Matt and Maria Are Getting Married
The Bridesmaids
Who They Are & Why We Love Them
Jerry (Chao) Fang
Man of Honor
Jerry is my best friend and, without a doubt, the coolest person on this planet. He’s always there for me at a moment’s notice, and his happiness and grounded outlook on life are unmatched. We met through MSU when he stayed at my Airbnb while visiting before starting his PhD in economics. He asked me a ton of questions about grad school and MSU (and brought me wine—great first impression!).
Since then, we’ve traveled across the U.S. together, created amazing content with his drones, and bonded over incredible food. Jerry now lives right next door to me, officially becoming part of my family as an honorary Rising. He’s not just my best friend; he’s my brother. Plus, he’s a super cool guy with a Miata—so he’s got style, too!
I couldn’t imagine anyone better to stand by my side as my Man of Honor.
Elke Schmidt
Maid of Honor
Elke is my maid of honor and quite possibly the coolest person you’ll ever meet in this universe. She’s a true global citizen, having traveled the world extensively, lived in Africa for eight years, and now calling China home. Despite her worldly adventures, Elke is a Midwestern girl at heart, sharing her beautiful soul with the world. Did I mention she speaks eight languages? Incredible.
We met years ago when she took a job in Study Abroad at MSU. Her mom stayed at my Airbnb, and we had coffee together every morning. Before she left, Elke’s mom connected us, and it was the start of a lifelong friendship. Elke has been my rock through the lowest points in my life, always showing kindness, support, and unwavering love.
From our craft days and motorhome trips to hiking adventures and navigating everyday life, Elke has been there for it all. She’s one of the kindest, most supportive souls I’ve ever known, and I’m endlessly grateful for her energy and friendship. I’m beyond honored to have her stand by my side on this special day.
Kylie Hutiema
Bridesmaid
Kylie is my horse girl bestie, dog lover, and ultimate shopping buddy—and fun fact, she’s how I met Matt (they work together!). We met during COVID when she moved from the UP to Lansing with her two horses. Beau and her horses hit it off immediately, and soon after, so did Kylie and I. She was a little shy, and I was missing human interaction during lockdown, so I talked my way into her heart—and we’ve been inseparable ever since.
From daily rides and deep talks to horse shows, endless eating and shopping trips, and our ritual trashy reality TV marathons, Kylie has been by my side for all of it. She’s the real deal—a fiercely loyal friend and one badass baddie. I couldn’t imagine celebrating this special day without her!
Sandy Schoppner
Bridesmaid
Sandy is one of my longest and dearest friends. We met back in 2013 when we both moved to Southern California to work on an international horse breed farm—Sandy from Germany and me from Michigan. Our first meeting was unforgettable: I had lost all my luggage at the airport and showed up at our shared farm apartment in the middle of the night. Sandy, knowing my situation, got out of bed and, in mostly German hand gestures and in the dark, tried to give me a toothbrush.
Fast forward, Sandy became fluent in English (and learned all the slang), and I can now say a few very terrible things in German. We lived together for six months, working hard on the farm and exploring California in our trusty VW Beetle. We were unstoppable—going from parties to big fancy horse shows, and having endless hypothetical chats from our mountainside home.
When I broke my leg, Sandy didn’t hesitate to leave with me to help take care of me. On that trip, we even got tattoos together—ones we drew for each other! After that, I went to Ireland for study abroad but made time to meet Sandy in Amsterdam, where we traveled all over Europe together for months. Since then, we’ve made it a tradition to meet up and explore different places, with Budapest during her vet school days being my favorite adventure.
Sandy and I both started our lives with a love of horses—her as a dressage rider and me as a pleasure horse person—but our friendship has grown into something so much more. Despite the miles between us, we’ve stayed deeply connected. She’s a constant source of love and adventure, and I’m so honored to have her by my side on this special day.
Jamie Cole
Bridesmaid
Jamie is one of the most loving, caring, and creative humans on this planet—a real-life Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way! She wears so many hats: florist, horticulturist, business manager, and all-around wonder woman. We met years ago at the Bearded Dragon Tea Party I hosted, where she crafted the most adorable dragon pin for me to wear during our high tea with animals and local kids.
Since then, Jamie and I have shared countless theme parties together, from Taylor Swift soirées to Disco nights and Barbie bashes. She’s my go-to creative brainstorming partner and a constant source of inspiration. Last summer, I had the honor of being a part of her wedding, which was hands-down the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever attended.
She also happens to be one of Beau’s biggest fans, and the feeling is mutual! Jamie’s warmth, talent, and endless creativity make her an irreplaceable part of my life, and I’m thrilled to have her by my side on this special day.
McKenna Bowen
Bridesmaid
McKenna is one of my OG horse friends and an incredible force in every aspect of her life. We first met through horse judging, which eventually led to her getting her first horse, Billy (who, funnily enough, became Beau’s horse show BFF). Our friendship has been filled with amazing adventures, from learning to pull the horse trailer to designing horse show clothing and traveling all over in my motorhome to show our horses.
She’s my go-to for all things horse world news and updates, and her dedication to the equestrian world is matched only by her brilliance and leadership in veterinary medicine. McKenna is not only smart and talented but also a natural leader and unwavering supporter of her peers. She’s truly an inspiration and someone I am so grateful to have as a friend.
From countless horse show memories to her constant encouragement, McKenna has been a steadfast presence in my life, and I’m beyond excited to have her by my side on this special day.
Onna Roberts
Bridesmaid
Onna is one of my amazing horse girlies and an all-around incredible human. We met years ago at the Quarter Horse Congress—a massive national horse show with thousands of horses—and I instantly fell in love with her and her family. They’ve been my rock, helping me navigate the big horse show world solo. Our yearly adventures to Columbus are some of my favorite memories, filled with non-stop talking, laughing, and riding for an entire month.
Onna is ridiculously multitalented. She’s a truck driver, real estate agent, dance teacher, and ski instructor—basically, just really freaking cool. She’s also the proud mom of Echo, her dog, whom we bought together at Congress years ago. I’m honored to be Echo’s godmother! We even met the first stud in her Rottweiler breeding program on a random walk at Congress—because, of course, Onna turns everything into an epic story.
Last year, I was thrilled to be part of her wedding, and I love visiting her in Boston whenever I can. Now, we talk on the phone about nothing and everything, sharing laughs and life updates. Onna is the real OG, and I’m so grateful to have her by my side on my special day!
Kaitlyn Ripley
Bridesmaid
Kaitlyn may be one of my newest friends, but that doesn’t diminish how much I absolutely adore her! She’s an insanely talented horse trainer and a proud member of the Beau Fan Club. Kaitlyn and I have shared horse show adventures, and she’s been instrumental in helping me rediscover my passion for horses post-stroke—a gift I’ll forever be grateful for.
Beyond her incredible talent with horses, Kaitlyn is one of the most thoughtful and reflective people I’ve ever met. I deeply cherish our life talks and the time we spend together. She’s endlessly creative and has a genuine love for the world around her, which is truly inspiring. Kaitlyn, you’ve brought so much joy and support into my life, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have you play a special role in my wedding journey!
Rachel Krallman
Bridesmaid
Bridesmaid
Lauren Sylvester
Rachel is Matt’s sister, and she’s simply amazing. From the very beginning, she’s been incredibly welcoming, supportive, and always someone I can turn to for advice. Rachel has been such a fun and helpful presence in my life, and I’m so grateful for the bond we’ve built.
I’m absolutely in love with her kids, Ben and Jack, and can’t wait to spend a lifetime hanging out with Rachel, chatting about everything under the sun, and watching those sweet boys grow up. Rachel, you’ve already made such a positive impact on my life, and I’m so excited to have you as a sister and part of this special day!
Lauren is Matt’s sister, but I already adore her like my own and can’t wait to officially call her my sister! From the moment we met, Lauren has been nothing but welcoming and kind. I absolutely live for our deep, meaningful conversations about life and philosophy—she’s an intellectual goddess who inspires me every time we talk.
Whether we’re diving into political debates, pulling tarot cards, or planning travel adventures, Lauren brings so much energy, wisdom, and joy into every moment. She’s truly an icon, and I feel so lucky to have her in my life and standing by my side on this special day.