My younger sister, Madeline, is twelve years my junior and already one of the most confident, hilarious, and sassy people I know. A proud feminist with a sharp wit, she keeps everyone laughing while never being afraid to speak her mind. I’ve had the incredible privilege of watching her grow up, and it’s something I’ve cherished more than words can say. No matter what, I can always count on her — she shows up with loyalty, honesty, and a whole lot of personality. I’m so excited to stand beside her on my big day and to continue to watch her grow into the amazing woman I already know she’s becoming.

Andrew is my brother in every sense of the word. Growing up, my mom very clearly had a favorite son—and while Andrew may have held the title for a while, I’m happy to report that it’s mine now. One of my favorite memories is visiting him at Beloit College, where I somehow managed to meet half the campus—including about ten different women he already knew—within a single weekend. He’s famous for starting stories with “long story short,” only to turn a simple moment into a one-hour journey across four completely different topics. Jokes aside, Andrew is the person who keeps me grounded. He’s my right hand when it comes to decisions, always the first to step up in tough moments, and always willing to help anyone who needs it—usually with a smile. I’ve watched him grow into a strong man with one of the purest hearts I know, and I’m incredibly grateful to have him standing beside me on one of the biggest days of my life.

Stephanie, who we call Yuly, is my future sister-in-law and one of the funniest, kindest people I know. We love watching movies together and almost always manage to outvote Richard on what to watch. I’ll never forget my first visit to Ecuador — I arrived alone to study abroad and stayed with Richard’s family on my very first day, incredibly nervous and with Spanish that was definitely not great at the time. Yuly immediately made me feel comfortable and welcome, even if it was just by bonding over music. Since then, she’s moved to the U.S. and lived with us, and I’ve loved having her around — from trading English and Spanish lessons to endless family jokes, including the time I said I hurt my butt and she very casually asked, “what ass?” She’s felt like my little sister for a long time now, and I’m so excited to finally make it official and have her by my side on my big day.

Rodney is a brother I chose, and one of the most important people in my life. Our friendship began with a mutual misunderstanding that somehow turned into a lifelong bond. He patiently helped me learn English using Hooked on Phonics, and we later spent a summer as roommates, trading McDonald’s fries for homemade Ecuadorian ceviche. Rodney is known for his signature phrase, “like peanut butter,” and for bringing warmth, humor, and calm to any situation. No matter what’s going on, he shows up with unwavering support, and I can’t imagine this day without him by my side.

I met Matteo in college through our literary society, Chi Beta, and he was instantly one of the coolest, most chill people I knew. During a really rough time in my life, he asked me to be his roommate — a kindness and support I’ll never forget. Matteo has always been unwaveringly supportive, thoughtful, and kind. Even though we don’t get to see each other as often anymore, every time we do it never feels awkward; it’s like we’re right back in college, and I hope that connection never goes away. I still laugh about the time he tried to wake me up in college by screaming in my face, fully convinced I was dead… until two minutes later when I popped out of bed and ran to class like nothing happened. I’ve loved watching him grow into a full-on fashion icon over the years — his outfits are always on point — and I couldn’t imagine celebrating my big day without him by my side.

Roger and I became close friends in college, back when I was his RA and apparently very flexible with enforcing rules—at least when it came to him. One of my favorite memories is when he parked his bike on the top floor of my residence hall, just steps from his room. I absolutely could have written him up for it, but instead he got special treatment. I even provided unofficial nighttime “overwatch” to make sure his bike survived pregame nights, when sorority girls would occasionally borrow it for joyrides that rarely made it very far. More than once, those rides ended in laughter on the floor, and Baby Kay is one of the few names that still stands out. Roger has always been loyal, easygoing, and endlessly entertaining, and I’m grateful to have him standing by my side on this day.

I met Alexia in PA school, and she is truly the sweetest bean — which naturally makes her an easy target for my constant, loving harassment. She’s often found saying, “Liz… please…” while I push her patience just a little too far. PA school has been absolute hell, but watching Alexia fight through it and grow into the best version of herself has been incredibly inspiring. She is so resilient, strong, and determined. Even though we joke around and she may threaten to strangle me on a daily basis, I know she loves me no matter what. She’s shown me that I can always be myself around her, and that she’ll always be there — and I’m so grateful to have her standing by my side on my big day.

I met Eric in college, and he’s been one of those friends whose presence instantly makes any room more entertaining. He’s known for a few signature phrases—many of which definitely can’t be written here—but they always land perfectly. Eric’s family has always welcomed me with open arms, inviting me to countless gatherings where his mom absolutely owns the dance floor and his dad, quiet but hilarious, inevitably appears with a beer to offer me. Some people claim Eric is a professional PC gamer with a dream setup, but I can only personally vouch for his console dominance back in Crampton. He hosted legendary Mario Kart and Mario Party nights, somehow managing to play competitively while also entertaining others in the room at the same time. Those who were there know exactly what that means. I’m incredibly grateful for his friendship and excited to have him standing by my side.

I met Nicole just three years ago in PA school, and in that short time she has quickly become one of my best friends and absolutely essential to my life. She is effortlessly hilarious and has a bubbly, warm energy that makes even the most stressful moments feel survivable. One of my greatest joys is annoying the shit out of her just to hear her yell my full government name or lizard in pure exasperation. I genuinely could not have made it through PA school without her — she was there for the breakdowns, the chaos, the late nights, and the laughs that kept me sane. I’m so grateful for her friendship and can’t imagine celebrating my big day without her right by my side.

Gian and I became friends in college, and our first interaction is still one of my favorites. I barely spoke English at the time, but I somehow worked up the courage to speak to him in Spanish to ask if I could borrow his phone to call home. He barely knew me, was on his way to saxophone practice, and without hesitation handed over his phone like a true gentleman. To this day, I’m not entirely sure how that interaction actually went, but I remember how kind he was. Later, Gian served as an Ellis Hall Resident Assistant—a role that promised structure, leadership, and community—though his floor is still patiently waiting for the legendary RA social that never quite happened. He recently graduated from medical school, which makes it even more meaningful that he’s giving up precious sleep hours to be part of my wedding, from fittings to planning to the big day. Gian is dependable, thoughtful, and always welcoming, and I’m grateful to have him standing by my side.

I met Monique in PA school, and from the very beginning she has been fierce, empowering, and unwavering in her support. She constantly pushes me to stand up for myself and be the best version of myself, all while showing up as her authentic self at all times. She gives me the confidence to advocate for myself and the ability to laugh at my failures instead of wallowing in them. And while she wouldn’t say patience is her defining trait, she somehow has endless patience when it comes to me — especially the time I managed to get homemade slime completely stuck to my hands. Like an exasperated mother, she helped me get every last bit off, only to turn around ten minutes later and find me playing with it again… at which point she may have wanted to murder me (lovingly). I’m so grateful for her strength, humor, and unwavering support, and I can’t imagine my big day without her by my side.

Benjamin is Elizabeth’s brother, but at this point he’s basically mine too. That does mean I’ve committed to learning what American football is so I can attend my first Chargers game with him—an experience that will require emotional resilience from both of us, given the Chargers’ long history of finding creative ways to disappoint their fans. Ben grew up as the only boy in a household with two sisters and parents who would do absolutely anything for their kids. His mom claims she never favored the girls during board games, but anyone who’s ever sat at that table knows exactly how that really went. Ben served proudly in the Air Force, and I admire his discipline, loyalty, and quiet strength more than I can say. I’m grateful to call him my brother now—and we’ve agreed that if I have to endure football, he owes me some serious Bulls watch time in return.

I met Blake in high school and grew even closer to him in college, making him the closest thing I have to a true childhood best friend. I’ll never forget our college shenanigans, which still rank among some of the best times of my life — from him playing Taylor Swift’s Reputation album until it was permanently burned into my memory, to him being forced to run out of the dorm in a tutu when the fire alarm went off. Beyond the chaos and laughter, Blake has always been someone I can count on without question, no matter the distance or time apart. Even though I’m terrible at answering texts or reaching out, I know he’ll always be there, and we can pick up right where we left off. I truly love him, can’t imagine my life without him, and wouldn’t want to celebrate my big day without him by my side

Angel was the very first person I met during my college campus visit, which somehow turned into him becoming my roommate, close friend, and lifelong sidekick. From the beginning, his presence was impossible to miss. Between the two of us, we were often confused as the “two Mexican-looking guys” on campus, which ended up working out pretty well—especially once Angel built a very strong reputation that seemed to travel faster than he did. I never felt the need to correct anyone, and people who knew we lived together would occasionally ask if I could personally vouch for the brand. Fluent in both French and Spanish, Angel effortlessly commands attention, switches languages mid-sentence, and owns every room he walks into. Now widely regarded as the next bachelor of the Windy City, I’m lucky to call him a friend and even luckier to have him standing by my side on my wedding day.