Wedding Party
Benson
Best Man
Some friendships don’t just fade with time — they grow into family. For me, that’s Benson. We’ve been locked in since we were 10 years old, when we first met on the basketball courts at Simpsonville Rec. The first time we ever played together, we made it all the way to the championship, and looking back, that moment was really the start of something much bigger than basketball. From rec league days to AAU in middle school, Benson was always right there with me. We grew up competing side by side, traveling for games, and building memories on and off the court that shaped who we are. Some of the best times weren’t even games — they were at his momma’s house with the whole crew, laughing, joking, and living in moments we still talk about like they were yesterday. One thing about Benson is simple: he’s going to make you laugh. Always. He has a way of bringing energy into any room, turning regular moments into something memorable. Whether it’s a joke, a story, or just his natural personality, being around him always feels lighter. But beyond the humor, he’s also one of the most level-headed, dependable people I know — the type of friend who stays solid no matter what life throws at you. As we got older, life changed, but that bond never did. Benson spent so much time at Clemson he might as well have earned an honorary degree, and eventually we even became roommates. Through every season — wins, losses, growth, and everything in between — he’s always shown up.
Eady
Maid of Honor
In 2013, I returned to Winthrop University (Go Eagles!) for my sophomore year of college and second year as a track and field athlete. I walked into the first team meeting of the year to find old faces, some faces no longer present, and a few new faces amongst the old ones. One of those new faces just so happened to be my now maid of honor, Eady. They say college is where you meet your closest and best friends and I'd have to say that whoever "they" is, was right. Being a student athlete prepared me for life in ways that cannot be explained to someone who has never lived it. The experience came with highs and lows (sometimes more lows than highs) but the one good thing that it gave me was my best friend, Eady. When you spend almost every day together pushing yourselves to limits that probably cannot be reached by our now very grown adult bodies, a bond is bound to form. A bond that surpassed the track and extended to us being roommates for our last two years of college. From teammates to roommates to cousins (because since we've known each other this long, she's automatically my cousin now). Graduation was a bitter sweet moment because while we both left Winthrop with our degrees, I would no longer have my favorite person down the hall or stairs. I'm so grateful that our friendship has stood the test of time and I could not imagine my big day without her.
Thomas
Groomsman
Where do I even begin with Thomas — he was my first best friend and real example of what growing into a man looks like. My older brother, by a few years, he’s had a major hand in shaping who I am today. Having brothers naturally pushes you forward, because you get to learn through their lessons, their wins, and their mistakes. Growing up, Thomas always made sure I was included whenever he could. Whether it was playing hide and seek with our cousins, playing the game PS2 late into the night, tagging along to his basketball workouts at Potential, or just being around his friends when I was too young to be hanging out lol. He always looked out for me and made me feel like I belonged. More than anything, Thomas has always kept it real with me. No sugarcoating, just straight honesty about life, whether it was school, basketball, or even relationships. Every little brother needs a big brother who’s already been through it, someone who can give you perspective before you learn things the hard way, and that’s exactly who he’s been for me. A lot of who I am today comes from watching how he handles responsibility, how he moves through life, and how he leads. And the wild part is, he never did it for credit. It’s always been genuine and selfless. Even now, nothing has changed. Thomas still shows up with that same honesty, wisdom, and love. I’m grateful for him not just as my big brother, but as my first best friend and lifelong example of what it means to show up for somebody.
Ginger
Maid of Honor
The funny thing about being the youngest sibling is that I’ve never known what life is like without my sister. With an 11-year age gap between us, she has been part sister, part protector, and a major influence for my early music and movie choices. Even with the age difference, we’ve grown into a friendship that feels effortless. We are completely different in some ways, yet alike where it matters most, and our similarities outweigh our differences tenfold. If you ever see me out and about and I’m not with Brendan, chances are I’m with her. Whether we’re shopping for things we don’t need, finding somewhere good to eat, or spending hours talking about absolutely nothing and everything at the same time, she’s become my favorite person to spend time with. She’s also the person I immediately think of whenever I say something ridiculous or tell a joke that nobody else laughs at because I know she would laugh without hesitation. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of spending time with both of us together, then you already know it’s nearly impossible to get a word in once we get going. We can turn the smallest conversation into hours of laughing and talking over each other like no one else exists in the room. I don't have a huge circle of friends, but I have my sisters, and for me, that has always been more than enough. A bride can’t have her big day without her sister by her side, and I’m so grateful to have her standing with me on one of the most important days of my life.
Kai
Groomsman
My other best friend by blood is my little big brother, Kai — the youngest of three but somehow the tallest. If you know me, you probably know him too, because growing up he was always right there with me. As the lil bro, he came on most of my AAU trips and quickly became the team’s unofficial little brother. But Kai was never intimidated by anybody. My friends still talk about him cracking jokes on guys way older like it was nothing. That fearless confidence has always been one of my favorite things about him. Even younger, he carried himself like he belonged in every room. That’s why I started bringing him around more with my friends. At the time it was just little bro being little bro, but those moments turned into core memories — freestyling over his beats, him sneaking random things into my drive-thru order, and us laughing and roasting each other nonstop. As we got older, I gained even more respect for the man he’s become. He’s grounded, wise, and someone I can always count on for real advice about life, work, or anything in between. Kai is more than my little brother — he’s one of my closest friends, and having him stand beside me in this next chapter means everything.
Katie
Bridesmaid
It’s not every day that you find out you have a long-lost sibling, but that’s exactly what happened to me just four years ago. After many questions and unknowns, fate finally introduced me to my sister, Katie. Trying to make up for lost time has been both rewarding and challenging at the same time. There’s no guidebook for building a sibling relationship later in life, and sometimes it feels impossible to fit years of missed memories, conversations, and milestones into such a short amount of time. But despite all of that, gaining another sister has been one of the greatest gifts I could have asked for. Although we may not share a lifetime of childhood memories together, we do share something just as meaningful — a bond built on understanding, resilience, and the unique experience of both being little sisters trying to navigate life’s unexpected turns. Over the years, we’ve slowly built our own memories and our own version of what sisterhood looks like. Our journey may look different from most, but that’s what makes it special. Having Katie as a bridesmaid means so much more than simply choosing someone to stand beside me on my wedding day. She is a reminder that no matter how much time passes, family will always find their way home.
Chris
Groomsman
Aside from my brothers, Chris is the person who’s known me the longest out of anyone here. We’ve literally known each other since we were about 4 or 5 years old. I’ve got to give credit to my big bro for that, because if he wasn’t hooping with Chris’s older brother back then, that connection probably never happens. From early on, Chris was always the most level-headed one in our circle. Whenever me and Benson would get a little too wild, Chris was the one bringing us back down to earth. That’s not to say he can’t joke and cut up too, because he definitely can — he just always knew when, where, and who to do it around. That’s something I picked up from him early, and it’s honestly shaped how I move to this day. Like the rest of us, we grew up on the court together. And even though we both played point guard, when we run together I always let him handle the ball. Not because I can’t, but because I trust him. Chris has always been the type of person who makes the right read, the right play, and puts everybody in the best position to win. Plus, he knows I can get buckets with the best of them, so it all works out lol. But on a real note, Chris has been my best friend since we were kids. He’s somebody I can always count on for solid advice and real perspective. Now that he’s a husband and a father, I respect his wisdom even more. I know there will be moments in life where that perspective matters more than ever, and I’m grateful to always have him in my corner.
Bria
Bridesmaid
Track and field didn’t just introduce me to bad knees and an intense work ethic — it also introduced me to my former teammate, Bria. One of my earliest college memories involves Tuesday nights in her dorm room watching Pretty Little Liars. Back then, we would pause our busy college lives and ignore the chaos around us just to keep up with our favorite show. At the time, she was simply a girl from Maryland who was incredibly smart and always willing to answer my chemistry questions, even when she had plenty going on herself. As time went on, our college journeys began to take different paths, but somehow life brought us back together as roommates during our junior year. My mom begged me not to move to CampusWalk but when would I ever have the chance to be roommates with some of my best friends ever again?! I absolutely had to. What started as a simple college friendship soon became a bond built on barely surviving track workouts, late nights, early mornings, Steak & Shake runs, and a crazy night involving a trash can and service elevator. Bria has remained a constant in my life and I'm so happy we have another chance to add to the rest of our memories.
Mike
Groomsman
They say college is where you meet the people who end up being in your life forever, and with Mike, that couldn’t be more true. A lot of my friendships came through sports, and Mike is no different. My freshman year at Clemson, we were at the student gym hooping when he asked to run with us. Normally I’m picky about who I play with — I don’t like losing — but something about him stood out right away. Before we even tipped off, he said LeBron was his favorite player, and I already knew I had found a dog. It didn’t take long to see it wasn’t just talk. Mike brought real competitiveness every time he stepped on the court, even in pickup runs. That energy made it easy to keep him around. After that day, we were always linked up — hooping, grabbing food at the cafe, or hitting the mall before going out. It became routine: class, gym, food, repeat, always moving together like it was planned. I remember one time we were out at the store, and a group stopped and asked if we were brothers because they always saw us together on campus. That moment stuck with me, because it made me realize this wasn’t just a friendship; I had found a brother in Mike. Even though we don’t live a street over from each other anymore, nothing has changed. Every time we link up, it’s like no time has passed. Same vibes, same laughs, same bond, and I’m grateful that college brought me a brother like him.