I’ve known Steve almost his entire life. He’s two years older than me and spent most of his life borrowing me everything he owned. I’m talking clothes, shoes, bikes, necklaces (those were big in the 90s), cd’s (those too), baseball gloves, hair gel, money… Sometimes he didn’t even know he was borrowing them to me, but I considered it unfair that he was much taller, faster and stronger than me and figured he owed these things to me. Steve has been a role model and an idol of mine my whole life and in 2013, when he married Nikki, I was lucky enough to be his best man so now it’s his turn. Hopefully he’s not as nervous for the speech as I was. 😜

Sarah and I managed to get ourselves separated in just about every elementary, middle school, and high school class we ever took together, but 16 years later I’m proud to say we’ve remained best friends. We first met in the 4th grade after I moved to Oconomowoc, and I’m pretty sure we identified as BFFs the moment we found out we shared initials. The years of car karaoke sessions, lake days, and college rivalry games should be plenty of material for her epic maid of honor speech (no pressure Sarah). 😝 I’m proud to say there’s no one else I would rather have standing next to me as I ugly cry and say “I do”. 😭

David (known to some as Francis), is my next youngest brother (then come John and Joe). David is the only sibling that attended all the same schools as I did: St. Mary’s in Eden, Fond du Lac Christian, and UW-Stout. No wonder we’re both so smart. David also got engaged just a few weeks after I did and is set to get married soon as well (congrats!), bet you didn’t have that written in your 2010 time capsule did you David.. 😲

I’m so grateful to say I have sisters, especially after growing up with just one (but awesome!) brother, and that one of them is standing beside me as I become an honorary Flood girl. Although I welcomed the opportunity to visit Margaret in the gorgeous mountains of Colorado, I’m more excited about the fact that I’ll get Flood events and holidays with her in Wisconsin. 🏔💖

When I first met Garrett he was a broke little college kid with super long hair. Now look at him, all grown up! As I’ve gotten to know him over the last 3 and a half years, I quickly learned the two most important things to keep him happy are: 1) Be nice to his sister and 2) A six pack of ice cold room temperature Pabst’s Blue Ribbons. I’ve always wanted another younger brother, and I hope an abundance of the above will lead to many happy years ahead. 🍻

As my first friend at college and my longest roommate, Marta probably knows my quirks better than anyone. I’m thankful she agreed to be in my wedding, even after sharing a bunk bed with me for two years! We’ve enjoyed so many spontaneous adventures together, like that time we stole a pineapple from a college party and carried it two miles home. Marta has supported me through the emotional roller coaster of college and post-graduation, and has been a loving godmother to my cat, Paris. 🤗😽

Sawinski and I met at Stout during my sophomore year at track practice. At first we bonded over the terrible feeling of running 200’s, and after that we grew to be great friends, drinking buddies, roommates, and luckily have remained friends after college. To prove how good of friends we are; we saw Brett Favre and the Vikings lose to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers at Lambeau together, and he was so sad afterwards there was a small part of me that wished the Vikings would have just won the game. 💚 💛🏈

Morgan and I were first united through our part time jobs at Abercrombie & Fitch during our sophomore year of college, and it wasn’t long before we became close friends and roommates. We’ve laughed together, we’ve cried together, both usually in yoga pants over a glass of wine. I’m also thankful to know that on my wedding day, I can count on her to do coordinated dance moves with me all night and always make sure my lip gloss is flawless. 💃💋

Josh and I go about as far back as it gets. We grew up in Eden together, we played on the same baseball teams, basketball teams, we had wheely competitions (which I hold the record for) and we even built a certified BMX track in my back yard. Not like a little BMX track, this was a dirt jump haven, I’m pretty sure we were world famous for it.. those were the days! If we weren’t riding bikes, playing Dave Mira, basketball in the truck shed (parties in the truck shed too), then we were hanging out in his basement making as much noise as we could to make his dad mad. We even went as far as to get matching tatoos as soon as we could afford to get one. F.O.G. Josh is one of my best and oldest friends, and even if we can’t ride wheelies quite as far as we once could, I hope we remain this way. 🚴🏻‍♂️🍻

Although we didn’t meet till the very end of college, I knew right away that Emily and I would be lifelong friends. She might as well have been roommates with Marta, Morgan, and I, because I’m in disbelief there was ever a time she wasn’t around. With the kindest heart and fiercest love for her friends and family, Emily is always willing to listen to me vent over a glass of wine. She is the only person who has managed to get me to sign up and actually finish a 5K, and I’m not ashamed to admit she is a MUCH better runner than I am. 🏃‍♀️💜

Jack and I met on the Stout track team, even though Jack was a pole vaulter and I was a sprinter, two groups that did not normally mingle together. One thing I tell Jack I take a lot of credit for, is finding him his wife, Natalie, whom he met during a party at my house during college (you’re welcome Jack and Natalie). Also, I take credit for convincing him to move back from Paris because A) he couldn’t speak French and B) how were we supposed to be friends if you lived there? 🇫🇷

The first time I met Natalie was at her wedding rehearsal dinner (she’s married to Jack, one of our groomsmen!), when Sam first started introducing me to his friends. Years later, I’m still so disappointed that I missed your big day, but am so lucky to call you a friend and bridesmaid. I love how we’ve bonded over hungover Alchemy and brunch Saturdays, summer cabin weekends, and of course, our boys’ silly antics. And thank you for continuing to invite me to New Years…😉🔥

Jon and I go all the way back to our FCS days in 7th grade. When we first met, we were both joining new schools and on the very first day his mom came up to me and said “Hey, you. You’re in charge of my little boy. Don’t you dare let him get picked on or beat up.” However, I was one of the smallest kids in history, so she maybe could have picked better? Or maybe she knew that I also liked staying up all night playing video games, chugging sodas and eating pizza, playing football in the yard, and going to Packer games. 🎮🍕 🏈

Barista buddies at an on-campus Starbucks and classmates in what came to be a very unproductive psychology class led Megan and I to a goofy but supportive friendship through college and after. Our appreciation of coffee, art museums, and 90's pop culture has kept us close over the years through the good and the bad, and there’s never a dull moment thanks to her incredible sense of humor and comedic talents! 🎤👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩