Wedding Party

Amanda Vernon

Matron of Honor

Amanda and Kara have been friends since high school, supporting each other’s discernment. They enjoy spending time talking, contemplating, and laughing with each other on the phone. Amanda's home base is in Arizona but every once in a while, they get to visit in person! Amanda is a wife and mother of four children, as well as an author, speaker, singer, song-writer, and YouTuber. Kara is so happy to be her "friend in real life."

Whitney Cunningham

Maid of Honor

Kara didn't meet Whitney until after she left the convent. Ben thought they would make good friends and introduced them to each other. He was right! Whitney took Kara into her home and shared Avengers movies with her, and they remained friends even though Kara almost killed Whitney's dog. Whitney is a mother to roughly 200 teenagers who she has adopted in her role as a Youth Minister. Kara is delighted to call Whitney her friend.

Elizabeth Bertacchi

Bridesmaid

Elizabeth and Kara were roommates for their freshman year of college. From running together through East Grand Rapids to pulling all-nighters together, they built the foundation for a long-lasting friendship. Elizabeth keeps a local church running smoothly as an Administrative Coordinator, and she co-leads a small group that Kara and Ben are a part of. One of Kara and Ben's most bitter arguments was about whether Elizabeth would be a bridesmaid or grooms-woman, but the matter was settled by honorable Mario Kart combat.

Karalyn Bell

Bridesmaid

Karalyn and Kara became friends in the precise moment that they told each other their first names. To their mutual amusement they kept randomly running into each other around Grand Rapids, with a record of seeing each other for an unplanned five days in a row! They soon realized they had mutual interests including dancing, non-romantic physical affection, volunteering, and planning to have a Karalyn and Kara Karaoke Night....someday. Karalyn frequently saves people's lives as a Respiratory Therapist and helps her son live his best life. Kara is grateful for this friendship that was destined to happen!

Paul Osbourne

Best Man

Paul and Ben have been friends since their first year at Aquinas. Between shared math and Spanish classes and living together, they learned to tolerate each other fairly well. Paul also helped Ben get his job teaching at St. Patrick School in Portland, MI. Also, while we can’t prove that Paul introduced Ben and Kara to each other, we can’t disprove it either.

Tom Cole

Groomsman

Tom and Ben have been friends since living together at Woodcock Hall at Aquinas College. Not only have they stayed in touch over the years, but have definitely been key players in the local Catholic Pub Trivia scene. If you’re wondering how to mix a few different board games together to make one mega-game, Tom might be the guy to talk to.

Dominic McLaughlin

Groomsman

Dominic lived down the hall from Paul and Ben when all three were friends in college. There were many late-night discussions about the theological implications of the Star Wars universe (and other things in Geekdom). I think there was a lot of Mountain Dew as well.

Luke Strobel

Groomsman

Luke is one of Ben’s (soon to be former) roommates, and they’ve been good friends for a few years. They met through Luke’s sister who encouraged him to go to the men’s breakfasts that Ben hosts every other week. Luke has also been a part of the young adult group that Ben and Kara are active in, and is one of the few people who can match Kara’s eagerness to be on the dance floor.

Three Nieces

Flower Girl

Two Nephews

Ring Bearer