Courtney & Benjamin
Wedding Party
Courtney Gillies
Best Woman
I met CG in the summer of 2012 and I still get emotional thinking about how the world brought us together. Many things had to happen for us to meet and if one thing was different I wouldn't have the best friend I do now. My favorite thing about Courtney is that we know all of the good things and the bad things about each other but I have never felt judged for one second of our 8+ years of friendship. We have many things in common but, it's our acceptance of each others differences that really make our friendship so special and so solid. We share a love of travel, adult beverages, Taylor Swift, and dancing to Robin's Call Your Girlfriend.
Hayley Brooks
Bridesmaid
No one knows you quite like your sister. You've seen every phase of my life and have known me longer than anyone. She is a year younger than me... but was far better in school and at sports. I tried to teach her about good music (and failed). We are very different but together we always seem to find a way to have a good time. She has created a beautiful family and is raising three of the cutest/sweetest kiddos in the world and she makes me feel a part of watching them grow up even though we're far away. She is small but mighty, and I am lucky she is mine.
Meredith Pendleton
Bridesmaid
How do you summarize an almost 30 year friendship? Meredith and I met in Kindergarten and have been best friends since. We grew up burying treasure in the woods behind her house and drawing the maps that led to it. We made up dances to Celine Dion and Michael Jackson, and played in a Hanson "cover band". We had matching outfits, haircuts, and freckles. I chose UNCG for college because Meredith "needed a roommate". We lived together for the first two years of college and many people said it would ruin our friendship.. It didn't. 10 years later and she is still my double trouble freckle face twin.
Kat Robinson
Bridesmaid
Kat and I go way back.. she was a staple on my Myspace top 8 if that says anything. It is difficult to describe our friendship as its one that doesn't always need words. I can look at Kat from across the room and she can read my mind. I am lucky to have Kat in my life. She enriches my life. There are too many memories to count... road trips, birthdays, concerts, 1 million polaroids, the video spot, lots of snuggles, gallons of wine the list goes on. She took this girl from Gaston County and showed her what a good meal and a nice pair of shoes really look like. I will end with this... love you tookie, waternoodle waternoodle waternoodle.
Jessica Warren
Bridesmaid
Jessica and I met at the end of our freshman year of college. We became inseparable our sophomore year. For the next three years we did almost everything together. Its hard for me to believe we only had 3 years living in the same place because we created a lifetime of memories. We shared a love of music, vintage clothes, dive bars, and dancing the night away. We attended and thew many parties, we both enjoy being the life of a good party. She planned the one and only successful surprise party of my life. We've traveled all over together... NV, UT, FL, TN, GA, LA, NY (she made me drive a HUGE moving truck on the BQE), Ireland, and Australia. Cheers to many more adventures in the next 15 years boo.
Eva Swanson, Esq
Bridesmaid
My karaoke queen, godmother to my son, an advocate for the disenfranchised, a force to be reckoned with. Eva is apologetically herself all day, every day and I love her for it. She is 5 years younger than me but I learn something new from her every day we spend together. You know that friend that you can't go a day without talking to? That is Eva. Not only is she strong she's also one of the most thoughtful humans I know. She still mails valentines ya'll. For Christmas she made all of her friends advent calendars... thats 31 gifts for I don't even know how many people. I'm exhausted just thinking about it... Eva lets go fall asleep on the couch together now.
James Triscritti
Best Man
I met James in 2014 in Houston, TX. We became fast friends, sharing a love for loud rock shows, long boarding, and a cold 40. In 2016 we left the third coast, I headed to the East Coast and James to the West Coast. In 2017 James landed in VA Beach and would visit Courtney and I in Richmond. In 2018 when we decided to buy a house, we called James first and asked him to come live with us. Sadly, the beach called him back. We have had some memorable nights and I am thankful he is willing to stand up here next to me for another one.
Zeke Hamblin
Groomsman
I have known Zeke since 3rd grade we played soccer for the Thunderbolts. I think I might be the first person he met in NC. From then on we were attached at the hip. As we grew up our friendship grew with us from magic cards to sharing a stage in our band The Get Down Sequence. Zeke is one of the most intelligent and deep thinkers I have ever known. Zeke is family and I look forward to many more late night conversations on how to right the worlds wrongs.
Zach Fisher
Groomsman
My friendship with Zach began on the playground of the Robin's Nest Daycare. From then on you could find us tearing up the mean streets of Southport on our bikes, playing basketball at the city gym or loitering at Southport Video trying to decide which 5 for $5.00 we were going to rent with the rest of "The Butter Cream Gang". We stayed close friends even when we went in different directions after high school. He joined the Navy and I went to college. Zach would visit regularly when he would return from duty. One particularly rowdy evening resulted in him having one of his eyebrows shaved off. Dependable and charismatic, Zach can make friends just standing in line at the grocery store. Im sure by the end of our wedding night he will have many new friends/fans.
Matt Evans
Groomsman
The main thing about Matt is he's a great listener ....but the one thing about him is he's " the stylin', profilin', limousine ridin' ,kiss stealin', wheelin' and dealin' son of a gun!!! wooo!" . The Heel turned Face in the main event that is my life and I cant imagine it without him. We've always have a blast together whether adding to Truman's list of aliases or melting faces in Pretend Surprise. This master of the one's and two's has been there for me through some highs and lows and will keep the party going long after the reception is over.
Joe Hilaman
Groomsman
When I met Joe he was the new kid on the block freshly transplanted from California. We hung out here and there until one summer we both ended up enrolled in sailing camp (Shout out Mark Tallon &CFYC). Nothing will forge a friendship quite like spending countless hours together on a dinky sailboat in the middle of the Cape Fear River. Some weeks during the summer I think I was at the Hilamans house more than my own. When the boats were put away for winter we found a shared love of music and learning to play the bass. After surviving high school we both packed our stuff and headed up I-40 to attend UNCG where we walked a fine line between being studious academics and MC's to wild apartment complex parties ( Campus Crossing. Good times). Whitewater in the morning .
Zack Miller, Esq
Groomsman
People say it's harder to make friends as you get older. I had found that to be true until I met my newest bud Zack Miller. This charming man from West Virginia is a stand up guy with a big heart. He has kept me sane during this pandemic. While our ladies are inside belting the Hamilton Soundtrack, at the top of their lungs, start to finish you can find us out by the fire pit enjoying a nice bourbon, a robust cigar, talking music, politics, magic cards, and how lucky we are to have the two song birds inside.
Taylor Haag
Groomsman
Taylor Merrill Haag aka T-Bird aka Ghost who Walks aka Medium Size aka Bug Eyes Big Brain . This world travelled , rockstar, sailor, educator, writer is a man of many talents. My wingman since 88 he never fails to inspire me with his creativity and knowledge . I’m incredibly lucky to have him as a sibling and best friend.