Joe & Lauren
Wedding Party
Kaitlyn Sharo
Maid of Honor
Kaitlyn is the middle Sharo sister. Being only two years apart, Lauren and Kaitlyn were always close. They shared everything - clothes, rooms, crushes on boys you name it. They loved and hated each other in the way that only sisters know how, which makes them that much closer now. Lauren and Kaitlyn made some pretty amazing memories together – meeting her in Alabama, her coming to IU to visit, an epic trip down the Pacific Coast Highway or her many visits to Chicago. Kaitlyn currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her boyfriend Mike. This picture is from one of the times Kaitlyn came to visit Lauren in Chicago.
Craig Shultz
Best Man
When Craig showed up at Northwestern, Joe quickly recruited him to the TPad Tablet Project that Joe had just started. They then spent years together at Northwestern sitting side-by-side in the NxR lab building surface haptic hardware including TPad Phone, the TPad Watch, and multiple generations of the TPad Tablet. After they each completed their PhDs they each started at Tanvas, where they continue to work together daily, still building touchscreens that you can feel. Originally from Springfield Missouri, Craig lives in Chicago with his wife Becca. The photo is from Chicago during World Haptics.
Megan Sharo
Maid of Honor
Megan is the youngest Sharo sister. Lauren was 7 years old when Megan was born and Lauren can remember dressing Megan up to get married to the neighbor boy. Now it’s Megan’s turn to dress Lauren up. Megan is one of the most caring people Lauren knows – always there for her when she needs her. Megan is the cook of the family, able to cook without a recipe whereas Lauren is a strict baker. Together they make a great holiday meal. As they have grown up Lauren and Megan have become even closer – from 4-Day Lollapalooza festivals to hanging out in Cincinnati, as they are in the photo. Megan is currently living in Detroit, Michigan with her boyfriend Rob.
Casey Stoll
Groomsman
Casey and Joe met on the first day of freshman orientation for IT Honors at the University of Minnesota. By the end of the day they had decided to change their dorm assignments so that they could be roommates in Middlebrook dorm. It was the start of a close friendship, and they remained roommates for all 4 years of college, hosting countless weeknight study sessions and weekend parties together. An extremely kind, friendly, happy guy, Casey is the type of person that everyone likes to be around, and he is the foundation of nearly every great college memory. Casey lives in Edina, MN with his wife Sherry and daughter Blakely. The photo is from a road trip through the National Parks in Utah and Arizona.
Rachel Washburn
Bridesmaid
Rachel and Lauren met at IU when they were both pledging Kappa Delta and were probably the least sorority sorority girls there could be. They clicked instantly and became roommates. During college Lauren and Rachel were always having a good time – so much so that they once missed the biggest event on campus, the Little 500 and it didn’t even phase them. Lauren and Rachel both loved dressing up for themes or any holiday and this picture is from one of the Halloween costumes they created. They have stayed close since college and Lauren was in Rachel’s wedding. Rachel currently lives with her husband Kyle and two girls in Dallas, Texas.
Brad Mullenbach
Groomsman
Brad and Joe are first cousins only 6 months apart, and growing up, they did everything together, being in the same grade in school, riding the bus every day for an hour each way, and every family holiday. They grew up across the street from one another in Johnsburg, playing in the Freund store, sparring with wooden lath swords, building and defending forts in the trees, riding their bikes to the creek, and having campfires and camping in tents in the back yard. Brad lives in St. Ansgar, Iowa, and the picture is from Brad’s sister’s wedding, where Brad (left) and Joe are toasting the happy couple with their shared favorite food, cake.
Emma Stertz
Bridesmaid
Emma and Lauren met when they both arrived at Indiana University and were lucky enough assigned as roommates. They connected instantly bonding over books, movies, nights out and of course their love for A Muppets Christmas Carol. Lauren actually introduced Emma to her now husband, Tony in college and Lauren was in Emma’s wedding. Many of Lauren’s memories from college involve both Emma and Tony – parties at Tony’s house, nights out at Kilroys or even coming back to IU to visit. Emma currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and two children. This photo is outside Kilroys one of the times they came back to IU to visit.
Bryce Frandrup
Groomsman
From the moment they met across the hall in the Middlebrook dorm, Bryce and Joe were the type of friends that had pretty much everything in common, including knowing how to have a good time. They were inseparable for years going to and hosting parties, making up games to amuse themselves, going to Gopher games, country music festivals, and countless other trips and events. They still manage to fit in multiple trips a year together despite having lived in different states for the past ten years. Originally from Randolph, MN, Bryce lives in Plymouth, MN with his wife Beth.
Jackie Zimmerman
Bridesmaid
Jackie and Lauren met when they both started at Abercrombie & Fitch right out of college. They instantly became friends, eventually roommates and the best party hosts in Columbus. Jackie and Lauren were frequent travel partners including a yoga retreat in Northern California and were introduced to practices that are important parts of their lives today. Whether driving to Chicago on a road trip, carpooling to work, or hanging out all day by the pool they were always close and when you found one of them you could most likely find the other. Jackie is currently living in Williamsburg, New York. This photo is from one of their trips to Miami.
David Fake
Groomsman
David and Joe met on move in day at Middlebrook Hall at the University of Minnesota. A high energy and fun person to be around, David is the guy who will walk into a social event and will have made 3 new friends by the time he leaves. David was always around during college, and Joe and Dave have become even closer friends after college, sharing a passion for entrepreneurship, and getting the gang back together for hiking, camping, and boating and other Super Awesome Fun Events aka SAFE. The photo is at Kennedy Space Center, David on the right.
Jessica Freund
Bridesmaid
Jessica is Joe's younger sister, the middle sibling of the three. Joe met Jessica when he was 5 and she was a package of blankets with dark hair on top. As kids, Joe would cook delicious meals for his sisters such as mac and cheese with hot dog chunks and kool-aid. Jessica has since far surpassed Joe’s ability, and is a frequent reference for adult topics like recipes and how to care for plants. Jessica is always ready to listen and you can trust that she will have good advice. Joe knew he was on to something when Jessica met Lauren for the first time and Jess wasted no time declaring that she liked her. With her natural friendliness and absurd sense of humor, Jess has made Lauren feel comfortable as a welcome addition to the family. Jessica lives in Johnsburg with her boyfriend Casey.
Jarvis Schultz
Groomsman
Jarvis was a fixture at the Northwestern robotics lab, and Joe and Jarvis became friends over NxR lab lunch where there was a daily updated menu of interesting topics and entertaining debates. Jarvis is always quick with a funny story or new tidbit that he’s learned, which makes him an exceptional companion at house parties, hiking, traveling, and at lab happy hours. The picture is from Jarvis’s wedding in Wyoming. They’re both wearing their custom fitted suits that they bought from Jery the Tailor during their trip touring electronics markets and factories in Shenzhen, China.
Jackie Thompson
Bridesmaid
Jackie is Joe’s sister, the youngest of the three siblings. Joe met Jackie when he was 7 and she was a tiny bundle with big blue eyes peaking out. Growing up, the winters were filled with favorite activities such as making snowmen and playing board games. One year when Joe came home from college, Jackie and Joe decided to make a snowman together again, and they've since built it into a yearly tradition. Despite the fact that playing Monopoly with Joe is one of her worst childhood memories, Jackie has welcomed Lauren to the family over nights of board games and singing karaoke in Randy’s Johnsburg Bar. Jackie is an English as a Second Language teacher, and she cracks up her family members with a sharp sense of humor and endless puns. Jackie lives in Johnsburg with her husband Marcus.
Kelly Riegler
Officiant
Kelly is Lauren’s cousin but they are more like sisters. Kelly and Lauren have been close since they were kids and Lauren has always looked up to Kelly. Kelly was the first family member to meet Joe and give the stamp of approval. Joe and Lauren have spent many afternoons hanging out with Kelly, her husband Nate and their two kids, Jack and Cate at their house in Oak Park, just outside Chicago. Jack will be the ring bearer and is Lauren’s godson. Cate (who had the biggest crush on Joe when she first met him) will be the flower girl. Knowing Lauren since she was born and the couple since they met, Kelly is the perfect person to officiate the wedding.