When her little sister was brought home from the hospital, Laura stared into the bassennette and asked “Can I pet it?” and thus, an unbreakable bond was formed. The two grew up creating elaborate storylines while playing barbies and china dolls, watching the Olson twins’ movies on repeat, mastering the Zelda Ocarina of Time on N64, and trying to hang on as their father whipped them around a lake on a water tube. Julie is hilarious (obviously) and almost anytime they are together, will make Laura laugh so hard she cries. Laura could not ask for a more amazing sister and is incredibly proud to have Julie as her Maid of Honor.

Julie currently lives in Los Angeles with her partner Kevin and works as a massage therapist.

Bill and Wil first met at an age when neither of them could even form memories, though over the last four decades they have done just that time and time again. They grew up across the street from one another in Clinton, Iowa, immediately forming a tight friendship. When Wil moved across town they would bike back and forth to one another’s house, spending the weekend playing Pools of Radiance on Wil’s Commodore 64 while holding contests to see who could fit the most Red Hots in their mouth. They also shared a love of YMCA soccer, even though after the move they were on separate teams.

In the 4th grade, they both joined orchestra (Bill on the violin, Wil on the viola) which allowed them to goof around together despite attending different schools. Their shared loyalty and sense of humor helped them stay close while taking divergent paths for a few years after high school, until eventually sharing an apartment with a few friends at Iowa State University. It was here that Wil met his wife, and Bill was honored to be the Best Man at their wedding. He is very much excited to return the favor and have such a compassionate and dedicated friend stand with him in Italy. Just watch out for Traps.

Wil currently resides outside of St. Louis with his wife Gina and their two soccer-loving kids, Gavin and Thomas.

During the first week of college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Laura entered the dorm room across from hers to ask Jen “Were you at Badger Girls State last year?”. Little did Laura know that this girl with the giant smile and who exudes friendliness, would become one of her nearest and dearest for the last fifteen years. The following year, Jen and Laura were roommates in the newly built Smith dorm building. They regularly scheduled nap time and ate copious amounts of Tostitos queso while sitting on the floor in what was dubbed “Chips and Cheese time”. Even though they have often lived across the country from each other, they have made time to see each other - whether it is Laura stopping at Jen’s house on a roadtrip to Los Angeles, adventuring in Las Vegas, many facetimes between the two of them and Jen’s children or at the semi-annual Estrogenfest weekends. Jen is an incredibly kind, enthusiastic person and Laura has always valued her insightful advice on all of life’s challenges and surprises. Jen is a fantastic, life-long friend and Laura is so excited to have Jen stand with her during her wedding.

Jen currently lives in Colorado with her husband Jeff and two children, Iris and Emerson

Jordan Whalen grew up in Ames, IA where he attended Iowa State University. Bill did not grow up in Ames, IA, but he did attend Iowa State University where he and Jordan first met in a Script Analysis class. A shared passion for theatre grew into a close friendship where the two would play darts, read plays, and watch football. Bill had the great fortune to perform in darts, read plays, and watch football. Bill had the great fortune to perform in multiple plays with Jordan, including personal favorites Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin and Take Me Out by Richard Greenberg. Be sure to ask Jordan about the night that Take Me Out was interrupted during their scene together. Jordan’s exuberance for life, absurd sense of humor, and unending heart are among the numerous reasons why Bill is excited to have Jordan at his side in Italy. And they’ll always have the top of the Empire State Building.

Jordan currently resides in the Big Apple, NYC, with his co-star Elizabeth.

At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Meaghan lived across the hall from Laura in the Witte Dorm and was the first person to invite Laura to any event on campus, the new freshmen orientation festival at the Memorial Union. Meaghan has introduced Laura many things including being the first person to make Laura a drink (a classic screwdriver), show Laura how to make a tank top into a skirt, and how to take the best photo with a group of male dancers at the Thunder from Down Under in Las Vegas. Laura has always admired Meaghan’s passion and dedication to her career (doctor!), her friends and her family. She is always up for an adventure (like visiting Laura in New York), a great dancing partner at a bar and the best support person in any situation. Laura feels very grateful to count Meaghan as one of her closest friends and Laura is so happy to have Meaghan join her in Italy for such an important day.

Meaghan lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Justin, and her two daughters, Elinor and Josephine

In the 6th grade, Bill joined the Talented and Gifted program (brag) and with a group of friends built a presentation on UFOs and extraterrestrial life. There he met another student from his school with a big laugh who performed a scene about ancient Egypt. It wasn’t long before the two were watching The State and playing Dungeons and Dragons. In high school, Scott was a key player in convincing Bill to join theatre. In college he did much the same, giving Bill the idea to transfer from being an English major at Iowa to a Theatre major at Iowa State. They spent all the years in between laughing, creating, and laughing. Also more laughing. Scott is a fiercely intelligent friend, comedian, and co-conspirator to the great theft of the Shut Up Bell. Bill could not ask for a better friend to be with him as he the Shut Up Bell. Bill could not ask for a better friend to be with him as he gets married.

Scott has fulfilled his destiny of becoming a Mountain Man, living in Pagosa Springs, CO with his wife Karisa and their three children Grayson, Theo, and Gus. He skis with Speed, Control, and Agility.

One fateful morning during the first week of college, Laura walked into Jen and Meaghan’s dorm room and discovered a new friend asleep on their futon. Having become friends with Jen while working at a summer camp the previous summer, Steph was introduced to Laura as her camp name “Sparrow”, and for the first few months of their friendship that is what Laura called her too. Steph and Laura became close friends and during their Junior year, lived together in the Round House. For both of them, this was their first apartment. It was a semester of The West Wing, listening to Imogene Heap on repeat and discussing the complicated nature of boys and dating. But this would not be the only time they lived together. Almost ten years later, they would rejoin in Chicago and live together for three years. It was a time of laughter, crafts, making new friends and strangely enough, discussing the complicated nature of boys and dating. Steph has been one of Laura’s greatest confidants and the morning after her first date with Bill, it was to Steph that Laura whispered, “He might be the one..” while trying to hide a giant smile. Laura has always admired Steph’s perspective, advice, creativity and ability to adapt. Laura is very thankful to have Steph in her life, in the same city and now in Italy to represent at her wedding.

Steph currently lives in Chicago with her partner, Andy.

In the 7th grade, Bill was cast as an extra in a school production of Oliver, his first true foray into theatre. One of his small roles was stirring the pot of gruel that Oliver wishes to have more of - Mr. Bumble, the manager of the orphanage shocked by such an outrageous request, was played by Jeff. They struck up a friendship over many mutual loves of music, theatre, Dungeons & Dragons, disc golf, karaoke, and more. Bill and Jeff lived together at Iowa State where Jeff’s talent, creativity, and wit kept them laughing through college. And it was at Jeff’s apartment where the two started gathering for near-weekly board game meetups, which ignited a passion that helped Bill get a dream job with Avalon Hill. He is very proud and thankful to have Jeff stand with him on his wedding day. Perhaps they’ll even see a UFO again.

Jeff currently dominates the karaoke scene in Chicago, IL with his wife Megan and their two children, Milo and Maren.