THE GIRLS

Kristie Bluemer-Gearhart

Kristie and I have been friends since junior high. Because Kristie is a year older, I had someone to look up to, and strive to be like! I participated in many of the same clubs as Kristie in high school – and even followed her to Bradley! Since graduating from college, Kristie and I have stayed close friends – hanging out when we can, eating ice cream, and playing dodge ball together for a bit. In typical tag-a-long fashion, I guess I am still trying to be like Kristie – she got married last fall (and I had the honor of being in her wedding as well!), so now it’s my turn! Having her super-planner skills and knowledge from just planning a wedding has been an amazing help in all of the wedding planning and preparation!

Sandy Schneider

Sandy and I have an interesting story about how we met… if you get the chance, ask her about it at the wedding, she always loves to share it with new people. To make it simple, I did not ever think that Sandy and I would be friends, let alone the close friends we are today. Sandy and I shared an apartment with 2 others our senior year in college, and that was the final straw that sealed the friendship. We have managed to stay in close contact since graduation, regardless of where in the US – or the world! – that Sandy has lived. I will always be grateful that everything worked out the way it did, because I got a really awesome friend out of it.

Kara Cioni

Kara and I have been friends since junior high, and grew up just around the block from each other. We did not hang out as much in high school, because our busy schedules – Kara, with sports, and me with theater and other activities – did not really allow for much. However, towards the end of high school, and early college, we began hanging out a lot over the summers. Our summers consisted of walking or rollerblading around town in the evening, myself nearly getting killed on rollerblades, and Kara laughing herself into hysterics over it… we’d often end up back at my parents house playing cards and watching movies until late at night. After college, I was settled in Peoria when I found out that Kara got a job there also – which was the start of a 4-year stint of us being roommates, and having just as much crazy fun as we did during those summers before, but all year round. I’m really glad we had all that time, and all that fun, and am excited to have Kara in the wedding!

Meredith Cler

Meredith and I both went to Bradley, although we didn’t really know each other until we both worked at Caterpillar. Meredith will tell you that I was the “big scary senior” when she was a “widdle biddy freshman” and thus, I was all the more intimidating! However, we both ended up working at Cat, and finally did the “hey, don’t you know so-and-so, who I know, and hey, you’re actually pretty awesome, so we should hang out!” thing… which started a trend of wandering up- or downstairs to hang out at each others’ desks for chunks of time, just chatting about the world and escaping from work. We also participated in the Bradley Community Chorus together, as alumni who couldn’t let go of being in a Bradley choir. Meredith has since moved to Florida with her fiancé, but we keep in touch regularly (*cough*daily*cough*) through Gmail chat, and have a good time planning (and complaining, ranting, and raving about planning!) our weddings – she gets married in April!

Courtney Cuffe

Courtney is one of Ian’s first cousins, so I have known her for as long as I have been invited to Ian’s family functions – probably about 5 years! She has always been open and friendly, which helps when one is the “outsider girlfriend”. Courtney has always been the one I knew I could go hang out with when Ian gets dragged away to talk about all of his school plans, and for that I am VERY thankful!!! Over time we’ve gotten to emailing, IMing, and texting, and I’m very glad that she can be a part of our wedding party!

The GUYS

Jason Carr (Best Man)

Mike Tevis

Jordan Nordstrom

Patrick Pierson

Mike Loger