Amanda & Brian
Wedding Party
Prudence and Tux
Dogs of Honor
Brian and Amanda are fully prepared for Rue and Tux to steal the spotlight. Rue joined our family in 2017, and she quickly learned how to rule the household with sass, attitude, and a little bit of sweetness. When Tux joined us in 2020, Brian officially became the second most handsome boy in the house.
Riley and Taylor Thompson
Greeters
If you have spent any amount of time around Brian, you have likely heard him talk proudly about his two nieces. Riley and Taylor both exploded on the scene and into Brian (and now Amanda)'s life and have made it increasingly better with every day they've been in it. Brian and Amanda are proud to have two wonderful, amazing girls as the faces that greet you to their big day!
Gary Johnson
Best Man
Brian and Gus met each other as campers at Camp Nawakwa during High School. Together, they formed a dynamic duo. Including their years serving on staff at Nawakwa together, Brian and Gus have been best friends for 16 years. Through weddings, funerals, and tense Cubs-Pirates games, Gus and Brian have been through it all. Brian's greatest treasure is the ability to send Gus into a frenzy by bringing up Michael Crabtree, the 03 Marlins, or the time Jerome Bettis ran over Brian Urlacher in the snow.
Brad Volek
Groomsman
Brad's initial impression of Brian at Grove City College was a somewhat unflattering "who does this kid in the Troy Polamalu USC jersey think he is?" The initial jealousy of Brian's amazing sports trivia knowledge aside, Brad and Brian's friendship has been true since 2007. Few people would share in the misery of a Thursday night loss to UNC in the rain, but Brad and Brian have stuck out many Pitt and Pirates losses together. The guest room in the Volek house is known as the "Brian Atkinson Suite."
Mark Bernardo
Groomsman
Brian and Mark were members of the same housing group at Grove City College; however, their time together there was limited. The timely and regular illnesses that beleaguer Mark's wife, Jenny, have led to multiple joyful outings between Mark and Brian, the greatest being the Pirates-Cubs Wild Card Game. Were it not for Jenny"s penchant for catching a bug when Mark and Brian have made plans, Brian wouldn't be able to have such a wonderful and genuine friend in his life.
Kyle Morrow
Groomsman
Brian, Mark, Brad, and Kyle were all members of the same housing group at Grove City College. Kyle "The Commish" Morrow runs the world famous fantasy football league that Brian is the current back to back champion of. Brian and Kyle bonded over a love of Steelers football, sports in general, Nerf gun assassins, and the time Brian ate his way into the housing group by downing 50 wings at Quaker Steak. Brian is incredibly lucky and thankful to count Kyle and his wife Rachael as two of his dearest friends.
Katie Wright
Bridesmaid
Katie and Amanda met while attending the University of Connecticut. You know that friend who will drive over 5 hours just to binge watch the Gilmore Girls revival together? That is Katie. She is the friend that will spend two hours listening to you complain about everything that is wrong in the world, take a trip to visit Mickey's house over spring break, and explain how to do all the adulting things.
Ashlee Shreve
Bridesmaid
Ashlee and Amanda met over 30 years ago when Ash was born. They spent the majority of those first years thinking of ways to annoy the other and only getting along when they worked together to annoy Ash's brother, Nick. Now Amanda and Ash spend their time listing all the ways the rest of the family annoys them (only somewhat joking). Amanda is grateful for the friendship with Ash that has developed in the last few years.
Meghan McCall
Bridesmaid
Meghan and Amanda were neighbors during their first year at Susquehanna! Meghan has a long history of putting up with Amanda's shenanigans. (Amanda fully takes credit for Meghan's relationship with her now husband, Peter, after a classic shenanigan brought Meghan and Peter together forever.) Both share a love of books, celebrity gossip, and shopping at antique malls in Lewisburg, PA.
Allison Kuhlman
Bridesmaid
Allison and Amanda met while studying at the University of Connecticut and quickly bonded of the love of all things weird. Like random adventures. And animals. And food. And things that are cute. Especially dogs. When you find someone who matches your level of weirdness and quirkiness, you keep them in your life forever. Mostly by sending memes and dog photos.