Wedding Party
Joi Pratt
Maid of Honor
Joi and Sarah met in college at Cru in December of 2021. Sarah immediately started calling Joi her 'bestie' after first meeting her through Rowan Cru's Winter Conference trip to Baltimore, Maryland. Over the years, Joi and Sarah have gotten to experience life together as students and as colaborers of the gospel in Cru. After they always expressed their desire to someday work together despite having different majors in college, they got their wish as the Lord directed their steps to join ministry together. Joi is someone Sarah can go to whenever she needs prayer, someone to thrift with, a friend to laugh or cry with, or someone to watch a 90's romcom with.
Alisha Sheppard
Bridesmaid
Alisha and Sarah first met in the fall of 2013 at Cumberland Christian School during Sarah's 7th grade year and Alisha's sophomore year of high school. They were in the school play "Charlotte's Web" together with Sarah as Fern and Alisha as her mother. They could hardly get through their first scene without laughing together. They remained friends throughout high school and college, but got even closer once Sarah's brother, David started dating and eventually married Alisha. Now Sarah's sister-in-law, Alisha is a friend, turned sister. Alisha is one of the only people that can always beat Sarah in the game Dutch Blitz. (They get aggressive together.)
Lia Baker
Bridesmaid
Lia and Sarah met in the summer of 2020 when Sarah first started attending Fellowship Bible Church's young adult group. They quickly became friends and Sarah even gave some initial hints when Lia and her now husband Ryan (Sarah's friend since 2019) first met that same summer. Lia quickly adopted the role of the older sister Sarah had never had growing up, and Sarah now calls Ryan and Lia her fake 'parents.' Sarah never leaves Lia's house without a full belly and homemade food to take home. Lia gives sweet advice and is someone you can count on to pray for you.
Nội Lê
Bridesmaid
Nội and Sarah met in the summer of 2020 at Sarah's brother's graduation party at their house. Nội had just moved from Vietnam to NJ to be with her husband, Thai. Thai, David, and Sarah had met in Cru and been friends, but Nội and Sarah quickly hit things off when Sarah offered her baked goods (and friendship) to Nội. Nội and Sarah have been sweet sisters in Christ since then, and now Nội is a mother to Sarah's little 'niece' - Tabitha. When Sarah first told her about Ben, Nội kept saying that Ben was a whole forest of green flags. Nội probably knew Ben was her future husband before Sarah even fully knew.
Stephanie Shaughnessy
Bridesmaid
Steph and Sarah met in the summer of 2020 at Fellowship Bible Church's young adults group. Steph was a leader of the group and Sarah and her quickly became friends. They both shared the highs and lows of being education majors at Rowan University and their love of plants. These two have had many laughs together while playing with the stuffed animals at Steph's house. They love thrifting and antiquing together while also just enjoying good food. Steph is a sweet older sister-in-Christ to Sarah.
Rebecca Stone
Bridesmaid
Sarah and Rebecca met in February of 2025 on a family trip for Ben's birthday. Rebecca is Ben's older sister who has been both a sibling and a friend to Ben throughout the years. Upon meeting one another, Sarah and Rebecca felt like family quickly and enjoyed their time together with many laughs and competitiveness over new fun games. Sarah has enjoyed the Schaefer family opening her up to new, incredible food experiences, and Rebecca's cooking is nothing short of that. They look forward to many more memories created together, as sisters.
Matthew Sinclair
Best Man
Ben met Matt in their church basement in 2023 as they immediately hit it off. Matt that same night had an unused ticket and invited Ben to a Manchester Orchestra band concert. That night they were solidified as best buddies which has led to many fun things together, including fishing and skiing trips, and many shared interests such as art and talking about deep things. Ben would say they have a very genuine and transparent friendship where they meet up almost weekly to share of the curiosities, pains, excitements, and joys that they are having in life over coffee. Any time spent together feels like a creative outlet as well as an enriching time for the heart as they push one another to continue seeking Christ and to continue enjoying the goodness of Creation.
Eli Swade
Groomsman
Ben met Eli through their church small group in 2023. Ben remembers first growing close as they went hammocking in Elizabeth Park one summer. They processed hard things together and talked for a while about C.S Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia series which they both enjoy. They love going on nature walks together as they talk and process life. One of the best benefits of having Eli as a friend is that whether you are going to New York or Ireland, Eli has food recommendations for you. He recommends most of Ben's favorite cuisines which include, Thai, Indian and Middle Eastern. Eli will always bring a smile to your face with his sweet and sassy personality.
David Stone
Groomsman
Ben met David during the time his sister was in college at Western Michigan. When Ben went to visit Rebecca, he met David, his sister's boyfriend at the time. Ben was always drawn to talking to David as they discussed their interests of music, art, and video games. Ben fondly remembers a sense of calm as David was very welcoming and approachable. Fast forward, Ben and his parents traveled to New York, where Rebecca and David were living at the time, and they went on a hike where David proposed overlooking the Adirondack mountains. Ben remembers feeling very happy to be there as Rebecca and David got engaged. Now Ben loves visiting both his sister and David in Kansas City where they reside now. David's sweet calm and approachable demeanor has grown him to feel like more of a brother than just Ben's sister's husband.
Zach Worden
Groomsman
Ben met Zach as they were in their first intern year together with Cru in 2022. They were working in two different locations, Detroit Metro in Michigan and Ball State in Indiana. Ben remembers feeling excited for their first staff gathering with Cru, but also nervous because he didn't know anyone. The first night they were there, Ben entered the room for the intern time and sat down at the table that his newly awaited best friend also sat. They didn't say much at first, but once the event got rolling they dove into the deep end, emotionally and spiritually. Ben and Zach had been having quite the hard start to their staff experience and Ben remembers at that time how much he needed somebody to sit, listen, and direct him towards Christ. Through their many journeys including their first one to Milwaukee that staff gathering, this has been a consistent theme of Zach and Ben’s friendship: sitting, listening, and pointing one another to Jesus.
David Sheppard
Groomsman
Ben met David, Sarah's brother, during Ben's first trip to NJ to see Sarah in 2024. While they didn't get to talk much then, they've slowly started to get to know one another more. Ben got to know David primarily alongside getting to know Sarah. Even though Ben didn't know David very well yet, he attended David's wedding as Sarah's date where he saw on a very close up level how much the Sheppards love one another. Later on, as Ben knew that Sarah would be the woman he would marry, he was also excited that David would be apart of that family he would be gaining. Ben has fond memories of playing games with David and going to a tulip farm with him and Alisha.
Ryan Baker
Groomsman
Ben heard much about Ryan before ever meeting him since Ryan and Sarah met and became friends in 2019 at Rowan University. He heard of the infamous “Book of Ryan” and the many stories of things he said and did that would make you question how he’s older than Sarah. Ben first met Ryan at Sarah’s small group when he first came to visit Sarah in 2024. Ben had heard of people without a filter before, but this was a new experience. Yet, Ben also left feeling closer to him than anyone else new he met that night. Later on that trip, Ben got a meal with Sarah, Ryan, and Lia where they could "interrogate" him. But instead of an interrogation, it felt like two people who loved Sarah very much and wanted what was best, while also being curious to get to truly know Ben more. Then after many more consecutive visits to NJ, Ben felt a continuing affinity towards Ryan. This friendship has so far culminated in a time of playing with pool toy torpedoes like little kids after Ben and Sarah got engaged this summer.
Tabitha Nghiêm
Flower Girl
Little Tabbie is Sarah's 'niece' since she is her friends' little one. Tabbie will be 2 in July. She is the cutest member of the bridal party and is the only one who might eat more oranges than Sarah.