The Party
Kaleigh Rae
Bride
Vincent Michael
Groom
Carrie Franczyk
Maid of Honor
You can't find anyone more genuine than Carebear. On top of that, she is one of the funniest people I know, and I know funny. She loves exploring cities to find the yummiest bites and drinks and aside from our beloved Chicago, New York is probably her favorite. As her former roommate, I know that she loves spicy food, OutKast and keeping her home bright (like her stunning blonde hair) and colorful. Make her a paloma or margarita and she might become your best friend, too! Also, if you know a kitty cat who needs a home, Carrie is in the market!
Dan Warner
Best Man
Warner has been around the Riscossa household since 4th grade. We grew up attached at the hip but an amazing work opportunity moved him to Wichita, KS several years ago. He and his wife, Maggie, love to party with their son in the Lake of the Ozarks. I can't count on him to be caught up on the best and newest TV shows but I can count on him for anything and everything else. Invite him out for a round of golf and hand him a cold Bud Light and he'll be a happy guy!
Stephanie Giovannini
Bridesmaid
Steph has a heart of gold, big personality (even bigger hair) and has risked her life more than a few times floating on a river. From our time at the University of Iowa to the years we lived together in Chicago, we made memories and could (but shouldn't) tell stories for days. to this day, I've never met someone like Steph and I cherish our one-of-a-kind friendship. She and her wife, Francesca, love a themed party and if you ever need ideas for mocktails, she's your gal!
Dan Gimre
Groomsman
Without fail, at every get together, party, or golf outing I can count on Gimre to do something wacky and wild! Thanks to Warner for introducing me to all of his soccer buddies, Gimre and I have known each other since high school. He went to the University of Iowa and has lived in Iowa with his wife, Jenna, and 3 kids since graduating. Even though he lives in Iowa I still get to hangout with him a couple times a week when we game online. Ask him about the cocktails he makes in his big plastic tupperware bowls, he claims they're delicious!
Marie McGing
Bridesmaid
Marie Dowd McGing is the gift that just keeps on giving. By day, she's a wonderful new mom and exceptional high school English teacher, but by night she's still just the charming and sarcastic girl that my brother brought home before I was even old enough to drive. She may have been annoyed that I crashed her Senior Prom as a Sophomore but I made up for it by being the best student any teacher could ask for. She taught me everything I know about swearing and drinking!
Michael McGing
Groomsman
Having an older brother like Michael comes with an immeasurable amount of benefit. I learn something new from him whenever we talk, and he makes sure of it! I've seen him make a perfectly clear ice cube for my old fashioned, take a dead Christmas tree out of the house without getting pine needles everywhere and because he's our father’s son, I've learned there isn't a single thing that can't be mounted to a wall. He's stupid funny, wicked smart and I have the spreadsheets to prove how organized he is. Maybe, if you ask him nicely, he'll sing you something from the heart or play you a tune on his guitar.
Mae Lin McGing
Bridesmaid
I love that my younger sister is trendier than me. Mae Lin's creativity knows no bounds and if you see her out at a show or getting Korean BBQ in Chinatown chances are she's wearing an original piece she made in her bedroom. I'm 11 years older than Mae, and being a role model or having the feeling of a younger sister looking up to me (literally) has been one of my greatest joys. As the years go by though, I find myself learning more and more from her. If you're a night owl, not a fan of TikTok but a big fan of Doctor Who, chances are you and Mae would be friends!
Connor McGing
Groomsman
Connor is smart and kindhearted, he also takes being a lover of art to the next level. I'm so proud of his passion to support underground and local art. Whether he's listening to it live or hearing it for the first time on vinyl, he really takes advantage of all that Chicago has to offer. He's even made gardening in the backyard an artform! Once, Connor convinced my parents to let him take a road trip across the country after graduating high school. Wonder where he got that idea?! Connor is always open to learning something new, traveling to an unknown place or going to visit friends and family.
Nicolette Riscossa
Bridesmaid
Nikki shares Kaleigh's love for plants and knows you can never have too many. You can tell I'm her older brother because she's grown up to be quite the Star Wars fan and gamer girl. Whether it's showing up fashionably late (fashionably and late being the key words here), keeping everyone up until 1AM playing a board game or doing your taxes, Nikki will always be there if you need her. She's kind and smarter than most so good luck not falling in love with her when you meet her!
Chris Genovise
Groomsman
As you can see in the photo, Chris is an extremely loving and affectionate guy. If you need advice or a pick-me-up, you can count on him. He's gotten pretty handy over the years buying and moving into a new house with his wife, Emily. He took an old kids swing set and sand box and made it into the best bar in Bartlett, IL: The Dog House! Chris has travelled a bunch and loves checking National Parks off his bucket list.
Katy Rank
Bridesmaid
Kate is my very own personal chef friend, and what a deliciously fun friendship we have. Being the oldest of six has certainly kept her life fun and interesting but the best part of that is how she has always made me feel like part of her big family. She is the epitome of "we're better when we're all together". She loves her golden retriever and I can see a bernese mountain dog is in her future. Kate will gladly make you a delectable made-from-scratch meal, just prepare yourself to watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy with her husband Cody once you've finished.
Kyle Baete
Groomsman
Want to take a solo trip to Japan, call Kyle! Want to move to Portland, OR on a whim, call Kyle! He can be quiet when you first meet him but I promise you he's pretty much up for anything. He's one of the reasons why I wanted to spend an arm and a leg building a custom gaming PC. We haven't lived in the same state for years now but thanks to gaming we still get to hangout and scream at a computer monitor a couple times a week together.
Kelsey Beckman
Bridesmaid
How many people can say that they are still friends with their first friend ever? Whether it was selling girl scout cookies as kids or playing Wordle as adults, Kels will always be hilariously competitive. Lucky for us that means being the best mother, wife, teacher, coach, daughter and friend she can be. I can't think of anyone better to have on my side when I need help or honest advice. She can usually be found at Solemn Oath Brewery or with her daughter, Kennedy, watching her husband, Brad, play intramural softball.
Rishi Shah
Groomsman
You can thank Rishi, my only buddy who has lived in the city, for kickstarting my relationship with Kaleigh! He's arguably the most well traveled friend I have but I'm still waiting for an invite to one of his epic trips and for him to visit us in Denver. 2023 is his year! Whether it's golfing (because he's been hurt too many times to play any other sports) or starting a book club, Rishi loves bringing everyone together.
Gabby Genovise
Bridesmaid
Gabby and I met playing soccer in elementary school. Even funnier than that, our dads met playing soccer, too. Shout out William Howard Taft High School! Gabby is the yin to my yang, she is calm when I am crazy and she gets a tan while I apply Spf 100. You may know her to be sweet and softer spoken, but she's also a scary-movie-loving ghost hunter whose knowledge of true crime keeps me on my toes. Her husband, Nathan, helps bring out the creative side in her by building Legos, curating phenomenal vacations and making (eating) delicious comfort food.
Mark Bell
Groomsman
Remember Bear Grylls? Well, at one point in our lives Mark and I thought we were Bear Grylls. We packed a backpack full of the essentials (a flashlight and bottle of vodka but somehow forgot bug spray) and spent the night in a forest preserve. Mark is always pushing himself to the limit in everything. He's a phenomenal hockey/floor hockey player, musician, father, husband and recently completed the Rim-to-Rim (and back!) Grand Canyon hike.
Brad Beckman
Officiant
Brad is typically the life of the party, and Brad's parties don't stop until the sun comes up (makes sense since he went to Arizona State University). He loves cheering on whatever team his wife, Kelsey, is cheering on (even it that means the White Sox) and singing along to Cher's "Believe" at the top of his lungs. He's become such an integral part of both of our lives and asking him to officiate our wedding was one of the easiest decisions we've ever made.