Cristina & Mitch
Lineup
Jessica Luca
Maid of Honor
Jessica and I met when I was two and a half, and she was a newborn :) No matter what, she's been there for me since age 2, and I've loved being able to watch her grow up and become a thoughtful, open and loving person, truly beautiful on the inside and outside. I'm so proud to have her as my Maid of Honor!
Jack Davis
Best Man
Jack's my big brother and while he casts a mighty large shadow, you've never met a more humble and down to earth person. His entire beautiful family is in our wedding and you can tell from talking to any of them that they're all of the best stock. I've looked up to him for as long as I can remember and I'm beyond excited to have him as my Best Man on the big day.
Sydnie Wilson
Maid of Honor
It truly feels like this lady should have been my sister! Sydnie is my rock, my constant support and my best friend. She knows pretty much everything about me, and often times, knows what I'm thinking before I say it out loud. Mitch knows she's part of this package deal :) We lived together for 5 years, and she taught me everything I know about throwing awesome parties. She's forever my co-host and you can thank her for me being able to plan a party like this!
Fran DeLeon
Best Man
I first met Fran when we were in Kindergarten and he barely spoke any English. Our brothers were friends and we both liked everything they liked so naturally we became friends. We always tell people about our past that I taught him how to speak English, he taught me how to ride a bicycle and I feel like that pretty succinctly sums up our relationship. Through middle to high school, college and beyond he's always been a constant friend that I could count on being there and I couldn't imagine doing this without him being there as my co-Best Man
Mary Davis
Bridesmaid
Big sister of the Groom. She has an awesome, adventurous spirit and is so much fun to be around. I've loved being able to go to some of Mitch's concerts together and not only witness her happy soul freely singing and dancing around, but also seeing how supportive of a big sister she is. I can't wait for us to be sisters!
Steven Davis
Groomsman
When I first met Cristina, I invited her to be my guest to a show we were playing within the next couple days. What I didn't tell her was that I'd already promised that guest-list spot to Steve. As soon as Cristina said yes, I texted Steve to let him know he could buy a ticket if he wanted but she was going to get his guest spot. I hadn't taken any consideration into how that was pretty rude of me until much later when I told Cristina the story. Steve had simply said something to the effect of "haha, ok sounds good". So besides being my brother, his selfless sacrifice to miss out on seeing Puddle of Mudd is a huge part of how we got here today
Nokomas Davis
Bridesmaid
Sister-in-law of the Groom. She welcomed me into the Davis family right away and has always been supportive of our relationship (aka she told Mitch he should propose like 6 months in haha!). She is so kind, so full of love, not to mention a fantastic example of what it means to be a great wife and mother. I cannot wait to gain more sisters! Especially two as amazing as these ones!!
AJ Bartholomew
Groomsman
AJ will almost certainly call me fat at least once during my wedding. He's always been my meanest but also one of my best friends and I fully accept that I have dished out more than enough to deserve every mean thing he's ever said to me. If by chance I drink too much at the wedding, you will see me taking very clumsy punches at a very sober AJ. We've been in at least one band with each other almost consistently since 2002 (except for that time he had to fire me from our first band). He's somehow managed to be completely sober in a rock band that loves a bit of the drink, functioning as both our babysitter and our record keeper. He's seen me at my best and my worst but he's always pushed me to be better than I thought I could be.
Danae Young
Bridesmaid
Danae and I met at a workout on the beach 6 years ago. Instantly, she was kind and welcoming to me and we became fast friends. I loved that as soon as we were friends, I knew I could count on her for anything because she is a fierce and loyal friend. Danae made me a better version of myself and helped bring out my adventurous side. Her, my other bridesmaid Michelle, and I have shared so many memories in such a short time because of our goal to be adventurous and try new experiences several times each year. Also, fun side note: before I met Mitch, she was my wedding date ;)
Jon Thomson
Groomsman
Jon's been one of my best friends since high school. We played football, wrestled, and we lived together for several years. We drove around the entire country playing metal for teenagers, sleeping in vans and deliriously driving through the night. It was when we were living together that I first met Cristina, when I first asked her to be my girlfriend and when I first told her that I loved her. He was my sounding board for all of it. Jon's always been the quiet, cool but subtly funniest person I know and there is a 75% chance he pulls an Irish goodbye at the wedding.
Michelle Opfer
Bridesmaid
Michelle and I have been friends for several years now, and have already shared so many memories and experiences together. We met through Danae and became friends by throwing Danae a surprise birthday kidnapping to take her to the Wild Animal Safari Park. This was our first adventure together, and since then we've been on so many more sharing laughs, long conversations, inside jokes, silly photo booth pictures, reciting "friends" quotes, etc. Could she BE anymore amazing of a friend??
Shane Atkisson
Groomsman
Shane has been one of my best friends since high school. I always used to say having Shane as a friend was like having a very loyal pit bull, in that he was nothing but sweet and kind to his friends but terrifying when he was angry. After high school he joined the Navy and managed to keep in touch as best as he could while living on a submarine, but when he came back he had significantly calmed and changed into the respectable adult you see today. I've since watched him raise a beautiful family and go on to be a model father and human being. We've only gotten closer since Cristina and my engagement while he's been my sounding board, answering all my "does this sound crazy to you" questions (look at the size of this wedding party) so of course he's got to stand up there with me.
Rachael Frost
Bridesmaid
Rachael and I met in High School through mutual friends. Because we were some of the few people who didn't leave the area during college, we became closer and bonded over our shared old souls, love for things vintage, being crafty, our love of mermaids, scary movies and cheesy chick flicks, to name a few things. Rachael is so much fun and wild-spirited and really helped me not take myself so seriously, let go and have more fun. She supported me taking chances that I thought were crazy, like meeting basically a stranger at a coffee shop, and agreeing to go with me to a show on January 2nd, 2015 at Saint Rocke so I wouldn't be alone. That was the day I met Mitch, and I couldn't have had a better "wing woman".
Sean Grant
Groomsman
Sean and I first met back in high school and a short time after we were introduced I took his spot playing bass in the band. Sean is a better man than most, and we were still able to become good friends over the years. Later on in life, we would also drive around the country playing music. Sean is probably one of MAYBE four people in the entire world who has played the Vans Warped Tour AND become a Doctor (but if there's a medical emergency you should still totally call 9-11). When I first started talking with Cristina, Sean was one of the first people I asked about her, as I knew they'd gone to school together. He was so clearly happy for me to have met such an awesome girl. When he married his wife, Lisa, I was so honored to stand up there with him and I'm excited to have him do the same
Kelsey Gleason
Bridesmaid
Kelsey and I met in high school through mutual friends. Throughout the years, when Kelsey wasn't exploring the world being her brave, awesome self, we got to spend more time together. I got to see that Kelsey is hilarious, fun, strong, independent, intelligent and a very loyal friend. I admired this in her because these are qualities I hoped to find in myself. I'm so lucky our friendship has grown throughout the years. She was the last person I saw before I met Mitch for the first time. She, of course, approved and immediately informed me that they are "birthday buddies"! February 7th is a good day :)
Ryan Leibert
Groomsman
Ryan is one of my oldest friends (I wanna say 20 years? Close to it?) and one of the most genuinely nice guys you'll ever meet. When he got married he gave me the honor of being their officiant. Since then, he and his wife Tiffany have been our "couple friends" that we have wine and game nights with and all of the other boring old folks things that we used to make fun of when we were younger. Granted, that isn't a huuuuge change from when we were in the 4th grade and would play video games all night. I'm mostly excited to have him in my wedding party because it means he will be forced to hang out with me otherwise he's going to feel just awful.
Kaitlin Lopez
Bridesmaid
Kaitlin and I met in first grade. Her, my other bridesmaid, Dali, and I became fast friends and the three of us were pretty inseparable (somewhere there is footage of us dressing up like the Spice Girls and performing some of their songs that we made up dances to, as one example of our strange antics). Kaitlin and I also went to Drama Camp together for many many summers, she moved in four houses down from me, and then we attended High School together. Long history! I can't remember what life was like before I met this wonderful lady. Kaitlin is one of the funniest people I have ever known, and I've always admired how constantly true she is to herself. I was honored to be a part of her wedding and am so happy to include her in mine. Also, side note, I'm so excited to watch her be a mom!
Brett Gordon
Groomsman
Brett and I had a rivalry forced upon us in high school because we both weighed the same (even though he was like a foot and a half taller than me) so we had to constantly compete for the same spot on the wrestling team. If anyone finds themselves in a similar situation with Brett at the wedding: be warned. He was a pretty good wrestler but his main skill is somehow having more elbows and corners than any human should and he is outright painful to wrestle. From high school through to adulthood, Brett's always been around as a great friend (when he wasn't going on trips around the world specifically to make me jealous). Seriously though, he will probably try to wrestle you at the wedding so watch his sharp edges
Marissa Moniz
Bridesmaid
Marissa and I met in Kindergarten, attended High School together, went to Drama Camp together every summer, and were part of the youth group at American Martyrs throughout high school. I spent so much time with her and her family throughout the years, I think of the Moniz's as my second family. Marissa and I used to get mistaken for sisters ALL the time :) My family moved down the street from the Moniz's in High School, and I got my license before she did, so we drove pretty much everywhere together too. Needless to say, there are thousands of memories we've shared throughout the last 25 years! Marissa has one of the biggest hearts I have ever known. She is an incredible person and I feel so lucky to have kept a friend like her for this long.
Jeff Nisen
Groomsman
Jeff and I knew each other in high school, we had mutual friends and we hung out occasionally, but we weren't super close or anything like that. It wasn't until 7 years later, when AJ asked me if I wanted to play bass in a band for a music video that I reconnected with Jeff. Since then I've been lucky enough to call Jeff not just the leader of my band but a friend. If Jeff had never said "ok he's good enough to fake playing bass in this video", then I would've never been in the band that gave me my crazy smooth opening pick-up line that led to this wedding.
Venezia (Dali) Acosta
Bridesmaid
She'll introduce herself as Venezia, but I've always known her as Dali :) Both our parents were supposed to meet our Kindergarten teacher the day before the first day of school. Our parents introduced us and we spent their meeting playing with the play kitchen and dressing up (the first of several times we will play dress us together as children. Definitely our favorite activity to do together!) From then on, we were best friends. Dali was the first friend I can ever remember making, and we spent most of our early school age years with one of each other's families. Although she lives in Northern California and we don't get to see each other too often, when we're together, it feels like no time has passed. I am so happy we have continued such a long and special friendship.
Pat Salmon
Groomsman
Pat is the drummer for my band and therefore gets all of the same reasons I gave for Jeff (except I was in the band before him, so I guess you're welcome Pat?) so re-read Jeff's section but swap in the name Pat. In addition to being a band-buddy, a little over a year ago he started dating one of the bridesmaids, Rachael (again, you're welcome Pat), which has been awesome because its meant getting to hang with him more frequently at various birthday parties and stuff that he wouldn't have normally come out to before. I'm excited to have him be one of my groomsmen because everywhere he goes is always an awesome time.
Cambria Wang
Bridesmaid
Cambria and I first met a year or so after High School through mutual friends. She was always so kind and welcoming to me throughout the years. Funnily enough, after knowing each other as acquaintances for almost 10 years, what we bonded over was heartbreak. We started talking more and I realized how much we had in common, how good of a person Cam was, and how I wanted to know her better because it's rare finding someone with such a big heart. Because of how we bonded, she was definitely protective of me, and had a good "talking to" with Mitch when she first met him, but she soon realized she didn't need to worry because this guy was perfect. I was so honored to be a part of Cam's special day, and am so happy to be able to include her in mine.
Cody Christensen
Groomsman
Cody somehow managed to crack our "no new friends" rule after we'd graduated high school. Our group was extremely tight knit and when Ryan and Jon first brought their new work friend back to a party I was admittedly wary of him. We didn't need any new friends. But he got in and we've been stuck with him ever since. Cody is one of the most adventurous, good-time having guys I've ever met. His energy is infectious. When Cody is there, its always going to be a fun night. When I first introduced Cristina and him, he quickly and openly embraced her as one of our group (that he's now probably more in charge of gate-keeping than I am)
Harper McLarty
Flower Child
Cristina's Cousin, Scott's, daughter. NBD, this is just her, like, 5th run at being a flower girl... She's going professional.
Kai'Ani Davis
Ring Bearer
Mitch's Nephew and one cool dude. He appreciates it when you call him "Lil 'Postrophe" so make sure you go nuts with that at the wedding
Toccoa Davis
Flower Child
Mitch's Niece, aka T-$ (pronounced 'tee dollar sign') secretly loves the spotlight but will never admit it. She's probably got the best smile in the whole family and we're hoping she bestows it upon us for the whole ceremony!
Kyle McLarty
Ring Bearer
Cristina's Cousin, Matt's, son. I bet this intelligent guy will be able to answer any questions you might have about the animals you see at the wedding!
Ava McLarty
Flower Child
Cristina's Cousin, Matt's, daughter. This little free spirit will probably be seen dancing down the aisle, or definitely on the dance floor later!
Scott McLarty
Officiant
Scott is Cristina's cousin, the oldest of our generation in our family, while I (Cristina) am the second youngest. We used to spend a lot of time together as a family growing up, and because of this, I always looked up to Scott. I admired his strength, confidence, intelligence, faith, and the fact that he always wanted to learn more and expand his world view. I have immensely valued the time we've gotten to spend together and that he made me feel more like a sister than a cousin. I was also very excited to introduce him to Mitch and hoped that they would hit it off! They did :) and we have appreciated the constant support he has had for our relationship. We are so honored that he agreed to marry us!