Emily & Benjamin
Wedding Party
Natalie
Bridesmaid
Natalie and Emily met in 8th grade and have been a formidable force ever since. Despite going to two different high schools, the two have stuck together through thick and thin won many trophies as Speech & Debate partners along the way. From playing mermaids in the pool to now law school, Emily firmly believe that Natalie will be president one day and she is constantly in awe of how driven and passionate Nat is. Nat is also the reason Emily watches Big Brother religiously now.
Elias
Groomsman
Elias and Ben's friendship started in their freshman-year English class, where they sat next to each other and joked around nearly every day. The friendship continued to get stronger throughout high school; especially after all-day mountain bike adventures, late-night discord rap battles, and a memory-filled Europe trip in April 2017. Elias and Ben stayed connected throughout college and continued to have new adventures together as college graduates.
Maddie
Bridesmaid
When Emily met Maddie in high school, she instantly knew they were going to be friends. Maddie is fun, goofy, lighthearted, and is always able to bring out a smile and laugh from Emily. They have been through horrific IB classes and long study groups together, but also share some of the best memories - Disneyland days, weekend movie marathons, and a Why Don’t We concert. Maddie has seen Emily through highs and lows, and still stands by her no matter what.
Jason
Groomsman
Jason first met Ben at a CPR/First Aid training at Camp Trask in 2019, where they infamously went on a pizza run together with no knowledge of who each other was. Camp Cherry Valley is where they established a close friendship, especially after hanging out on the waterfront, going on hikes, and talking about scouts. Jason and Ben bonded over their passion for the outdoors and constantly talk about bucket-list hikes and future adventures. Jason's creativity and problem-solving skills always come in handy, and he is always someone you can trust.
Rebecca
Bridesmaid
Rebecca has known Emily since before they both were even born - through years of camping and house parties, the two have been inseparable. From watching the movie Elf in the camper and hiking the rocks of Joshua Tree to now, Rebecca has always been someone Emily could count and depend on. She is also Emily's voice of reason while shopping and will always tell her if she spending too much money.
Joona
Groomsman
The first conversation that Joona and Ben ever had was at a Men's Bible Night about Finnish hockey players. Joona and Ben instantly got invested in a conversation about sports and were bonded by the thing that originally brought them together, faith. Joona is a strong brother in Christ to Ben and they have always felt connected due to their location of where they met. Although they both are a few state borders away from each other, they will always be friends and connected through their faith (as well as their passion for sports).
Cheyanne
Bridesmaid
When Emily met Cheyanne over 4 years ago, she knew she was the perfect fit for the family. Cheyanne is one of the most optimistic, hardworking, and positive people Emily knows and always knows how to bring a good time! When she first started dating Emily's brother, Emily had her 19th birthday and Cheyanne gifted her a bottle of wine, thinking she was turning 21! Since then, the two have shared countless glasses of Stella Rosas. Cheyanne gifts Emily advice and comfort when she needs it, and Emily can’t wait to call her a sister some day soon.
Roger
Groomsman
Roger and Ben knew each other as far back as the after-school bible classes in elementary school. The friendship truly grew during their first year of High School, where they bonded over their love of music, laughter, and video games. Roger and Ben both enjoyed after-school hangouts at Charter Oak Park, doing video projects for school, and swimming on the swim team together. Nowadays, they remain close friends and stay connected through their videogames, road trips, and cabin vacations with their friends.
Allie
Bridesmaid
Emily met Allie a few years ago while working at Albertsons and they instantly hit it off. Allie is a once-in-a-lifetime friend that when you meet, you better pursue this friendship! Allie is a sister in christ who Emily can always go to for advice or deep conversations. She pushes Emily to be the best version of herself and shows her what true friendship looks like. From driving up to Santa Barbara on a whim to spending a summer on Catalina Island, Allie has grown close to both Ben and Emily and always lends an ear, no matter what.
Misha
Groomsman
Misha, known by many as "Otter", met Ben at Camp Cherry Valley during the summer of 2021. Their love for aquatics and the outdoors brought them together, and they naturally became close friends after backpacking a few nights on the Catalina cliffsides. Otter and Ben will always be seen around each other with music playing in the background, as they love sharing and enjoying music together. Misha and Ben will always be connected with all the amazing memories on Catalina as well as their outdoor adventures outside of summer camp.
Elizabeth
Junior Bridesmaid
Emily is constantly impressed by Elizabeth's maturity and poise. Emily was 9 years old when Elizabeth was born, so naturally, Emily was excited that she had her own real-life doll! From playing dress-up to curling her hair now as a teenager, Emily knows Elizabeth will go on to do amazing things in this world, and she cannot wait to see what she does next.