Wedding Party
Victoria (Tori) Huffman
Maid of Honor Sister of the Bride
Tori lives in North Canton, OH with Figaro’s cousins Emmy and Ziggy. Tori’s love of animals is surpassed only by her love of ketchup. Natalie enjoys spending time with Tori and her dogs when she is back in Ohio, and is always trying to convince her to move to California! Natalie is so happy to have Tori as part of the wedding and cannot imagine her big day without her dear sister by her side!
Zipporah (Zippy) Sicat
Bridesmaid
Moving to Boston Natalie only knew one other person, but she quickly found a friend in co-worker, Zippy. Hailing from Orange County, Zippy entertained Natalie with tales of California and eventually took her on her first trip to LA in May 2004. With Zippy’s help, Natalie received her promotion to San Francisco where she met Michael! Zippy was Natalie’s first friend to meet Michael about 3 months after they’d started dating. When Zippy said that she approved of Michael, Natalie said “Good, because I’m going to marry him!” But first, Natalie served as Zippy’s bridesmaid in her August 2006 wedding to Oliver. Zippy and Oli now live in Chicago, IL.
J.J. Clement
Bridesmaid
When Natalie first met Michael’s sister J.J., she was in the midst of planning her own 2006 wedding to her husband Derek. Former captain of the University of Wisconsin Varsity Cheerleading squad, J.J. has a smile and charm that you won’t forget! Natalie enjoys spending holidays and trips to Chicago with J.J. Derek and J.J. have been living in Chicago for the last six and a half years.
Natalie Talarico Dziubek
Bridesmaid
Also known as “Natalie #2” (just kidding!) Natalie and her husband Dennis will be traveling from Madison, WI to attend the wedding. “The Natalies” met during sophomore year of college at Miami University and became fast friends. They lived together during their senior year and decided to move to Boston together after college. After 20 months in the northeast, both Natalies fled the city for different parts of the country, but remain the best of friends. In May 2008 Natalie had the privilege of serving as Maid of Honor in Natalie & Dennis’s wedding; Natalie is thrilled to reunite “The Natalies” for another wedding celebration!
Shannon Fulytar
Bridesmaid
Shannon and Natalie met in 1989 at the picnic table between their two backyards. The two went through elementary, middle and high school playing “Tiffany”, going to the mall and getting in trouble every time they went on vacation together. Natalie was one of Shannon’s bridesmaids in her 2006 wedding to Ryan; Shannon and Ryan now live in Chicago, IL.
Greer Huffman
Bridesmaid
Cousin Greer has been entertaining Natalie with her quirky sense of humor and sassy attitude since she was born. Natalie will never forget the time Greer was convinced that Rod Stewart lived in her knee or the morning the two of them woke up in Grandpa’s basement and 6-year old Greer announced “It smells like cholesterol in here.” Natalie has watched Greer grow up into the smart, vivacious college student that is she is today at the University of Maryland and is honored that Greer will be participating in her wedding.
Devon Malene
Bridesmaid
Although they met in third grade Indian Princesses, Devon and Natalie did not become close until freshman year of high school when they both had a crush on the same boy, Dillon Anderson. When Devon revealed that she had named her rag doll “Natalie” back when they first met, the two decided never to let a boy come between them again! They finished high school and both went off to Miami University where they were able to spend another 4 years of fun together. Natalie’s “political friend”, Devon has been living in Washington D.C. for the last five and a half years.
Julia Morse
Bridesmaid
Everyday from 12:30 – 1:30 pm during freshman year of college, Natalie would laugh or scream at the exact same moments as the girl in the dorm room next door. It only took Natalie a few months for her to realize that she and her neighbor, Julia, were both obsessively watching the same daily soap opera, “The Young and The Restless.” After this epiphany, Natalie and Julia were inseparable. Whenever the two are together, there is laughter and hilarity. Although Julia has traveled around to Italy, Cape Cod, Boston and now Chicago, the two have always been in close contact.
Figaro
Ring Bearer
Natalie got Figaro when he was 8 weeks old; coincidentally, this was the same week that she and Michael began spending time together. After about a month of dating, Natalie was shocked to learn from Michael’s friends that Michael “hated dogs.” Darling Figaro was able to change his mind! Now Michael frequently refers to Figaro as “my boy” and has been caught cuddling and kissing him. Both Natalie AND Michael feel that their union would not be complete without their beloved dog there to witness.
Marq Spusta
Best Man
Marq and Michael met in an origami class in the summer before 6th Grade and have been best friends ever since. An appropriate start to the friendship, since they always seem involved in random creative projects. Whether it be radio shows, skits, videos, t-shirt designs, politically-charged websites or even now with video games – their left-brain/right-brain combo has been quite productive. When they first met, they lived only a soccer field apart and have never been too far apart ever since – even now thousands of miles from home in California. Marq now lives in Three Rivers, CA with his girlfriend Dawn and is an artist extraordinaire.
Troy Armbruster
Groomsman
Once 4th grade rivals, Troy and Michael were almost inseparable towards the end of high school and beginning of college. Troy’s couch, late night Tecmo Bowl games, and roommate confrontations gave Michael that dorm experience he never had. They have traveled all over the country together to countless Phish shows and were even roommates in San Francisco where they perfected their bowling game. Troy is an entrepreneur in Madison where he manages the family business, is a landlord, and keeps the downtown nightlife going as a bartender.
Derek Clement
Groomsman
Michael first heard about Derek during JJ’s first trip out to San Francisco, but wasn’t sure about his sister dating a cheerleader. Based on how excited she was about him, Michael realized he would be around for a while. When they first had the chance to meet, Michael thought Derek looked more like a linebacker than a cheerleader and could definitely understand his sister’s feelings. Derek has always gone out of his way to make everyone feel comfortable and lend a helping hand. They shared some good times in Vegas for Derek’s bachelor party and of course at their wedding. Derek and JJ live in Chicago and can still pull off some of the old cheerleading stunts.
Jeff Kollath
Groomsman
Jeff allowed Michael into his inner circle of playtime buddies mostly due to his extensive Star Wars toy collection. Once Jeff got word of Michael’s Millennium Falcon, the friendship was cemented for life. Michael and Jeff’s tastes matured but always remained similar whether it was baseball cards, Saved by the Bell, Snapple, classic rock, bourbon, or live shows. Michael and Jeff were also the play-by-play announcers for the local cable station where they covered basketball and even hockey (without even knowing the rules in advance). Jeff is the curator at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison where he owns a home.
Bill Muehl
Groomsman
Bill and Michael go back all the way to the 1st grade and they have been plotting and scheming ever since. They were locker mates in high school where they made their mark as commissioners of the intramural basketball league, air bandmates, skit co-writers, and homeless musicians. The antics continued through college and have now entered the videogame industry where they both work. It should be noted that Bill and Michael have both been involved in some of the longest lasting and latest running Bocce games known to man. Bill lives in Chicago with his wife Alex and is starting his own studio which Michael hopes will need a marketing VP someday.
Shawn Schmieding
Groomsman
Michael and Shawn met in 2nd Grade where they were babysat at the same house and forced to watch Brad Squire dance to Michael Jackson. They were a whole year apart in such a big school that it took until college for them to be close friends again. Michael was Shawn’s Friday night roommate before every Badger home game when Shawn lived across the street from the stadium. They were then roommates for real when they made the big move out to San Francisco together in 2001. After a brief stint in LA, Shawn came to his senses and moved back to SF where he lives with his girlfriend Kate – only 4 blocks away from Michael and Natalie!
David Stephenson
Groomsman
Michael met David when he was 15 while working the fryer at McDonald’s. David introduced Michael to the Wu-Tang Clan and the bright lights and fast times of life in Middleton, WI. David and Michael were probably the only two guys in the Madison area (and maybe beyond) to get perms in high school and keep them for their senior picture. They both attended the UW where they were active members of the Doty St. Social Club and Big Dive Appreciation Community. David is just up the coast where he is now attending Portland St. University in Portland, OR.
Alan Turnquist
Groomsman
When Alan moved to Waunakee in 5th Grade he made quite an impression with his Hambo Sweatshirt (a pig dressed as Rambo) and wacky sense of humor. Michael and Alan grew up on the basketball courts of the mean streets of Waunakee and still hit the courts whenever possible. Alan is responsible for introducing Michael to California – where he was studying for a semester and he even picked him up from the airport when he moved to San Francisco. Alan lives in Madison with his girlfriend Erin and is working at the University of Wisconsin.