Wedding Party
Bridget Shelkey
Maid of Honor
While "Auntie" may be the associated salutation reserved for Jamie, Bridget has always felt more like a sister. From the early days of Jamie pushing Bridget in her stroller to Carvel for Ice Cream dates to summer nights sitting sharing beers in a field full of fireflies these two have always had a special bond. Several trips around the sun later and here they remain in solidarity. They have been there for each other through so many of life's crazy curveballs and punches. Preserving the "Black-Sheep" titles in the family, these two have been shaking up family functions for nearly two decades.
Nick Gumlaw
Best Man
• Matthew met Nick in 2011 while attending yoyo classes at A2Z Science and Learning store in Northampton, MA. Sharing a few beers, while watching a Bruins game at the Toasted Owl is what sparked this years-long friendship. Separated by 11 years, it was a friendship Matthew never saw coming. Nevertheless, it has grown into a bond everlasting. Nick and Matt share a love of hockey (Bruins), craft beer and yo-yoing (what a trio!!). Over the years these two have embarked on many adventures, including traveling to new breweries, going to yoyo contests, and spending time at Adam Lord’s camp in Vermont.
Bia Sena
Bridesmaid
Jamie was very excited to meet Jakes "new girlfriend" in February of 2017. The moment Jamie met Bia, she loved her instantly. It was clear that she was the perfect match for Jake...an intuition which proved to be true as the two were Married in October of 2022! Bia has remained a steadfast friend, and is always happy to participate in whatever crazy tasks Jamie has, and has been known get dirty with yardwork and painting! We love Bia's zest for life, and her fun, bubbly personality. Alina has also adopted Bia as a surrogate Auntie and absolutely adores her. Bia is also a badass corporate lawyer!
Jake Pecht
Best Man
• Matthew also met Jake at A2Z Science and Learning Store but their road to friend ship was paved early on by a trip to the Alchemist in VT for our 1st taste of Heady Topper. In 2016 Jake spend 9 days at Matthew’s house for the holidays while he was studying for the Bar. That time cemented their friendship and soon after Jake met his soon to be bride Bia!
Amy Lebeau
Bridesmaid
Amy is one of Jamie’s oldest friends! All the way back to Apple Tree Nursery School. From Cabbage Patch kids and birthday parties at McDonald’s to high school shenanigans, (where Amy gained the nickname Doozer). Their first Grateful Dead concert where Doozer’s beloved car “the party wagon” broke down on the highway somewhere in. VT. That didn’t stop them. The party wagon was left on the highway when a friend randomly saw them and stopped and they rode the rest of the way in her car! These two have always been friends. Doozer has always had Jamie’s back through it all. No matter how crazy life gets or how much time passes Jamie has always known that Doozer was just a text or phone call away.
Brandon Reed
Groomsman
• Brandon is Matthew’s oldest friend. These two met in the early 80’s while attending tumbleweed classes together! Matthew’s first memory of Brandon was getting a ride home from one of our classes while Born in the USA was playing on the radio (Brandon signing along). These two pretty much grew up together, went to high school and college together as well as owned a house together for 8 years! Their bond was formed over a shared love of music and both became obsessive Pearl jam fans. Between 1996 and 2013 they went to 19 Pearl Jam concerts together!
Melissa Breor
Bridesmaid
Jamie met Melissa in 2015 as part of the craft beer friend group. They have enjoyed many great beers and some awesome charcuterie together. (including some seriously stinky cheese) Melissa is Jamie's John Mayer concert buddy, they have also enjoyed lots of other concerts together. Melissa is also always down for an old lady day complete with a shopping spree at Christmas Tree Shops and some brunch at Cracker Barrel. She is also the baker of the group and graces us all with yummy cakes and treats.
Jeff Litwin
Groomsman
• Jeff is a man of music and good times! If there is a show coming to town best bet is that Jeff will be at it! Matthew and Jeff met in the fall of 2015. Over the years they have bonded over their love of all things music and beer. All those trips to Tree House would not be the same without Jeff’s smiling and smirking look upon arrival!
Meredith Loomis Gitangu
Bridesmaid
Jamie met Meredith in middle school and the two became fast friends. Their many escapades include: running into Meredith’s dad (who Jamie warmly refers to as “Pops”) every time they skipped school and hit up Burger King and some pretty amazing times camping at bluegrass festivals with Jamie’s Mom and her crew of camping pals. Though she is now a badass government health lawyer living in D.C Meredith always makes a point to get in touch with Jamie whenever she is “back home”
Benji Sharib
Groomsman
Matthew and Benji first met at Matthew’s first ever yoyo contest North East Regionals in 2011. Soon after Benji became a staple at all of the local yoyo contests and a regular at our annual Canoe Club Brew fest! Benji is also a regular at the annual October trip to Camp! Their mutual love of yo-yoing and craft beer has solidified their friendship over the years. He has been in the United States Navy for 11 years, and recently commissioned through the LDO program.
Jennifer Peterson
Bridesmaid
Jamie met Jen when she began teaching her daughter Alina dance. Alina immediately loved Jen and so did Jamie. Jen is the type of person who always has a smile on her face and a warm inviting personality and is one of the most genuine people we know she also has a great sense of humor. On top of being a wonderful dance teacher and friend Jenn has a hidden talent of being being able to rap tlc's waterfalls. We are incredibly grateful to have Jen standing beside us on our special day.
Adam Lord
Groomsman
• While both attending the Rhode Island State yoyo contest in 2012 Matthew and Adam met (in the bathroom nonetheless). Matthew noticed that Adam had a Pearl Jam tattoo on his leg and they hit it off from there! These two share a love of yo-yoing, craft beer and all things guitar! Adam is a great family man as well as the owner of the ‘Camp” that we all go to each October!
Kathryn Carpenter
Bridesmaid
Jamie first met Kathryn when her daughter Alina started dancing at Ascendance. Always a cheerful face behind the counter, she really got to know the entirety of Kat's dazzling personality when they became coworkers. Kathryn has one of the best laughs Jamie has ever heard and has made Jamie herself laugh heartily more times than she can count! From being "office ladies" to running children's camps together elbow deep in slime and craft supplies these two have shared many crazy adventures and have plenty of stories to tell about them!
Seth Hermanson
Groomsman
Seth and Matthew first became friends in 2014 while attending the local yoyo contests. Seth, an avid disc golfer is also a beer nerd and was a member of the back to back Craft Beer Scavenger Hunt winning teams of 2017 and 2018. Seth was also a staple at the annual Canoe Club Brew Fest!
Alina Ostrowski
Junior Bridesmaid
Alina is the amazing daughter of the couple. When she is not dancing she is laughing or rolling her eyes at Matthew's dad jokes. She calls him "google" because he is a wealth of knowledge and any time she has a question about something Mom says to Matt he likely knows the answer. Alina is a a talented, lovable funny ball of energy.
Stacia Potter
Wedding planner/Crafting Pro/Keeper of Jamie’s Sanity
Jamie and Stacia aren't exactly sure when they met. Could have been a story time at Meekins Library or some Haydenville/Williamsburg event. They do know however, that they attended school together since Kindergarten with Mrs. Hand. In high school Stacia was always the responsible friend who played the "mom" role staying on the sidelines while the rest of the group was indulging in too many shenanigans to count and always keeping an eye out for safety. Often just laughing and getting a kick out of the rest of us! Stacia is a vast wealth of knowledge on so many topics and if you want something fixed she likely has a solution. She is an amazing artist in many mediums and all around arts and crafts goddess. Their Daughters now dance together and they spend lots of time working of costume dilemmas. Stacia has been known to be called "the love child of Martha Stewart and McGuiver" Jamie can't think of a better person to handle the organizing, crafting and planning of a wedding!