Wedding Party
Elizabeth Teofilo
Maid of Honor
Sister of the Bride Born just 19 months apart, Elizabeth (Liz) and Grace share a lifelong love of Disney that has always brought them together. Liz and Grace share several Disney pub trivia championships across the Madison and Milwaukee areas, always save Disney movie premieres for when they’re together, and have even gone on a Disney pilgrimage or two (We are still planning our return trip to San Francisco, just to finish walking through the exhibits of the Walt Disney Family Museum). Liz and Grace did a lot together growing up, including swimming, band, theater, and more. Grace has always looked up to Liz and is so grateful to have such a wonderful older sister. Liz is a graphic designer in Milwaukee and is also an accomplished artist and voice actress!
John Hilker
Best Man
Brother of the Groom The youngest of the Hilker siblings, Ben and John were born nearly nine years apart. However put them in a room together, and any difference in time and experiences quickly goes away. The Hilker boys share a love of all things rocketry and aerospace engineering. Their mother has had to put up with hours and hours of conversations of the boys’ next big scheme for a new rocket or home built wind tunnel, with John being the primary instigator and builder of such projects. But these rocket boys do have their differences. John is able to pick up just about any sport or athletic field with ease, while Ben typically was happy to cheer from the sidelines. John has always been active and now is an avid rock climber and racquetball player. Ben has always been proud to tell people about everything his little brother has accomplished from grade school, high school at SLUH, and finally graduating from Iowa State. That pride extends to the new phase they both will be entering as coworkers working with their dad at the best wind tunnel in the country. Ben is even prouder to be calling on his brother to be his best man for this big day.
Brianna Boston-Kemple
Matron of Honor
Friend of the Bride Brianna, who is also known by her band name “Didee”, first met Grace during Reg Week (Wisconsin Marching Band tryout week) their freshman year, but they didn’t start getting close until their senior years of college, when they co-led the Band Bible Study, affectionately known as “Bstud”. Their friendship accelerated when Grace was in China and Brianna was working the night shift, and they were the only friends awake that the other could talk to. Since then, there have been many cry sessions in coffee shops, exquisitely planned trips, and many meals eaten together in Brianna’s kitchen in Amana, Iowa. Brianna works as an urgent care nurse, and she and her husband, Levi, have a wonderfully rambunctious two-year old and will be welcoming their second son just weeks before the wedding!
David Parks
Groomsman
Cousin of the Groom Ben was the oldest sibling growing up in the Hilker household. However, David was more than happy to act as a big brother to Ben. Growing up Ben was the sort to stay inside and read a book. David was not. He would pull Ben into playing out in the backyard or games of dodgeball in the basement. Actually the dodgeball games didn’t happen as the two would never get into something that their mothers specifically forbade. It was always Ben’s greatest joy growing up to convince his parents to let David sleepover. A double sleepover and video game escapades that followed are some of his fondest memories. Throughout high school David still made time for his cousin, even though he was busy as quite the speedy athlete. Even as they got older they would gravitate towards each other at family gatherings to catch up and goof off. Several years ago Ben was honored by serving as the best man in David’s wedding with his wife Liz. Ben was further tied into the Parks family when he became godfather to their daughter who serves as the flower girl for this wedding. Ben is so happy to have his pseudo-big-brother up at his side for what looks to be another day of fun!
Kiara Carlson
Bridesmaid
Friend of the Bride Grace’s YOLO spiritual sister, Kiara (or “Dalüsi”) met Grace during her freshman orientation, when Grace was an overly excitable sophomore orientation leader. They ended up becoming closer a year later, when Grace started spending more time with the “Bstuders”. Their adventures include a visit to the top of the Rockefeller building at 7am the morning of a bowl game (No crowds!), a stop to see Mount Rushmore at 10 pm in January (No crowds!), and a slippery trip riding down a snowy Montana mountain on a recently cut-down Christmas tree (Shockingly, no crowds!). Kiara kept Grace sane (and well-fed) when Grace had an internship in the middle of a remote Montana mountain valley and they, along with her husband Cody, spent a wonderful six months avoiding wildfires, swing dancing, and (maybe) illegally car camping in Yellowstone National Park. Kiara and Cody live in Gardiner, Montana, where they are both music teachers.
Samuel Roberts
Groomsman
Friend of the Groom Sam Roberts would be the first to say that Ben should have bought the ring for Grace about two weeks after meeting her. Sam has always been a source of advice and wisdom for Ben. Sam’s faith has been a huge part of his life and has always been a source of inspiration for Ben and drives him to follow his own faith more closely. Sam and Ben knew each other throughout Ben’s undergrad at Purdue. But they really got to know each other as roommates and members of the original Pharmhouse Four. They spent many long nights sharing a living room commiserating about their respective degrees of pharmacy and aerospace engineering. Sam also was a source of many delectable meals throughout their two shared years at the Pharmhouse. Ben and Sam share a love of diverse hobbies, even though they end up at the opposite end of the technological spectrum! Sam has taken the joy and care he showed at the Pharmhouse into his marriage with his lovely wife Casey and their three wonderful children. Ben knows he will keep looking to Mr. Roberts for advice as he enters the world of marriage.
Adrienne Bansal
Bridesmaid
Friend of the Bride One of the most loyal friends there is, Adrienne (or “Nixxie”) and Grace first met when Grace was a freshman and Adrienne a junior, both trumpet players in rAnk A, a section of the Badger Band. Adrienne became Grace’s “discipler” the following year, and they met weekly to discuss scripture (and boys) for years, sometimes needing to meet at coffee shops at 6am because of their busy schedules. Grace credits much of her early adult faith formation to Adrienne, and is forever grateful that their relationship has changed over time from a mentorship to a deep friendship. Adrienne and Grace’s adventures include running a marathon relay in northern Wisconsin, taking a road trip out to Glacier National Park, making the most of Covid lockdown with winter hikes, and using her professional training as a geological engineer to confirm whether or not rocks are “cool”. Adrienne’s skills (and persistence) should have led her into marketing with her husband Paras, because she is excellent at never giving up when it comes to convincing others to move to the Twin Cities, where she and her husband live.
Brian Ross
Groomsman
Friend of the Groom The man. The myth. The legend. The guy who for some reason has Minion stickers everywhere? Anyway: Brian Ross. Like many of his Purdue friends, Ben met Brian through St. Toms at Purdue. Their friendship started slowly through their freshman year but really took off starting their sophomore year when Brian stayed in a room down the hall from where Ben was an RA. Brian is the great instigator of social events: coordinating and organizing to no end. He was always pushing Ben to come join in fun and festivities, even when Ben really just would rather nap or watch a show (being the introvert that he is!). Without Brian, Ben would probably not have had any sort of social existence during and after college, for which Grace is very grateful! But Brian isn’t just a social butterfly; he truly cares about the people around him. During the COVID pandemic, Brian always made sure to check in on Ben every couple of weeks and make sure he was doing ok. Brian does this with all of their friend group, despite already supporting his family of his wife Jess and their two lovely kids! Ben is so grateful to have had Mr. Ross in his life and even more grateful that Brian will be there supporting him yet again on this special day.
Rachel Bannister
Bridesmaid
Friend of the Bride Rachel and Grace have been friends since their freshman year “Reg Week” and have celebrated all the joys of being trumpet players in the Wisconsin Marching Band together! They share many fond memories during their time in Madison, starting with weekly lunches in the dorm dining hall, to buying student rush tickets to see musicals at every opportunity, and enjoying quite a few 7/11 slushies. The band took Grace and Rachel to three states (Florida, Texas, and New York, twice) and their summer breaks took them to all corners of Wisconsin. Rachel is a kind and devoted friend, always there to provide a listening ear and excellent guidance. When Rachel isn’t showing off her swing dance moves, she’s working as a civil engineer in Hanford, CA, where she lives with her husband Justin, and their cat Toona and dog Heidi.
Brian Kadowaki
Groomsman
Friend of the Groom During the new students overnighter at St Tom’s at Purdue, Ben looked over at Brian Kadowaki and thought “He seems cool. I bet we will be friends.” Twelve years later that initial thought has remained true. Ben and Brian became involved in activities at St Tom’s and grew to know each other more and more. In their sophomore year Brian stayed in the same hall at which Ben was an RA. In that same year, Ben advised a young woman named Becca to go ahead and give Brian a shot. Becca and Brian are now married with three beautiful children, so it looks like it was advice well received! Ben has remained involved with the Kadowakis as godfather to their son, who will also be the ring bearer in the wedding! Ben never misses a chance to call and catch up with Brian to see how the family is doing and to plan out the next big guys weekend. Through all the years, laughing and board game playing in between, Ben is grateful that he decided to befriend Mr. Kadowaki.
Leslie Koszyk
Bridesmaid
Friend of the Bride Leslie and Grace became friends their first week of their Disney College Program in 2018. Grace almost passed out at a church service thanks to rock-hard kneelers that cut off her circulation, and Leslie helped get her to a bathroom and freshwater. They immediately realized they had shared passions--Disney and endless talking--joys that they still share when Grace comes to visit Leslie in Orlando or when they have 3-hour long FaceTime calls. Their favorite memories include going to all four Disney parks in one day, taking naps on the Disney World monorail, and going on a 4am backstage tour of the “Haunted Mansion” ride. Leslie continues to make magic with the Walt Disney Company as a campus tech recruiter, and is making new magical memories in Orlando with her husband, Dalton.
Samuel Herbig
Groomsman
Friend of the Groom From a freshman homeroom of SLUH through theater productions, dance classes, late night jam sessions, and one random trek through Colorado, Sam and Ben have been through it all. Together at SLUH they always seemed to get tied into the same classes and activities together. Given a shared quirky sense of humor and love for musical theater, it was unavoidable that they would become longtime friends. Sam has been in education since leaving college working as part of the Alumni Student Core and as a theology and psychology teacher. He has even found his way back to their alma mater as a teacher at SLUH. Ben has always had Sam as a go-to for fun and festivities around the STL area and is ready to add a wedding to their list of escapades. For a long time Ben assured Sam that he would make sure to have the fine Mr. Herbig up at the altar when he got married and both are excited to see that day coming soon!
Alisabeth Hilker
Bridesmaid
Sister of the Groom Being the two Hilker kids closest in age, Ben and Libby ended up getting involved in a lot of hobbies and activities together growing up. They both enjoyed their time reading and loved listening to their mom read the Harry Potter books to them. They both really enjoyed seeing plays and musicals. They loved plays and musicals so much that they worked on them together at Ben’s high school, SLUH (Saint Louis University High School). At one point Libby was even the full stage manager for a play Ben was in. Thankfully she was very professional and did not abuse her power, even though she would tell you that some of the cast and crew members deserved it! Ben has always enjoyed his shared interests with Libby. They may not be able to relate very well on work as Ben is an engineering “nerd” and Libby is a “cool” teacher (Libby’s words of course). However their shared passions always bring them back together. Since Ben is a nerd, Libby has been his go-to for more socially and people-focused issues. So Ben was delighted when Libby more than approved of his future bride, Grace. Grace and Ben are so excited that Libby will be there to share yet another thing with them: their wedding!
Vincent Teofilo
Groomsman
Brother of the Bride Vince has been begging for a brother for years so he is clearly overjoyed that Grace is getting married, mostly so he can finally have another dude his age hanging around. Vince thankfully forgave Grace after she accidentally dropped him in front of the entire school during the homecoming pep rally when she was a senior and he was a freshman. Grace and Vince enjoy calling each other at the most inconvenient times of the day (or night), riding the Disney Monorail over and over, and hating each other for exactly 24 hours each year (the Wisconsin/Minnesota football game is no joke). Vince loves coaching and playing tennis, learning to play most instruments by ear, and has an excellent Cruella de Vil impression. Vince lives in Milwaukee and works for United Airlines.
Annalise Hilker
Bridesmaid
Sister of the Groom Annie is the youngest sister of the Hilker siblings. But don’t let her position in the younger half of the lineup fool you, Annie is a smart and determined woman who as they say “don’t need no man”. However she really does like her fiance Jaeden so she keeps him around! Growing up, a common occurrence was to hear Annie and Ben “discussing” many different topics. They often found themselves defending opposite sides, which is odd considering how much the two have in common. Like Ben, Annie is a hardworking engineer who isn’t afraid to put in time to something she’s passionate about. Her interests range from elaborate Lego sets to cruising around on her skateboard. Her biggest passion however is for her incredibly cute dog Bear. Bear has been her steadfast companion for the past several years and has brought both Annie and Jaeden a lot of fun and joy. Since Anne moved to work for Epic, Grace has been more than happy to relate with Annie about all things Madison and Wisconsin in general. Grace and Ben can’t wait to have Annie come back down to Illinois for their big day!
Kyle Byrnes
Groomsman
Friend of the Bride Born just 9 days apart, Kyle and Grace have been friends since they were in diapers. Their friendship hit a rough patch around age 6, when Grace decided to have a childhood crush on Kyle, but thankfully she moved on long before the two went to UW-Madison together. This isn’t their first formal occasion rodeo, Kyle was Grace’s date to the junior prom! Their moms spent the whole time comparing the prom photo session to a wedding photo shoot and low and behold, 12 years later that finally came true, sort of. Kyle is excellent at eating brownie sundaes in record time, winning games of Spoons, and running face first into trees. Kyle lives in Milwaukee with his fiancé Caitlin, and recently graduated from UW-Milwaukee with his master’s in Public Health.