Ally & Austin
Wedding Party
Laura Bentley
Maid of Honor
My friendship with Laura started in kindergarten. One of my earliest memories together was in the second grade - we missed class because we were goofing around. When finally found by our teacher, we were pulled to the principal's office by our ear's to call home. This was the first of many times getting into trouble together. Whether sneaking away in the middle of 5 AM cross country practice for a donut or giggling as we ran past after-school football, we are always together, and we always laughing. Now Laura and I live within 10 minutes of each other in San Diego - and in addition to running and donuts - we share many wine nights, 40+ mile backpacking trips, a love for candles and plants, and all the ups and downs in life. Laura is now a successful real estate agent in San Diego, CA.
Bryan Jackson
Best Man
Bryan and I have been buds since 4th grade with our 90s bowl cuts, trading football cards was our favorite Friday night activity, and our finest clothes were Warrick Dunn and Steve Young jerseys over white turtlenecks, respectively. He was my mom’s first grade student – she will be happy to report that he was her first citizen of the week and had the best handwriting in class. A solid resume from day one. Bryan was our designated fifth roommate at UCLA in 2009 when he was back from deployment in Iraq. We have spent much of our time since then either working out, throwing the football around, or finding something good to grill. Bryan has worked his way up as an athletic trainer at Duke and is also a grad student at University of Florida. Bryan and his wife Jessica live in Norfolk, Virginia.
Jocelyn Dhuyvetter
Bridesmaid
Jocie and I grew up one neighborhood away from each other and would spend summers sneaking through backyards to each other's house. We shared a bus route, many snacks, tactics for catching my brother, and making up fairy dances for which we advertised and charged neighbors to attend. We went through high school playing the violin and volleyball, and always competing just a little bit. We both were excited to attend MSU after high school and Jocie took me under her wing, introducing me to her friends from summer study abroad. We spent all of college together, from our first dorm parties to Gunson street graduation, and continue to make it a priority to see each other across the country. Austin and I had the best time this past summer at Jocie and her now-husband Ethan's beautiful wedding.
Aaron Bensoua
Best Man
Aaron and I met in the dorms at UCLA and hit it off pretty quickly as the two twenty year olds equally not shy. Asher Roth’s “I Love College” could fairly summarize our first year or two of friendship in Westwood. Since college, we’ve shared many great times – mostly involving tacos, football, and large bodies of water in either Manhattan Beach, San Diego, or Lake Tahoe. We also took a quick buds trip across the pond to London, Edinburgh, and Dublin a few years ago with fellow groomsmen Deron and Tim (please see below). He found Mrs. Right in 2017 and he and Lindsay are enjoying wedded bliss as new homeowners in Costa Mesa, California.
Katie Robinson
Bridesmaid
Katie and I met within my first few months of my move to Orange County from Michigan. I had joined a 10-week women's group at a new church hoping to find some new friends it's amazing to think that many of us from that group are still close to this day. I remember being nervous and Katie's warm, welcoming, bubbly personality had me feeling comfortable in no time. We quickly bonded over our shared love of workouts, cookies and being outside. We have since hiked in Yosemite, camped in Inyo, paddle boarded, run and daydreamed about our future business/love/life plans together ever since. Six years later, though we no longer live down the street from each other, we continue to make each other a priority. Katie currently lives in Seattle, WA working her dream (corporate) job at Lululemon HQ.
Deron Kershaw
Groomsman
I’ve known Deron since 1986. He’s one of my two oldest friends along with his twin brother, Greg. Deron taught me everything I need to know about NBA Jam, Ninja Turtles, and of course, building chipmunk traps in the dirt. Deron is one of two reasons why I moved down to San Diego in 2006 – and I still haven’t left – 15 years later. He has always gone out of his way to be a good cousin and a great friend. Some of my favorite memories with Deron are rollerblading two miles to Del Taco and the Bible House, competitions with his brother Greg to make me the best landscape artwork, building forts, and more recently, our several trips down to Mexico. I am very excited to have him up there to celebrate another huge milestone. Deron and is wife Nicole live in Carlsbad, California.
Sheridan Pembroke
Bridesmaid
When I first moved to California, I was fresh out of college and arrived without knowing where I was going to live. After a few days scouring Craigslist in search of the right place, I saw Sheridan's ad. She was looking for a few people to rent a house together near the water. We met at a starbucks to feel it out and the rest was history. We spent two years as roommates living one block from the ocean, and loving every minute. Sheridan was my first friend in California and made me feel at home. We have shared hundreds of fish tacos at Bear Flag, many wine nights, Cassidy's burgers, bike rides, and a lot of sandy, salty beach days. Sheridan currently lives in Nevada and is an entrepreneur with three adorable rescue pups.
Greg Kershaw
Groomsman
When you think of passive, reserved, and shy, you’re not thinking of Greg. Greg is the definition of work hard, play hard and always puts family first. If it’s for family, Greg will be there. Like Deron, Greg was instrumental in teaching me the art of the macarena, street basketball, Tommy Boy quotes, and the importance of writing your girlfriend’s name in permanent marker under the bill of your Orlando Magic baseball cap. Not much has changed since then. We still run hot routes in Pacific Beach as often as we can and I wrote “I love Ally” under the bill of my favorite golf hat. I am pumped to have Greg up there with me to celebrate this big day. Greg and his wife Bailey live in Pacific Beach, California, just a few steps from where Ally and I first met.
Merritt Wood
Bridesmaid
When Sheridan moved out of state, there were big shoes to fill. We put an ad out for a new roommate and of the many requests that came in, Merritt stood out. When she came by to look at the place we bonded over a shared love for Harry Potter. Merritt continuously challenged herself at work, was intentional about workouts and always made time for the beach. Within days her outgoing and fun personality had her friends with all the neighbors. By example, she led me to push myself and focus on what was important while still having fun and making time for family. Merritt and her husband Trevor recently purchased their first home together in Costa Mesa, and Austin & I loved being able to be enjoy it and spend time together during their beautiful backyard wedding this past summer.
Tim Carroll
Groomsman
Tim and I met the first day of Freshman football in 100 degrees in August 2001. We have been good friends ever since. Tim remains a dedicated teacher and high school football coach in the Sacramento area. He loves to teach whether it is on the football field, in the classroom, or leading a high school Bible study. What I admire most about Tim is that he is true to his word. If he says he will call, he will call. If he says he will be there, he will be there. He is a true friend. Ally and I have enjoyed exploring wineries and breweries with Tim and his wife Stephanie up in Northern California or when they come down to visit us in San Diego.
Leanna Henderson
Bridesmaid
Leanna is a successful lawyer, wedding planner and furniture refinisher. Aside from that, Leanna and I share a lot of similarities. We were born within days of each other and we also share a wedding year! Leanna is in the midst of planning her October wedding and has been so thoughtful in sharing tips and tricks which have made our planning easier. Austin and I had the chance to spend a few days staying with Leanna and her fiancé Cameron over Christmas and I had a first hand look at her furniture refinishing handiwork. It was beautiful - and I have since done a few projects of my own. From day one, Leanna has been warm, has taken time to get to know me, and made me feel a part of the family. Leanna lives with her fiancé Cameron and two dogs, Gemma and Stella in Sacramento.
Tyler Cone
Groomsman
Tyler and I went to high school together but we became closer friends in college in 2006 when we bumped into each other in Santa Barbara. By the end of that summer he was helping move me down to San Diego in my mom’s 1998 Dodge Caravan. Since college one of our favorite things to do together is golf – mostly Tyler teaching me how to play. He introduced me to Dave Ramsey and financial peace university in 2014 by grabbing my phone out of my hand and making me download the podcast. I’m glad he did. I have him to thank for the progress I’ve made paying down my student loan and having a written plan for our financial future. He and his wife Lindsey live in Roseville, California with their two children, Alexandra and Brent.
Janelle Krattiger
Bridesmaid
Janelle and I met last winter but I have gotten to know her more over the the past several months. I knew we would get along when we first talked about our shared love of reading and how as kids we were often the quieter ones with our noses in the books. I have come to notice and admire Janelle's ability to be calm in the midst of chaos. When her and her husband Robbie, and their one year old Declan were in the middle of moving to a new house they offered to host us for dinner. With boxes packed around us and delicious Italian food in front of us - I was impressed with how she was able to press pause and enjoy time with family without stressing. Janelle, her husband Robbie and their adorable son Declan recently completed the move into their beautiful new home in Sacramento.
Dylan Sutter
Groomsman
Dylan and I met one year ago when I flew out to Michigan to meet the family for the first time. As my new future brother-in-law and genuinely awesome guy, I am thrilled to have Dylan up there with us as one of my groomsmen. I knew I started to speak Dylan’s language during my first visit when I asked him for home defense pistol recommendations. Since then we have enjoyed several outdoor activities despite covid’s best efforts to keep us down including golf, the shooting range, and exploring Dexter’s and Ann Arbor’s finest libations and breweries. Hopefully I haven’t gifted him too many books yet that he still wants to hangout. I am honored and excited to share our day with Dylan.
Logan Tedford
Groomsman
Logan and I met in 1998 when we were eleven years old playing football for the Orangevale Huskies. I’d say football and girls were our main focus in our first five years of friendship. From asking girls to dance with our pooka shells on in seventh grade, football defensive captains junior and senior year, as roommates living on tuna sandwiches and going to Flood Church in San Diego, we have had a lot of good times in 23 years. Since they moved back up to Northern California, Ally and I have enjoyed getting together with Logan and his wife Kathryn when we visit family in Sacramento.