Wedding Party

Morgan Abate

Bride

Connor Cummings

Groom

Mackenzie Abate

Matron of Honor

Morgan’s first memories include Mackenzie. There aren’t many without her, in fact. From Disney musicals to CYO soccer to Mackenzie’s wedding, they’ve been side-by-side. For nearly 30 years, these two have gone through life complementing each other. Where Morgan took baby steps, Mackenzie leapfrogged. When Morgan wanted stillness, Mackenzie wanted excitement. But they say opposites attract! Mackenzie constantly challenges Morgan to be bolder, take risks, and live freely. Morgan is blessed, honored and so excited to have her sister, best friend and Muse by her side.

Christopher Cummings

Best Man

Everyone has told Connor that he was so excited at the birth of his younger brother, Christopher. But all Connor remembers are the sugar cookies that Dad's work sent over. Growing up as a pair, they did almost everything together from wiffle ball in the backyard to conquering the world in Civilization. Their mutual love of history led them to being the only people in the whole school deciding to take the World History AP test. Yes, a normally brotherly activity of being stuck in the same room for 3.5 hours taking a history test. Nowadays, they follow the Philadelphia Eagles and Union, dominate MLS Fantasy, and try their best playing games online.

Abigail B.

Bridesmaid

Morgan met Abby on Day 1 of their undergrad at Elon with no connection other than the city of Pittsburgh and a friend of a friend. Turns out, that’s all you need. This friendship stuck from NFL Sundays on campus to NFL Sundays at B-Dubs to professional lives in different states. Now, they can spend hours on the phone talking just about everything, sipping good wine, and plotting away. Abby shoots straight. She is the friend who has always brought out the “fun” Morgan—who definitely needs to come out more often. Put her and Mackenzie together, and that’s a recipe for highly organized trouble and a good time.

Alex Crits-Christoph

Groomsman

Connor and Alex met in 6th grade at Fugett Middle School and remained close through high school. Alex and Connor were part of several elite academic competition teams from Science Olympiad to Quiz Bowl. In 7th grade, they went head to head in the Fugett Geography Bee where the competition went into triple OT before Alex beat out Connor. Alex and his sister Blaire were the people who originally introduced the aforementioned Civilization and Age of Empires to Connor and Christopher. It wasn't all academics for Alex and Connor as they spent a lot of time down on the tennis court or at the Crits-Christoph beach house in Brigantine NJ. After attending Johns Hopkins University for undergrad, Alex left for San Francisco but always made sure to keep in contact with Connor. In 2021, he moved back to Baltimore and they've been able to hang out a few times. Recently, Alex has joined the not-so-elite Apex Legends team of Connor, Ben, Justin and Christopher.

Rachel Lechuga

Bridesmaid

Rachel and Morgan had said hello to each other several weeks in a row at an indoor farmer’s market in early 2019. Rachel operated the stand for a local farm; Morgan was buying the produce. Finally, Rachel asked Morgan if she would want to join some friends for trivia or just hang out. Since then, a beautiful and wholesome relationship has bloomed, full of local brews (tea and beer!), deep conversations, and great food. Rachel has inspired Morgan to rest and reflect, to take in stillness, to live in the present, and to connect deeply and intimately with Pachamama.

Ben Scanlon

Groomsman

Connor met Ben junior year at Elon University. Along with Justin, they became fast friends as they navigated the final 2 years at Elon. Ben has had to put up with alot from Connor from being serenaded with Chandlier by Sia as Connor's audition to be a "Social Member" of Smooth Progressions, the a cappella group Ben and Justin were in, to having “back issues” from “carrying” Connor in video games. Despite all that, Ben has always made time for Connor whether it's letting him crash on the couch for 2 weeks while Connor moved, or making time to see him when he's on a tour stop in whatever city Connor is living in.

Amber Taylor

Bridesmaid

Amber and Morgan played softball together from 1st through 4th grade. They lost touch for a few years, but right before high school, they reconnected. Morgan went to a Junior League softball game of Amber’s, and the rest is history. Since then, and hundreds of miles apart, they have found ways to celebrate and support one another—especially through “just because” cards, spontaneous visits to Kendra Scott, and 5-hour FaceTime calls. Fun fact: Amber and Connor graduated from the same high school! If she hadn’t told Morgan about the “one person” she knew going to Elon, we might be celebrating a different wedding!

Justin Vieira

Groomsman

The other member of the Smooth Progressions duo alongside Ben, Connor and Justin met at the beginning of Connor's junior year at Elon and became close. A dedicated student, Justin always knew how to have a good time. Connor eventually was able to forgive him for being fan of the Patriots, Cowboys and Alabama. Stuck at Elon for an extra year after Ben and Connor graduated, Justin and Connor re-connected for Ben's wedding and now hang out virtually 4-5 days a week either through playing games or Dungeons and Dragons sessions led by Christopher. Recently, they re-visited their spider monkey days from senior year spring break by tackling the world's largest ropes course when Justin visited Connor and Morgan in Illinois.