Nicole & AJ
Wedding Party
Amanda McLaughlin
Maid of Honor
As Nicole’s older sister, Amanda has always known how to control a room…she’s perfect for the job! She is a detailed planner as she is a supportive sister. Stealing Amanda’s clothes and hiding in her room was always a great past time throughout Nicole’s childhood!
Holly Kaminsky
Bridesmaid
Since they met in 7th grade- Holly has always known how to bring the fun to any occasion while also lending a listening ear whenever needed💕
Jess Vetere
Bridesmaid
Jess and Nicole met in Houston, Texas when AJ moved into Jess and Dean’s apartment building (due to the assist from Trent!). Since then, Nicole knew she could make it in Houston having a sweet soul to confide in when needed, while also bringing the fun wherever she goes!
Valerie Chacon
Bridesmaid
Nicole and Valerie became partner kindergarten teachers in August of 2023. After a few months, they quickly realized they could trust each other with all of their work trauma and quickly bonded over it. Since then, they have become more than co-workers and co-Girl Scout Leaders, they’ve become besties!
Katie King
Bridesmaid
Best friends since 7th grade- Nicole and Katie also conquered the quest of freshman year of college as roommates! Katie is also the smartest person you’ll ever meet tbh.
Mariah Laher
Bridesmaid
Since middle school, Mariah has always been the funniest person in the room. She is keeper of the fun- and excels at sharing it with everyone!!
Kelsey Constant
Bridesmaid
Kelsey is the friend who always keeps you grounded when the world seems to be spinning too fast. All throughout high-school Kelsey was an amazing, kind, and supportive bestie!
Andrew Stocker
Officiant
Andrew is AJ’s co-worker and mentor, but over the past five years, has become significant in AJ’s life. He looks to Andrew for advice, guidance, and also a good laugh. Andrew has always been open to helping Nicole and AJ in whatever they need. He is typically the first call when either of them are in need- whether that be a ride to work due to the rain (AJ drives a mustang) or becoming Uncle Andy for the weekend to Elvis and Sandy- he is always there and ready to help!
Kasey Smith
Best Man
Entering my sophomore year of college, there was a brand-new crop of pledges for the Fall of 2016. One of those pledges was a Mechanical Engineer named Kasey Smith. As I walked out to my first class of the year, I noticed that this new pledge, Kasey, was walking right in front of me. To my surprise, I followed him to my Calc 3 class… and then I followed him again to my statics class. The next day, I slept in and showed up late to my computer programming class… and found one open seat next to none other than Kasey Smith. We had every single class together that semester. It took Kasey no more than one week to ask me to be his roommate for the following year. I was touched, but I nonetheless rejected his offer. As the semester progressed, we began to form a strong friendship rooted in late nights studying, a shared Chegg subscription, and failure. Eventually, I realized I had made the biggest mistake of my college career by not agreeing to room with Kasey. I sucked up my pride and asked if his offer was still on the table, and the rest is history. Kasey’s calm, reserved demeanor has always been the Yin to my Yang. He slows me down when I’m getting ahead of myself, and I’ve always been there to give him a swift kick in the ass when he needs it. I’m so glad you also agreed to be one of my best men… I’m sure Calen can help get you through the speech.
Calen Griffin
Best Man
The summer after my sophomore year, I stayed in Lincoln to be the Sigma Chi Recruitment Chair. Calen was one of four other Sigma Chi’s who stayed on campus to live in the fraternity house. On the first day of the break, Calen invited me to a McDonald’s run in Betty, his ‘98 Buick LeSabre. While walking to the car, he made a very odd proposal: “Hey, let’s choose a random hobby and become best friends this summer.” And so it was written. We spent the entire summer of 2017 roaming Lincoln, Nebraska, forming a lifelong bond while finishing our Pokedexes on Pokémon GO. Calen has always been a steady force in my life and has kept me centered in good times and bad. He is an incredibly compassionate and giving friend, and I could not imagine getting married without him standing up there with me.
Tommy Stewart
Groomsman
I met Tommy in the summer of 2020 at the Camden Pool. He made a strong first impression, as he is the only person I have met that I can definitively say is louder than I am. Everyone at the pool was enjoying a warm summer day and was content with simply hanging out with a few cool drinks… but not Tommy. Tommy was boisterously challenging anyone who would listen to a swimming race in the apartment pool. After watching him dust a handful of local children, I decided it was time to provide some actual competition. After a few close races, we became fast friends. Tommy is an avid conversationalist, a fellow water polo player, and a member of the Mustgang. Whether we’re going to see the Demon Slayer because our girlfriends wouldn’t, grabbing a cocktail, or skipping through the streets of Santorini, everything is more fun when you’re there. You’re the Tom to Bert, and I couldn’t imagine getting married without you there!
Colin Crayne
Groomsman
Colin and I joined Sigma Chi together as pledges in the fall of 2015. With Colin being from Minnesota, we quickly established a kinship through our lack of familiarity with all things Nebraska. Most importantly, we were the only pledges who came to join the Fraternity with a wardrobe full of Vineyard Vines, Nantucket Reds, and multiple pairs of Sperry shoes. When we were young, our friendship was based on superficial things like who had brighter pants and killed more Busch Lattes, but as we aged, so did our friendship and the things we held dear. Before we knew it, we were both 5th-year Seniors, trying to instill values and life lessons into a group of 18-year-olds who knew as little we did. Couldn’t think of a better friend to take a 5th year with… If you ever catch yourself thinking about going for a master’s let me know, I could be convinced to go back for 2 more!
Cam David
Groomsman
I couldn’t tell you how we met, but you are certainly my oldest friend. We had our first sleepover in kindergarten, and our friendship continued into middle school. It was here that we formed a bitter rivalry to see who could get a better grade in Mr. Eichstedt’s History Class and stayed up late every weekend playing Call of Duty MW2. We spent numerous snow days at the cottage behind your house, including the infamous “Mike and Edgar’s” night senior year, where we killed your dad’s entire fridge of Mike's Hard Lemonade before he came down at 2:00 AM to point out it never snowed… That was a very long day at school. After graduation, I moved away from Philly, but you have come to visit me every step of the way. You brought the Philly Ridler to Game Day in Lincoln, came to antagonize the City of Houston during the World Series, and even tried your hand at the Rodeo. Thank you for making another trip to hold it down for the hometown!
Dean Vetere
Groomsman
During the long drive from Lincoln to Houston, I remember being nervous about starting over. I knew it would be very hard starting a new life in Texas with no friends and no family. Thankfully, one of my good friends from high school, Trent Weiss, was doing an internship with Exxon and had a feeling I might get along with his neighbor, Dean. One Saturday night I got the invite from Trent to head across the Street to the Camden McGown, Club 655 (Dean’s Apartment). Dean was the first to introduce himself and went out of his way to introduce me to many others who would become my Houston family. This was just the first night of grand friendship that has taken us everywhere from Beer Olympics faceoffs, and Cle Summer Sessions, to boat rides in Santorini and an early morning at The Omnia in Vegas. The adventures are too numerous to list but the one constant has always been you and your exuberant energy. Your generosity and amicability allowed me to set my roots in Texas and I could not imagine celebrating at the wedding without you present. Give me a YESSSIRRR!
Dylan Ledbetter
Groomsman
Dylan and I first met on a 4th of July group trip to the Golden Nugget Casino in 2020. On the first night of the trip, he introduced himself to me as Cameron. The next morning, when I greeted him at the pool, he corrected me and informed me his actual name was Ryan. It was not until the last night of the trip that he gave me his actual name. You may ask, why would he do this? I have no idea, but I have learned that you can always rely on Dylan to keep you on your toes. Dylan has been the catalyst for many crying fits of laughter over the years and has also become one of my closest friends. From late night LAN parties, to cooking Prego Super Bowl Chili, and playdates with Coop and Elvis you have always been there to provide endless smiles and comedic relief. You have also been a close confidant, someone I can always come to for advice, and a permanent member of the pit crew for my Stang. You have always been there to support me and I am so happy to have you on my team for the special day!
Tanner Oakes
Groomsman
When I first moved to Houston I had very little prospects for roommates and moved into a one bedroom apartment. As the months rolled by I started to make friends, but many of them already had other roommates. Then one night, Dean introduced me to Tanner, who had a lease ending soon in the Apartment across the street from mine. We became quick friends, bonding over love of college football, food, and movies, but it wasn’t until a float trip in San Marcos that included a stop at the legendary SG Island that we decided to become roommates. I cancelled my lease and moved into the Historic Camden McGowen Apartment building. We spent two years and shared countless memories in APT 627. We held late night hangouts, movie nights, and who could forget the ever present smell Cali Sandwich. You have moved all across the country, but every time you come to visit, it feels like you never left. So happy to have you in Saint Lucia to help Nicole and me celebrate our marriage!