When Alexis approached me at the gym in 2018 and insisted that we be friends (really-she said "we're going to be friends") I was shocked. The confidence of this woman! After spending time with her and Hillery, I knew that these friendships were special. Alexis brings me out of my shell and always has a new or juicy story to keep me laughing. Alexis is the perfect example of being as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, and she is the strongest woman I've ever met. It is truly a privilege to have her as my maid-of-honor.

Scott is my younger brother who, when he has the same haircut as me, can double as my twin. Scott also went to the University of Dayton where he graduated as an engineer. Scott and I grew incredibly close after college and always check in with each other to make sure we are doing well and staying out of trouble. While each of us enjoy different things and have different friend groups, when you hear us talk and laugh together you would never guess we were anything but brothers who spend every minute together.

Hillery is the reason we will all be gathered together on May 21st! Hillery introduced Jared and I in 2019 and we couldn't be more thankful for her. If you've ever met Hillery, you know that she is utterly fabulous and my style icon. She is the reason I stepped up my gym fashion game from old t-shirts to Lululemon. She has the calmest energy and gives the best advice. She is an incredible mom, and she is big sister I never had. I love her like family!

Matt is another close friend of mine who also chose the career of being a CPA. Matt and I lived together our sophomore year of college and from that point on became great friends. Matt and I both moved back to the Cleveland area after college and spent our weekends finding things to do when we weren't going out downtown or carpooling to visit friends. Matt is always down to have a fun time and meet new people, so he should be a pretty fun time at the wedding. He may or may not be wearing a shirt at the reception.

Some of my favorite memories in my life involve Ali. Ali and I met at work in 2015, and 3 shorts years later we had been to Disney World, Universal Studios, Dublin, Amsterdam, and Paris together. Ali's love of all things tiny, her antics with her parents, and her dairy intolerance keep me entertained every time we are together. She is an incredible friend, amazing storyteller, and her laugh is contagious. We hope you hear it on our big day!

Joe and I met our Junior year at the University of Dayton through the mutual friends of the "Rick Group." From our senior year and on, Joe and I became closer friends after hanging out every weekend until graduation and are best buds who still hangout consistently to this day, even for a weekend of doing nothing together. Joe always was and still is, the calm, cool, and collected New Yorker who gets along with everyone he meets. If you want to get to know Joe, ask him to grab a bourbon with you.

When I met Lindsey at a job interview in 2014 I perceived her to be my competition. When I realized we both got the job, the competition quickly turned to friendship, which has turned to sisterhood. Lindsey and I have "grown-up" together at the OCC, and we achieved our biggest career goal of passing the UCE-together (technically she passed first, I was a few hours behind her). Lindsey is an incredible examiner, mom, and friend. Lindsey and I have been planning this wedding in our heads way before Jared came along, we're both excited its finally here!

Brian and I met our sophomore year as well when Matt and I visited his apartment with friends during a college football game. Brian and I always find the same things funny and entertaining , albeit Brian enjoys music festivals a bit more than I do at times. He's a great friend I always have a fun time with and any anytime the friend group is getting together, I'm always calling him first and asking if he's going too. While there won't be any EDM music at the reception, we hope he still has a fun time.

As most of your know, I am an only child, which was always fine with me. Now that I'm an adult, I wish I had a sister. I'm lucky enough now to have a sister-in-law who I love. Jess has welcomed me to the family with open arms and I think she may be happy to have some more female energy in the family (sorry Jared and Scott). Jess and Sean made me an Aunt in 2022 and I couldn't love my nephew SJ more.

Sean is my Brother-in-Law who I couldn't wait to become officially family. Sean has always been the older brother I never had and the best husband I could have wished for for my sister. From helping me with home improvement projects to planning outings to Indians, sorry - "Guardians" games, Sean is someone who always has time to be there when it counts or when it's time to have some fun. If you don't know who he is, just look for the tall guy amongst the Koneys - he's the only one above 6ft.

Nick and I also met our sophomore year of college and quickly bonded over our love of beer. From seeing each other every weekend to living with each other our 5th year of college, we always tended to try and keep a good time going, whether that consisted of late night taco bell runs, or taking a study break to play full contact hockey in our house, yes you heard that right. Nick can sure liven up the dance floor so just hand him a Busch Light and request a good song.

Alex, or as we call him "Dad," is one of the most loyal, honest, and fun guys to have in our group of friends from UD. Always upbeat and ready to have fun, he was someone that I knew when meeting him would be someone I would enjoy hanging out with, especially when it came to watching football all day. Along with being a great guy to hang out with, he knows how to keep a lot of us out of trouble. Hopefully he can take a night off of watching Nick and I this May and enjoy the wedding.