Sarah & Matthew
Wedding Party
Rebecca Williamson
Maid of Honor
Rebecca is the younger sister of the bride and is Sarah’s only and favorite sibling. Contrary to popular belief, the sisters are NOT twins. Throughout their lives together they have had many adventures playing in the yard, taking trips, or even just doing homework together. Sometimes fighting, other times giggling, but always loving each other. They may go a while without seeing each other but they text all the time.
Liz McIntyre
Bridesmaid
Liz became friends with Sarah in 2007. They met in Spanish 101 at Richland Community College, when the professor said 'find a group'. From there they became fast friends. She is 1/3 of the ‘3 Musketeers'. Whether running around campus, taking a trip, or talking for hours on the phone, Liz is always willing to help her friends. Liz lives in Indy with her husband Chad.
Erin Smith
Bridesmaid
Erin also became friends with Sarah in 2007 in the same Spanish class when group work was assigned. Erin completes the ‘Musketeer’ trio. They have had lots of fun together throughout college at Richland and at EIU where they both transferred to. Whether on the occasional road trip, shopping, or phone call, she is always ready to cheer up her friends. Erin lives in Texas with her husband Zach.
Alyssa Zukowski
Bridesmaid
Alyssa became Sarah’s roommate at EIU in spring of 2009. They had lots of fun together whether they were being silly or picking flowers in the dark around campus. After graduation, both girls stayed in touch and Sarah was able to visit Alyssa when she lived in Denver, CO. Alyssa now lives in Northern Illinois with her husband Will and their daughter Miriam.
Sarah (Vespa) Peters
Bridesmaid
Sarah is Matthew’s little sister. They met each other a few months after Sarah and Matt began dating. While it has been a hectic year for both Sarahs, they have managed to meet for coffee, visit a Christmas craft show, and hang out at family events together. Both are looking forward to knowing each other more. Sarah lives in the Springfield area with her husband Greg and 4 children.
Nick Vespa
Best Man
Nick is Matt’s oldest brother. Whether it’s sports, electrical stuff, Physics, computer programming, rocking out in a band…you name it, many of Matt’s interests stemmed from watching his oldest brother and wanting to be like him. Matt always felt cool when Nick and his friends, who affectionately referred to Nick as “Vespa”, let Matt (“littlest Vespa”) hang around. These days, Nick’s still teaching Matt a lot…like how to absolutely kill it at the Pinewood Derby with his boys. He’s currently living in the Chatham, IL with his wife, Jen, and their three children: Benjamin and David (the pinewood derby racers), and Clara Jane.
Luke Vespa
Best Man
Matt’s other older brother, Luke has also been a great source of friendship and inspiration in Matt’s life. Through many years and events, Luke’s been there as a source of encouragement and a voice of reason. Matt got to spend many hours with Luke and his friends, playing Judy Barr Topeka (an epic foam Frisbee game invented by the Vespa brothers in the basement of their Springwood house) and frequenting Salvation Army stores. Matt and Luke even attended graduate school together at SIUC, where they had some great adventures climbing at Jackson Falls and the Holy Boulders. They still reminisce and dream about more adventures together, as Luke lives in Springfield with his wife, Lindsey, and their three boys: Michael, Montgomery, and MacGregor.
Jason Ishmael
Groomsman
The oldest of Matt’s friendships, the two met in the 5th grade. Jason was new to Little Flower and the two…well, actually didn’t hit it off immediately. Matt was secretly angry that another “smart kid” had arrived to challenge him. But even then, Matt proved to be incredibly gracious and charitable, allowing a friendship to grow…lol. But seriously, though never living in the same town after the age of 13, they’ve only grown closer over the years. While Matt was in grad school at SIUC, Jason was pastoring a church in West Frankfort, IL. This proximity allowed for many lunches and dinners where Jason and his wife, Brittney, blessed Matt with much better food than his typical Ramen and green beans. Jason and Brit now live in Oswego, IL with their four children.
Ross Kennedy
Groomsman
Stemming from a bad experience turned blessing, Matt and Ross met in the summer preceding their 7th grade year, playing basketball together. They were thick as thieves after that. So many nights were spent hanging out...at the pools where each lifeguarded, mall-ratting, or just chilling in the basement. Then, one crazy day, Matt learned that Ross and Jason had also, separately, become close friends. The three have remained ridiculously close (emphasis on “ridiculous”) ever since. Interestingly enough, when Matt was in grad school at the other Southern (SIUE), Ross and his wife Cynthia also fed the destitute, Ramen-eating Matt. He’s probably only alive today because of his friends and their wives. Ross now lives in the Columbus, OH area with Cynthia and their four children.
Philip Scharf
Groomsman
Though Matt and Phil met in high school, Phil was three years older, so they didn’t really get to know each other until that fateful Monday morning when Matt walked into his first ever college class, Political Science with John Vinzant. Knowing no one else in the room, there sat Phil, with an open seat next to him that God had reserved for Matt. Over the next several years, the two grew incredibly close over countless hours listening to music and playing ping pong, driving cabinets of roller skates across Illinois and Missouri, and cooking steaks at the State Fair. They’ve even spent some time adventuring and bouldering together in Southern Illinois (and spending WAAYYY too long cooking breakfast…angry emoji)…lol. Today, Phil lives in Kansas City with his wife, Christine.