Kristin & Stephen
Wedding Party
Michael Van Newkirk
Man of Honor
Party planner extraordinaire, pal, and confidant. Michael never does anything half assed; he loves fiercely and he makes you feel like the most important person on the planet. After holding him while singing a romantic duet in their high school production of Once On This Island in 2005, Kristin and Michael's friendship has never slowed down. They've taken NYC by storm more times than she can count, have stayed up watching Christian the Lion in their hotel room, made fun of people on the Megabus, belted Celine Dion at the top of their lungs, and have stood by each other at each new exciting step in their lives. There would never be enough words for her to thank him for "being a friend," but Kristin is thankful he's the Dorothy Zbornak to her Blanche Devereaux.
John Anderson
Best Man
Brother, bourbon connoisseur, and dog dad. Stephen’s relationship with John goes way back to Cinco de Mayo 1992, the day Stephen became a big brother. Though siblinghood hasn’t always been a fiesta – Stephen recalls once “accidentally” stepping on John’s face, then cleaning him up after the resulting nosebleed – they’ve since found that they’re not so different after all: they both enjoy a nice meal and a good cocktail, and family gatherings now include their dogs lying under the dinner table. John also enjoys traveling and fine bourbon: the marks of a true sophisticate.
Beth Willard
Bridesmaid
Girl boss, tiki sister, and work wife. Despite being Stephen's friend first, Beth has quickly become more than just Kristin's friend, but rather her work wife, secret keeper, sounding board, tiki drink share-r, Bachelorette recapper, and one person book club. Kristin is inspired by Beth's confidence, ability to make her dreams come true, compassion, and her amazing aura that drives everyone she meets to want to be her best friend. From Pittsburgh, to Chicago, to Amsterdam, to Paris together — she's an adventurer that makes life a party, never forgetting to invite anyone to the fun. Also, she once drank 6 tiki drinks in one night — and if that isn't champion status, what is?
James Lenz
Groomsman
Disk golf pro, tiki aficionado, and Chicago transplant. It wasn’t long after Beth introduced them that James and Stephen became fast friends. They’ve spent countless hours on the disc golf course in Schenley Park, and countless more drinking tiki beverages at Hidden Harbor. Though James now resides in Chicago, they still try to include those activities whenever they visit one another. With plenty of shared interests in music, video games, and getting sucked into The Bachelor not entirely against their wills, Stephen feels lucky to call James a kindred spirit – even from a few hundred miles away.
Amanda Harrod
Bridesmaid
Roommate, nurse, and life of the party. There is never a dull moment when Amanda enters the room, and you can always count on laughing until you cry (or until she has an asthma attack) when you're with her. She is funny, she is devoted, she is compassionate, and she takes friendship seriously even when she's across the country. There is nothing Amanda wouldn't do for a friend — she'll put her nursing skills to work when you're sick, snuggle you when you've watched one too many episodes of American Horror Story, and say yes to any wild and crazy adventure you can dream of. Like Michael, she is a fellow Golden Girl, serving as the Rose Nyland in all of our lives.
Katy Erickson
Groomswoman
Floridian, Disney princess, and party initiator. Katy twirled into Stephen’s life as a majorette in the high school band, and she’s been a constant reminder to have fun and let loose. From driving around Murrysville on fresh licenses to late nights at Bella Luna; from concocting ice cream mix-in combinations to sharing healthy recipes and pictures of their dogs; growing up has never been boring with Katy around. She is currently the most fun teacher in the state of Florida, and her contagious smile and poolside tan brighten every room she walks into.
Cara McClaine
Bridesmaid
Conjoined twin, beautifier, and musical theater superstar. After spending an entire summer connected at the hip (literally) portraying conjoined twins, Cara has become the sister that Kristin never had. After that summer of intense closeness, Kristin has been determined to keep Cara close physically and has somehow conned Cara into living in the same building with her, and recently found her a house so that they could live out their 30s as fellow Dormonsters. Cara is talented in a multitude of ways both off the stage and off, and the only thing that exceeds her talent is her incredible capacity to be an amazing, dedicated friend. When she's not making everyone feel beautiful as a stylist, she can be found choreographing, singing, or most importantly, snuggling with pup Rosie.
Scott Ackman
Groomsman
Aquarium expert, loving husband, and board gamer. As fellow swimmers, Scott and Stephen met on the pool deck of MSC. Their friendship grew in high school as members of the band and the swim team. They went on to attend the same college; then they shared the joys of living with their respective parents back in Murrysville, when Stephen fondly remembers playing disc golf with Scott almost daily (a great excuse to get out of the house). From partying in college to tacking home improvement projects, Scott has always been there to show Stephen that becoming an adult might not be so bad after all.
Sara Garrett
Bridesmaid
College roommate, macaron master, and roadtrip duet partner. Kristin and Sara spent the first year of their friendship in the smallest room at Saint Vincent College; the size of their room was not equal to the amount of fun they had belting out Wicked and RENT on their drives to and from campus or staying up until 1am to watch Oprah. Kristin admires Sara's tenacity and ability to achieve any and everything — whether that means Pittsburgh to Latrobe for 3 years to get her bachelor's degree, completely gutting and renovating a new house, or mastering the art of macarons. She is a terrific mother, wife, friend, and more than that, always sings the guy parts for any musical duet.
Colin Brown
Groomsman
Pizza pal, cyclist, and Denver transplant. Stephen and Colin became friends during high school swim practices, though they both spent their childhood summers at the Murrysville Swim Club. As teenagers, they worked together, and later they enjoyed running the trails of Duff Park. As roommates in Squirrel Hill, they shared a love of music, Mario Kart, and Mineo’s Pizza: the trifecta of bachelor life. Colin lives in Colorado now, spending even more of his free time in the great outdoors.
Kristen Whitlinger
Bridesmaid
Interior designer, therapist, tiki aficionado After having her name misspelled her whole life, Kristin wasn't sure she would ever learn to love an EN. Enter Kristen, a pitcher of margaritas, and Gchat — and Kristin's world was changed. Kristen has been her Google therapist from the start of Kristin and Stephen's relationship, always bringing a listening ear, unique perspective, and tough love when necessary. On top of her free therapy sessions, she introduced Kristin and Stephen to the joys of soup dumplings, a debt that can never be repaid. When she's not working on her future HGTV program: Yes or YASSSS, or completely renovating her entire mid-century home, she's a devoted partner, dog mom to June, and food blogger.
Michael Passatore
Groomsman
Puppy Poppa, home chef, and lifelong pal. Pass and Kristin have a friendship that has spanned decades, from teaching Pass to hold his harmony in their high school musicals, to binge watching plenty of TV shows together, attending midnight movie premieres, and their fair share of Fix it Mix it Frosties. A friendship like theirs comes along once in a lifetime, and the relationship they share is more like brother and sister than friendship. That being said, Pass' approval of Stephen was important to Kristin, but she had no need to fear as they hit it off famously, becoming friends in their own right. Pass is a devoted friend, home renovator, talented chef, and doting father to new pup Gryffin.
Nicole Cupps
Flower Girl
Sass master, silly girl, and lovable "niece." Nicole is a fun 7 year old who loves going on adventures with her Mom and Dad. She is the first "niece" in Kristin & Stephen's lives and she makes them laugh.
Ernie & Zelda
Ring Bearer
Furkids, lil' bub and bean, and snuggle experts. Ernie and Zelda are the loves of Kristin & Stephen's lives. They fills their home with squeaks, snuggling, and smiles. Although they may not actually be in charge of the rings on the big day, they'll be there to greet guests at the cocktail hour.