Sarah & Dustin
Wedding Party
Chelsea Chen
Matron of Honor
Sarah was facing her great move to Music City (Nashville) and reached out to Chelsea on a whim. What started as a "looking for a nursing school roommate" post quickly turned into a close friendship. After a last minute decision to stay in Nashville for an additional semester, Sarah joined Chelsea and a few other bridesmaids to form the infamous AshBash crew. When you find someone who just "gets you," you hold on tight. From endless afternoons on the couch to dancing the night away on Broadway, Chelsea was Sarah's person. After serving as Maid of Honor in Chelsea's wedding, it only made sense for Chelsea to be Sarah's Matron of Honor.
Brian Hockemeyer
Best Man
Brian and Dustin met through Andrew Daffern, Brian's roommate and Dustin's friend from high school. Dustin was living at Camp Holiday Trails in Charlottesville but missed his hometown of Richmond, VA. Andrew offered up his (and Brian's) couch regularly. Brian is an easy person to get along with and happy to meet new friends. This quickly became true with Dustin, and the two stayed close even after Andrew moved away. When Dustin finally moved to Richmond, Brian was an obvious choice for a roommate. He had slept on Brian's couch so much; it only made sense to put Dustin's name on the lease. Brian and Dustin lived together for four years until Dustin moved in with his new roommate-for-life. The two are equally happy relaxing around a fire as they are dancing at a show or festival.
Anne Ward Eshelman
Bridesmaid
Anne Ward and Sarah became close friends during nursing school, sharing many a Donatos pizza and wine night. A fellow woo girl and the final member of AshBash, Anne Ward can bring the life to any party and is the most loyal friend. Sarah first remembers Anne Ward greeting her at a Vanderbilt tailgate. Ever the consummate host, AW can make a stranger feel at home then have them leave a friend.
Brian Brown
Groomsman
Dustin and Brian met in high school. Working on a freshman year video project with Brian was the first notable memory of their friendship. Brian played the quiet, reserved bird-catcher character. This description may fit Brian on the surface but couldn't be further from the truth. Brian has a style to his humor that is uniquely his, but one that has always made Dustin laugh. He is also an incredibly loyal friend. The two stayed in touch in college while raiding dungeons in World of Warcraft and organized causal Ultimate Frisbee games while home on breaks.
Caroline Fulton
Bridesmaid
If you couldn't tell by the hair, Caroline is Sarah's first cousin. First remembered as the little cousin always attached to Sarah's hip, she quickly became a sweet friend and confidant. During any family gathering, Caroline could be found hanging Koala-style around Sarah's neck. Now she is Sarah's Fulton-gathering buddy and the recipient of more than a few snuck drinks. Having watched her baby cousin turn into quite the young lady, Sarah is ecstatic to have her standing beside her as a bridesmaid.
Philip Chang
Groomsman
Phil and Dustin also met in high school. Dustin, Brian Brown, and Phil started to refer to themselves as the Twinkies, a name that came about after a long night of online gaming. It started as a joke, but now 15 years later, Dustin's mom will still ask how the other Twinkies are doing. Phil has never been one to do something halfway. Phil is a go-to guy if you're looking to have a fun time. It's also just as easy to picture him reading his Dental Admission Test study guide on summer boat rides at Dustin's lake house. Phil went to undergrad at UVA. Visits to see Phil would be some of the first steps in Dustin's growing love of Charlottesville. Phil was always happy to have Dustin crash for the weekend and show him around the town where he would eventually meet Sarah.
Lauren Paugh
Bridesmaid
Sarah and Lauren met while working together at KidMed. Quickly bonding over busy shifts and an appreciation for a good night out, they became close friends. After Dustin gave the go ahead for Sarah to do some ring shopping, Sarah turned to Lauren for help. The ladies picked out their rings together and are both scheduled to be married in 2021!
Andrew Daffern
Groomsman
The first clear memory Dustin has of Andrew is working on a high school video project with Brian Brown. Together the three wrote a brief screenplay that brought together individuals with largely different personalities to solve a problem. It also served as a good way to start the friendship. Andrew's friendship has been strong and long-lasting. They were close through high school, with Andrew frequently spending weekends at Dustin's lake house. He was often on his second cup of coffee by the time Dustin awoke, having spent the morning talking with Dustin's mom. They remained friends after college, with Andrew frequently inviting Dustin to stay on his couch for weekends at a time. Though Andrew moved to Albuquerque, NM, the two have remained in touch.
Kelly Regan
Bridesmaid
Kelly and Sarah met at William and Mary during Delta Gamma recruitment. Quickly bonding over soccer and a shared interest in health sciences, Kelly became Sarah's "Little" and close friend throughout their time at W&M. From her first time meeting Dustin, Kelly knew that he was Sarah’s perfect match. Always one to help Sarah see the forest for the trees, Kelly could tell Dustin had the same (much needed) effect. As Dustin's second biggest fan, Kelly will be there cheering them on come September.
William Dalkin
Groomsman
Will is Dustin's second closest friend he met while working at Camp Holiday Trails. They met at an archery instructor certification class and would go on to lead archery together at camp. The summer ended with Will giving Dustin a Legolas figurine, a gesture that encapsulated a friendship built on a mutual love of all things nerdy. Despite Will's ruthless betrayal in Counselor Assassins, the two remained friends after their time as counselors came to an end. Will and Dustin would spend their first year out of college living in Charlottesville. Whether it was out at bars or home playing board games, the two spent much of their time together. Will saw Sarah and Dustin's relationship develop from day one and will be standing next to Dustin as they start their marriage.
Bailey Salazar
Bridesmaid
Bailey and Sarah also met and lived together during nursing school. Another member of AshBash, Bailey could be found hanging inspirational signs and adding sprigs of holly berries around the house regardless of season. Bailey can also be found dropping it low on any Broadway dance floor then making it to the early church service the next morning. Bailey is the most thoughtful friend and always gives your conversation her full attention. If you're looking for hug pics and snugs on the couch then Bailey is your girl.
John Michelson
Groomsman
John and Dustin first met through mutual friends in college. They'd become closer in a similar way to Brian Hockemeyer and Dustin; John was also Brian and Andrew's roommate. In the years following undergraduate graduation, a group of friends started to form and grow in Richmond: The Richmond Folks. They'd plan large events, from city-wide scavenger hunts to yearly Friendsgivings. John could usually be found in the center of these events: planning, organizing, and making sure everyone was included. Dustin, who at the time was a Charlottesville Folk, was no different. He was the first to reach out to Dustin when he was planning a ski trip. When Dustin told him he'd never skied before, John spent most of his first day teaching Dustin. His selfless nature makes him a great friend.
Emily Underhill
Bridesmaid
Sarah and Emily bonded over coffee and red wine under the AshBash roof. Heart to hearts in her room and trips to TJ Maxx brought the girls together. A few tropical vacations made them inseparable. A fellow nurse practitioner, Emily has the most caring heart and is such a sincere friend. Always on the move, she never fails to make time for her people.
Brandon Mitchell
Groomsman
Dustin met Brandon working as a teaching assistant at the Faison Center for Autism. Dustin's first memory of Brandon is him casually turning around from doing some work and asking a large group of people, "Have you all heard about this new computer that says hello? It's a Dell." Dustin's second memory of Brandon is of him asking Dustin out for drinks his first Friday on the job, so that he might feel welcome among the group. These two memories serve as a great way to understand Brandon. If he's not trying to get a group of friends together, he's probably thinking up his next pun to tell those friends.