INDUSTRY

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Like many modern love stories, ours began online in 2022. From the very first messages, we felt something special. Conversations flowed effortlessly—no awkward pauses, just genuine connection. We talked about everything from our careers and favorite movies to Rudy, who always found a way into our chats. After a month of texting and getting to know each other, we finally met in person for a classic first date: coffee at Falls Perk in Pendleton, IN. Over warm drinks and even warmer conversation, we opened up about our dreams for the future, shared laughter, and laid the foundation for something real. From that day on, weekends became our time. Whether it was Muncie to Indy or Indy to Muncie, we became all too familiar with I-69, eager to see each other at every chance. Each visit deepened our bond. Then came a true test—Will’s three-month work trip to Japan. With thousands of miles and time zones between us, we leaned into intentionality: scheduling calls, making time to talk deeply, and choosing to stay close even when we were far apart. It wasn't easy, but it only deepened our connection. That time taught us how strong our connection really was. When Will returned, everything shifted—we realized just how deeply we cared for one another and how much we loved each other. From then on, our relationship only grew. We started taking vacations together, sharing more of life’s moments, and spending as much time as we possibly could side by side. Today, we are not only partners, but best friends. We've built something rooted in love, laughter, and intentionality—and we can’t wait to carry that into marriage. The road that brought us here has been filled with joy, growth, and deep connection—and the best part is, it’s only just beginning.

Our Story 

Photos

I am the bride’s older sister. She has always had a compassionate heart and the BEST sense of humor. She cheers on the underdog and cares deeply about loving her neighbor. I am so delighted that she met someone like Will who sees those qualities and cherishes her all the more for it. I am honored to stand beside Jess as she marries her dear Will. It’s a blessing to grow from sisters into friends, and I am thrilled to welcome Will into the family and see them grow together.


Jaclyn Mixell

Jess and I first met in first grade. Funny enough, we didn’t get along right away, but we worked through our differences and quickly became inseparable. Neither of us can quite remember how it happened, I just know that from that point on, Jess has always been there. 19 years later, we’ve walked through many seasons of life together. 

From running our third-grade “JJ Bookmarks” business, to getting our driver’s licenses, taking countless vacations, rooming together in college, and now standing in each other’s weddings, we’ve consistently had each other to rely on. Friendships that last nearly two decades are rare, and even rarer are the ones that grow stronger through every life change and transition.

The Lord has blessed me with a friendship as special as this one, and I am forever grateful for the love, laughter, memories, growth, and joy Jess has brought into my life. It’s an honor to stand by her on her wedding day and be there for her in this new season, just as we’ve always been there for each other.

- Sloanie 

Jessica (Sloanie) Butler

Jess and I first met at Ball State while searching for roommates, and when my name came up, she decided I looked like a “little bean”—and I’ve been “her Bean” ever since (yes, she still introduces me that way). As college roommates, we became instant best friends, bonding so quickly it felt like we’d known each other forever. In fact, we often claim we met at summer camp, though the camp name changes every time we tell this story. From choreographing dances in our living room, to spontaneously turning our house into a luau, to setting basement fires (sorry, Jill), life with Jess has always been an adventure. She’s my best friend and I’m so glad we were cabin-mates at Camp Sacagawea all those years ago. Jokes aside, Jess is truly a one of a kind friend, and I am so honored to be by her side on this special day!

Holly Haney

Jess and I have known each other since early elementary school. We'd spend the weekends making up dances at her house or watching movies. If there's one person I knew I could always count on to make me smile, it was Jess. There's no other person that could manage to get grounded and still find a way to hang out through me sneaking up to her window and talking for hours. When we struggled through personal issues, we knew we could always count on each other to help out and make the day feel a little brighter. Im so excited and happy for her and honored to be a part of her big day. 💓

Klarysa Hawrot 

I first met Jessica when we both taught at the same school. While we initially did not teach the same grade, Jessica and I got close when we both taught fifth grade together. While the year was tough, we had each other to lean on the entire time. We learned that we were amazing teaching partners but even better friends, especially after taking our fifth graders to Washington, D.C. Even though we don’t teach at the same school (or even the same grade) anymore, we remain incredibly close friends, sharing our love of T. Swift, Hamilton, and all things books!

Makenzie Parkison

I first met Will in the fall of our freshman year at Purdue. We were introduced at a party by our friend Jonathan who was in Run Club with Will. We started seeing each other around campus pretty frequently after that and ended up forming our core friend group soon after. By our junior year, Will, Jonathan, and I were living together in the greatest apartment in West Lafayette, of which we had zero complaints. We followed it up with our senior year house of 6 guys: Will, Jonathan, Kris, Justin, Kalen, and myself. Will, Jonathan, and I lived in the basement where nothing bad ever happened! One year and one pandemic later, most of the guys including Will had graduated and begun their careers. Will landed back in Indianapolis, and I followed suit soon after. We've continued to get together as often as our schedules allow, and it's been a privilege to witness his bond with Jess truly blossom.

Jon Ellingson

I have spent a large part of my life remarkably close to Will without even knowing it. He grew up and went to school only about 15 miles away from me. Funny enough, the first
time I ever “met” him was tangentially — at his Eagle Scout ceremony, which my high school friend was also participating in. It wasn’t until a few months later that I actually
met Will in person.
Having been a runner in high school, I wanted to continue the hobby at Purdue, so I joined the run club. One of the first people I noticed was someone wearing North
Central gear, and I struck up a conversation with him — that someone turned out to be Will. From that point, we were acquainted, and as our first year of college went on, we
gradually became friends.
When sophomore year started, we both suffered through Paul Sojka’s thermodynamics class — the crucible that forges true friendships. At some point, we discovered that we
could use dining dollars to buy a half dozen donuts, which became our reward for finishing the weekly thermo homework. At the end of that year, when we were back home before our internships — funnily enough, both located in the middle of nowhere — we started a tradition of making a
bonfire and using our old homework to release entropy into the world. Over the years, the traditions continued, and our friendship grew stronger. I am very glad to have met Will. He is a great friend and one of the best people I know!

Justin Lueck

Will and I met at Purdue's running club our freshman year. There we suffered through many long runs and brutal ab workouts. I can remember one particular time in the cold where a group of us freshmen were following some upperclassmen on a particularly long run. As the scenery around us became less familiar, and the sun sank in the sky, it became apparent to all of us that we needed to keep up to get back to campus without getting lost. Ultimately we made it back cold, tired, and a little less willing to follow the upperclassman out on any more long runs. That was among the first of many adventures Will and I had together in college.

Jonathan Bass (Bass)

The first time I encountered Will, I never got to actually meet him, but I sure did hear him. Specifically, I heard the thunderous footsteps of a much taller runner chasing me around the track as I clung to a small lead in the 4x400m relay at a high school track meet. All I could think was, “Who is this giant and why is he so fast?” That was Will.

It even turns out that we had a close mutual friend in high school. I had only known him through robotics and classes, and Will only knew him through Boy Scouts. Apparently, we’d been orbiting each other for years without ever colliding.

Will and I wouldn’t meet face-to-face until years later at Purdue, where fate (and our teaching assistants) placed us in the same group for our sophomore design class. Once we finally met, we hit it off quickly. Our team project, a gravity-powered light, was a success, and we ended up winning two awards for our efforts. Since then, I have been lucky to have Will as a close friend: reliable, kind, funny, and thankfully much less intimidating when not sprinting directly behind me.

Kalen Rudd

Will and I met each other while we were both studying mechanical engineering at Purdue University. We became close friends in the fall of sophomore year as we
struggled with the rigors of Thermodynamics I and surviving games of Civilization V against our dear friend Jonathan Bass. In our senior year, Will and I worked together on
multiple projects together, tinkering on goofy robots into the wee hours of the night. That was also the year when six of us rented a house together, leading to some of the most fun times of my life. Of all the shenanigans would get up to, the most memorable were our regular pilgrimages to the statue of Neil Armstrong to get a “Neil pic” after a night of
fun. Our friendship became a cornerstone of my college years, and it feels odd to think that there was a period of time when we weren’t regularly hanging out and laughing
together. Will is one of the most friendly and genuine people I have ever met and I am so very thankful that I am one of his friends. I wish him and Jess the best of luck and cannot wait to see where their new life together takes them!

Kris Sjolund

While Rudy would love be at the wedding in person; however, he has a lot of yard to patrol and make sure that no squirrels get in the backyard. While he is being very brave in his backyard, he will be with us in spirit on the wedding day. 

Rudy Stolz

Wedding Party

Q + A

Surrounded by major area attractions, and conveniently connected to the Indiana Convention Center and Circle Center Mall via skywalk, this all-suite hotel offers unbeatable accommodations, amenities and facilities. Free WiFi is available in the lobby. Within walking distance of the Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown is the State Capitol, the Children's Museum and Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home to the Indiana Pacers. A number of corporate offices, including Eli Lilly, JPMorgan Chase and the NCAA Headquarters are also nearby. The Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown features spacious 2-room suites furnished with microwaves, refrigerators and MP3/iPod compatible radios. Guests at the hotel can also enjoy a free cooked-to-order breakfast, or take advantage of the free evening reception. On-site at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown, guests can enjoy dining at the Claypool Grill. The Weber Grill Restaurant and Panera Bread are also located at the hotel.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown

Connected to the Convention Center via indoor skywalk, this hotel is located in downtown Indianapolis and features a heated indoor pool, 2 on-site restaurants and guest rooms with free WiFi. Every room at Hyatt Regency Indianapolis at State Capitol provides a 37-inch flat-screen LCD smart TV with multi-media connectivy systems, an iHome docking station and a small refrigerator. In-room dining services are offered for guest convenience. The Eagle’s Nest offers stunning 360 revolving panoramic views of the city and classic American cuisine. Guests can enjoy fresh farm-to-table fare for breakfast and lunch at Fat Rooster Diner. A Starbucks Coffee Shop is also located on-site. Guests can fit in a work out any time of the day at the hotel’s 24-hour fitness center or join a group workout class at the hotel’s Cardio Studio. Over 35,000 square feet of flexible event space and a fully-equipped business center are also available on-site. Lucas Oil Stadium and Circle Center Mall are both less than a 5-minute walk away. The hotel is a 10-minute drive away from Indianapolis Motor Speedway and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

Hyatt Regency Indianapolis

Courtyard Indianapolis at the Capitol has free bikes, fitness center, a shared lounge and terrace in Indianapolis. With free WiFi, this 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and an ATM. The property is a 18-minute walk from Lucas Oil Stadium, and within half a mile of the city center. Guests at the hotel can enjoy a buffet or an American breakfast. At Courtyard Indianapolis at the Capitol you'll find a restaurant serving American cuisine. Vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free options can also be requested. The accommodation offers an indoor pool. A business center and vending machines with snacks and drinks are available on site at Courtyard Indianapolis at the Capitol. Popular points of interest near the hotel include Indiana State Museum, Indiana Convention Center and Hilbert Circle Theatre. Indianapolis International Airport is 8.7 miles from the property.

Jessica + Will

Jessica + Will

Q + A

Will Kids be Allowed to Attend?

Is their parking at the venue?

What does cocktail attire mean?