Lindsey & Jon
Wedding Party!!
Gabrielle (Gabby) Rodemeyer
Maid of Honor
Gabby and I have known each another since our first day at Marquette University. We lived kitty-corner from one another in Cobeen Hall (also known as the Nunnery) our freshman year. We became quick friends and further solidified our deep admiration for one another over trips to Starbucks to fuel up for study sessions, our mutual love of classic rock and oldies tunes, and going long walks to Lake Michigan. We shared a room our sophomore year, which set our friendship in stone. Since then, we have been one another's champions through all the new adventures life has in store for us! The number of endless laughs and heart to heart conversations we shared over the years since college have been nothing short of wonderful. Gabby is the most loving, fun and caring person. She makes any room brighter and always has a lovely thought to share. I have been beyond honored to be in her wedding (10 years ago!) and to see her and Joe raising two beautiful children, to which I am the godmother to sweet Eliza! I could not be happier to share this day with my sweet Gabby and to have her by my side. Just don't bet her on any pop culture topic, she is a trivia maven and will handily beat your best!
Tyonn Barbera
Bridesmaid
I had a great luck of having an apartment directly next to Tyonn while I was living in Dallas, TX. It was my first time living out of the State of Wisconsin and I was just starting my job with adidas. I was spending most of the first 6-8 months working and getting into the grove of adidas. I was not doing much of any socializing and my Friday nights were spent in excel spreadsheets going over account plans/ financials. However, this is where luck had its hand to play. Every now and then I would see Tyonn and Ron in the elevator, they would be going out to dinner or to see friends (I was going back to my apt to work). After a few times of these chance encounters, Tyonn and Ron where like, "alright, enough is enough! You need to come hang out with us!" I finally got my nose out of the excel files and did and it was a completely pivotal to my life in TX. From there on out, Tyonn and I were together constantly, going to fitness classes, grocery shopping at Trader Joe's, taking the girls for walks and even helping me sort through 1000's of adidas samples! Tyonn is my chosen family. She always included me when making delicious salmon or spaghettis squash dinners and certainly opened my pallet to red wine! Tyonn is the most generous, thoughtful, intelligent, and sweet person. She is a total boss in her career as pulmonary nurse practitioner and is a wonderful wife to Ron and mom to little Remington. Tyonn is beautiful inside/out and I am beyond lucky to have her in my life. <3
Andrea Gorman -soon a Minkley!
Bridesmaid
Andrea, where to begin? Andrea is technically my cousin, but we are certainly more akin to sisters having grown up with one another. We were raised in an incredibly close family who spent every holiday together (and I mean every!). If there was something to celebrate, we would all rally around Grandma and Grandpa Utschigs house where they would throw the best parties. They had a pool, tennis court, trampoline next to a basketball hoop, koi fishpond, a utility room filled with every treat imaginable, a boot box (inside joke) and a Nintendo. Their house was every kids dream and we all congregated there. We also were incredibly lucky that we lived close to one another and were able to see each other a ton during our formative years. Andrea has always been such a sweet, lovable, and tender-hearted person. I have had the honor of seeing Andrea grow from a darling young person into this completely inspiring human, whom I get so much motivation from. When you talk with Andrea, you know you are connecting on a deep and personal level. She has this ability to entrust you with her truth while also making space for you to freely speak yours at the same time in a safe space. Andrea is a leader and has paved the way for our future generations to succeed as she instructs at Marquette University. Andrea is going to marry Andrew (the BEST!) this June and is mom to Mr. Hamel. I love you and am so proud of you!
Jim Simmons
Best Man
I’ve known Jim Simmons since I was six. He was the cool High School guy dating my sister Jodi; and a couple years later he became my Brother-in-law. Over the years Jim has been responsible for introducing me to all the coolest stuff. Computer games, Star Wars, paintball, you name it and he was probably the one who got me into it. Jim has been something like a cross between a cool older brother and a great friend for as long as I can remember (Really, I met him when I was 6). Over the years I have sought out his advice, goofed around with him together, and watched each other grow up. Jim was a key ingredient in making me into the man I am today; and I can’t wait to have him by my side as I marry the love of my life!
Scott Haskins
Groomsman
I met Scott Haskins about twenty years ago when we both swam for the Ripon Community Swim Club. We were both awkward lanky country boys into computer games and Harry Potter. I am three years older than Scott, so while we had a lot in common the age difference was significant during those middle school years. But we stayed in touch and by the time Scott got into college we were good friends. One of the most pivotal moments in our relationship was at a swim practice approximately 14 years after our first. I had graduated from college at this point and Scott was in the summer between his junior and senior year. We had about twenty seconds of rest before our next 100 freestyle and I turned to him and said “Hey… wanna get into beekeeping with me this summer?” Little did either of us know that this offhanded comment would led to a business partnership and skin care business carried in over 4,000 retailers. Scott has constantly impressed me over the years with his problem-solving skills, his courage to dream big, and his bad dance moves (which you will all get to see on September 4th!)
James Wiciak
Groomsman
James Wiciak and I were in the same fraternity together at UW-Oshkosh. When we met he was the cool upperclassman who DJ’d all of the parties. Over the years I found out that when he wasn’t hosting a “banger” with Lady Gaga on near repeat he played D&D and Mario Kart. The D&D side of him was the one I could relate to with most! James joined Scott and I in our beekeeping escapades that first summer; and later went on to Cofound Bee Bella with us. James reminds me that a work/life balance is important and that you CAN host a banger of a party while playing nothing but Lady Gaga songs!
Jodi Blatner
Bridesmaid
There are people who come into your life, and you know they will be intertwined with yours forever. Jodi is one of those people. While with adidas, I moved from Dallas to Portland. Upon arriving I was introduced to Jodi and the group of incredible friends while on a wine tour (naturally) in the Willamette Valley. As a PDX crew we started hanging out constantly. Immediately I was endeared to Jodi. She is hands down the funniest person I had ever met, and she was also from the middle lol. I knew this gal and I were destined to be friends. I am always rolling with laughter from her quick jokes, hilarious sayings, and epic dance moves. While we share a similar humor, we also shared a passion for other finer things in life like running, hiking, yoga and eating Jodi’s food. Jodi is a phenomenal cook and brings us all together with her delicious creations. Over the course of the years I lived in Oregon, I moved closer and closer to Jodi, Ryan (RyGuy!) and Quimby. No joke, I started in one apartment, then moved into their same apt building and then moved in with them when they bought their first home! A real modern-day Three’s Company... “come and knock on our door”. While Jodi has an elite sense of humor, she also has the biggest heart. She is the most genuinely kind person and has a zest for life that is completely contagious. She is the person you dream about as a friend because she gives you her whole being. Simply put, she is THE BEST and I can't imagine life without her! ILYSM!