Megan Piester, Matron of Honor
Megan is Erica’s older sister. She lives in Kingman, KS, with her husband Andrew and daughters Kylee and Addelyn. She is a graduate of Kansas State University and Washington University and is currently a Physical Therapist at the hospital in Kingman. She likes Zulilly, dessert and mowing the lawn. She loves to travel to see any of her PT school friends, up to every K-State football game with Andrew and down to Sharon every weekend she can. If she beats you at a card game, she’ll lord it over you just like Grandma Mary. There’s no mercy.
Diane Traffas, Bridesmaid
Diane is Erica’s sister-in-law. She lives in Medicine Lodge, KS, with her husband Aaron and sons Nolan and Callan. She is a graduate of Kansas State University and Wichita State University and currently teaches 3rd grade in Attica, KS. Her super power is meeting you once and remembering every family member’s name from both sides of your family. No, really. Faces, too. She makes really good pumpkin bread and loves to spend time with her sister Holly.
Allison Edwards, Bridesmaid
Allison, Michael’s sister, was raised in Salina, KS, and is the daughter of Elaine and Jay Edwards. She is a graduate of Kansas State University and Wichita State University and is now a Physician Assistant at Salina Family Healthcare. She enjoys remodeling her house, Christmas and crafting Pinterest projects. She and Elaine recently took a trip to Las Vegas for shopping and to see a few shows.
Kristen Eck, Bridesmaid
Kristen was Erica’s first friend growing up in Sharon, KS. The girls played dress-up, had sleep-overs and remained close friends throughout every year of school, including college when they both attended K-State. In high school, the two competed together in forensics, scholar’s bowl and over first chair in band! Growing up, Kristen was active in 4H and was an excellent competitive dancer; She went on to play in the K-State Marching Band. Kristen is a graduate of Kansas State University and currently teaches 3rd grade in Pratt, KS.
Kacee McNally, Bridesmaid
Kacee grew up in Hardtner, KS, and moved to Sharon before she and Erica started the 5th grade. The were instant friends and couldn’t be separated through school and into college, when they both attended K-State. Kacee and Erica grew up making secret clubs, listening to music and hanging out at the creek on Erica’s farm. Kacee and Erica ran track and took art together in high school… and loved arguing with Mrs V. They loved when their “moms would go on a walk” because were allowed to sample the wine they drank when they got back. Kacee lives and works in the Manhattan area.
Kurtis Crawford, Best Man
Kurtis and Michael have been good friends since middle school. They played on baseball, basketball, football and tennis teams together throughout all of middle school and high school. They went to different colleges but have always kept in touch. Kurtis currently lives in the Kansas City area with his fiance Brittany and works for Shawnee Steel & Welding, INC. Together Kurtis and Michael create the finest fantasy football team in all the land.
Garrett Anderson, Groomsman
Garrett and Michael played baseball and football together and were close friends in High School before becoming roommates at Kansas State University. They were racquetball flag football enthusiasts and Garrett graduated on the same day as Michael in 2012 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He is currently living Goslar, Germany, working for Stöbich Brandschutz GmbH. It’s okay, we can’t pronounce it either.
Kevin Quinley, Groomsman
Kevin and Michael met in CCD classes in grade school. They became friends while playing golf, football and basketball together in middle school and high school. Kevin is a graduate of Ft. Hays State University and was a member of the Tiger golf team. He currently lives and works in Salina, KS, with his wife Brianna, who introduced Erica and Michael. Kevin has some sick dance moves. Ask for the Dirty Bird remix.
AJ Farmer, Groomsman
AJ and Michael became close friends playing American Legion baseball together in High School and both attended Kansas State University, where they soon became roommates. AJ was an angler on the K-State fishing team and still loves to hunt and fish. AJ lives with Hannah and Teddy in Manhattan and works as a Science teacher and assistant football coach at Manhattan High School. Michael has threatened to “end him,” if he wouldn’t miss him so much.
Austin Hoppock, Groomsman
Austin and Michael have been arch enemies since High School. Austin graduated from Ft. Hays State University and is currently “the face of Land Title Services” in Salina, KS. Every time Michael would travel to Hays to party with Austin, the next day Austin would hide Michael’s keys so he would have to spend the entire day looking for them… while Austin watched football. Austin lives in Salina and can often be found surrounded by women… who really want to meet his nephew Beckett.
Andrew Piester, Usher
Andrew is Erica’s brother-in-law. He grew up on a ranch outside of Coats, KS and now lives in Kingman with his wife Megan and daughters Kylee and Addelyn. Andrew is a graduate of Kansas State University and The University of Missouri St Louis and works as an Optometrist at Kingman Eye Care. Andrew loves to golf, watch the Royals and attend every home K-State football game. He’s a master griller, brewer of beers and drinker of fine whiskeys out of decanters.
Dane Simoneau, Usher
Dane and Michael met playing American Legion baseball together during the summer when they were kids. Dane graduated from Washburn University where he played for both the Ichabod football and baseball teams. Dane currently lives in Tahlequah, OK where he works as the Offensive Coordinator for the Northeastern State University Riverhawks. Dane and Morgan invited Michael and Erica on a once in a lifetime trip to the Dominican Republic for a week with all of their friends and family – they had a blast and Michael and Erica can’t thank them enough!
Andrew Fritze, Usher
Andrew answered a “roommate wanted” ad that Michael and his friends placed on craigslist and the two have been friends ever since. Andrew was raised in Coeur d’Alene, ID before attending college at Kansas State. He currently lives and works in Manhattan. Michael and Andrew would watch Jeapardy daily, read reddit and party into the night. Andrew’s master culinary skills kept Michael alive through college.
Tobey Mullen, Usher
Tobey and Michael have been friends since middle school and were football teammates throughout high school. Both traveled the state together supporting the Salina South basketball team their senior year. Tobey played golf at Barton County Community College before attending Ft. Hays State University. Tobey recently moved to Wichita with is wife Claire and their Moose. Michael is thrilled to have a good friend in Wichita with whom he can grill and watch Royals games.
Kylee Piester, Flower Girl
Kylee is being raised in Kingman, KS, and is the daughter of Megan and Andrew Piester. Kylee loves Frozen, Minnie Mouse, reading books and painting fingernails. She enjoys being a big sister and playing with Nolan and Callan on the farm when they drive down to Sharon to visit Grandma. She loves riding Grandpa Ron’s horse “Shorty” on the ranch and driving her pink barbie jeep into trees. Kylee also loves to wave at Willie the Wildcat at every K-State football game she goes to.
Addelyn Piester, Flower Girl
She’s a pretty cool cat.
Nolan Traffas, Ring Bearer
Nolan is being raised in Medicine Lodge, KS, and is the son of Diane and Aaron Traffas. Nolan knows the entire process of cutting wheat and loves to help Dad out on the farm or in the shed. He loves to teach others about farm equipment, construction work and firefighting. His favorite shows are Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Cars and, someday, Star Trek. Nolan loves being a big brother, singing Aaron Traffas Band origionals and throwing gourds into the creek at Grandma’s with Kylee.
Callan Traffas, Ring Bearer
Also, a cool cat.
Aaron Traffas, Brother of the Bride, Musician
Aaron is a graduate of Kansas State University and lives in Medicine Lodge, KS, with his wife Diane and sons Nolan and Callan. Aaron is the community evangelist at Purple Wave in Manhattan and operates a farm near Sharon. In his free time, Aaron writes songs and fronts the Aaron Traffas Band, based in Lawrence. Aaron is a pedant, likes craft beer and can fix your computer.