Best Man
I have known Ryan since 8th Grade when we were in the SC All-State Band together. Though we have always lived in different areas, we have remained close friends throughout high school, college, and beyond. We constantly lament about the current state of politics, share random thoughts and theories about Harry Potter, and rant and rave about what happens in the world of band. Ryan is currently in law school at Vanderbilt University and lives in Nashville with his wife, Becky, and their ridiculously cute dog, Timbre.
Maid of Honor
Mattie and I met through a mutual friend at our alma mater, UNC-Wilmington in the Fall of 2015. Even though we were a year apart, we quickly developed a common bond through our love for Jensen Ackles and Grinders, our favorite coffee shop. Thankfully, Mattie remained in Wilmington throughout my senior year, and we have been extremely close ever since. Mattie is an expert in French culture and language, and I was lucky enough to visit France and Italy (home of the greatest sandwich known to man) with her as my tour guide. Mattie currently resides in the Queen City of Charlotte and is a director at a non-profit.
Groomsman
I have known Jonathan since my first day at Winthrop University, and he has been one of my best friends since. From suiting up on one of the hottest day in the summer, to midnight advice sessions at a Books-a-Million parking lot, to seeing the movie version of Les Mis over twenty times (and then doing impressions from the movie at 1 a.m. in the music building lobby), we've been through it all. We have a mutual love of musicals, especially "Company", "Miss Saigon", and obviously, "Les Mis." Jonathan is a band director and lives in Greenville, SC with his wife, Rebecca, their dog, Skye, and their cat, Grayson.
Maid of Honor
I met Lauren when she was a nervous, excited freshman at UNCW, as she was trying out for the Student Ambassador organization. As soon as I met her, I knew I wanted her to be my "ambassa-child," because I loved her spirit and our shared love of biology, and we have been inseparable since then. Lauren has always been no more than a phone call away and is always there if I need to rant and rave. Lauren is a beautiful human being with an incredible love for people in her life. She currently resides in Hillsborough, NC, with her fiance, Thomas, and works in a genetics lab at UNC.
Groomsman
I met Austin when we were both at Winthrop University earning our undergraduate degrees in music. We both worked at the movie theater throughout college, and we quickly developed a great friendship that has continued since. A man of few words over text and many words in person, Austin never misses a chance to crack a joke. Austin was always willing to go see super out-there indie movies that he had never heard of, and never objected to me taking a nap on his couch in college. Austin is a band director and lives in Batesburg-Leesville, SC, with his wife, Jennifer, and their dog, Milo.
Bridesmaid
Allie and I met through Deanna in our Junior year, and we all became roommates in our Senior year. Our friendship quickly grew as we spent many late nights studying, venturing to gas stations for study snacks, and galavanting with the sweetest dog on Earth, Paisley. Allie is not afraid to tell you how it is and has always kept me honest. We were reunited as roommates in my last year of graduate school, and our cats, Sirius and Atlas, became best friends. Allie also handles Chris and me texting her about any ailments our pets are experiencing. She currently is a graduate student in Biomedical and Health Informatics, lives in Durham, NC, with her fiance, Daniel, their beautiful dogs, Paisley and Penny, their mischievous cat, Atlas, their cute frog, Bean, and their sweet turtle, Bubbles.
Groomsman
I have known Kadeem since we played in the SC All-State Band together throughout high school. Though we went to different colleges, we developed a close friendship throughout our rant sessions about everything we could find to complain about that we lovingly referred to as "spilling the tea." Kadeem is an incredible trumpet player, and we have been able to maintain our friendship with weekly tea spilling sessions at the community bands we play in together. Kadeem is a band director, and lives in Waccamaw, SC.
Bridesmaid
Deanna and I first awkwardly met in Freshman year when I accidentally barged into her room unannounced because I thought it was mine. From there, our friendship turned into late-night runs to Taco Bell, surviving Introductory Biology together, and deciding to become roommates the next year. We were roommates throughout the rest of our time at UNCW. We shared our love for sports and dirt through being teammates on the UNCW Oozeball team all four years at UNCW. I will forever cherish our time together as roommates, and although we do not see each as often now, she is always there for me if I need her, and when we reunite it's like no time has passed. She lives in Durham, NC, and is a graduate student in Natural Resources Management at NC State.
Groomsman
I met Roger when I was a student in high school and he was a band director in Hartsville, SC. Roger gave me my first teaching opportunity out of high school at his marching band camp, which I was fortunate enough to work for several years. Roger is an incredible teacher, and I gained an incomparable experience working with him and seeing him teach. We got to know each other well on our yearly trips to DCI Finals in Indianapolis, which we always drove to the night after band camp was over. He was not only a mentor to me early in my career, but became a great friend that was always willing to give great advice. Roger lives in Lexington, SC, with his wife, Jeanine (who makes the most incredible dessert I've ever had).
Bridesmaid
I have known Emily since our freshman year at UNCW. We shared many experiences that shaped our college experience, including serving on Student Ambassadors together and teaching in the Crossroads program through our senior year. Emily was always there for me through every up and down and has remained supportive of me since we graduated. Emily was also present for one of my most important life events: when I adopted my precious cat, Sirius (she doesn't know it but she's the godmother). We have remained close friends even though we live several states apart, but always find time to meet whenever we are in the same area.