Carlie & Travis
Wedding Party
Seth Matthews
Best Man
Seth is one of Travis’ best friends, more like a brother. They were roommates in college after a miraculous beginning to their friendship and have remained close ever since. They have traveled together, spent Easters with one another, shared in grief and joy, and sought the Lord closely together. Seth was there for the formation of Travis’ relationship with Carlie, hearing all the giggles of infatuation at first. Seth has been formative in Travis’ life, especially when it has come to faith development and the Church. Largely, the groom is the man he is today due to his friendship with Seth. Undoubtedly is this a man that fears and resembles the Lord. Seth and his wife, Lauren, recently moved to Louisville in order to finish his seminary degree. Lauren and Carlie have become incredibly close having lived together before she and Seth got married. What a beautiful thing to have best friends in one another.
Hayden Jernigan
Best Man
Hayden and Travis were forced to be friends by Seth in college, but it worked out in a way that they ended up becoming best friends. Hayden has been like a big brother to Travis over the years. They lived together in graduate school where they both studied to become counselors. Hayden and Travis have traveled together, spent holidays with each other’s families, cried many tears on one another’s shoulders (Hayden’s are really snotty), and celebrated some of life’s most joy-filled moments standing side by side. These two brothers have an unbreakable bond. Hayden has taught Travis what it means to have steadfast faith, prayer without doubt, and a yearning for God as Father. Hayden has been close in Travis’ relationship with Carlie from the beginning, getting lots of nervous questions about a first kiss and hearing the reasons for falling in love in real time. The groom has become the man he is at present because of the ways in which God has used Hayden in his healing and growth. This is a man in which God has saved and is using for others’ healing.
Kobe Van Someren
Groomsman
Kobe and Travis are newer friends if you consider the construct of time to be linear. Again, one of those friendships fostered by Seth that turned out to be a magnificent blessing. Kobe has been a major source of encouragement to the groom in the couple of years they have done life together. Being disciplined in Scripture, Kobe seems to always have a passage to share for edification, correction, and joy for those he lays eyes on. Kobe is one of those extremely rare friends that pursues and reciprocates friendship simply because he desires to. As Carlie and Travis have grown in their relationship together, Kobe has been a consistent voice of love and leadership. The groom has undoubtedly been sharpened and brought closer to Jesus by the faithful words of this friend. Kobe and his wife, Audra, are moving down to New Orleans so that he can attend seminary school, but Carlie and Travis more excited about having them close enough to do daily life with.
Skip Corales
Groomsman
Sometimes he’s Skip, sometimes he’s Collin, but he still hasn’t figured out when he is one or the other. Skip and Travis became friends when the groom was a senior in college and have only gotten closer since. There is never a silent moment when the two are in the same room because every cubic inch of atmosphere is filled with laughter (and friendship). This is either because Skip has a sense of humor that can make the bleakest things into the wittiest or because he can’t stand the discomfort of silence. Either way, this friendship has never been dull. Skip has matured into a wise young man that loves the Lord and His people. The groom has learned valuable lessons in remaining youthful, maintaining loyalty, and seeking to do what is right from knowing Skip. He is currently working to be admitted into medical school as he supports his wife, Natalia, while she is in PA school.
Austin Spencer
Groomsman
Austin is like a little brother to Travis. They became friends in college when Austin moved in as a freshman and Travis served as a Christian Life Coordinator in his dorm building. They quickly bonded over similarities in their families of origin and the redemption God has brought to their lives. Their friendship continued to grow stronger all throughout college and has remained since.Austin is a joyful servant of the Lord, seeking to be impactful in the lives of youth searching for the Truth. He never misses an opportunity to find humor in any situation. His laugh is one of the rare ones that can compete with the uniqueness of Travis’, it is always sure to be infectious. Austin and Travis have shared many aspects of their lives together as they have walked in Christian fellowship, forging a bond between them. Austin is highly honored in Travis’ life as he is undoubtedly one of the strongest and most courageous men he knows. He has just taken a position as a new teacher where he will surely make a strong, positive impact on the lives of many!
David Lukeš
Groomsman
David and Travis have been long time friends ever since the groom first visited the Czech Republic. David was kind of that random guy that followed around the Americans all week, but never really made the plans to join them. This led to him asking big questions about God and his need for salvation. That week ended with an invitation to stay in him home the following summer, personal submission to Christ, and a lifelong friendship. They have both traveled far and wide to visit each other over the years, joining in with each other’s families. The groom has learned much about the world, family, and the global church from David. Carlie and Travis got to visit him and his family soon after they began dating and now are looking forward to having them visit for the union of their marriage. David is a steadfast servant of God, even in one of the most challenging situations a Christian might face. We are deeply honored to know, love, and be loved by such meaningful people all across the world.
Taylor Reese
Matron of Honor
Taylor and I met freshman year of college, and we ended up being roommates for 3 years. We had no idea that a random draw for roomies would create such close friendship between us. Taylor had a front row seat to the beginnings of my long-distance relationship with Travis, and she has walked with me and carried all of the excitement, tears of longing, and joy that have come along ever since. Taylor has been such a faithful friend to me, always faithful to pray, listen, laugh until our bellies hurt, and blare music in the car and sing at the top of our lungs after a hard day. Taylor is patient, honest, full of integrity, hilarious, and I would not be the woman I am without her!
Lauren Matthews
Matron of Honor
I met Lauren through Travis’s friendship with Seth (Lauren’s husband). Our friendship began through Wednesday night sleepovers, and really started to grow when I graduated college and moved in with Lauren. We were roomies (quite literally sharing a trundle bed at one point) for about a year until Lauren and Seth got married. Lauren spurs me on in my faith, and has helped me grow in vulnerability, desire for God’s word, and courage. She has walked with me through hardship and growth, and has been such a faithful accountability partner. Her friendship has brought so much joy and depth into my life!
Keri Rayburn
Bridesmaid
Keri is my A1 SINCE DAY ONE. We have been besties since we were tiny tots! We grew up together in every sense of the phrase. We learned how to talk, swim, love Jesus, play soccer, and make an adventure out of anything together. As teenagers, we would often be called each other’s name, since we were together so often. Even though we don’t live in the same state anymore, this still happens quite regularly. Keri was there for most of my formative experiences, and since we were pretty much inseparable growing up, I don’t know anyone who has a closer sense of humor and way of thinking to me. She has filled my days with laughter and color and adventure!
Christian Thomas
Bridesmaid
Christian and I met in college through a campus tribe we were members of, but we didn’t really get to know each other until we both interned with the Hard Places Community in Athens, Greece (sound familiar?). Christian was one of the few who got to see the little moments and glances between me and Travis that would eventually turn into a dating relationship. Our friendship continued to grow after that summer, and she and I returned to Greece the following summer together and got to serve and do ministry together on a closer level. I will always treasure our long walks processing hard things together, picnics and coffee dates. Christian is diligent, intentional, creative, and she is such a dear friend to me!
Ivey Horton
Bridesmaid
I met Ivey Jane shortly after Travis and I started dating. They were next door neighbors in grad school, so each time I went to New Orleans to visit Travis, I would stay with Ivey and Kendall. What began as a place to land quickly formed into meaningful friendships, and now we have lived together for over a year! Ivey is passionate, empathetic, hilarious, and just such a joy to be around. She was a safe place for me in the rockiness of a long-distance relationship, and has remained a safe place for me since I moved to New Orleans!
Madeleine Lawrence
Bridesmaid
Madeleine was my first actual friend in college! We met during Welcome Week, because our roommates were friends, and we quickly became inseparable! We spent all 4 years of college figuring out who we are together, and she was also on the Hard Places: Greece team that Travis and I got to know each other on! Madeleine is a ray of sunshine — she is hard-working, caring, ethereal, and adventurous. I love how prone she is to song and laughter — she displays the joy of the Lord so clearly!
Joni Byler
Bridesmaid
Joni and I met freshman year of college, after she transferred in and became Taylor’s surprise roomie! I honestly didn’t expect that we would become such close friends, and I’m so glad we did! Joni is truly a VISIONARY — she is so gifted at being able to see a need, and then actually DOING something about it. She’s got so much initiative, passion, cheer, and intention. She is now doing full-time ministry in Greece where everything between Travis and I began! She is such a joy!