The Wedding Party

The Bride's side

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Kara H.
Co-Maid of Honor

Kara is Kate's younger sister by 4 years and is a country girl through and through (unlike Kate whose idea of "roughing it" is a Holiday Inn with an outdoor swimming pool. Okay, not really that bad. It's more like sleeping in a tent with an air mattress, port-o-potties, and outdoor showers. Ryan plans to slowly wean Kate into camping - good luck!). Kara and Kate weren't always close growing up, as sisters often times will bicker over silly things (like who borrowed/stole that favorite shirt). But as they've gotten older, they've grown closer as they've found more and more common ground. Kara is studying to a veterinary technician so she can spend all her working hours being around what she loves most - animals. In the meantime, she jokes that she is patiently waiting for prince charming to swoop in and carry her away on a white horse... but she'd prefer a John Deere.



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Talina R.
Co-Maid of Honor

Talina is one of Kate's oldest friends! She is currently an elementary school teacher in Minneapolis and loves her students! They met in high school and became especially close during their first track season together. Both Talina and Kate excelled in school and running. This manifested the creation of their nickname for each other 'the quick chicks' because they were quick on their feet and fast to answer questions in school (okay, a little dorky but give them a break - they were only 16!). Their mutual friend Matt (also in the wedding party) has teased them about this for as long as they both can remember. But this just made Talina and Kate use the nickname phrase more often. It even started the tradition of giving each other cute little baby chick trinkets over the years! Talina was also a huge component of Kate's addiction to donuts as the two of them would graze on donuts several times a month. Stopping by the local bakery to catch up (and maybe even gossip) soon became a tradition! Talina is the kind of friend you know you can always count on and has a heart of gold. She was a big part of Kate's support system when she transferred schools, and without her love and support, Kate's transition would have been extremely difficult. They stayed especially close through college, visiting each others' stomping grounds, spending holidays together, and visiting various states on adventures! They've visited the state of Tennessee twice together -- once for a mission trip and another for an impulsive new years eve trip! They soon became friends with each others college friends and their old lives slowly blended together with their new lives. They've grown and changed through the years, but their friendship has remained as strong as ever!



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Kira L.

Kira was one of Kate's very first friends when she moved to Sycamore! She has happily been working in the Human Resources department for a local school district for the last three years. They became close the summer after their sophomore year in high school after they both realized their personalities and interests were incredibly similar. They bonded over their shared love of writing and the importance of being honest with other people (and yourself). Kira is the only person Kate knows that loves her MacBook as much as she does (and that is a feat)! In the era of blogs and open diaries, Kira and Kate ruled the Internet (okay, not really - but they were pretty attached to blogging and their many blog subscribers).  Kate has always joked that Kira is like her "Dear Alice" because she knows she can always count on Kira to provide an honest, open-minded perspective - even if it results in a "laugh-cry" (if you've never witnessed the "laugh-cry", this is where Kate somehow is capable of laughing and crying simultaneously. Catalysts have included AP Physics and AP Chemistry). While Kate cannot imagine her wedding without Kira being a part of it, a little miracle might prevent Kira from attending. Kira is expecting her first born (with a due date just a few days before Kate and Ryan tie the knot!), so her attendance will be unknown until the very last second! Kate is so excited for her and knows she is going to be a fabulous Mom!





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Matt N.

Matt is also one of Kate's oldest friends! Matt has been with BestBuy for the past two years and was recently offered a management position. Kate met Matt in high school and they became close her junior year. Matt was without a doubt, one of the best friends Kate could ever ask for! When excessive running resulted in Kate stress-fracturing her left and right legs to the point she was wheelchair ridden, Matt offered to pick her up and drive her to school every day since she couldn't drive. They even decided to go to their senior prom together because they would have rather gone with each other as friends than had an awkward date with a random person. Matt has always watched out for Kate like a big brother through the years, and when asked, provided her with his candid opinion. Over the course of Ryan's and Kate's six year relationship, Ryan and Matt have become friends as well. The only down side to this is now they team up to tease her! When Kate first asked Matt to be a part of her wedding party, he was slightly hesitant as it isn't exactly in the norm for a male to be in a bridal party. Kate explained that she couldn't imagine Matt not being a part of her wedding party because he has been there for her unconditionally through the years in the same way her other bridesmaids have been. She told him it would mean a lot to her and Ryan, so Matt obviously accepted. So, here's to new traditions!



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Becky T.

Becky and Kate became friends their sophomore year of college! Becky is a nurse practitioner in Lexington and loves her career! Becky and Kate met when their mutual friends planned a spring break extravaganza and invited the two of them to come vacation in Florida. They didn't know each other before spending that week together, but their mutual friends insisted they would instantly become friends because they were so similar. They were right! Becky and Kate bonded over their shared love of running, but also their yearning to live in a bigger city... okay, maybe just a bigger campus. Becky and Kate were roommates the last two years of college with Tara (another bridesmaid), and they joke that they might not survived those last two years without each other. Becky was the "mom" of their little apartment (although she referred to herself as the "grandma"). Always the level-headed one, equipped with essential advice! They never were ones to get in trouble, although their senior year, they were scolded by residence life for having candles in their university apartment... and they may or may not have "dog-sat" for a friend for an extended period of time (definitely a no-no for on-campus living). Now that they're older, they hope one day they will live closer to each other so their families can grow up together, or at the very least, vacation together! Becky and Kate recently traveled to South Africa together for Tara's wedding, and know they have many more adventures that lie ahead of them!



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Tara W.

Tara and Kate became friends their freshman year of college! Tara is currently living in George, South Africa and works as an English instructor/tutor. She recently had her wedding ceremony there and Kate fell in love with the beautiful scenery (no wonder Tara lives there!). When Kate transferred mid-semester her freshman year to the University of Evansville, she had a hard time meeting people (true story). Tara was in her Spanish class and they partnered up for the silly assignments their professor assigned. At the time, Tara had an eyebrow ring, and Kate thought that instantly made Tara pretty cool. They hung out throughout the rest of that semester and became close their sophomore year. When Kate studied abroad in Australia, Tara was studying abroad in South Africa. She quickly became Kate's life-line for many of the emotions she was experiencing being so far away because Tara was experiencing them as well! Kate feels so blessed to have had her as a friend during that time in her life. Tara's care-free soul always brings out the best in everyone and her Bohemian style is something few can pull off (Kate she wishes she could!). Although one time, Tara inspired Kate to convert a long flowing skirt into a shirt - it was fabulous! If Tara ever considers a dual career, fashion designer could be an option! Similar to Becky and Kate, Tara yearned for a bigger city/campus, so the three of them stuck together - and plan to stick together for many years to come!



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Katelyn M.

Katelyn and Kate met during graduate school! Katelyn is currently an Associate Population Biologist at Lincoln Park Zoo and loves creating survival plans for so many species! Although the two of them have only been friends for three years, it seems like ten years! Right off the bat, Katelyn and Kate clicked and became close almost immediately. Their experiences in undergraduate school were similar and even their family background was similar! Even though they worked/studied in the same building, they would spend hours chatting on the phone every day. Every month (when Kate would go over her cell phone minute allowance), Ryan would ask "Where do all your minutes go???" Kate would always reply with some variation of "Um... Katelyn," followed by Ryan's "She lives right down the street! Walk over to her house and talk to her there, crazy!" He had a point. :) Katelyn and Kate quickly earned the nickname "the Kates" because where one was, the other was as well. While they each wrote their thesis, they provided support for each other and encouragement when they felt like throwing in the towel. Now that they both have graduated with their M.S. degrees, they still talk almost every day on their drive to work or on the way home. Only this time, Kate finally listened to Ryan and upgraded to the "fav five" plan - including Katelyn on it to save Ryan's sanity. They refer to each other's pets, Sydney and Darwin, as their 'niece' and 'nephew'. One day when Ryan and Kate have a family of their own, Katelyn will have another 'niece' or 'nephew' because they know she'll be a big part of their lives for years to come!




The Groom's side

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Eric A.
Best Man

Eric has been Ryan’s brother for the last 25 years.  Growing up they would play nicely together, and minutes later, Ryan would be in a head-lock.  Eric would do anything he could to irritate Ryan.  This would end in Eric’s finger being slammed in a door, resulting in fracture.  This would be followed up later by Eric opening the van’s sliding door and slamming it into Ryan’s forehead.  Eventually, they grew out of this back and forth bickering and fighting.  They are now best friends and will remain that way forever.  It is unfortunate that they don't live near each other because they miss out on many opportunities to spend time together.



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Russell H.

Russell is many things.  He is a friend from college.  He is a third member of Kate and Ryan’s household on many weekends.  He is also their dog Sydney’s uncle, “Uncle Russ,” kind of like Uncle Buck.  He coined Sydney's nickname of “Sydners."  Sydners does not like her kennel, which Kate named “house”.  Sydners reacts by turning her head away, and sometimes hiding.  Uncle Russ now incorporates the word “house” into all of his sentences to tease Sydners.  An example is, “My favorite show is HOUSE.” "My favorite song is "She's a Brick HOUSE."  Ryan and Russell share matching wardrobes and plan accordingly to annoy Kate.  They are experts at singing karaoke favorites such as “What a Fool Believes” and “Part-time lover."

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Nick B.

Nick is Ryan’s friend from college.  They had a lot of fun in college, typically procrastinating instead of studying.  They both encouraged each other to “study later” even when the test was the next day.  They also took their textbooks to Starbucks late at night to study.  This resulted in more procrastinating with scenery different than what campus had to offer.  While many would say they were bad study buddies……they would agree.  Somehow, they both managed to graduate on time and with good grades.  Ryan and Nick always had a good time together because everything that was said was lighthearted and in good fun.

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Scott S.

Scott is Ryan’s friend from high school.  Ryan and Scott became friends through other friends, and over time realized that they had a lot in common and became very close.  While in college they did their best to stay that way.  Scott visited Ryan in Evansville for a party at his fraternity, where Scott did many things, including wearing a snorkel on land.  Ryan visited Scott in Ames and proceeded to attempt to place him in a trash can on a main street.  He also attempted to wrestle Scott to the ground in front of his apartment late at night despite the fact that Scott is trained in mixed martial arts. Scott now lives in the San Diego area.  Ryan cannot wait to visit during the winter months next year.

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Brian B.

Brian and Ryan rhyme.  They were also roommates all through college, where they were always up to shenanigans.  Favorite afternoon activities included watching “The Flavor of Love” with Mr. Boston…..who was a second version of Brian.  They would also have EPIC Mario Kart 64 GP races (that is a video game).  Anyone living in their house remembers and despised that game.  Ryan definitely won more races than Brian, but Brian lies to everyone about his "winning streak."  Ryan also reaped the benefits of Brian becoming the fraternity president because they lived in the presidential suite.

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Chris G.

Chris is Ryan’s friend from graduate school.  They both share the same dislike for the university they attended together; however, that didn’t change the fun that they had.  Mondays nights were spent in class.  After class they would watch the MTV hit, The Hills, followed by a trip to Hardees for a greasy cheeseburger.  Ryan braved the chili cheese thick burger despite Chris’s warnings.  Chris truly was a good friend, Ryan should have listened.  When not stuffing their faces or watching worthless television they could be found riding miniature bicycles around campus.






The Ushers

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Heath T.

Heath and Ryan met in college.  Heath’s last name is Tuley and he will now be referred to as such.  Tuley has always been the “nice guy” and therefore is occasionally the butt of jokes.  “Tuley” became a play on words with many of our friends.  We replace many words with his name.  An example is, “Hey!  No running on the deck!  This Tuley Pooley has Rulies!”  He also is known to communicate with phrases such as “uh”, “yeah, uh”, and “I totally forgot what I was going to say.”  However, he did finish law school near the top of his class, making him much smarter than all of his friends.

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Chris B.

Chris met Kate in grad school, and like Kate and Katelyn, they quickly became close friends. Chris protected Kate from danger, and soon Kate and Katelyn started referring to him as their "bodyguard". They later shared an office where she pestered him daily and he instigated her coffee addiction due to his need for 1pm coffee breaks. Chris then met Ryan when he came to visit one weekend and realized the two of them had a lot in common as well - particularly their shared love of vinyl and good scotch. Kate brought her guitar to grad school, but wasn't very good at playing it. Chris, on the other hand, was much better and named her guitar Stella. Thanks to Chris, Stella got her groove back and Ryan always knew he had a scotch sipping buddy.