Our Big Day
Wedding Party
Karyn Miller
Maid of Honor
Karyn and Sam began their journey in the 5th grade. Barely acquaintances at the time, over the next few years they grew inseparable due to the powerful bond of My Chemical Romance, band T-shirts, and overdrawn eyeliner. From family vacations, across the world visits, and basement sleepovers, their friendship has blossomed into sisterhood. They almost marked their love with the permanence of matching pineapple tattoos at 18, which to the relief of their parents and future selves, did not. When Sam began planning her wedding (at age 16), it was always clear that Karyn would be the Maid of Honor, long before there was even a groom in question. It only seems fitting that Karyn would be the one to stand beside her on this special day, just as she has stood beside her through every turn of life.
Martin Harrigan
Best Man
Mike and Shane's love affair started back in August of 2013. They both became Billikens that fall, thanks to the SLU Graduate School of Education accepting them both. Let's just say that as adult males in a doctoral class, they were asked to not sit by each other in multiple classes because of the disruptions. The degrees they would go on to earn would be an after thought because of the friendship they developed... and Mike's career change in 2020, but more about that later. While the hoarding of $1 beers before Billikens basketball games, to Springsteen Concerts in Nashville, to cross country moves, and surprise Christmas visits are all highlights of their friendship, the best part of the Mike and Shane story is that they are always there for each other.
Liz Belois
Matron of Honor
Liz and Sam's relationship got off to a slow start. Their friendship only blossomed from the mutual desire to force friendship upon their significant others (they really thought they would get along). Slowly, Liz and her husband Drew, became Shane and Sam's first couple friends whose semi-weekly hangouts became brewery trivia and Friday dinners. While these two ladies weren't immediately friends, their friendship and life experiences brought them together quickly and closely and their presence to each other slowly started to feel like home. They have helped each other through some of the toughest times in both their lives so though they have only known each other for a couple of years, Sam couldn't imagine her wedding day without Liz there to talk her down from becoming Bridezilla.
Matt Hall
Groomsman
Roommates, Blues fans, bourbon conisuers, men who can handle meat, are just a few words to describe the foundation of the Matthew Hall and Shane Chinni's friendship. They met thanks to the fella below shortly after Shane's move to the Lou. A few months later they became friends that were ready to take that next step, and they moved in together. Since then these two have some amazing highlights from traveling to the SEC Championship game, traveling to bachelor parties on house boats and one epic trip to Nashville. Matt was there when Shane was at his lowest of lows, the UNC-Villanova game of 2017 (lets not speak of it anymore). They have cooked amazing meats for the yearly major winter event parties and spent countless hours with bourbon in front of a fire, talking about all things life.
Arielle Hynes
Bridesmaid
FSU knew what they were doing when they paired up suite-mates in the Fall of 2010. While there was a lot to enjoy in Tallahassee from 2010 to 2014, such as a football championship and vodka soaked gummy bears, these two ladies left with a friend for life. Sam never thought she would love a cat, Arielle had other ideas and introduced Sam to Roger, the not so fat cat and Samantha had her first kitty love. Since becoming alumna the two continue to try and see each other as much as possible. It's not just for the awesome cities they both live in either!
David Dixon
Groomsman
David and Shane have Robert Schmidt to thank for their introduction during their college years. The two really became fast friends upon Shane's move to STL in 2013. Since then they have enjoyed countless memories together, often documented by shirtless public photos. Yes, this does include one in Times Square around 4am-ish... they think, the details are fuzzy. The two have spent countless hours controlling Touch Tunes so they can rock out to Hunger Strike and other jams, they only seemed to like. They did this while hoarding the Golden Tee machine at local establishments, around STL and beyond. David, Shane, and Matt's trip to Nashville in 2017 led to an amazing story for another time at a deli. Many of Shane's fondest memories include time with David just bsin about life.
Brandt Quirk-Royal
Bridesmaid
Where to start with these two? They became friends at the age of 7 or 8 when they started taking horseback riding lessons together. From horse games and horse shows and road trips where Brandt forced Sam to watch all 6 seasons of Reba in one sitting, they always managed to laugh about something. They will always share endless inside jokes, family game nights, and Christmas hiking trips. While it started with their mutual love of horses, their friendship has lasted the ages.
Allen Rafalko
Groomsman
Allen and Shane go way back. Allegedly near Shane's birth but he has not recollection of that. His first memories with Allen started when he was child and Allen would come to visit him on the Outer Banks to spend time at the beach. As years went by Allen and Shane grew closer, with their special bond really starting in the summer of 2010. Shane had an internship in DC and Allen came to visit him. This trip inspired Allen's move to DC shortly after. Shane continued to visit every year. Allen made the trip to Columbia one year for an epic New Years Eve. Shane's best graduation present from SLU was a trip to San Juan with Allen The thing Shane is most proud of about their relationship is him encouraging the move to DC because he met his husband Michael. Shane assumes all credit.
Caroline Dunn
Bridesmaid
See Caroline, all the guys think she mighty fine, but the only person to truly capture her heart was Sam. The two share a bond dating all the way back to Ravenscroft. Like most great friendships theirs is built on a love of bourbon and Coldstone ice cream. It also doesn't hurt that Caroline has the world's best top secret chocolate chip cookie recipe. Between college visits and ventures to Lilly's Pizza, they always make sure to find time for each other. Maybe one day they will make it back to the same state, but for now they are making it work long distance.
Drew Belois
Groomsman
Drew and Shane have a bond formed out of unique circumstances. After some suspension from Shane due to Drew's quietness, their significant others insisted they go for beers. It's been magic ever sense. As the roller coaster of their lives kept on going the two where the only ones who truly understood each other. Through twice a week trivia nights to summer days at the pool (Drew, Shane also misses living with a pool, he is truly sorry and will make it up to you sometime) to pre-pandemic Friday nights at Crosstown Pub to comparing school workplaces, the two became the best of pals through some of the hardest of times. While they just may be getting started, the two have years of good times ahead.
Ella Belois
Flower Girl
Ella and Sam have a very special friendship. In fact- the two really are best friends. Their friendship is built off of a mutual love of horses and watching all the seasons of Dino Dan in a row repeatedly for a week straight (this was not Sam's idea). Without Ella, Sam would never know so many animal and dinosaur facts, which is really the only knowledge she can bring to the table at trivia. While the age difference may seem strange to others, the two aren't bothered because they know that Sam has more in common with a 6 year old than most adults her age. Ella is the perfect person to walk down the aisle chucking flowers at everyone. We think she'll enjoy it.
Jeffery Desvignes
Ring Bearer
Sam and Shane have two blessings to come from the global pandemic, their puppy Pinot and their quarantine buddy turned close friend turned dog uncle, Jeff Desvignes. Jeffery first met the couple at a trivia night through Vinnie. Jeff became Shane and Sam's third wheel, but not the "why are you around us all the time?" third wheel. He was as important as any wheel on a tricycle. The three have shared some amazing times making the best out of the covid. From mountain trips to bonfires to the honored tradition Jeff shares with each of them individually most weeks, random movie night with Shane and Bachelor night with Sam. They are proudest of the improvement to Jeff's food intake, as they slowly move him away from exclusively eating Cobb Salads. He is the perfect person to hand off the rings.
Bill Rathbun
Officiant
Bill, but also responds to William, was one of the first people at Glenwood Shane ever met. They connected over an opening day small group and as two of the few men in a building, they had to stick together. Having worked with several school counselors, Bill was the first one Shane ever had that also wanted to support him and not just his students. Thanks to some after school "lesson planning" the two became close friends and confidants. For those wondering yes Bill has attended trivia nights. He is Shane's go to person to vent about school and talk about life. Through this time William has gotten to know Sam as well and the couple feel he is the perfect person to make this thing official due to the love they both have for him.
Adam, Blake, Vinnie, & Greg
Usher
Adam and Shane go back to freshman year at Mizzou. The desire to be roommates almost got Shane kicked out of the Mark Twain Dorm, a month into college. The two spent the next four years living together and still love each other to this day, often sharing their love of Mizzou sports in their roommates group text that is 10 years strong. Blake and Shane met in STL (thanks David). Shane met Vinnie via Blake in 2018 and these gentlemen within two months of each other all took a one way trip from STL to Raleigh. Shane and Vinnie's friendship took off in the Oak City. Vinnie introduced Shane to a fella named Greg, and became fast friends. The trio enjoy trivia time full of laughs and heart-to-hearts. Sam and Shane are thrilled to have these gents, walk YOU down the aisle.