Wedding Party
Maggie McGee
Maid of Honor
Maggie and I met and became inseparable on a Hillsdale summer program in 2021 and never looked back! She is my favorite political philosopher and has impeccable music taste to boot. If I drop a particularly witty turn of phrase when talking to you, chances are I stole it from her. The equal to every situation and my ever-wise confidant, I owe Maggie special gratitude for consistently helping me to meet my step goal and to love others more generously.
Quinlan Haas
Best Man
If you told Quinn Haas six or seven years ago that he would be my best man, he would be very confused at the idea of someone agreeing to marry me. Before I knew who he was, Quinn (allegedly) hated me, but now, he doesn't get the option. Quinn and I have had a wild ride together. From adding me to a Snapchat group as a joke to sow chaos, to almost getting baptized in front of me on choir tour, Quinn and I have run together into an endless amount of possibly life-changing shenanigans. Needless to say, it was no surprise to me that this continued after I moved away. After he spent some hard time in a courtroom, I had the pleasure of watching Quinn (from afar) follow me into the Church, taking the risk to truly accept God in his life. I was honored to be named Quinn's godfather, and could not ask for a better godson to spend an Easter weekend with. If you told me six or seven years ago, Quinn Haas would be my baptized and confirmed best man at my Catholic wedding, I would've laughed at you and pulled up a picture of his Ruth Bader Ginsburg car ornament. Nothing makes me happier than to have Quinn at my side on this upcoming wedding day, we just have to hope that Auburn doesn't lose that night (we have an open bar).
Anna Heldt
Bridesmaid
Anna and I are the only members of our class who stayed in our all-freshman college dorm for three years. As such, I have had the pleasure of spending many very late nights in her company, graced by the most infectious laughter you've ever heard. Always setting an example of putting others first, as well as patiently listening to all of my anecdotes when she should be writing her 4,387 pages, Anna is a deeply caring woman with a lot of lore and siblings and is totally down to be your new bestie.
Keagan Wicker
Groomsman
My first memory of Keagan was him passing out while filming a sermon at my old church. That day, he learned never to lock his knees while standing for a long time. It was only fitting that just a year later, I would be giving Keagan that same lecture while helping to train the Rifle Team recruits in the standing position. Keagan has been one of my closest friends ever since the government told us we weren't allowed to have friends anymore in March of 2020, consistently staying up late to play games and host YouTube viewing parties. It's hard to imagine being where I am today without having friends like Keagan to rely on remotely. When we graduated, Keagan was sent to the Middle East with the Georgia National Guard, bravely sacrificing his life for Israel. Since he got back, I've been stuck in the Midwest, bravely sacrificing warm weather and edible food. Keagan held me up at my lowest, and he holds the country up at (perhaps) its lowest, so hopefully he'll be able to lift me up again, at my best, when I lock my knees at the altar.
Moira Gleason
Bridesmaid
Moira and I met as freshman theatre students (we both immediately quit the theater department, but not each other.) We lived together for a year until she left me to fend for myself while she worked a fancy internship in DC. Moira is a brilliant reader, professional writer, and somehow, her smile is even more beautiful in person. Though oft world traveling/scaling cliffs, she makes time for lengthy phone calls with me and encourages me in my attempts to stay in shape. She has taught my siblings how to slackline and her older brother once mentioned my dear fiancé forty-six times at a dinner party.
Connor Shaw
Groomsman
Connor Shaw is God's greatest mystery. Weighing in at around 270 lbs of pure muscle, standing at six-foot-three, any sensible person would expect Connor to cave my skull in. However, I've found it a real labor to get him even slightly upset. Connor was the friend who forced me off my bed and into the gym. Who knows, he may have saved my life that way. He is also responsible for getting me to apply to Hillsdale, after joking about the YouTube ads everyone is so familiar with. For that reason, he may tell you that I owe him big time for having met my wife there, but I owe him for much more. Despite bulking for the last six years, Connor has been my greatest motivator to cut, and despite never willingly talking to a woman in his life, my biggest motivator to get out there and meet people. It's a great pleasure to have Connor join me on my big day, I just hope he isn't so big when it comes around (start the cut!)
Lucy Graham
Bridesmaid; Sister of the Bride
Lucy owns and operates a small business in between visiting other countries and is fluent in most animal languages. She is one of my favorite siblings. She has a big heart but misses nothing, so she always has excellent commentary. Be sure to congratulate her at our wedding for graduating high school because she definitely really likes attention.
Erik Teder
Groomsman
When I was a wee lad, I really wanted to be in a band. Unfortunately, I was never a stellar musician. As it turns out, I didn't need to be, I just needed to hang out with one every day. Erik has been many things to me over the last few years: bandmate, accompanist, hairdresser, photographer, wingman, fraternity brother, housemate, and top guy. Heck, when I told people I was engaged, they just assumed it was to Erik. While he may never answer his phone, I can't think of a more reliable guy to have in my court. My best memories over the last three years have always, in some way, involved Erik; I'm excited for him to be involved in what will hopefully be one of my best memories for as long as I can still remember anything. I can't wait to hear Bodhisattva eleven times in a row on my wedding day.
Emily Graham
Bridesmaid; Sister of the Bride
Emily cannot stop dancing long enough to have a conversation with you. That's okay, she'll still talk to you for some time. She is also one of my favorite siblings. They say she was born for the stage, and I believe it. She is a lovely person and my parents' only child to possess fashion sense.
Thomas McKenna
Groomsman
Mr. "Tiny Tim" McKenna, the world's first white, male DEI hire, is a man of many names. Doesn't matter what you call him; I call him Thomas. While he may hold questionable opinions (he disagrees with me, which means he's wrong) about global affairs, he's a stand-up gent, who, when standing up, is always far taller than I remember him being. Thomas and I have shared so many magical nights: being sick with the plague, studying way too late, discovering there's caffeine in tweas, and throwing sinkers into Baw Beese. But, above all the fun times we have, what stands out in my mind about T-Mac is his unwavering ability to try and do the right thing in any situation. Armed with his undeniable charm and unwavering faith in a higher power (the invisible hand), Thomas McKenna is the perfect choice to be an honorable witness to my sacrament of marriage.
Sofia Licheri
Bridesmaid (soon to be Sofia Calderon)
When Sofia and I became friends, we did not speak the same language and communicated using Google Translate. Since then, we have survived the drama of high school together and journeyed to faraway lands, like Rome, Assisi, and Wisconsin. I look up to her and treasure our friendship so much, and I was thrilled to see her get blissfully engaged, even if she did beat me to it.
Aiden Duffy
Groomsman
We're still not sure if Aiden will show up. He'll probably decide day-of or ask us to move wedding locations to Athens so he doesn't have to drive. Aiden has been one of my closest friends since he transferred to Walton our freshman year. I still remember when he was rolling his eyes when I tried to declare myself a sovereign citizen in Geometry (though, he can't deny, my antics were a large part of the reason we got excused from class after finishing the worksheets) and when he was rolling his eyes at any of the wacky things Mr. Davilla tried to tell us in Comp Gov. Despite being rather flaky (and earning he title Mr. Unreliable), Duffy is still one of the coolest guys I know. There is still nobody that I would rather drink zero sugar root beer with, play Wii Sports with, or make last-minute weekend trip plans with. It's such a shame, now that I'm getting married and am too concussed to ride a roller coaster, that we'll never find out who would win in the Aidan v. Aiden match (he would).
