Best Man
A fellow Milwaukee East Side resident and 1/2 of the Best Man Duo, Michael and TJ became friends at Saint Francis Borgia when TJ took the mantle of New Kid after Michael showed up the year before. Their friendship strengthened via youth and eventually high school football, and managed to survive despite many heated arguments about Marquette vs. Wisconsin basketball. Luckily that debate was settled when Wisconsin went to back-to-back Final Fours, and their friendship could continue uninterrupted. Despite TJs best efforts, they continued to stay friends and now live a few blocks away from each other. They enjoy brunches with their ladies, Grace (Bridesmaid) and Carolyn, and trips up north every year, where TJ tries but never catches any fish.
Best Man
The 2nd Best Man, and Michael's next-door neighbor growing up in Cedarburg. Joey and Michael grew up playing all the sports, football, basketball, golf, and the many others that they made up living next door to each other for almost 10 years. Joey and his wife, Sam, and their two girls, Maya and Gia, recently moved back to Cedarburg after 5 years in Washington DC and California. We couldn't be happier to have them back in the area to watch their kids grow up and so Michael can get revenge for all the years Joey beat him in golf.
Groomsman
Unlike the others, Michael and Ricky's friendship did not begin with sports. In fact, we're really not sure where or how it began, as Ricky showed up to Cedarburg High unexpectedly one day and somehow ended up at Michael's parents after school to play video games. Since Ricky's random appearance on to the scene, he and Michael have attended many Brewers, Bucks, and Packers games including the time Ricky lost his ticket on his first time to Lambeau. Luckily, he still managed to get into the stadium. Ricky lives in Madison with his girlfriend, Emily, and is always up for a round of golf and a good hang.
Groomsman
Zak grew up down the street from Michael, but since then they've managed to travel many countries together, including a sketchy cable ride down a Colombian mountaintop at night after a few beers. Zak is the one who pushes Michael to keep exploring to new places, especially to New York City where Zak lives with his girlfriend, Amy. He'll be the one with the longest and most luscious hair, females included.
Groomsman
The tallest and best basketball player of the bunch, Chip and Michael began their friendship through what else, sports, especially basketball. Chip also played quarterback in high school where he became very intimate with Michael's body taking thousands of snaps from his center. He became very flexible over the years having to crouch down underneath a lineman a foot shorter than him. Chip is always the type to wake you up early morning to work out when you inevitably don't want to. His wife, Brittany, and his two kids, Rory and Hayden, put up with this energy in the suburbs of Chicago.
Groomsman
Alex and Michael became friends via, of course, sports, especially youth football and baseball. Their friendship was cemented via a 2-month summer voyage throughout Europe but almost fell apart due to a heated argument over U2 in Munich. Alex lives in Phoenix with his wife, Lisa, and their daughter, Elisa, and always makes Michael's trips back there more enjoyable. Alex keeps Michael's Spanish fresh by introducing him to his in-laws in Mexico, and the Spanish always gets better with tequila and Victoria beer.
Groomsman
Michael's #1 golf partner, RJ and Michael became friends via the Angels baseball team in 4th grade. They played baseball and football together from then on, and continue to make it out to the golf course at least once a week where RJ usually wins money from Michael. Open bar would last all night if RJ hadn't taken all of Michael's money over the last few years. Blame him.
Maid of Honor
Carolyn and Alyssa met in kindergarten, and it has been history ever since. Living a mere six blocks away from one another, it was fate that they would win the superlative of "best friends" in the senior high school yearbook. Alyssa and Carolyn spent every morning driving to high school together singing REO Speedwagon, taking outrageous and highly embarrassing photo shoots in her parents basement, becoming of age and having wine nights with their mothers (also BFFs) and now celebrating all of life's major milestones together, with her beautiful family. You will find Alyssa, her parents Matt and Laurie, partner in crime Tyler and daughter Brooke cutting it up on the dance floor and singing every song (thankfully on key).
Bridesmaid
Katie and Carolyn met in high school and the dynamic duo of Alyssa & Carolyn grew into a trifecta. Carolyn, Katie and Alyssa spent many high school days and nights galivanting before and after vocal jazz rehearsals, crafting artisanal salads, crafting resumes in young adulthood and trying to make our parents proud. Katie is now living in Los Angeles and we are hoping that she brings the sunshine with her for the wedding.
Bridesmaid
Grace and Carolyn met through Michael & TJ (Grace's husband). Grace and Carolyn have been co-planners for many a vacation up north, holiday parties and most recently, one another's weddings. From football games where Grace and Carolyn mainly chat and snack, to game nights ending in belly laughs and tears, living a mile away from each other has been the greatest gift of all.
Bridesmaid
Mary and Carolyn met at Swanson Elementary during their first year entering the school systems as therapists (Mary a Speech Language Pathologist and Carolyn an Occupational Therapist). The two immediately clicked. Mary is always the life of the party, the goofy girl and the confidant to boost you up when you need it. While the two no longer work together, they still find time for their walk & talks, cooking nights with new NYT recipes and being silly.
Bridesmaid
Alexis and Carolyn were college roommates both junior and senior year (#301). From watching Alexis train for her half marathon to graduating med school and going on to become a physician, the two have continued rooting one another on in life's biggest moments despite being miles apart. Alexis and her husband, David, recently moved back to Minneapolis to be closer to Alexis' family. David, her husband (originally from San Diego) has successfully survived his first Minnesota winter and is quickly becoming a true Midwesterner.
Bridesmaid
Grace and Carolyn also met with the #301 roommate crew. The two have spent many a day in coffee shops, yoga sculpt classes and Carolyn attempting to hop into Grace's bed for snuggles despite her best efforts to ward her off. Grace and her husband, Karl will be the chic ones dressed at this weekend's events. Carolyn will again, try to snuggle Grace. Maybe since it's wedding weekend, she'll let it happen this time.
Bridesmaid
Virginia (Ginny) is the final member of the #301 gals. Ginny recently purchased a home in Minneapolis and works as a biomedical engineer. Carolyn and Ginny share in their love for cooking, great wine, their dogs and fitness. You may hear the #301 crew refer to the bride as "Carole". Despite Carolyn's best efforts, this nickname has not been extinguished, yet.