Ashley & Gunnar
Wedding Party
Margaret
Co-Maid of Honor
Margaret (Margie) met Ash during her first five minutes on UNC’s campus, and the rest is history. After the Bride quickly made herself Margie’s roommate, Marg shared her love of linens, an all-white closet, and country music. Now she is a big time consultant, turned tech startup guru. Her main job though is being puppy mama to Franklin, her english cream retriever who conveniently matches her wardrobe. Let’s hear it for Margie B!
Alyssa
Co-Maid of Honor
Alyssa (Lulu) is the Bride’s little sister. She has been keeping the bride and everyone else on their toes since 2002. If missing during the wedding weekend, she will most likely be found napping in the bridal suite. Lyss moonlights as a seamstress, beer pong table artist, and waitress. Her main gig is being a student at THE Ohio State University. She never fails to call out the Bride for any lame [read: side parts] millennial tendencies. Cheers to Lu!
Tori
Bridesmaid
Tori has known the Bride since she showed up at gymnastics rocking a fresh bob after a week at adventure camp. Ash credits endless belly laughs with Tori as the reason they managed to have eight-packs despite routinely polishing off funfetti icing tubs between double sessions. The Bride & Tori enjoyed each other’s company so much they even had reconstructive elbow surgeries together! Today Tori spends her days brightening the worlds of her students. Give it up for Tor!
Erin
Bridesmaid
Erin and the Bride also grew up doing gymnastics together. After college, Erin helped welcome the bride into the city of brotherly love. There they shared an approximately 200 square foot apartment that they rarely crossed paths in - crazy jobs, boyfriends in different neighborhoods / time zones. Their friendship was originally forged during a particularly treacherous sleep-away camp stay sans air conditioning. Erin plays the important role of rallying the bridal party and not letting the Bride lean too far into her old soul vibes... yet. Hey Erin!
Cassidy
Bridesmaid
Cassidy is the lone west coast girl of the bridal party and grew up in San Diego (obviously cool). Cass went on to become a Tar Heel where she met the Bride in a business marketing class. Yes, she is still listed in the bride’s phone as “Cassidy - BUSI 403”. Although the group project grade was less than desired, Cass went on to become a rockstar at Penn Law. This is when Cass & Ash’s friendship - fueled by a love of whiskey cocktails and raw oysters - really blossomed. Cass can also talk sports on the Groom’s level (+ another cool point), and is mom to tonk’s moodiest friend, weiner dog Moose. Cheers to Cass!
Gaby
Bridesmaid
Gaby and the Bride met in high school where they sat in the back of history class - got constantly yelled at for chatting - and shared the woes of college recruiting. More recently, Gab helped the Groom pull off the proposal, which was captured by her incredibly talented girlfriend @strawsdaboss. After years of dropping hints about DC, Gab convinced the Bride, Groom & Tonk to come be her neighbors. She will now double as bridesmaid & long run “for fun” companion leading up to the wedding. We see you Gab!
Sarah
Bridesmaid
Sarah (Petey) met the Bride through the gymnastics team at UNC and they quickly bonded over the lack of good bagels in the South. In no time, Petey was hosting weekly viewing sessions of Beyoncé music videos. You may be imagining some singing & dancing - no these were led with the expectation that viewers quietly observed and appreciated Queen B’s work. Back in the day, Petey enjoyed a good pregame counter dance moment, but now prefers priming, push lawn mowing, and other work around her dream home. Welcome Big Pete!
Christina
Bridesmaid
Christina (Pheil) also met the Bride during her first day in Chapel Hill. She later shared a bathroom with the bride, which led to an accidental groom in his birthday suit moment (yikes). Luckily, this only solidified Pheil’s friendship with Gunnar and Ash, and she went on to serve as the unofficial concierge of long distance gifts to the Bride. Flowers, ice cream, life size teddy bears - you name it, she unboxed and staged it. Pheil is also the DJ of any and all events or car outings. Yes it was discussed that she playlist the heck out of this wedding reception, but she’s needed on the dance floor. Today, she is a real life physical therapist. Wow, you go girl!
Garrett
Co-Best Man
Garrett and the Groom officially met at the end of their time at the Air Force Academy, while on a trip to F.E. Warren Air Force Base. This trip would kick start their shared love of all things Nuclear Missile related - kidding - but it would set them on a course to become great friends, and even greater golf, tennis, more notably, Jeopardy enemies. Following their separation from the Air Force, Garrett and the Groom managed to finagle roles at the same Company, allowing them top slots in each others' Skype contact lists.
Pierce
Co-Best Man
Pierce is the Groom's younger (bigger) brother, who is essentially a value-brand version of the name-brand Gunnar we all know and love. Despite being separated by nearly five years, the two were fast friends since day one. Pierce opted for a career in the Navy, but shares many of the interests his older brother introduced him to: Philadelphia sports, eating too much food, and even a nostalgic childhood admiration for the art of professional wrestling. As the Mother-of-the-Groom would say, they've been each others' best friends since they knew what best friends were - aww.
Tyler
Groomsman
Tyler is the Bride's younger brother and first met the Groom when he was "just this NJ kid" she met at the Academy. Also an avid sports fan, Tyler and Gunnar have shared their love of football, baseball, soccer, and watching Finley shred slippers over many Landry kitchen discussions. Unfortunately, Tyler is a Patriots fan, but we won't hold that against him too much. He has also recently developed a special ability for handicapping horse races. All this being said, please don't ask him about the 2021 Kentucky Derby. That story will break your heart.
Matt
Groomsman
Matt could be considered the Groom's first official friend at Camp USAFA, meeting the night before beginning Basic Training. They quickly became friends and eventually roommates. Keep in mind, this friendship was challenged by Matt's incessant need to share how good Kentucky basketball is, despite UK not even being the best Wildcats team on the East Coast (Go Nova). Countless weekends around Colorado and hours of phone calls from around the globe later, Matt and Gunnar remain close as ever (even during heated March Madness challenges).
Nick
Groomsman
Nick was one of the Groom's first roommates at USAFA, as part of the sarcastically named "All Stars" room. Their friendship began by taking constant blame for the inevitable shortcomings of each other (being similar build, height, and shaven heads, they were constantly confused for one another) by upperclassmen. Nick can also be credited with teaching our Jersey boy Groom all about the wonders of Colorado, including how to ski. That is, if you consider taking Gunnar to the top of a mountain in Aspen and sending him down the icy slush "teaching". Luckily, everything turned out fine and here we are today.
Karl
Groomsman
Karl and Gunnar also met during the arts and crafts-based summer camp they attended prior to their freshmen year of "college". They soon became friends with a mutual appreciation of sneakers and a love of sports (notice a trend here?). Spending as much time away from USAFA as allowed, Karl and the Groom took up a home-away-from-home at Karl's grandparents' place. Whether shooting pool in the basement, catching a Rockies game, or winning a night's worth of beer at pong tables, the two spent essentially all of their free time together.
Cory
Groomsman
Having grown up in the same neighborhood and playing on the same soccer teams, Cory is one of the Groom's oldest friends. Since the days of hard hair gel and iconic front spikes, Gunnar and Cory spent many nights watching and playing soccer, down the shore, getting out of tickets (mostly), and toeing the line between fun and something we call "general mischief". Cory never fails to swing by when the Groom makes it back to the Snowy Owl neighborhood, and for that the Groom is forever grateful.
Kyle
Groomsman
Kyle and the Groom met in Middle School and spent the next few years competing in their incredibly cool shared activities: Honors and AP Classes, mini golf, band (trombone vs. tuba), and other goodie two-shoedness. Despite being the Dookie to his Tar Heel Bride, Kyle and and the Groom have remained friends, now pivoting their rivalry to the golf course. Note: the Groom has not followed Kyle in his pursuit of marathon running and Boston Qualifying times...