Wedding Party
Sydney
Maid of Honor
Sydney and Tessa met in their sophomore year of high school when Sydney asked Tessa to join her Sports Marketing group (go Jacksonville Jaguars). They immediately hit it off with their shared love of puns and yapping, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. Since then, they have gone through many degrading sports med body scans, fish named after their favorite people, life in college, the rainiest hike imaginable, and so many other fun adventures. They have a once-in-a-lifetime friendship that’s been a constant through every high, low, and everything in between. And while Sydney may run late to just about everything, she has always shown up for Tessa in every way that matters. Choosing her as Maid of Honor wasn’t really a decision at all, Tessa couldn't imagine it any other way.
Bennett
Best Man
Bennett and Derek have been friends since kindergarten, and somehow they’ve kept the exact same energy they had back then. Growing up, they were always into the same things, lacrosse, soccer, crazy birthday parties, and anything the two of them could turn into a good time. Paintball, quads, nerf wars, BMX biking… if it sounded fun, Bennett was always the first person Derek called and the first one to say yes. (And yes, this is the summer Bennett is getting up on the wakeboard.) When Derek thought about who he wanted as his Best Man, he kept picturing the same thing: the kid sitting next to him on the tractor when they were ten, and the friend who’s been right beside him ever since. There’s no one he’d rather have standing next to him on this day.
Ciara
Bridesmaid
Ciara was the very first fan of Tessa and Derek’s love story. Derek grew up with her in his life, not just as Josh’s girlfriend, but as a bonus older sister who was always in his corner. When she officially became Derek’s sister-in-law, she and Josh naturally became the kind of couple Derek and Tessa looked up to, and role models for the partnership they hoped to build. She’s been cheering them on from day one, and was campaigning for Derek to propose long before it was even a realistic idea (since they were like…17). Now, as the mom of the sweetest ring bearers imaginable, she continues to be one of the most important pieces of their family story. Tessa and Derek couldn’t imagine this day, or the journey leading up to it, without Ciara right there with them.
Josh
Groomsman
Josh and Derek have always had that unmistakable “Sanders brothers” look, so alike that even now, people mix them up in photos. Josh was the built-in role model Derek followed everywhere, especially into hobbies involving mud, motors, or the lake. These days, not much has changed, they work side-by-side building cars and still spend their free time doing all the things they’ve loved since they were kids. Josh is also the proud dad of the ring bearers, which makes it even more special to have him up there with Derek. And with Tessa officially joining the Sanders crew, Josh loses the right to joke about her last name (haha) Josh has been a steady, influential part of Derek’s life since day one, and having him up there on the wedding day means a lot.
Danielle
Bridesmaid
Being the girlfriends/fiancées of two best buddies is an easy way to end up spending a lot of time together. In this case, Tessa couldn’t be happier with Gavin’s pick. Danielle is kind, hilarious, and instantly lovable, and she blended into the friend group the moment she showed up. Before long, Tessa and Dani had their own friendship going strong, and now they definitely don’t need the boys to have fun. Danielle is a dietitian and hopefully a soon-to-be fiancée (common Gavin). She and Gavin are the couple Tessa and Derek call for every campfire hang, steak night, or “let’s just do something” plan that becomes a whole memory. Tessa loves the easy, genuine friendship they’ve built and is so excited to have Danielle standing with her on such an important day.
Gavin
Groomsman
Derek and Gavin have been friends since middle school, and their friendship has pretty much been built on adventure and giving each other a hard time. From dirt bikes to dune trips, summers working together, and countless bonfires and camping nights, they’ve shared more memories than either of them could track. Gavin is the guy who can turn anything into a laugh, and who never hesitates to throw in a dig or two. Derek’s hoping he keeps the house critiques to a minimum at the wedding, but he’s fully expecting the tortillas to come out at some point. Gavin has been a loyal, steady presence in Derek’s life for years, and Derek’s grateful to have him standing up there with him.
Hannah
Bridesmaid
Hannah is one of Tessa’s oldest friends. They met in gymnastics at age 7 and, with houses just minutes apart, grew up side-by-side through every stage of life. Hannah has always been the friend Tessa can count on—for a book recommendation, an honest opinion, or a last-minute bike ride. Their childhood memories still make Tessa smile, especially riding the Scrambler at the fair with Tyler, laughing so hard they could barely breathe. Even as Hannah has been off exploring the world and chasing new adventures, their friendship has remained steady and deeply valued The childhood joy wrapped up in every memory with Hannah is exactly what makes her such a special person to stand by Tessa on the big day.
Tyler
Groomsman
Tessa and Tyler have shared a close bond since childhood, built on jokes, a similar sense of humor, and the kind of childhood memories you don’t fully appreciate until you’re older, something Tessa misses more than she expected after moving out. Tyler has always been someone Tessa looks up to, the person she could rely on, the one who always showed up, and the reason so many of her favorite memories feel so special. Tessa couldn’t be prouder of the mechanic and social media producer he’s become, and she loves that they still make time for concerts together Derek and Tyler clicked right away with their shared humor and mutual love of anything motorized, which made welcoming Derek into the family feel even easier for Tessa. Having Tyler with her on the wedding day feels like bringing a piece of home, and she couldn’t imagine it any other way.
Vanessa
Bridesmaid
Vanessa and Derek grew up close in age, which meant they spent most of their childhood playing together and inventing questionable “games.” A few of those ended with someone getting “accidentally” punched in the face (Vanessa's got a nasty right hook). She immediately welcomed Tessa into the family and quickly became someone Tessa always looked forward to chatting with during time spent with the Sanders. From the start, she felt like the sister Tessa never had. Now, although forever part of the Sanders crew, Vanessa will be changing her last name this September as she marries her person, Kevin (aka Bestie Kev). She currently lives in Utah and works as a massage therapist, so if you dance too hard at the reception, you know who to call. She has always been an incredible sister to Derek, and Tessa can’t wait for the day she gets to officially call her a sister too.
Nathan
Groomsman
Nathan is Derek’s older brother, and growing up, the two spent countless hours together doing every “classic brothers” activity - airsoft, paintball, bikes, quads, dirt bikes, anything that involved running around outside. Derek looked up to him, even if he did once declare, in a fit of childhood rage, “When I’m older than you, I’m going to beat you up.” (Still waiting on that one.) Today, Nathan serves in the Army as an Apache helicopter pilot—arguably an upgrade from the dirt bikes and airsoft days. Even with the distance that comes with his service, he’s remained a steady part of Derek’s life, and it means a lot to have him home and standing with him on the wedding day
Darla
Bridesmaid
Darla and Tessa’s lives became intertwined sophomore year of high school. Between cheer, ASL, and AP Psych, they somehow ended up in every major class and activity together. Darla’s constant positivity and humor have been a bright light in Tessa’s life ever since. They have a million stories and a few trauma-bonding moments (let’s all just hope no wedding dresses are lost and there's no paddleboards involved in the wedding). Tessa has loved cheering Darla on through every chapter...including graduating from law school and officially becoming an attorney at law...and she can’t wait for Darla to bring that same joy, loyalty, and laughter to the wedding day and all the days that follow.
Logen
Groomsman
Derek and Logen have known each other practically forever, thanks to their dads being close friends back in high school. They grew up spending weekends on quads and dirt bikes, and if there was a dune trip happening - Florence, Beverly, Moses, St. Anthony, Juniper, Coos Bay, anywhere - Logen was there without question. All through high school and after, they racked up plenty of late nights, fires, and memories that still get brought up every time the group is together. Logen’s been a constant in Derek’s life for as long as he can remember, and Derek’s really glad to have him standing with him on the big day.
Evelyn
Flower Girl
Evelyn (freshly 3) has been stealing Tessa and Derek’s hearts since day one. She was the first baby Tessa ever changed a diaper for, and she is forever grateful to Ryan and Kaitlin for trusting her (and giving plenty of grace) as she learned the ropes. Over the past couple of years, Tessa has had the joy of watching Evelyn (and now her baby brother, Cal) almost every week. Their giggles and smiling faces are easily one of the highlights of her routine. When it came to choosing a flower girl, Evelyn was the obvious pick. She’s pure sweetness and joy. She’s the little girl who has been such a bright part of their lives, and Tessa and Derek can’t wait to see her sprinkle that same sweetness down the aisle.
Cruze & Nash
Ring Bearer
Cruze (4) and Nash (2) are Derek’s nephews and the official stars of the show, and honestly, everyone is more than okay with that. Cruze was Derek’s first nephew, the one who made him “Uncle D,” and he’s the sensitive, big-feelings guy of the duo. Nash, on the other hand, is an adorable wrecking ball with a talent for charging into every moment head-first. Cars, monster trucks, and trains keep them busy, but being with Uncle D and Aunt T is always a highlight. Their little personalities will make their aisle moment one of the sweetest parts of the day. Cruze and Nash bring so much joy to Derek and Tessa’s lives, and getting to share the day with them will be something they treasure forever.