Amber & Barry
Wedding Party
Shannon Bengston
Matron of Honor
My BFF and partner in crime! We have been friends for 18 years!!!! Shannon and I have been on many adventures together across the world. I lived with Shannon and her parents in Grad School, Shannon lived with me and my parents post-Grad School. We were roomies together in Chicago and NYC. At some point, and against our wills, we were given a "couple name" of Shamber and even though we haven't lived in the same city for almost 4 years, people still accidentally call me Shannon and vice versa.
Elizabeth Mayer
Bridesmaid
Elizabeth will get the furthest traveled award at the wedding. She is currently living in South Sudan and is one of the member of the 3 Musketeers. Elizabeth, Shannon, and I all met at St. Louis University 18 years ago. We became instant friends! We joined the same sorority, traveled together throughout the US and abroad, and were basically inseparable. Nowadays, the 3 of us couldn't live further apart but it makes no difference, because family is family...and well, we've put up with each other for this long, no point it ruining it now!
Julia Ritz Toffoli
Bridesmaid
Julia is one of my close friends and we were roommates together in NYC for 5 years. 95 West 95th was a legendary apartment filled with amazing women and memories! Simply put, Julia's the reason I met Barry. Julia started Women Who Whiskey (wWw) and was meant to go to Fraunces Tavern for a Dingle Whiskey Media tasting event. At the last minute, Julia was unable to go and so she asked if either I or our other roommate Samantha might want to go instead. We were both reluctant to go, but ultimately, I caved. I told her that I wouldn't be able to stay at the event long because I had a date that night...I later cancelled that date!
Phuong Truong
Bridesmaid
I met Phuong and her now husband Josh in NYC in March of 2013- I was throwing a St. Patrick's Day party at 95 West 95th. Myself, Phuong, and Shannon became instant friends. The kind of friends that would enter and participate in this insane race whereby you crawl under barbed wire fencing, swim through ice cold water, & get electrocuted...for fun....ooh, the Tuff Mudder Maineacs. Silver lining, that weekend ended with at Jay-Z & Justin Timberlake concert. We weren't in the best shape, but we still managed to dance! When Barry & I moved to Brooklyn, we wanted to make sure we lived near Phuong & Josh as well as the final member of the Bridal Wedding Party Chris.
Chris Helies
Bridesman
Yeah, a Bridesman is a thing! Anyone who has been single in NYC can tell you...it's a whole other animal. However, it is all a lot more fun if you're going through it with someone else. Chris and I were introduced by my good friend Lauren, about 5 years ago. Chris was new to New York and I had been around for a bit so I just invited him wherever I was going. As time went on, we ended up bailing each other out of dates gone bad, dragged each other out of the house when either of us was feeling sorry for ourselves, and figured out fairly soon in, that a 90's music dance off and sing along was the best way to end any night. Chris met (his soon to be wife) Lareysa Smith a short while after I met (my soon to be husband) Barry Smyth. Now we have 4-person 90's music sing alongs!
Kenneth Carroll
Best Man
My earliest memory of Ken was him singing at the top of his voice, "Don't Worry, Be Happy!", while I wore an incredibly oversized, and dorky, acid house smiley face t-shirt. Not much has changed since that day, really - that t-shirt would still be oversized, and we're both still dorks. Ken is a family man who's always up for a boogie, a mate who's always up for a pint, and one of the best men I know.
Colm Kirwan
Groomsman
It's been 22 years since Colm and I first worked together in the Gravediggers. From Lindsay Road to the streets of Manhattan, Colm has always been there for pints and chats. His couch was my first home in New York, and he was the first person I told about Amber.
Killian Geelan
Groomsman
From the age of 12, the corner of my street was where myself, Kev, Ross, & Geelo (aka Killian) could be found everyday after school. We talked for hours about everything, and nothing. When we got older that corner became our after-pub spot, where we'd eat chips and battered sausages and chat until the wee hours. Wherever the location there's no better man for late night real talk, and brotherly love.
Brian Glancy
Groomsman
The man responsible for bringing me to North America. Some might think it was a long way to go to have a pint with a friend. Those people don't know Brian - a man who brings banter & joviality wherever he goes. NB: No better man to "chop the carrots" on the dance floor.
Kevin Dowd
Groomsman
I met this fella on the walk home from our first day of secondary school. We walked into the Gravediggers looking for our first job. We walked the Great Wall of China and through the muddy fields of many a music festival. I stood with him on the day he married Fiona and I'm proud to have him stand with me on my special day.