met out at a bar and Chi-Dao later learned they worked in the same group at General Mills. Their friendship developed over hours of conversations late into the night after the bars closed. Vas loves college basketball, a good A Bar, and fun banter. He’ll show you the “best ever” for anything and makes sure everyone has a good time. Even though Vas moved to Chicago and Austin, things pick up right where they left off on each visit. Vas leads with his big heart and is the friend that is always there for you and always up for drinks & good conversations.
Katie Taylor
Bridesmaid
Katie and Savannah met on a ski trip in Colorado! Savannah immediately ended up with a concussion and couldn't ski, but the trip wasn’t a bust because she ended up gaining Katie as a friend. From the icy roads of Colorado to Minnesota summers and vineyards in Virginia, the two discovered they have a mutual love of planning, themed events, and celebrating even the littlest of things. This summer they pursued golf, mostly for the outfits and sunshine. Katie is an incredible person and chef, and one should consider themselves lucky to be invited to one of her dinner parties, where they'll enjoy some of the best dishes, delightful conversation, and live viola performances.
Billy Pfiefer
Groomsman
Billy and Chi-Dao were roommates in college. Freshmen year, they frequently got lost walking around Notre Dame, shared a passion for early dinners, took naps after football games, and played hours of NCAA football on Xbox. Billy helped Chi-Dao navigate college life and introduced Chi-Dao to coffee, flaming Dr. Peppers, and tequila. Today, they go to Notre Dame football games together, although they’ve only seen one road win together. Despite this, Chi-Dao looks forward to the games every year. Billy has the unique ability to get deep on any topic and is a passionate college football super fan who knows all the college football gossip.
Haley Warnke
Bridesmaid
Haley and Savannah first met in a Business Analytics class at the U of M, but their friendship really took off once they both landed internships at Ecolab. As virtual marketing interns, they clung to each other pretty quickly, swapping advice and figuring things out together. Outside of work, their friendship grew as they tackled their early twenties together in the North Loop, trying new restaurants (Snack Bar being a go-to) and always hunting down the perfect martini. They even went on what they still call their “perfect honeymoon” (sorry, Chi-Dao) through Italy and Croatia, where they swam in the Mediterranean, ate pasta and drank wine on the beach, danced in caves, and wrapped it all up in Tuscany. On top of it all, Haley is an amazing coach at Lifetime, and fitness has become one of the things they love to share. Savannah feels lucky to have a friend like Haley, someone who shares her love of faith, fitness, and, of course, planning the perfect weekend trip.
Adam Tollefson
Groomsman
Adam and Chi-Dao met at General Mills, where Adam worked in Marketing. Adam also grew up in Minnesota and share a passion for Minnesota sports, especially the Vikings. Adam loves local breweries and the pristine waters of Lake Bde Maska. He’s also the person to go to for nerdy business talk and funny puns. Despite living in Wisconsin and having a large family, Adam has found the time to help Chi-Dao with big career and life decisions. They are also each others’ Fantasy Football accountabilabuddies, where Chi-Dao tries to stop Adam from drafting Adam Theilin, just because he’s another Adam T from Minnesota. This Adam always brings the fun and laughter to everything
Abrielle Hambelton
Honor Attendant
Abby was Savannah's first friend! From the time they were little, they loved playing make-believe, dressing up as princesses, and watching Disney movies. They both have a passion for life, show, theatre, and, of course, Taylor Swift. Abby has a bubbly personality and can often be found performing in shows all around Salt Lake.