Jennifer & James
Wedding Party
Jennifer Hallabough
Bride
Jennifer grew up in Waxahachie, TX and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelors of Science in Advertising. After college, Jennifer lived in Chicago for five years to start her career where she met her ‘Bro of Honor’, River Karaba. After enough cold weather and snow, Jennifer ran back to Dallas where she met James-and the rest is history! Jen and James currently live in Garland, TX with their three German Shepherds-Hurley, Roxy and Wilco.
James VanWilder
Groom
James grew up in McKinney with his best friend Andrew and groomsmen Brandon and Will. Andrew’s parents were like James’s parents too. James graduated McKinney High and went on to enlist in the U.S. Navy with Brandon. After the Navy, James has lived many lives and had experience in pretty much everything. His focus in life are his passions -racecars, wakeboarding, helping people, puppies and Jen!
Brenda Hallabough
Mother of the Bride
Brenda is Mamma of the Bride meaning she is the reason Jen is who she is today. She has one grandson, Jackson, who is the handsom teenager usher for the event, no not the one from California.
Sunshine Stanford
Mother of the Groom
Sunshine is James birth mother who still lives in McKinney but is usually traveling the world for business or to volunteer in the Phillipines where she is from originally. James charm and entrepreneurial spirit is all thanks to Sunshine.
Richard & Debbie Hallabough
Father of the Bride / Step Mother of the Bride
Rick and Debbie have birthdays days apart-thats how close they are! Jen and James special day wouldn’t be possible without her parents. So if you meet them at the wedding, be sure to tell them how great the party is!
Mike and Jill Fish
Father and Mother of the Groom
James first met Jill and Mike while he was in high school. Not sure who adopted who but along the way, James looks to them as parents and family, now Jen does too! The crazy thing is that Jen and James parents have so much in common! Jen’s step mom and Jill were both nurses, and Jens dad and Mike both are in to wood working!
Autumn Young
Matron of Honor
Autumn Young met Jennifer through James and they have been best friends ever since. Autumn is a licensed massage therapist and full time mom to three kids, Lux (aka the Flower Girl) (8), Gavin (aka the Ring Bearer) (6) and Emry (16 months). Autumn and her husband, Russ Young, live in Allen, TX.
Andrew Bayat
Best Man
Dr. Andrew Bayat and James have been best friends since high school and the rest is history...funny history. These two have their own language when they get together. Andrew is married to Kristen who is also Jen’s bridesmaid and they have one son, Brady, who is the coin bearer. Andrew has become as much of a brother to Jen as he is to James. James is also godfather to Andre and Kristen’s son, Brady.
River Karaba
Bro of Honor
River and his wife Allison are world travelers. They recently moved from Portland, OR to Ann Arbor, Michigan. River and Jen worked together in Chicago at OMD where they bonded over hard work and heavy metal, and the occassional drive by high five that sounds more Office Spacey and less cool but it was really cool.
Brandon Melton
Groomsman
Brandon and James have been friends since high school. If there are funny shenanigans afoot it is usually Brandon-James time. Brandon and James attended the Navy together, but Brandon was the one sleeping in between shifts on ship flight decks! Brandon is a successful restaurant General Manager.
Kristen Bayat
Bridesmaid
Dr. Kristen Bayat is a lover of her family, animals and her friends. She is the reason/inspiration/excuse why Jen and James have three german shepherds! Jen and Kristen became friends through James and Andrew. Kristen is a smart, outgoing and fun loving person who has also saved Roxy’s (Jen’s german shepherd) many many times. She is also the one who found Hurley and started the german shepherd family! Kristen and Andrew have one son, Brady, who is the coin bearer.
Greg Schilder
Groomsman
Greg and James have been friends for a long time. Together they are wakeboard buddies who have learned to do all the tricks and more. Just so you know, without the bears Greg looks like Justin Thoreau!
Kelly Furlong
Bridesmaid
Kelly just graduated with her MBA from UNT. She works at a CPA, but when not crunching numbers, she is on her horse farm taking care of all of her horses, just like every Texas girl dreams of. Kelly and Jen became friends through Kelly’s fiance Josh and James, and car meets!
Nick Hallabough
Groomsman
Nick is the Jen’s older brother. Nick and his son Jackson live in Waxahachie and also have a German Shepherd, Bogie, cousin to Jen and James three pups.
Adrienne Banarer
Bridesmaid
Adrienne has a cooler instagram than you, she does! Jen also met Adrienne through James’ car buddy and Adrienne’s fiance. Adrienne is completing her degree in Interior Design and is also an amazing chef/baker, dog mom, and wedding planner extraordinare. Adrienne and her fiance Ted will be getting married on James’ birthday, 11/16/2019, so James will surely never forget to celebrate with them.
Paul Truong
Groomsman
Paul is James’ close brother...because how could you tell if they were not? Paul owns his own business and also is a mechanic. His true love is traveling to new places and having new adventures when he is not home with his cat, Buddy.
Crystal Eng
Bridesmaid
Dr. Crystal Eng is the coolest veterinarian who rides to work on an elephant. Not really but she totally could. Crystal and Jen became friends because of Kristen! One day we can all visit her dream house in Hawaii.
Will Hendrix
Groomsman
Will is a cool cat. He’s too cool for you.
Lux Young
Flower Girl
Daughter of Russ and Autumn Young (Matron of Honor) and sister to thr ring bearer, Gavin. This is Lux’s third wedding as THE flower girl. She has references and a resume and is available for hire should you need flower girl assistance for your wedding. She can also get you a good deal on ring security as well. Cute facts about Lux, this past year she got a new baby sister, and she refers to Jen and James special day as “our wedding”.
Brady Bayat
Coin Bearer
Brady was named after his grand-father and it just so HAPPENS that his dad Andrew’s favorite team is the Patroits and player is Tom Brady, total coincidence. Brady loves his mom, dad, Lolli (grandma) and his dogs. This is Brady’s first wedding so make sure to wave and say hi!
Jackson Hallabough
Usher
Jennifer’s nephew, Son of Nick Hallabough and grandchild of Brenda and Rick Hallabough.
Gavin Young
Ring Bearer
Son of Russ and Autumn Young (Matron of Honor) Gavin loves cars, his sisters, and is really in this for the cake. He takes ring security very seriously. It is unconfirmed how many types of martial arts he knows but I wouldn’t test it.
Jason Katz
Usher
Jason is friends of James and Jen who transferred from California and is stil learning the ways of Texas. Jen and James’ wedding will be Jason’s debut doing the Cupid Shuffle, the Latin Shuffle, etc. so please jump in and encourage him!