Wedding Party
The A-List
By Jess Arnold and Taurean Small
Alex Arnold
Person of Honor
Alex is Jess’s younger – though taller – sister and resident family badass. Her job as a Marine Corps Captain has taken her across the world and currently landed her in San Diego.
As time has gone on, their relationship has morphed from pushing each other’s buttons to confiding in one another, and Jess is eternally grateful she can always depend on her. After being woken up to early morning shower concerts from Jess in grade school, she deserves a special shoutout for sticking it out.
Alex inspires Jess daily, rising to the top in a male-dominated field, always showing up in a big way for her friends and family, and putting her all into everything she does – most recently starting a side baking gig (check out Big Al’s Bakes).
She saw and heard about every step of Jess and Taurean’s journey from friends to fiancés, so they’re honored that she’ll be the one marrying them on 1.25.26.
Elizabeth McQuiston
Bridesmaid
Jess and Liz famously became friends on a gondola in Italy during their choir’s international competition when Jess was in fourth and Liz was in fifth grade. Liz broke Jess’s key in her hotel room door, and the rest is history.
They cemented their bond in middle school jazz band (both on the saxophone), and Liz (tried to) teach Stress Arnold how to go with the flow and relax in high school. That’s also when Diana made their duo into a trio that to this day goes by “The Lipsticks” (cringe, they know).
She unsuccessfully tried to set her up with dates many a time but then allowed Jess to admit her love for Taurean at her own pace, all while rooting for it on the sidelines.
Oh, and you might have heard some of her hit songs on Spotify or your favorite TV shows… just look up ROZES.
Jess officiated Liz’s wedding to her now husband Brendan, so she’s excited for her to share a toast at her and Taurean’s wedding.
Diana Lukens
Bridesmaid
Jess met Diana behind a tree in high school. Well, a stage tree to be exact, when they were paired together during Jess’s sophomore year play. Fellow sopranos, they often stood next to each other in choir and quickly formed a friendship that has become a sisterhood.
She, Jess, and Liz became “The Lipsticks” in high school – and have only deepened that friendship as they became adults. When Diana transferred to Penn State, where Jess went to college, they met up for weekly breakfasts, and Jess got to watch her fall in love with her now husband, Patrick.
So, when Jess became friends with Taurean, it was Diana’s turn to needle her about whether or not that friendship was more. When they finally announced they were dating, Diana only lasted a day before saying “I told you so!”
Jess officiated her and Patrick’s wedding, so she’s excited to hear another “I told you so” at her wedding to Taurean.
Delaney Moro
Bridesmaid
Jess first met Delaney when she worked with Taylor, Taurean, and many others attending this wedding in South Bend, Indiana. They became friends when she moved to D.C. to be with her now husband, Taylor – and this foursome became a family.
Delaney and Jess are well aware that Taylor and Taurean are each other’s first loves, but they’re too, now stuck like glue. They’ve gone on many adventures together from cross-country trips to regular “hot girl walks” with Jess’s dog-niece Bonnie, and she’s become one of Jess’s rocks and closest confidantes.
She was the first person Jess told when she realized she probably didn’t want to be “just friends” with Taurean anymore, and the first person Taurean told when they made it official. She and Taylor helped them move in together and have witnessed the couple’s bond grow.
Jess and Taurean are thrilled that she’s part of their next chapter as the Arnold-Smalls.
Vidya Punati
Bridesmaid
Jess and Vidya go way back – like preschool back. Vidya has seen every iteration of Jess and vice versa – Jess even witnessing her personality change according to Myers-Briggs in college!
Jess coerced Vidya into rooming with her for their freshman year at Penn State – and JessandVid (as their college friends knew them) was born. They ended up living together all four years before they were forced to take their relationship long distance as they moved to different parts of the country to begin their careers.
But — their bond was already engrained as a forever kind of thing. Jess was ecstatic when Vidya finally moved back to the east coast – and fell in love herself – with her soon-to-be husband Tim.
She’s excited to celebrate their nuptials in July and have her by her side in January.
Caleigh Bourgeois
Bridesmaid
Caleigh could truly stand on either side of the couple.
Another South Bend connection, she and Taurean became close when they started on the same day as reporters at ABC 57. They quickly began calling each other Barbara Walters and Dan Rather (we’ll let you guess who was who), and that bond has lasted until today. Enter Jess a year later, and she, too, hit it off with Caleigh.
While Caleigh left for her next gig in Oklahoma not long after, the two stayed in touch and solidified their closeness when Caleigh joined the DC crew. She is Jess’s thrifting, Bridgerton-watching, museum-exploring, hiking partner and has become integral to both her and Taurean’s lives.
Also one of the first to find out they were officially dating, they’re excited she’ll be a part of starting this next chapter.
Angela Kang
Bridesmaid
Jess has been friends with Angela for almost 20 years — meeting in 7th grade. They became best friends through music — as they joined Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band together – Jess on the tenor sax and Ang on the flute.
Jess has always been impressed by Ang and her badassery – she joined the rifle team in college and took up powerlifting a few years ago (already earning awards). While they haven’t lived in the same city since high school, they’ve stayed close – always prioritizing visits and scheduling long catch-ups.
Jess’s mom affectionately calls Angela her adopted daughter — and the two of them spend time together when Jess is not in town, notably continuing the Arnold family Christmas cookie baking tradition.
She has been along for the ride as Jess gradually fell in love with Taurean. Now, they get to plan their weddings at the same time, as Angela is due to marry her fiance in 2026 as well.
Kelsey Stanger
Bridesmaid
Jess always says that Kelsey was her frush (friend-crush).
When she met her in South Bend (Jess a reporter, Kelsey a producer) – she instantly thought, this girl is cool, and I really want to be friends with her.
She’s proud to say she manifested this into a lifelong friendship that has lasted through many moves (mostly on Kelsey’s part) and ended up with them finally living again in the same city.
Even though they’ve spent most of their friendship physically apart, Kelsey has shown time and again that she is the friend who always shows up – traveling for birthdays and the DC crew’s annual July 4th party.
She has also witnessed Jess and Taurean’s relationship form as a budding friendship in Indiana to true love in the nation’s capital.
She means so much to the Smarnolds, and they’re excited for her to be part of this special moment.
Kylie Walker
Groomswoman
Fresh out of college, Kylie took a job at a local TV news station in South Bend, Indiana. Someone told Taurean that the new hire used the phrase “to and fro” during her interview. “Weird,” he thought. After meeting Kylie, Taurean still thought she was weird — in an endearing way.
Nearly a decade later, Kylie has been the closest thing to a sister he’s ever had. Like any good big brother, Taurean has made sure to antagonize Kylie as much as possible. They are each other’s biggest cheerleaders and bullies.
This wedding wouldn’t be perfect without her in it.
Titus Small
Best Man
Taurean had a best friend in Titus since they shared their mother’s womb. And though they fought quite a bit when they were younger, their bond strengthened through distance.
As they grew older and went off on their own, they relied on each other for help, advice and counseling. When Taurean felt homesick, he could count on Titus — without asking — to make the trek to his college or job in another state.
One of Taurean’s proudest moments was watching Titus transition into a great father. He’s inspired to follow in his footsteps one day.
But first, Titus will be tasked with getting him down the aisle.
Taylor Popielarz (TnT)
Groomsman
Shared ambition brought Taylor and Taurean together a decade ago. Like many of the stories on this page, the two first met in South Bend, Indiana. As young and broke strangers, they poured into each their longshot dreams of one day making it. Since then, their personal and professional careers became linked forever — the twosome is better known as TnT (Taurean & Taylor).
Their friendship remained strong, because they undeniably made each other better in every aspect of their lives.
Taurean got to watch Taylor’s love story with his wife, Delaney, unfold from a pivotal point. And as Taurean’s best friend, Taylor was the key voice advocating for him to explore a romantic relationship with Jess.
The four have been inseparable since, and Taurean and Jess couldn’t imagine a life without them in it.
Troy Webster
Groomsman
Troy was still a teenager when he met Taurean. They essentially grew up together. The two connected through a college student club and remained close after graduating.
Though Taurean is the youngest sibling in his family, he always treated Troy like his younger brother. Likewise, Troy antagonized Taurean like any good little brother would.
The foundation of their friendship has always been trust. Fittingly, both would drop everything to explore new adventures, take on unique experiences and travel the world together.
They were also virtually roommates in 2020 when Troy refused to return to New York for four months — instead opting to sleep on Taurean’s couch.
He’s always been there for Taurean, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Brandon Pope
Groomsman
Brandon and Taurean met in 2011, when the two connected through an intercollegiate journalism summit. Though Taurean cared very little about college football, the many times their respective schools crossed paths gave him a reason to reconnect with Brandon.
Brandon is also the reason why Taurean got his first break in TV news. He connected him with his assistant news director and the rest is history.
Almost 15 years later, the two have grown up together, mentored each other as colleagues and traveled the world.
Brandon has been a constant in Taurean’s adult life — the first person to celebrate his accomplishments and a reliable counselor when he experiences setbacks.
He’s grateful to have Brandon there for him when he marries the love of his life.
Matt Randall
Groomsman
Matt was one of the pillars of Jess and Taurean’s South Bend, Indiana experience. Since they were on the night shift together, they would often hang out after work and explore Michigan and Indiana when their weekends lined up.
When Matt added his wife, Kaitlyn, to the mix, their group felt complete. Both of them were steadfast supporters of Jess and Taurean’s union — frequently pressuring the two to get together.
And when life took them to different states, the four prioritized traveling to ensure their bond remained solid.
While having Matt stand by him on his biggest day will be a great honor for Taurean, he’s most looking forward to the two taking over the dance floor at his reception.
Lewis Boyden
Groomsman
Lewis knew Taurean for less than a day when he invited him to hang out that coming weekend. Taurean had just moved to South Bend, Indiana and was a new hire in the news division at the job Lew had been working at for some time.
That weekend, the two spent hours talking one-on-one — confiding in each other their respective relationship struggles and sharing mutual encouragement for their future aspirations.
To this day, they are open books with each other. Their honest and introspective conversations are reflective of the genuine brotherhood they’ve built.
That’s why Taurean is excited he’ll play a part in his wedding to Jess like he did for Lewis and his wife’s, Danae.