Gabriella & Christopher
Wedding Party
Kimberly Ann Arenas
Matron of Honor
This is my Mimmy! She is my closest friend + my whole life + my everything. She has hauled me to countless auditions (pre-GPS) and dealt with my daily dramatizations. She and I can over-exaggerate each other til neither of us knows the actual story. She taught us how to love deeply and how to give your best to those who need it most. She is a grade-A lesson in authenticity. I attribute my confidence and joy to her. We have started a business together--shameless plug! Check out louditalians.com! We have been there to laugh or cry with (and at) each other at every turn in the road. We are there to tell each other hard truths. I am undeniably and unshakably my mother's daughter. I would like to share a few of her Kim-isms with you all if you'd be so kind as to let me: "Six of one, seven of another." "I'm not going to apologize. I'm just going to say I'm sorry" "Did you not get enough attention today?" *Puts a sharp knife in a plastic bag. Knife falls out of bag* "Well, I didn't know there was a hole in it." There. That is better. Some of my favorite moments. I am so thrilled to have her as my Matron of Honor. Thank you for loving on Chris as if he was your own. It means the world to me. He is my forever and it means so much to me that you bring him right on in. I love you, Mim. Para siempre! LET'S FREAKING DO THIS.
Michael C. Freeman, Sr.
Best Man
If you couldn't tell, this if my dad! He's guided me through everything else in life, so I can't think of anyone better to have by my side at the alter. Fun Fact: He turned down the role of Will Hunting in Good Will Hunting.
Chandler Selin
Bridesmaid
I was standing at my mom's side while she introduced herself to all her new church friends. I found Chandler hiding and looking at me from behind her mom's legs and over her pair of thin, slightly crooked wire-framed glasses. We were about 8-ish. It was in Y2k. I walked right up to her ignoring the, 'stay back as I observe' energy. She was sweet and so, so shy. I knew we were right for each other. We started on swim team together and at each swim meet, we were committed to developing our competitive edge with cards instead of backstroke. Spit was the game. Title-holding champs. ;) Through the years, she would come to my shows. I was forever an admirer of her art. We went away from each other at the start of college but quickly found our way back (WITH BRI! AHH!) for our final college years. We survived Polo Club together, snowpocalypse (James), our 21st birthdays (woof), and some gnarly games of Canasta through the years. She was the reason I completed college. I have no sense of direction and I hate puzzles. The bus system at UGA? Personal nightmare. Every semester, she would figure out my bus schedule for me and coach me on how to get from class to class. Angel. She was a flight attendant and got tickets for Bri and I to fly from ATL to London to see Beyonce together. Read that again! I can't even wrap my brain around that as I type it. Now? We have / or are about to have HUSBANDS. WHO ARE WE? She is my forever love. And I am forever lucky to have you. I love you, Chan!
Edward Lim
Groomsman
My brother from another mother. Edward has been my longest friend and for good reason. He belongs by my side on my wedding day. Fun Fact: Ed can't drive stick.
Bri Brawley
Bridesmaid
Oh y'all. You should really meet Bri if you haven't already. Talk about perfect. Bri comes to us with multiple degrees, an affinity for teaching children in underserved communities (she is a Cancer after all), and a sixth sense about people. She was nearly on British Bake Off - and before you ask, yes. She is 100% that good at baking. One time during snowpocalypse she made citrus and blueberry cinnamon rolls from scratch? Perfection. + Chandler made pretzels? And they ate a pound of bacon a day? I love my friends. Back to Bri. Bri has moved everywhere. And she has always gone to either a place with one stoplight OR LONDON. NO in-between. And no matter where she goes, she invites us into her and John's home and we play card games and board games for 3 days straight and make sure to eat local food. Valdosta had great breakfast cups and gas station tacos. Amazing. London - had sauces. That is the only praise I will give London's food. Bri is someone who, when she is sleepy or tipsy, will whisper unknowingly. The cutest. Bri is a forever student - but it doesn't stop there- she is called to be a teacher and teaches through actual lesson plans or simply by being her beautiful self. She has helped me through so many moments of uncertainty. And whether she knows it or not, she and John are a beautiful blueprint of how to move through life together as a unit. Thank you for all our amazing memories. Cheers to the ones to come. GET BRI A DRINK SO SHE WHISPERS AT YOU. Proper cute.
Luke Arenas
Groomsman
Luke can balance youth and wisdom like no other. He plays as hard as he works, and he is a welcomed addition to this party. Fun Fact: Luke is dyslectic, so he doesn't know what I'm saying.
Shannon Arenas
Bridesmaid
My Shanny Girl! Shanny girl is the best member of the Arenas family. You can ask any of us on any given day and you will find that she is what we aspire to be. Shannon has this sticker on the back of her car that reads "Yay Outside!" That is Shanny. In 2018 we all took a sibling's tour through Europe. Shanny was our fearless navigator and took us everywhere we needed to be effortlessly. I am always in complete amazement at her ability to know what direction we came from and which direction we are going. One time we were running around trying to catch a quick connection train - we had huge backpacks and looked like tourists. Because we were tourists. All of a sudden I turn around and see this man taking Shannon's purse while we were RUNNING up the stairs. Without missing A. B E A T. SHE SWIVELS ON A HEEL. LOCKS EYES WITH THE PETTY THIEF. FURROWS HER BROW. PURSES HER LIPS. SMACKS. HER. PURSE. DOWN. OUT. OF. HIS. HANDS. AND. ONTO. THE. GROUND. PICKS IT UP. AND GLARES AT HIMM!!! He KNEW he picked the wrong one and tried to slink away. I screamed, "THEIF. HE IS A THIEF" thirty times. Loudly. While pointing. Phil ran to chase him. She dusted her purse off. Luke was there for moral support. He a sweet boi. And wow. She is just. What a badass. I love my sister-in-law. Very thankful to have you in my life, my Shanny. And thank you for our whole wide world, Bella baby. Watching you be her mama and Phil be her dad is the greatest gift.
Philip Arenas
Groomsman
Philip and I are so similar it's scary. Or if you're Philip, it's a blessing. I aspire to be as hardworking, loving, and involved a father and husband as he. Fun Fact: Philip stole my birthday...but I stole it back.
Ellen Freeman
Bridesmaid
My Belle! <3 SEESTER. Finally official. I had another story - but, this one is better. On Elle's bachelorette trip, we all went to the beach. My car of beautiful ladies got there first. We went to set up. Upon set-up, there was a man who trudged up to us. Already hot in the face and boarish he 1. Threatened to tell on us for having alcohol on the beach and 2. Told us to move because we were blocking his and his wife's view. We didn't want to start anything, so we upped and moved. Told him he was rude. And that was that. Right? As I took the beers back to the car to avoid a $1000 fine, Ellen's car arrived. She asked me what happened. I told her. She shrugged and shook her head, then walked to greet her girls. I finished putting up the beer and started back to our spot. That was when I saw Belle in her full glory. She scanned the beach. Located the man who best matched the profile from my story. And started MARCHING in her bridal-white bikini + white mesh skirt with her perfect beachy-blonde hair and her ASSets from the Gods to tell him where he can find his manners. I walked briskly to close the gap between her and I and wrapped my arms around her before she got to the brute. We laughed as she said something to the tune of, "Funny he thinks he can speak to y'all that way" and "We ARE the view." We decided to let him live to see another day. She is our personal Pink Power Ranger. I was raised by a Scorpio woman, I now am blessed with a Scorpio seester. Pretty amazing. ILY.
Zachary Foster
Groomsman
Zachary is the missing piece to my sister's life. I'm thankful she found him. I'm thankful he puts up with her. He is the kind of kindhearted and thoughtful person we all need. Fun Fact: Zachary's favorite sport is dressage.
Leah McPhee
Bridesmaid
My cousin. Buzz. My ride-or-die since day one. She and I are the same age. I have two cats that I cannot figure out how to manage an apartment. She has 5 children and one on the way, a garden, chickens, a home to run, a husband, and somehow she still makes time to make me feel special. If you are lucky to know her you will know she is as authentic as they come. Cheech is the perfect combo of sweet and spicy. I thoroughly enjoy how she captures her life in moments via video + seeing her kids possess a familiar 'spice' that she dealt to us for allll those years growing up. Her love is strong and her ability to mother is beautiful. Cheech and I can find a good time out of pretty much anything. Even when we are in trouble. One time Chan, Cheech and I were having a sleepover: basement - early 2000s. Her dad is hilarious but WOOF was he S C A R Y if you got him mad when we were kids. We were playing a board game past 1:00AM and a bit too loudly. We heard the steps. We woke Javier. She looked at us and said "Hide it. NOW." Terror. She pulled sheets up over the game not wanting to ruin it. All played dead. He came down WITH A FLASHLIGHT and got up in all of our faces. "I know you're awake. Cackling. ALL THE TIME CACKLING." We held strong and firm and with the greatest resolve did not laugh. And then when he left, we cackled to bed. I laugh constantly thinking back on our lives together. Could not imagine this special day without her. I love you, Cheech. <3 Guppy/Zaboogabrains
Garrison Pirkle
Groomsman
Garrison is the yang to my yang. We're two peas in a pod, and that pod is turning the heads of all the girl pods. There's no person I'd rather have in my corner, figuratively or literally. Fun Fact: Garrison's cousin is Taylor Swift.
Molly Steinhaus-Brophy
Bridesmaid
My Mollz. My girl. Beautiful new mother to the perfect Daphne Kate. Wife of the sweetest Mr. Conor Brophy (OUR OFFICIANT). She is my compass! Mollz and I have been friends since my Freshman year (her Sophomore year) at our all-women's college - Brenau University. When we first met, she was entirely too good at everything. Turns out, I thoroughly enjoy people like that and surround myself with them. Naturally, we had to be close friends. My Mollz is someone who can decide she wants something and that will become her reality. Musical Theater ingenue? No problem - can hit a high C without blinking and then belt it too if she feels like it. Big-wig lawyer at a top firm? EASY PEASY. Just have to be top of the class for three years in a row right quick. Check. Beautiful new mother to Miss D? Her best role yet. And she is so amazing to watch. I was over at the Brophy residence the other day. She went to put Daph down. I walked to get a drink of water, there was a monitor. I went to turn it down to give her some privacy, but I heard her singing to Daphne. I hadn’t heard her sing in a while. It made me feel all the feels and I got all choked up knowing what an amazing mom this lil’ baby has and how much music will be in their home. All I do is laugh when I am with you. And I could share those stories, but there is something so innately wholesome and beautiful about my Mollz that I wanted to share that instead. I will forever enjoy being along for the ride. ILY, my forever North!
John Craft
Groomsman
John Craft was one of the first people I met in college, and I knew he'd be in my life for good. From building redneck waterslides, to running a newspaper, to 3 am confessions, I'm proud to have him as a friend. Fun Fact: You can't say his first name without saying his last name too.
Kassandra Starbuck
Bridesmaid
Kassandi. The Abbi to my Ilana. The forever perfect. The only person who I would cut grapefruits with dull knives for each day at the 'gag' (our sad little dining hall) in college. She was my first ever roommate and it was not by accident. I perused the 350 some-odd incoming Freshman at Brenau University, and I poached her as the most beautiful and enigmatic of the bunch. I had to know her. And I really hoped she would enjoy me... knowing good and well that there was a high likelihood that I was going to come on - per usual - too strong. I recently went back and reviewed our FB courtship. We spent a good 2 months back and forth writing books to each other about what we like and do not like about ourselves or others. There were mentions of pet peeves. We spelled the word peeve incorrectly and got mad about it. We shared similar disdain for toothpaste in the sink. Original. So, we knew it was going to work ;) But mostly, I just found her to be simply good. A good person. Aside from the perfect aesthetic and face, she really was and always had been the most thoughtful and loving friend. And she was, and always will be, a full-on lesson in class with a tweest (twist). If I look pretty at my wedding, it is because I bombard Kassandra asking if she likes my outfit concepts. Kassandra and I can make our own concerts without instruments. Kassandra and I can go back and forth saying why we don't deserve the other for hours. Kassandra and I do deserve each other. I love you. <3 G
Danny Pikus
Groomsman
I know no one who is as well traveled, culturally literate, or inquisitive as Danny. He is a great companion to have on any occasion, especially this one. Fun Fact: Danny is shorter in person.