Clare & Michael
Wedding Party
Erin Looser
Matron of Honor
Clare and Erin met their freshman year at the University of Dayton. They quickly became fast friends and became roommates for the rest of their UD years. Erin currently works as an HR Generalist and aspires to become an HR Manager one day. She is expecting her first child, with her husband Tyler, in May of 2023. In her down time, Erin enjoys watching RomComs and Action Films, cuddling with her dog, Murphy, and lovingly reminding Clare of all her most embarrassing moments.
Haley Ploucha
Maid of Honor
Clare and Haley first met when they lived two doors down from each other in Stuart Hall at the University of Dayton. Haley earns a living creating marketing emails for a national bank that everyone probably deletes or marks as spam. If she takes a break from the dance floor, be sure to strike up a conversation about unsolved mysteries, Benedict Cumberbatch, or the time the Dayton Fire Department made a house call because of her banana bread.
Megan Salamun
Bridesmaid
Megan is Mike’s younger sister, she currently lives in Boston, MA with her cute pup Sadie. She loves traveling, relaxing at the beach, and can make a dangerously good espresso martini. She is excited to have a sister like Clare added to the family. At the wedding, you will find her by the bar or dragging you to the dance floor.
Taylor Ruffin
Bridesmaid
Clare and Taylor first crossed paths on Facebook, as “Facebook Clare” took the time to “friend” everyone on her college dorm room floor before moving in. Taylor would make sure Clare got her work done and tried to make sure Clare stayed out of trouble (even though it seemed to be her middle name back then). It worked out - Clare and Taylor lived together all four years at the University of Dayton. Taylor currently works in Digital Health at Eli Lilly, but started her career as a Lead Product Manager for alien relations (or augmented/virtual reality) for the Department of Defense. Taylor loves to travel to new countries, eat her way through new cities, judge the homes selected in House Hunters, and swoon over Pride & Prejudice (or any period piece).
Renae Smith
Bridesmaid
My name is Renae Smith and I'm blessed to have known Clare my entire life. Our mom's were friends and pregnant at the same time - Clare was born just 12 days before me. Our friendship has gone from playing with barbies and dancing in the living room to two adults who cherish the friendship we've been able to develop over the years. She has always been a pillar of faith, unwavering love, and friendship in my life and I'm so thankful to call her my friend. I am so excited to see her start this next chapter with the love of her life by her side!
Kateri Dillon
Bridesmaid
Kateri Dillon has been a friend of the bride since their high school days at Chaminade Julienne. She and Clare especially cherish memories of leading summer retreats together on Indian Lake. Kateri is now a graduate student at the University of Dayton, concentrating on Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and is thrilled to stand with Clare as she marries the love of her life.
Dani Ondreka
Bridesmaid
Clare and Dani have been friends for over 10 years, meeting first for the first time at the University of Dayton, where they sat next to each other on the very first day of class in BIO151. They became fast friends, but really cemented their relationship when they wrote and performed an acoustic cover of "No Diggity" on the topic of evolution. They've stayed in touch since graduation, and especially love going out for dinners and drinks, attending Cubs games, and crashing bachelor parties.
Rebecca Siar
Bridesmaid
Clare was Becca's first friend in Chicago, as they were connected by a mutual friend when Becca moved into the city in August 2017. They have been best friends ever since, making many memories together and taking advantage of all that Chicago has to offer. They are both well-connected in many Chicago Catholic Young Adult communities and have a mutual love for Jesus, Broadway musicals, brunch, and dogs! :)
Andrew Lishko
Best Man
Andrew lives in Chandler, Arizona with his wife of eight years, Danielle, and their four children. Like Mike, he works as an attorney in private practice. Andrew met Mike during their freshman year at the University of Arizona, where Andrew was Mike's "big bro" in the fraternity and later his roommate. He is honored to be Mike's best man.
Daniel Potyrala
Groomsman
Danny is the younger brother of the bride. He has come to know Michael through Clare. He has come to know Mike more personally throughout the years.
Matthew Salamun
Groomsman
Being the younger brother to Mike I always had big shoes to fill. I have so many memories of us gaming, cooking, working out, and movie watching. I could not have asked for a better big brother or role model growing up. So excited to be able to be next to you as you start this amazing journey.
Peter Busch
Groomsman
I met Mike at the St. Alphonsus Men's Group, and we became friends due to our shared interests and the fact that our girlfriends (now wife/fiance) were friends. From roomba fights during Covid, to my bachelor party in Louisville, I have always enjoyed smoking a cigar and drinking whiskey with Mike. We can always get lost on a topic of serious discussion like faith and politics, or just how amazing the Ride of the Rohirrim was in Lord of the Rings.
Marcin Chojnowski
Groomsman
Michael and Marcin met through St. Alphonsus Catholic Men’s Group in Chicago. Setting aside Michael’s fandom of the Green Bay Packers, they bonded over being Men of faith, sharing good beers and bourbons, and an interest in tech of the future (think artificial intelligence and Star Wars).
Kurt Lawton
Groomsman
Kurt and Michael met in the Spring of 2007 as members of the same pledge class for their Fraternity. They lived next to each other in the fraternity house for the next two years. Michael and Kurt also have the bond of being lawyers, as both of them decided law school and family law was a good idea. Kurt was really late on LOTR but Michael welcomed him with open arms, Kurt lives in Georgia and despite being thousands of miles apart Michael and he have remained close after all these years.
Josh Rogers
Groomsman
The Other Captain America: Two men both dressed up as Captain America for Halloween - sounds like the opening line of a joke but turned out to be one of the greatest moments of solidarity throughout their friendship. Michael and Josh met at St Alphonsus Men’s Group in 2019 where their first conversations involved everything Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ever since then, both captains teamed up and embarked on many great adventures together from weekend excursions up in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Lincoln Park Zoo Lights, a Louisville Bachelor Party, and countless, wonderful memories spending time with their closest friends.
Kevin McCarthy
Groomsman
I met Mike in ‘02 on one of our first days of high school. We got to know each other running through the canals of downtown Arizona during the summer and survived difficult times through all-night study sessions for AP exams.