Aidan & Alyssa
Wedding Party
Daniel
Best Man
Daniel and Aidan have been Brother Rats, study partners, lifting partners, roommates, and best friends since they matriculated at VMI on August 18, 2012. Since then, they've survived some of the most challenging classes VMI has to offer, narrowly avoided trouble at school, navigated post-graduate life, supported each other through tough times, and celebrated together during better times. Daniel has driven Aidan to the airport dozens of times, and Aidan has driven Daniel crazy even more than that. Aidan asked Daniel to be his best man in a way that was only as characteristic of them as it was unceremonious, and Daniel responded in kind. Daniel is also a VMI 2016 graduate and lives in Boston, MA. He also has a dog that looks curiously like a man in a dog costume.
Austin
Groomsman
Austin and Aidan lived close to one another as Rats, but really became friends during third class year when they took similar classes, held similar positions, and joined the same clubs. They went on to become very close in their last two years, becoming similarly jaded about the more cultish aspects of life at VMI. Together with Travis Gordon, Aidan and Austin successfully decorated an historic statue with a timeless outfit. Aidan has a small scar on his forehead from one fateful tussle with Austin, and Austin has emotional scars from Aidan discovering that Austin tended to watch more police videos than study. Together, they dragged their knuckles and metal heels along the floorboards of VMI, spreading the good word. Austin is also a VMI 2016 grad and serves in the US Army in Fort Bragg.
Matt
Groomsman
Matt and Aidan first met at a birthday party deep in the heart of VA with some very strange guests, then again at a birthday party deep in the heart of DC with similarly strange guests. At first, he was just the hilarious person in a room full of strange ones. The only member of the wedding party who met Alyssa and Aidan at the same time, Matt has become a very close friend in Washington, DC. Matt is the type of friend that would do anything for his friends and we're truly thankful for having met him. However, he is not a VMI graduate, so please understand that the Ring Pops that he'll be forced to wear are only to fit in with the rest of the wedding party's obnoxious rings. Matt was instrumental in the proposal, so he is owed the firstborn child.
Travis
Groomsman
Travis and Aidan met at VMI and, since August 18, 2012, have been each other's Brother Rats, boxing partners, swimming buddies, study partners, and co-workers. Having punched each other in the face multiple times (50-75% effort, at most) and engaged in tick-removal within a month of meeting, Travis and Aidan were destined to be friends. They survived the self-proclaimed toughest minor program at VMI together, found jobs in the real world together, and stayed friends ever since. Travis was instrumental in Aidan's proposal to Alyssa, going above and beyond expectations while sacrificing time and energy to make sure that the proposal was successful. For this, Aidan owes Travis his next tick. Together, they will run a race in the spring. Travis is also a VMI 2016 grad and lives in NoVa.
Austin
Groomsman
Austin and Aidan met at VMI in 2012. They got to know each other at school, but they became really close friends after graduation when they both moved to the Washington, DC area. Austin is the type of friend who would do anything for you; his generosity knows no bounds. He's also a great time, all the time: ask him about his first night in DC. After going 4 years surrounded by your best friends, adjusting to post-VMI life can be difficult. Austin has made post-VMI life a breeze for Aidan and all of his other Brother Rats in the area. Aidan looks forward to becoming even closer with Austin. When not being a gregarious friend to all, Austin lives in NoVa and works in DC.
Jenna
Maid of Honor
Jenna and Alyssa met when Alyssa was just 7 pounds, 2 ounces. From that very first introduction, Jenna has not only been Alyssa's big sister, but also a mentor, role model, and friend. From horseback riding, to giving their babysitter quite beautiful makeovers, to playing golf, to water skiing and tubing, to singing Alanis Morissette to their parents' horror; Jenna and Alyssa's close age made them partners in many ways. While both Jenna and Alyssa are as Aidan would put it, "corn-fed" Midwesterners, Jenna has a Southern charm that cannot be disputed, which is how Jenna made a home for herself in Nashville, TN. Alyssa couldn't imagine Jenna being anywhere but by her side on Alyssa's big day. (Even though Jenna put Alyssa's beloved cat Snickers in the trash can that one time.)
Amanda
Bridesmaid
Amanda and Alyssa first met at GPhi at Indiana University. They were fast friends and later became roommates. The two got into just about every kind of nonsense together. One of Alyssa's favorite memories as Amanda's roommate was when they stayed up late studying, become bored and made a snack run, and then couldn't stop giggling after consuming far too much junk food. Needless to say they did not go back to studying. Amanda missed Alyssa so much when she studied abroad for a semester that she took "Alyssa" (aka a picture of her face) to Kilroy's, Sports, Dunkirk, and all manner of B-town spots, taking picture evidence of their adventures.
Lexi
Bridesmaid
Lexi and Alyssa first met at a gathering of GPhis at the Crimson Creamery. Hilariously enough Lexi was intimidated by Alyssa, regardless of her height. Lexi and Alyssa were instantly inseparable: lounging on the futon discussing everything from school work, to traveling, to family, to our futures, to...well, maybe even a little about future husbands. A favorite pastime for the pair is watching scary movies around Halloween, and the ensuing "planned" sleepover on the couch. Lexi also recently became engaged, so the two are making this exciting journey together.
Dana
Bridesmaid
Dana's first impression of Alyssa was one of a "Whoa, girl" over the Facebook group that Alyssa created for their study abroad group. When they met on the steps of the Duomo in Florence, it was clear Dana was the marinara to Alyssa's gnocchi. The duo went on to travel Europe together, making plenty of mistakes and laughing about them along the way (where is Merona, again?). Studying abroad together was just the beginning of their story: Alyssa later spent her senior spring break visiting Dana, and they now visit one another every few months.
Julie
Bridesmaid
Julie and Alyssa also met at GPhi. Along with Lexi and Amanda, these GPhis and their other sisters had many adventures around Bloomington. To Julie, everything is "freaky," but especially her friendship with Alyssa. Julie is one of those friends on whom you can rely day or night. No matter what, Julie would do anything for you whether it's picking you up from the airport for a girl's weekend, building a pillow fort over a weekend formal, being a late night study partner, encouraging one more "spin-the-wheel," or killing the biggest-spricket-to-walk-the-earth-that's-crawling-across-the-ceiling with a broom. Now that's freaky.