Wedding Party
Katie Russo
Maid of Honor
Katie is one of the lucky few to have never known life without Brooke (who she lovingly calls Birk) in it and Brooke has loved growing up with her as a younger sister. Brooke can't imagine this day without Katie by her side and is grateful for all of their memories together. You can find Brooke and Katie singing with each other (really well), laughing, making inside jokes or references to their favorite movies, and generally being loud. Katie graduated from UNC Wilmington in May 2025 with a degree in Political Science and is back at UNCW to pursue her Master's in Public Administration in Fall 2025.
Emma Workman
Bridesmaid
Brooke initially met Emma at Vacation Bible School and connected over Dan & Phil and Melanie Martinez. If you knew 2015 Brooke, you'll know why they hit it off immediately. They reconnected in high school theatre and chorus and became closer when COVID quarantine started. Their shared love of K-pop made them talk more and their deeper conversations made them best friends. Brooke is so grateful to Emma for her constant support, listening ear, and sincere friendship over the years. Emma is currently pursuing her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Medicine.
Ainsley Dawe
Bridesmaid
For the first few years of Brooke and Ainsley's relationship, they were only co-workers! Now, they are co-business owners (along with Austin, too) and great friends. Brooke and Ainsley both love a good running joke and always are able to make each other laugh. Brooke is grateful to Ainsley for her thoughtfulness and enthusiastic support. Ainsley graduated from Appalachian State University with her degree in Dance and Psychology and currently works as the Fine Arts Coordinator at Multiply Church in Concord, NC.
Mikato Leuang
Best Man
Mikato has been close with Austin ever since he moved to Charlotte in middle school. Since then, the two have shared much of their lives doing hangouts, devotional groups, theatre, video games. Mikato became friends with Brooke in high school and has always made an effort to stay invested in the two of them and their relationship. Mikato is someone Austin can trust, so much that he would give him the responsibility of being the best man in the world’s greatest and most important wedding. Mikato’s genuine, attentive friendship has meant so much over the years and Austin is extremely grateful to have Mikato as his best man. Mikato works as a software developer at SAS in Raleigh, NC.
Wes Townsend
Groomsman
Wesley and Austin met at a summer camp in elementary school, where after exchanging gamertags they continued to bond by playing Minecraft together. Over time they ended up doing just about everything together; boy scouts, soccer, youth group, and still Minecraft. Aside from their many shared interests, Wesley has always been a loyal friend to Austin as they’ve navigated new life changes and social circles. Now, Wesley is happily married to his wife Kate and a proud electrical engineer at Duke Energy in Raleigh, NC.
Gray Adams
Groomsman
A close friend ever since middle school, Gray and Austin ended up living together for Austin’s last two years of college where they made some of his favorite college memories together. Technically, Austin has known Gray the longest out of his groomsmen due to the two being in the same Y-Guides crew when they were just six years old. From sharing cabins to an apartment, their adventures, while numerous, are still far from over. Gray is now back home with his family in Concord, NC while working hard on his YouTube channel which he won’t tell anyone about.
Nick Walton
Groomsman
Nick’s high-energy and fun personality brought the two together as friends in elementary school. For as long as Austin has known him, Nick has brought excitement into his life with the passion he always exudes. A kind and genuine friend, Nick’s company always makes Austin comfortable knowing he can be himself. He now is a graduate nuclear physics student at Duke University.
Jacob Larem
Groomsman
Jacob and Austin have been good friends since elementary school, and Jacob was undoubtedly one of the largest influences over Austin during those most formative years. The two have had countless sleepovers, inside jokes, Pokémon battles and One Piece chapter discussions together. Despite being busier now in their adult lives, each time they are together again it’s as though no time has passed since the last. Jacob now works at a hospital in Chapel Hill, NC as a medical lab technologist.