Celeste & JoelCeleste & Joel
Wedding PartyWedding Party
Dr. Lonna BuffordDr. Lonna Bufford
Maid of Honor
Lonna and I have been best friends since the summer before 8th grade (as pictured above!) in Mountain Home, Arkansas. We met at a sleepover and have been inseparable ever since. We’ve been through all of life’s ups and downs together— from Lonna getting into medical school, to match day for her residency, to choosing where to practice after residency. We help each other with everything, from buying our first homes, choosing which car to buy, to picking out the best nail polish for one another. Of course, she met Joel early on in our journey and somehow knew before I did that he was the one for me. She’s my soul sister, and sometimes I think she knows me better than I know myself. Lonna has this incredible way of brightening any room she walks into. She doesn’t need to be the center of attention, but somehow, everyone gravitates toward her. She’s a woman of many talents— whether it's being the funniest person in the room, being an amazing doctor, cooking, baking, canning, making jelly, gardening, fermenting… honestly, there’s nothing she can’t do. She’s someone I look up to and aspire to be more like, but what I love most is that she accepts me exactly as I am. I’m so thankful and blessed to know her, and to call her my best friend and now my Maid of Honor. xoxo
Neal BrewerNeal Brewer
Best Man
Neal is my son. My late wife, Janessa, and I brought him into the world in April 2008. He was a tough, resilient kid from the beginning, enduring 4 rounds of chemo while in the womb helping mom battle cancer. Janessa called him her "little co-survivor." Though she went home to be with Jesus in May 2021, I know she's proud of Neal and the young man he's becoming. He's always been a thoughtful, funny kid, and like his mom, never met a stranger. His friendly, outgoing nature has served him well - from the front office ladies at his elementary school, and his grade school Garland homies, to his basketball teammates and every teacher, administrator and cafeteria worker in between, Neal is known far and wide as a great friend and encourager. Neal has welcomed Celeste with open arms, too. They share a love of music, and she rarely misses his John Paul or AAU games. And, like his dad, Neal loves Celeste's cooking! It's been great watching their mutual friendship and affection grow. When he's not playing basketball, working at Walmart, or starring in his big sister's tik-tok videos, Neal's checking in on his relatives and friends. His text messages to grandparents and friends, often out of the blue, attest to his character and his humble heart. I'm proud to call him my son, my friend, my Christian brother, and my Best Man. I love you, son. Joel
Tyler SwearingenTyler Swearingen
Usher
To know Tyler is to love him. He’s the life of every party and the cousin you can always count on. He played soccer throughout high school, has a deep passion for Arkansas college football, and loves poker nights with the guys. He’s a total guys' guy—but don’t let that fool you. Tyler is also one of the most gracious and considerate hosts you’ll ever meet, with a talent for cooking, baking, and bringing people together. You've never been to a party until you’ve been to one with Tyler, where he transforms into a professional game show host, his best performance being Family Feud. When I called Tyler and asked him to be an usher, he didn’t skip a beat and said 'YES' right away, immediately asking what our wedding colors were so he could wear the right suit. I love his heart, his infectious good energy, and I’m so thankful he will be part of our wedding. Love, Celeste
Stuart SwearingenStuart Swearingen
Usher
Stuart is my other cousin, and we affectionately call him 'Stu Pot' because he’s always stirring the pot but in the most fun-loving way. Like his brother Tyler, Stuart grew up on the soccer field and even played a little in college. He makes us all proud as a firefighter and makes us all jealous by staying in top shape competeting in Ironman races and casually biking a cool 50 miler on Thanksgiving mornings. Stu is a man of many talents, from woodworking and raising chickens to mountain biking and camping. I’ve always loved his dry sense of humor and never miss a chance to see if he can outwit me..... so far, he hasn’t managed to (though I’m sure he’d argue otherwise). Above all, he’s a devoted husband and a great dad to his two daughters, and the kind of guy who would do anything for a friend. Although it was no surprise that he stepped up without hesitation to be an usher in our wedding I'm still extremely grateful to have him be a part of our very special day. Love, Celeste
Patrick MartsPatrick Marts
Usher
Patrick is my ride or die cousin. He came into the world about a month after I did. The second born of my mom's sister, Aunt Wendy. He's a loyal, easy going, hard working soldier, the kind who would run through a brick wall if a friend or family member asked him to. It's been a 47 year cousin-ship with Patch - family trips to New Mexico, Ranger games, rounds of golf, UFC fights...you name it. Glad to have you on my 6, cuz.
Matthew MartsMatthew Marts
Usher
Matthew is Patrick's little brother. Another ride or die. He's been on all the same family trips, watched all the same UFC pay per views, been a loyal cousin thru thick and thin since the early 80s. Dude was a 6-man football legend in Ropes, Texas, too, speaks fluent Spanish, and he'll play the guitar if you ask him. Glad he's on my team.
Quincy LockettQuincy Lockett
Ring Bearer
Quincy is one of my best friend's Quashan and Brandi's son. He's a bundle of fun, full of energy, and absolutely brilliant. In fact, we gave him this honor of being our ring bearer because even at the age of 8, he's been seriously questioning Joel's intentions with me! He frequently asked, "Are you married yet?" "When are you going to get married?" "Why aren't you two married??" Aside from his charm and adorableness, it was an obvious choice to ask Quincy to be our ring bearer. He’s inquisitive and smart—absolutely nothing gets by him. He plays flag football and basketball and is now embarking on learning to play the drums. There’s never a dull moment with Quincy, and we couldn’t be happier to have him be such a special part of our big day!
Ava BrewerAva Brewer
Flower Girl
Ava, my soon-to-be niece, completely stole my heart—along with all her wonderful siblings—when we met during our trip to Japan in the summer of 2024. She’s a little love bug, full of affection for everyone, but especially for her Uncle Joel. Ava adores all animals, from Joel’s black dog, Clancy, to the hermit crabs she collected and nurtured during our beach adventure at Okuma Beach in Japan. She has a passion for ballet and loved playing a mouse in The Nutcracker. We can’t wait to see her shine as one of our flower girls!
Ruby MartsRuby Marts
Flower Girl
Ruby is Joel’s first cousin once removed and a joy to the entire family. A true miracle, she entered the world at just 20 weeks, weighing 1.3 pounds. Though tiny, she is mighty—tugging at our heartstrings in the most special way. We are honored to have our little strawberry-blonde sweetheart as one of our flower girls.