Mother of the Bride
Beth is the the leader of our fan club and supports us from near and far. Beth taught Sam how to cook & bake as a kid (which she *allegedly* can still do now). She passed down selflessness, a hard work ethic and questionable shopping habits. Austin and Beth have bonded over their love of football and distain for each other's teams. Their rivalry has Austin watching SEC just to curse Georgia and his text messages to Beth go "unseen" unless her team is winning.
Mother of the Groom
Kelly and Austin are two peas in a pod and have been since the day he was born. She taught him the value of showing up for the people you love and being a light even in the darkest moments. She moved to SLC in 2023 and now spends her Fall Saturdays attending Utes games with Austin and dominating Trivial Pursuit on game nights. She and Sam have bonded over crafting, introversion and adoration for her son.
Father of the Bride
Jeff is the a kid at heart and a dad by destiny. He always encouraged Sam to embrace creativity and bask in the simple pleasures of life. Even in her adult life, Jeff helps her stay sane by visiting the dogs over his lunch hours and taking Austin mountain biking/hiking so Sam doesn't melt in the Utah sun. Through the years, he and Austin have bonded over sports, food and a love of adventure. Jeff is both a father and friend to the couple and they treasure all the simple moments spent with him.
Officiant
The agreement to officiate our nuptials came with one condition from Jess: on the wedding day she will solely be addressed as Reverend, no exceptions! If there is one thing Austin has learned about his big sister, it is that she knows what she wants and will fight for it. Over the years he has watched Jess conquer obstacles with strength, intelligence, and a resilient spirit that he works toward in his own life. Like the best siblings, their typical communication is bickering and giving shit, but the respect and they have for each other does not go unnoticed.
Flower Girls
Isla is our first and only niece. She entered our lives in 2021 as the oldest child of Sam's brother, Hayden, and sister-in law, Ashley. As she grows so does her curiosity, intelligence and unmistakable Conley humor. In June of 2025 Isla became a big sister and is already thriving in her new role. With her fierce, loving and adventurous spirit, this girl will always be such a bright light in our world. Delula is the Queen of our house (and every other house), packing unimaginable amounts of sass and sweet into a 6lb. package. She entered Sam's life as an 8-week-old keychain pom and it became clear that they were made for each other. Over the last decade the two have had so many adventures together, but their favorite is moving to SLC and finding the best dad a dog could ask for.
Ring Bearers
Raycen is our first Nephew and the only child of Austin’s brother, Derrick, and sister-in-law, Mykkal. Much to her chagrin, he has a nicer head of curls than Sam and fills every moment with energy and charm. Witnessing this wild child grow the past 3 years has been nothing short of amazing and we can't wait to have him be part of our day. In the summer of 2023, after a year of mulling it over, we finally decided that our family of 3 needed a fuzzy addition. While going to meet a different puppy, a sweet, boneless cotton ball latched onto Austin and completely stole our hearts. Turns out he was only sweet because he had eaten a sock and under all that fluff was a chaotic little dinosaur! Regardless, this boy has made our little family complete in a way we never expected and we cannot imagine life without our Bug.
Bride Wrangler
Ken and Sam have been tackling life together for over 15 years. From heartfelt conversations in the middle school gym to somehow surviving senior year calculus, they have always held each other up. After moving to opposite sides of the country for college, they stayed close through Facetime calls and occasional visits, patiently waiting for their lakeside summers to arrive. Through the distance, forking paths and seasons of life, Ken and Sam have maintained a sisterhood unlike any other. In July 2025 Sam had the honor of standing next to Ken as she said her vows and became a wife; now Ken will do the same honor for Sam.
Groom Wrangler
Ashley, affectionately known as Stretch, is many things to Austin: an Aunt, a best friend, a cheerleader, and the "best groomswoman a Shorty could ask for." As a high schooler, Stretch was growing up alongside her nephew and making sure that his chaotic energy didn't make her big sister completely crazy. Whether it was raising the roof to Shaggy in the car, cultivating a love of food and creativity in the kitchen or discovering that Pinocchio is the fastest way to put him to sleep, Stretch has always known Austin at this core and influenced his life in the best ways.
Bride Wrangler
Annika and Sam crossed paths their Freshman year at NAU as two oddities in a large friend group. They shared a love-hate relationship with fine arts and clawed their way through completely opposite degree paths, confusing everyone in the campus library when they did homework together. Their senior year became the highlight of Sam's college years when they moved in together and created Casa Eugene: the place where meals were always homemade, the Roomba played daily hide and seek, and friends gathered frequently for game nights and cozy evenings.
Groom Wrangler
Being nine years apart, Austin and Derrick did not have a close relationship growing up (what teen wants their kid brother hanging around?) As Austin aged and went off to college, Derrick and his better half, Mykkal, started visiting campus and made it clear that Austin always had his big brother and sister-in-law around. Over the past few years Austin has witnessed Derrick become an amazing husband and father to the silliest, sweetest boy. We have had so many special moments with them and the only thing that rivals the bond between these brothers is the (slightly scary) sisterhood of Mykkal and Sam.
Bride Wrangler
Michelle (aka Sugarplum) entered Sam's story their Freshman year at NAU. A friendship between their roommates brought the unlikely pair together and sparked a connection that only grew through shared love of Marvel and pop-punk music. Michelle's family opened their home to Sam and regularly housed and transported her to the airport when she traveled home for holidays. As they step into their lives as professional women, the bond that was made between two kids learning how to live on their own will always hold them together.
Groom Wrangler in Spirit
Alan is Austin's grandfather and one of the most influential people in his life. From a young age, Alan instilled a sense of adventure in Austin through travel and food, encouraging him to always try the things that scare him. He emphasized the importance of being educated and independent, while ensuring that family is always held close. Alan is no longer with us physically, but Austin carries his spirit in everything he does and knows that he will be standing beside us at the Alter.