Erin & Cole
Wedding Party
Sarah Hartsig
Matron of Honor
Sarah has been a part of my life since the moment my life began, and I am so thankful for that! Sarah is a smart, confident, and adventurous person who achieves just about anything she sets her mind to, which so far, is a lot. Throughout my whole life she has modeled an example that has led me to many successes, and inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and live boldly. She currently makes raising a two year old, maintaining a flourishing garden, and being an incredible wife look easy, all the while using her degree in Global Health to improve the lives of the good people of Lawrence, who are very lucky to have her.
John Wolf
Best Man A1
Marlatt Hall at Kansas State University, floor 1, C wing 2006 was a special place for me, several of the fellas in my party, and many others (hopefully some in attendance). John is the type of person everyone would be lucky to have in their life. First off, he's got a great laugh. Gutteral, the type you only find from the dairy capital of America. I love dairy, so maybe this is part of it. John doesn't have a bad bone in his body, always puts others first, cares about the ones left behind and sometimes forgotten in society. John always makes himself available for a good chat or advice. He gives wholly to his friends, family, and everyone around.
Kathryn Hurd
Maid of Honor
A nine year age gap doesn't feel so big when you have Kathryn as a little sister - she quickly grew from my real-life baby doll to one of my favorite friends. Kathryn is a classically wonderful enneagram Type 9 (if you know, you know), and makes everyone in her life feel deeply loved with her thoughtfulness and selfless way of giving. She makes the best cards, is clever, quirky, a talented writer and illustrator, and simply one of the best humans I know.
Sean Simmons
Best Man 1A
This guy has never met a stranger and I mean that honestly. Sean's no bull approach to life is what I've always appreciated about him. "Cough once and get over it." If he doesn't know something, he'll find it out. When you talk to him in a crowded room, you get the feeling that you're the only one there. Sean loves people, and people love him. Sean joined my lunch table in 7th grade and I've loved him ever since. We've had a band, many misadventures, attended all sorts of unlikely parties and rock shows, and share a sacred number.
Sandi Harder
Bridesmaid
Sandi and I met at some point in our early college years as students in the Architecture program, and almost immediately claimed eachother as BFFLs. We initially bonded over our common sense of humor and love for dancing, but quickly grew close as we found our values and deepest motivations in life aligned. Sandi approaches every aspect of living with great intention and purpose, and allows compassion and pragmatism to guide her in improving the lives of others, too. Everyone who is friends with Sandi feels the value she places on growth in her life and relationships, and they become better people through their friendship with her, myself included <3 Also follow @BabyBurt.theCorgi
Derek Bestor
Groomsman
I kind of joke around with Derek that I forced him to be my friend, and I sort of did. He was a bit of a quiet mysterious guy when I first met him but I came to know that he had some good taste in music. I burned him a few cd's and then he reciprocated. Derek is one of the most clever dudes you could know. He's criminally good at trivia, and making playlists for your every mood and taste in music. Derek's also a complete badass, as he left the hubbub of city life and spent four months trekking the Appalachian trail from Maine to Georgia. T-bone makes any social gathering a bit more interesting because you never know what turn he'll take.
Felicia Balestrere
Bridesmaid
Felicia and I met our sophomore year of college and despite initially not wanting to be friends, we finally gave in and became the best of friends. Felicia and I have shared years in design studio, spent a semester abroad together, worked in the same office, dated roommates (Cole and Cody), and shared countless clothes, homemade meals, and choreographed dances. We've been told we resemble eachother, I'll take that as a compliment. Felicia has supported me through some of my toughest times, always meeting my emotional bouts with both empathy and sound, level-headed advice. She moonlights as my therapist, doctor, lawyer, and is also technically responsible for Cole and I's relationship and future together (see story of how we met part II). I am forever indebted.
Kory Rankin
Groomsman
When we were growing up, you couldn't talk poorly about anyone because Kory would step in and find good qualities about them and make you feel like a jerk for even thinking poorly of them in the first place. I recall once in middle school reminding him of his God-given ability to make people laugh and I proclaimed, "man, you could say "books," and everyone would laugh. Sure enough, he did. The classroom erupted. That carries on today, as he serves as the guy who can bring levity to any situation. Kory also keeps me motivated to stay grounded, be a better man, and improve on myself. He's a good sounding board to life's conundrums, and whatever one might need to know about the church of iron.
Ashley Culler
Bridesmaid
Ashley is the type of person who can become best friends with a stranger in 5 minutes. Which, as her actual best friend, isn't ideal, but is one of the many reasons I love her. Don't count on her to remember to bring beer to the party, but do count on her to lighten any room with her contagious energy and humor. Since we met our freshman year of college through Architecture classmates she has been my go-to hype woman, workout buddy, cat sitter, up-for-anything and always there for me kind of friend. This marks the end of us being neighbors in the River Market, but she'll still be our go-to third wheel <3
Cody Bost
Groomsman
Cody and I share the predicament of going by our middle names. Roger, as many call him, may hold his cards close to the chest to outsiders, but once you've built up a bond with him he's always got your back. Cody is playful, thoughtful, rowdy, and well dressed. He's unassumingly one of the greatest fantasy basketball players around. Cody is light-hearted and can find the humor in any garbage situation. He and I were roommates in Kansas City before he married his wife, Felicia. The four of us were able to grow close over that time, and I am grateful to have a couple that we love to spend time with us in the city.
Jaylee Prater
Bridesmaid
Fun fact: Jaylee and I actually met years before I knew her older brother Cole existed. We worked on what I'm sure was a brilliantly executed team project together in Spanish class, where I found her to be a refreshingly warm, interesting, and smart classmate. I now know her to be one of the most loyal and loving people I know, and am honored to call her my friend and family! She's also a #boss with some fierce determination, mean fishing skills, and the best dog mom in the South.
Jared Buffington
Groomsman
Buff tells me that on the first day of college, I pulled up into his dorm room with a low-rider lawn chair and sat down in his room and didn't say anything. I find that hard to believe. Him and Charlie were the only guys on the floor with cable, so it was a good room to hunker down in either way. Daggumit, Jared just makes you feel loved. He makes sure you feel good, and you're content, and that all is well in your corner of the world. He used to have a Cadlliac, and riding around in that, Eagles on the waves, it felt like you were in that heaven-on-earth-place where you're as good as you're going to get. Being friends with Jared is like that all the time. He's always up for a game of pick-up, or racquetball, billiards, any form of competition where old fashioned smack talk is required.
Sarah Henkle
Bridesmaid
Sarah is Cole's youngest sister, living her best mid-twenties life down in Texas. She made me feel instantly welcomed when I first entered the Henkle family scene seven years ago, and I admire her as a person who makes anyone feel the same way in her warm presence. I also am thankful to have a fellow cards and board games enthusiast in the family. I am so happy to be sisters with this smart, goofy, adorable woman! If you're counting, I'll now have four sisters and 50% of them are named Sarah
Charlie Corwin
Groomsman
Charlie and Buff were roommates in college. I'm sure glad about this since they were my neighbors. Charlie and I's early friendship basically started as me messing with him. As he was a clean freak, I would move things around in his room, or I would turn verbal altercations physical, suggesting that the only way we could resolve them would be to wrestle. I tend to keep company with guys who can make me laugh, and Charlie is up there with the best. I still can't decipher whats real and whats satire with this guy sometimes, but his sheepish smirk usually gives it away. He called me on my birthday once, and when I answered he said, "hold on a second." A good ten minutes later he came back to the phone and said, "Sorry, I just got a new shipment of bees." Classic apiarist...
Chris Rhodes
Groomsman
Chris is my oldest documented friend. We grew up together, roomed in college together and have always had a kinship that borders on actual brotherhood. Chris is smart as a whip, and if you come to an argument with him, you better bring some heat. He was always up for a hang or a cruise through town and just shoot the breeze. Whether I had a problem with a car or a math equation or anything really, Chris could bring some insight and most likely a bonafide solution that got it done, whether i understood or not.
Mike Miller
Groomsman
My mom would drop me off at Mike's house when we were kids because he lived in town. We would come up with all sorts of games, put on a bunch of sports equipment and hit each other with sticks. His house was basically my second house growing up. I would walk in the front door unannounced, and we'd hang out in his basement playing video games, drawing cartoons, or just getting up to whatever. To this day, I don't know if I've exchanged more words with any other person, exploring philosophies, history, conspiracy theories, discussing music, scientific discoveries, or whatever tangents the netherworld took us to. Mike is a friendly, eager to learn, eager to engage man who always has something cool to talk about.
Ian Hartsig
Usher
Ian bravely joined the Hurd family as the first brother/son-in-law in 2013, and we are very lucky to have him. Ian is incredibly smart, patient, supportive, and just everything you hope your sister will find in a partner. Even though he smokes us in most of mild-strategy board games that are played at almost every family gathering, we like having him around (a lot).
Justin Prater
Usher
Justin is about as good of a brother I could have asked for. He may be one of the few guys I know who has a deeper passion for beef than myself. He also has a killer Texas accent to boot. Justin lives in the moment, is a great conversationalist, and a hell of a cook. He's an outdoorsman, and can sniff out a bass in any lake you put him on.
Theo Hartsig
Ring Bearer
Sarah and Ian very selflessly created (for us) the most perfect and cutest ring bearer of all time. Theo likes fire trucks, lawn mowers, and requesting songs on demand from his Google Home. Being his Aunt and Uncle is one of our most favorite parts of our recent life!