Carly & Shane
Wedding Party
Natalie Slinger
Maid of Honor
Natalie is Carly's cousin and travel partner extraordinaire. When Carly isn't asking Natalie for new coffee brewing techniques, they enjoy sharing charcuterie boards and large glasses of French wine - ideally in France. Natalie lives in Northfield and is finishing up her studies at Carleton, which is just one more thing that she and Carly have in common in addition to great genes. Carly is so grateful to have Natalie by her side, and she cannot wait to crack a bottle of Moet to celebrate!
Lauren Maxam
Bridesmaid
Lauren and Carly met way back in the fifth grade when their moms tried to get them to be friends - but it wasn't until they were on the same soccer team that they bonded over their competitive spirits. While neither of them found glory in soccer, they never let distance or time change the importance of their friendship. When Carly moved back to Minnesota she made sure she shared the same zip code with Lauren once again, and they even found an awesome gym where they were both able channel their former RGS glory. Or not.
Kasey Johnson
Bridesmaid
Kasey and Carly had some serious bonding while building houses and climbing sand dunes in Colorado on a mission trip. Kasey was always - and continues to be - the calming spirit of the group, and Carly continues to take any and all health, professional, personal, and zodiac advice from her. When Carly moved back to MN, Kasey was just one zip code away. While their zip codes are farther away now, Carly and Shane are both looking forward to getting them closer again soon.
Rachel Wille
Bridesmaid
Carly and Rachel met it band. (There, I said it.) Nothing said friendship like middle school flute. They also found themselves in academic triathlon, and that definitely sealed the deal. While Carly and Rachel were well on their way to becoming middle school academic prodigies, they both "chilled" out in high school, finding it more exciting to order takeout and make caramel brownies than practice for band. Fast forward many years, and Rachel now lives in Chicago and plays annual host to the girls for FOB concerts. Some things never change.
Chad Robinson
Best Man
Chad is Shane's brother, and a real swell guy. Two years Shane's senior, Chad grew up pestering his little brother until Shane outgrew him and became the enforcer. Luckily, they grew out of that phase and have ever since shared a very close and rewarding relationship, even when living on other sides of the country. Now Shane and Chad are back together in Arizona, and happier for it. They both miss going to the record store and digging for music for hours on end, but Chad's wife, in fact, does not.
John Welch
Groomsman
John and Shane grew up grinding on the mean streets of Omaha, NE, meeting in high school and causing mischief ever since. Shane and John moved to Minnesota within a couple months of each other, and watched as each other grew into adulthood, John getting married and raising a family, while Shane bounced across the country, working jobs and spending time outdoors, until he eventually met Carly and settled down. They share a profound man-crush on each other.
Mike Skinner
Groomsman
Mike and Shane go way back, to when Shane returned from a short stint in California and found himself living(?)/bothering Mike at all hours of the day. Luckily they grew fond of one another, more out of necessity than anything else. Shane's brother Chad was also living with Mike at the time, so Mike didn't have a choice. Since then, Mike and his wife moved to and started a family in Minneapolis, joining Shane and John and their friends and family. Mike not only has the pleasure of standing for Shane during the wedding, he'll also be officiating.
Andy Smith
Groomsman
Ol' Smitty and Shane were fast friends, starting in 2007 after meeting at REI, and realizing that they shared the same ridiculously juvenile sense of humor. They've been best friends ever since, spending lots of time in canoes, kayaks, fishing boats, and in garages listening to exceptional music, making bad jokes, and staying up too late. Andy and Shane share a love for the water, and have never tipped each other in a canoe. Sometimes they FaceTime just to say hello, sometimes they just miss each other and need to hear a real dumb pun.