Michael & Kelsey
Wedding Party
Kirsten Steiner
Maid of Honor
Kelsey's maid of honor is her younger sister Kirsten. Kirsten is 6 years younger than Kelsey and they shared a room growing up together for 17 years. As they have gotten older, they got closer and were able to share everything from shoes, clothes, etc. When Kelsey and Michael got engaged, Kirsten was one of the first people they told and she started screaming over the phone. They can't wait to have Kirsten stand in as her sister's maid of honor.
Jack Bort
Best Man
Michael met Jack after they had both transferred in to Valpo for their sophomore year. They both had a class together where they ended up sitting next to each other. Michael had no idea what Jack's name was for two weeks and would try to look over at his paper to figure it out. Luckily, Jack has a sense of humor and Michael ended up finding out his name.
Marisa Capobianco
Bridesmaid
Marisa and Kelsey met on Day #1 of college. They were assigned as random roommates, but there was nothing random about it. Ironically, Marisa was also in the occupational therapy program with Kelsey and they had many things in common. Marisa has been through absolutely every step of college with Kelsey. Marisa was the one who helped coordinate the engagement with Michael and then popped out of the bushes after having taken pictures! Kelsey was so surprised to find out they had planned everything!
Paul Wunderlich
Groomsman
Paul was one of Michael's first good friends at Valpo. Paul lived in the same building as Michael and it turned out that they were both in the engineering program, so they had similar classes. They were also both involved in a men's Bible study on campus, which is where they became good friends and ended up deciding to live together the next year. They ended up moving off campus with Jack during senior year of college and still try to see each other when they can.
Jenna DeVries
Bridesmaid
Jenna and Kelsey first met in Kindergarten. They have known each other and been best friends for more than half their lives. Jenna and Kelsey went to school together through 8th grade and then had to go their separate ways in high school and college. The bride's most favorite memories with Jenna are going to Disney World together and spending summer weekends at Lake Geneva with both of their families. Michael and Kelsey are so happy Jenna said yes to being in their wedding!
Jacob Medema
Groomsman
Jacob is another one of Michael's good friends from college. Like with Paul, Michael and Jacob met and became friends in a men's Bible study. Junior year, he lived in the dorm room next to Michael, Paul, and Jack and was always a knock-on-the-wall away from coming over to watch TV, play video games, or just hang out.
Lauren Schilder
Bridesmaid
The first time Lauren and Kelsey met was at the beginning of junior year of college when they were both moving into their new dorm room together. They had never met prior to agreeing to live with each other (and two other suite-mates) that year. Fast forward to the day Michael and Kelsey got engaged. They were supposed to be picking Lauren up for dinner that night and ended up lying to her about why they were late to get her. Once they picked Lauren up, they both acted casual until Kelsey pulled her hand out and showed Lauren the ring. She was shocked and immediately started crying. Best reaction ever!
Collin Steiner
Groomsman
Collin is Kelsey's younger brother, who is only two years younger than she and Michael. Michael and Collin first officially met when Collin was a freshman in high school and decided to play on the golf team. Collin knew that Michael was one of his sister's friends who also played on the golf team. Throughout high school, they got to know each other through band, as well as hanging out with Kelsey. Collin and Michael both love watching the office and sometimes making fun of Kelsey together (within reason!).
Katie Bennett
Bridesmaid
Katie and Kelsey actually met during the first weekend of college at Freshman Orientation. They both lived on the same floor that year and would say hello whenever they saw each other. Then junior year Katie ended up being one of the other suite-mates of Kelsey's. After Michael and Kelsey had told Lauren about the engagement, the three of them went to go tell Katie. It took probably 10 minutes of obvious prodding to get Katie to notice Kelsey's ring. She was oblivious, but it was so funny!
Kyle Steiner
Groomsman
Kyle is Kelsey's youngest brother. He is the youngest of 4 kids in the family and he and Michael have always gotten along very well. When Kelsey and Michael started dating, Kyle was only 9 years old. They like to hang out and watch sports together or play basketball or Frisbee. Kyle is pretty excited to finally have a brother-in-law.
Katelyn Bussert
Flower Girl
Kelsey has known Katelyn since she was 4 months old. The Bussert and Steiner families are members at the same church. Kelsey began babysitting for Katelyn and her older sister Ava during the summers and ended up watching them for 5 summers in a row throughout high school and college! Katelyn has always been so sweet and Kelsey cannot wait to have her be a part of the big day!