Maid of Honor
Amber & Liz met at a "hostile work environment" in Santa Barbara, CA, and both enjoyed the fruits of that lawsuit. A fellow Midwesterner, Liz was a welcome breath of down-to-earth air in Bro-ville, USA, and possibly the only female bestie Amber has never fought with. No matter the miles required Liz is always up for impromptu New Years Eve bashes (in multiple states), Wisconsin Birthday celebrations, overnight layovers, farm house excursions, or whatever wild itch that needs scratching. No matter how much time has passed, each conversation resumes like it was begun just yesterday. She is a rock; the first, the last, the always.
Bridesmaid
Julia (aka Scone) and Amber (aka Muffin) met during college in Santa Barbara, CA. Amber hired Julia as an assistant at her job based solely on the qualification that she liked horses (it lasted as long as you think). Julia is by far Amber's girly-est friend and as such they've shared a million ups & downs from California to Chicago, where they attempted cohabitation... an unreasonable amount of alcohol and good times kept that situation from being lethal. Nevertheless, when Amber feels that rare need to be girly Jewels is sure to oblige. In return, Amber has sworn to never forget her birthday.
Bridesmaid
Affectionately known as "The Kid", and also a Santa Barbarian. Amber began coaching Caitlin (horseback riding) when Cait was 13 and Amber was 21, and in many ways they grew up together. Both being rather strong and independent personalities (read "stubborn") they are well-known for butting heads and getting over it a couple years later. Today; 16 years, 2000 miles, 1 successful business launched and 1 vet degree later, they are both thrilled to call Lexington, KY home. You are likely to find Amber gushing over how proud she is of This Kid, and Caitlin tackling some innocent party-goer in the snow.
Bridesmaid
Sarah is Amber's right-hand (wo)man in debauchery. They shared what can only be described as a Chicken Shack in Burbank, CA, and disappointed parents on all sides by dropping out of school and becoming Horse Trainers. They were decidedly go-getters, and weren't going to let a little thing like Legal Drinking Age get in the way of a good time (this later came back to bite Amber in the ass). They continued that tradition from the hills of Hollywood to the marinas of Washington DC, and left a fair amount of carnage in their wake. They are most certainly older & wiser now, but beware any mischievous glint in their eye... or don't, because it's bound to be a good time.
Bridesmaid
Thank heavens for this girl. She took one for the team when she married a Faassen before I did, and allowed Mom Syd to finally live out those wedding bell dreams. She is an exceedingly cool chick and I often ponder who really lucked out here; me or Graham. She makes every Faassen festivity all the more fun and is always up for adventure. Together we alternate between keeping the Faassen boys in line and giving them some well-deserved and long overdue $h!+. She already has like 600 sisters and I'm honored to be #601.
Best Man
These two met back in '84 when Graham came to live with Evan and his parents on Oak Street in St. Charles. Their brotherly bond was strong from the start. They built forts, ate dirt, went camping, collected baseball cards, travelled around the world, and founded a legendary street hockey team. They ran a spy agency at one point, and produced a late night show that was a family cult classic. Later, they were in the cast for the 2 year filming of "Home Slice, What the Dilll Yo?" Though they now live many miles apart, the two always come together for Marty's Fish Camp in Copper Harbor (where you can find them spilling IPA's on a frozen lake while realing in a bungee cord). The other 361 days of the year, they are relatively clear-headed and functioning members of society.
Groomsman
Anthony came to Chicago to help out at a cracker jack operation known as Moosejaw Mountaineering where Evan worked back in '07. The two connected through their love for rock climbing, the outdoors and their passion for music. From there, they grew too big for their britches at Moosejaw, left it in their rear-view and never looked back. Through the years of rock climbing, rocking out, and wrenching on bikes at their rogue bike shop, Rubber Side Down, the two forged a bond in the fires of brotherhood. Anthony is a founding member of the Headquarters with Chris and Marvin. Their greatest accomplishment to date is co-founding the band Goalie Fight! which will forever be ban(ne)d from the airlines. Tony has since moved to Colorado and is still a highly functioning member of society.
Groomsman
Evan and Frank met one summer in the Boundary Waters at Canadian Border Outfitters. As a couple of F.I.B.s, the two hit it off immediately. Frank knew a lot about bass fishing and Evan just wanted to have a good time in the name of bass fishing, so they were immediate friends. Evan helped Frank out of a jam one time when Frank went fishing in the rain at a secret walleye location. There was a bear involved. He survived. The two kept in touch after Evan moved back to Chicago, and Frank came home from Minnesota. They eventually got an apartment together on the north side of Chicago and Frank became one of Evan and Amber's most favorite people. One night, April 20th 2008, Frank also helped Evan and Amber out of a serious jam. They all survived, and eventually became actual grown ups.
Groomsman
Evan met Chris in the late 90s and they started playing music together at jam sessions in college. They found themselves back in Chicago in '04, founded the band We Run On Sonar with Mike D. and went on to play venues like the Double Door and The Metro, surprisingly. Next, the duo paired up with Tony Valenti and started Goalie Fight!, which has never actually been on an airplane (despite rumors). The two anchored The Headquarters in Logan Square for many years and drove the neighbors nuts with band practices, late night bike sessions in the garage, Schmanksgivings and other shindigs. Chris introduced Marvin the Cat to facebook where Marvin entertained many of us until his untimely death in '15. Although mostly functional, Chris will never grow up since he's too old now.
Groomsman
Evan met Brian in junior high on the cross country team. They didn't talk much since Brian was always running away from people and winning races. When meeting up in high school, Evan told him he played the guitar. Brian didn't believe him until he melted his face with a one note Neil Young solo. Brian was in awe and Evan taught Brian everything he knew, which explains why Brian ended up learning the guitar himself. From there, they played back up in the band "Suicide Brackmann and the Doomriders," and fired up their electrics in many other Grammy winning bands (which always disbanded before writing any Grammys). They also starred on the side in a movie called "Home Slice What the Dill Yo." They live quieter lives now. Probably because their hearing isn't as good as it used to be.
Officiant
Originally of Suicide Brackmann & The Doomriders fame, cross country stardom, and a founding member of Home Slice What the Dill Yo, Matt is another of Evan's lifelong friends, and Amber promptly stole him when she arrived on the scene. He is the most steadfast of friends through all of life's seasons. They have shared many late night conversations, where Matt's deeply philosophical nature quickly turns a discussion on pocketed meats into a mind trip of the first degree. The efforts of humanity to absolutely define the cultural meaning of pocketed meats is absurd, but to Evan & Amber the meaning of Matt in their lives is certain, and its importance indescribable. They are pretty sure Matt came out of the womb ordained and can think of noone better suited to join them in marriage.
Wedding Planner
Amber met John on Craig's List, which is not as creepy as it sounds. He was on the other end of an ad for a sublet in Lexington, which Amber discovered while sipping wine at her parents house & wondering if she'd still live there at age 40. A trip to the KY Nat'l Horse Show the following week was already in the books, so Amber loaded her car & drove 7 hours to move into a house she'd never seen, with a friend she hadn't yet met, in the self-described Horse Capital of the World. Turns out, John does the horse thing too and manages a large carriage show. He's also quite the dapper gentleman, with a penchant for dry jokes, and thus the perfect planner for a Faasslin wedding. And that sight unseen house? A gorgeous mansion full of 19th century charm & a few rough edges, much like John himself.