Wedding Party
Get to know the special people who are going to be a part of our big day!
Victoria Meilink
Matron of Honor
Bride's cousin
Vickie is the closest thing that I have to a sister and she has been my best friend. Although we grew up in different states and VERY different towns, we were very much alike. Growing up I would spend my summers visiting her in the small, country town she lived in in Farrar, Missouri. She would turn me into an outdoors-loving, country girl for the summer (I know...hard to believe). Despite the many fights we would have as kids, we would immediately make up and go back to being inseparable. Several years ago, Vickie moved to Chicago and it was my chance to turn her into a true city girl, and I'm sure she'll tell you it was a success (she now owns more pumps than any girl I know). Over time we have done nothing but continue to grow closer. My day wouldn't be complete without her standing there next to me.
Wes Ekstedt
Best Man
Groom's friend
Wes and I have known each other since our freshman year at Knox. We both played football, so it was a matter of time before we became friends. We actually didn't talk all that much until we decided to pledge the same fraternity, Beta Theta Pi. Throughout the pledge period we began to realize how much we were alike, even though we come from very different backgrounds. Wes, a born and raised farm boy, grew up in Altona, IL on his grandparents farm. Me, a typical kid from the South Side of Chicago, grew up in the suburbs and went to a school over six times the size of Wes'. Although, we had many differences, he grew to become my best friend. We roomed together our junior and senior years at Knox. We spent a lot of time partying and traveling together. To this day, I never would have expected us to be as good of friends as we are, but I couldn't ask for a better friend to stand next to me on the most important day of my life.
Jennifer Ervin
Bridesmaid
Groom's sister
Where do I start? Jenni is my oldest of two older sisters; yet one could be led to believe that she is the youngest of us all. Very young at heart, my sis has always been there to support me. It all started when her and my other sister Lisa would have to babysit me. Needless to say I was a terror to deal with. I still love to hear the horror stories that they share with me from time to time.
As the years went by, Jenni and I became really close with each other. Our personalities are very similar, and oddly enough we have most of the same medical issues. Jenni was always the one I went to when I was in trouble because I knew she had been there on some level at some time in her life. Whether it was to buy me beer in high school, or to deal with my day to day drama, Jenni has always been there for me and I'm glad to see that we have the relationship that we do.
Jenni has always told me how much she loves Stef and that she is definatley the right woman for me, and I couldn't agree more. I'm happy to see that they both get along great! Who else would I expect to see standing there with me and Stef. There's gonna be a heck of a party afterwards, so God knows Jenni won't pass that opportunity up. (Especially after having to deal with a new addition to the family come October 2008!!!) Love ya Jen!
Lisa Bonnema
Bridesmaid
Groom's sister
A man couldn't ask for a better sister. Unfortunately for me, Lisa was a great student in high shcool and all through college. This alone gave me a lot to live up to. Lisa is the only fourth generation Bernard child to graduate with a degree in a normal amount of time (actually I think she graduated early). Taking honors classes since I can remember, Lisa was the one I went to when I couldn't figure out Mr. Mortimer's impossible advanced algebra questions. She never once turned me away when I asked her for help. She would drop her homework, or whatever she was doing, to explain whatever I needed to understand for my upcoming test for the umpteenth time! And to this day that has not changed. She's always there for me.
I have always thrived to be as intelligent as Lisa, and I admire her work ethic more than anything (she gets that from my father). Even now, with two children and working from home, she always seems to be there to hang out or just talk with me. Stef and I often drop in unexpectedly or invite ourselves over to hang with Lisa, Jeff, and the girls. Lisa has told me from day one that Stefanie would be the one I would marry. She never gave me an exact reason, but would always say "I just know." She couldn't have been anymore right..... she usually is. I consider myself the luckiest brother in the world to have an unbelievable sister that loves and cares for me the way that she does. Can't wait to celebrate with you Beaner!
Andrea Burke
Bridesmaid
Bride & Groom's friend
Andrea was actually friends with John before I met either of them. They have been friends since their Freshmen year of college. I met Andrea when we took a class together my Sophomore year. The following year we worked together as Athletic Trainers for the football team; which involved spending many hours together. With many hours of work came many conversations sitting on the Gator at practice and many late night dinners in the Cafe. Over the years she truly has become one of my best friends. I only wish that we lived closer so that we could see each other more. However, we still talk all the time, and usually about the same stuff we did in college! I can't wait to have her be a part of our big day...and then shortly after be a part of hers!
Kristin Geary
Bridesmaid
Bride & Groom's friend
Krissy and I met when we were paired together as Freshmen roommates in college. Thankfully we got lucky and had anything but the scary first roommate experience. We pretty much immediately clicked and become great friends right away. We lived together all four years of college, which included sharing our first apartment together.
Over the years John and I have become extremely close with Krissy and her boyfriend Brad (one of our Ushers). They live close by and we still try to meet up with them for dinner and a movie as often as possible.
Elizabeth Mortensen
Bridesmaid
Bride's friend
Biz and I met our Freshmen year of high school on the first day of volleyball practice. We instantly became best friends and during our four years of high school we pretty much did everything together. There are so many memories that I share with her that I don't even know where to start...after school chats, our attempt at softball, trips to Pentel's, summers at Oak Street Beach, "Spice Girls", Florida, and so much more. Although we went to separate colleges and she now lives in Georgia we continue to keep in touch and visit when she comes back to Chicago. Mine and John's special day will just be another memory to add to our book.
Francis Marrocco
Groomsmen
Bride's brother
I could not have wished for a better brother than Fran (although for a while I never thought I would be saying that...j/k). He is everything that a sister wants her brother to be: loving, caring, protective, fun! Although we spent many years doing more fighting than...well...anything else, we were always there for each other when it mattered.
I'm so lucky that Fran and John have grown so close. I'm pretty sure that Fran was calling John his brother long before marriage was even in the picture for us. And John has always told me that the two of them would have become friends whether I was in the picture or not. My wedding day would be incomplete without him standing up there with me...love you!
As Stefanie mentioned earlier, Fran and I have been calling eachother "brother" for a long time now. Although, I was pretty uncertain how Fran perceived me after our first encounter. It actually happened at my parents house. I gave Stef a ride home from Knox, and he was coming to pick her up and take her home. Not thinking, I was wearing a not-so flattering t-shirt that read, "Got Crabs?" (purchased at Joe's Crab Shack). Fran shook my hand and immediately noticed my t-shirt. We still talk about that to this day, along with many other moronic moments that we have both have had while hanging out together. We go out as much as possible, which usually ends up with us at the local watering hole known as "Home base." I'm greatful to have someone so similar to me in many ways, and look forward to growing old at family functions over the next few decades. Finally, I'll be able to call Fran my brother officially, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Jeffrey Bonnema
Groomsmen
Groom's brother-in-law
Jeff came into my life when he started dating my sister Lisa when I was in eighth grade. I never had a brother so I was pretty excited to get to know him. We had a lot of the same interests: sports, cars, and most importantly video games (lol!). We spent the next three to four years getting to know each and I was ecstatic when I found out he had asked Lisa to marry him. On top of it all he asked me to stand up in their wedding as a groomsman. Of course I said yes and since that day, years ago, in September I have had one of the best brother-in-laws a guy could ask for.
Naturally when I found the courage to ask Stef to marry me, Jeff was one of the first people I could think of to stand by my side on our wedding day.
Todd Ervin
Groomsmen
Groom's brother-in-law
All I can say is that Jenni could not have done a better job here. Todd is the second of my two brother-in-laws (soon to be three). Over the years Jenni has brought home many a boyfriends, but none quite like Todd.
The first time we went out together, Jenni had informed me she was bringing out this guy she had met on Match.com....I know. But as soon as we met, I knew he was the one for her. He too has a lot of the same interests as me, except he's a Cubs fan, which I won't hold against him (nobody's perfect I guess...haha!). But we hit it off immediately! By the end of the night we were talking sports and buying shots for one another; and believe me, things haven't changed ("Guntas!").
Over the past year and a half, I have seen a different side of Jenni. She seems much happier than I have ever seen her before. To this day I thank God Jenni was able to find a guy like this to call her husband, and I can call my brother.
Nate Thomas
Groomsmen
Groom & Bride's friend
Nate and I have been friends since the first day of football camp at Knox our freshman year. I still remember sitting in line waiting for equipment when I met this kid from Perryville, MO. Ever since that day, we have become closer and closer as good friends. We got a chance to live together in our fraternity house sophomore year at Knox, and we have had lots of time for our friendship to grow to where it is now. Nate met Stef when they worked together in the Athletic Training room at Knox and took a couple classes together. Unfortunately for Nate, he often found himself being the mediator of whatever stupid argument Stef and I may have gotten in to in college. Being the great friend he is, he would always get us to see how great we were for each other. Over the years Nate truly has become a great friend to both of us individually and to us as a couple. He is now, in a sense, a "brother", and will to be for a long time to come. Although he has moved to Georgia now, we continue to keep in touch and I know nothing will change for years to come.
Matt Zylka
Groomsmen
Zylka and I have been around each other since I moved in at the end of the block. For years his mom used to watch me while my mom was working. I still remember playing "Fireball Mountain" and having massive NERF battles in our parents' family rooms, with the occasional snack break consisting of juice boxes and block cheese. We took this time to become really good friends and were at times inseparable. We spent the better part of our lives playing sports, against each other and eventually together in high school. Whether it be football or baseball, we always seemed to be lucky enough to play alongside each other. Matt was my first real friend on a new block, and I have have been lucky enough to stay close with him for the past 22 years or so. I can't wait until he gets to stand along side me at the alter on my wedding day.
Emma & Kendall Bonnema
Flower Girls
Groom's Nieces
Emma and Kendall are John's two nieces; they are the daughters of John's sister Lisa and her husband Jeff. They are truly amazing girls. Although they share similar looks they already have two very distinct personalities; which likely means one will walk down the aisle and one will be running through the pews. :) We love them so much! One of our most favorite things to do is to spoil these two little girls and watch them smile!
Oh, where do I start? Surrounded by girls my entire life, it is only fitting that Lisa's first two children were two beautiful girls!!! With Emma being the first, we spend most of there time spoiling her and getting her wound-up while my sister is usually trying to do the complete opposite. My little "midget" is now almost 3 and we get the honor of having her (hopefully) WALK down the aisle as one of our two tremendously cute flower girls.
Kendall is the second of my adorable nieces. She was born in October and has literally been growing up in front of my eyes for the past few months as her family has moved in with my parents and I while their home is being built. Needless to say, we are all still adjusting, but it has been especially great for me! I not only get to see my sister and brother-in-law daily, but I get to experience what the life of a parent will soon be for me some day. I have got to see and hear things that have blown me away since the day that we finished moving them in. With Emma's "terrible 2's" and Kendall's first steps, I take the good with the bad. In my eye's they will both be perfect for the rest of their lives. My only worry is for Jeff and myself when they both begin grow up. Boys on the southside, beware!
Lucas Ervin
"Ring Bearer"
Groom's nephew
Our first nephew, Lucas, will be about 5 months old on our wedding day. Although he will not be making it down the aisle, and definitely will not be carrying any rings, we wanted him to be a part of our day. So keep your eyes open for a handsome young boy in a tuxedo! We can't wait to spoil you like we do your cousins!!
Lucas, the first boy in his generation, I can only imagine what he's going to be like. I can't help but think what he is going to be like, act like, and all the many other things an excited uncle thinks about. He'll only be 5 months old at the time of our wedding, so I'm sure he wont be as cooperative as we would all like that day. But I can't wait to see that little stud in his mini tux. If he looks anything like his Uncle Johnny, we are in for another looker! LOL! I'm so excited to buy him all the sports equipment, memorabilia, and whatever sports related gear you can think of.
James Maxwell
Usher
Groom's friend
Jimmy and I grew up on opposing baseball teams for quite awhile. We never really knew each other until we played football together high school. While on the field, I got to know Jimmy while he blocked for me as my center. After high school, we begain hanging out with the same group of friends and instantly realized how disturbingly well we got along. Luckily, Jimmy was able to convince his boss at BMW to give me a job as a porter washing cars part time. For the most part, we worked the same shift, and spent the better part of the day together. Most of our days consisted of occasionally working, but spending most of our time finding ways to joke around and keep our selves from having to work. After working together for over two years, Jimmy and I developed a rare, but strong bond as friends. Sox games, Bears games, or whatever Chicago sporting event and/or bar it is, you can usually find us together having a blast. Max is a great friend, and I can definitely see Jimmy and I attending games and spending as much time acting like fools together well into our later years.
Bradley Phillips
Usher
Groom & Bride's friend
Brad and I came to know of each other after his first visit to Knox College as a football recruit. He was lucky enough to have me as his host, and I was able to show him a good enough time to help him decide to come and play football for the Prairie Fire. After that, I got to know Brad a little better through our fraternity after he became a fellow member. I actually have Stef and Krissy (Brad's girlfriend) to thank most for the friendship we have gained over the years. Stef and Krissy were good friends, and roommates in college, which
eventually led to Brad and I rooming together across the hall from the girls our senior year. We had many a fun times in that apartment and for that I am forever grateful. We have continued to stay close and spend time together with him and Krissy on a regular basis. I now have a friend for life, and will most likely be attending their wedding some day.
