Allison & Emmett
Wedding Party
Cara Ihde
Maid of Honor
Cara and I met in the nurse's office at Cal Lutheran where we were both getting there physicals done in preparation for volleyball. A friendship that started over bonding during our hell week blossomed through breakfasts in the caf every morning and grew unbreakable when we became roommates for the next 3 years of college.
Lauren Van Auker
Bridesmaid
Lauren and I met when we became roommates shortly after she moved home from Spain. A fast friendship formed that continued after I moved to Chicago, crashed their honeymoon backpacking trip, moved back in with her and her husband when I returned from Chicago, and her move and adventure in Denver.
Sarah Page
Bridesmaid
Sarah and I met one morning at the Saloon in downtown Ventura when our mutual group of friends were gathering for bottomless mimosas. We share the same sense of humor and Sarah's crispness never ceases to be present, except for when 3 drink Sarah comes out. She is one of my most thoughtful and consistent friends.
Robin Purman
Bridesmaid
Robin and I met when I moved to Chicago for our teaching credential and masters program. We shared what was easily the hardest and most challenging year of our lives and grew stronger because of it. I would not have been able to to make it through that year without Robin. Now separated by a few thousand miles, we use the excuse of trips of a lifetime (like a trip to Iceland) to see each other.
Erynne Allen
Bridesmaid
Erynne (Ele) and I met shortly after I moved to Ventura, and became roommates shortly after that at the Poli Party Pad. Ele is one of the strongest and most determined people that I know and after watching her compete in triathlons and Ironmans, she gave me the courage to finally take the leap and start competing in triathlons. We're competing in a half Ironman just a week after my wedding!
Sophie State
Bridesmaid
Sophie and I met at Westlake High School right before my first ever day of teaching. We were next door classroom neighbors and quickly became friends, and eventually work wives, during our shared prep period. Our three years of working together came to an end after we both left Westlake, but our long distance work wife relationship continues.
Sydney Friesen
Bridesmaid
Sydney and I met the winter break after Reid and I started dating. She was the first family member that I was going to meet outside of his parents. During the drive to her house Reid was laughing at how nervous I was to meet her, but those nerves went away as soon as I met her. She's part of the reason that I say that I won the lottery when it comes to in-laws.
Alex Morales
Best Man
We played on different athletic teams and went to different schools, so we were very competitive and we were not that fond of one another. During freshmen year, we became friends in a summer school computer typing class and pretty much did everything together for the following years. We were the 2 best friends that anyone could have other than that one time in Ms. Boone's On Your Own Class. We did pretty much everything together whether that was football, basketball, baseball, AP classes, and then the honors program at Reedley College as well. We don't hangout as much anymore since we live in different areas, but there is no person who has defended me or had my back like Alex. I am extremely grateful for that and the many years of friendship.
Sean Miller
Groomsman
We met during my first year at Cal Lu as he was living in West Dorm with Derick/David and a few other friends, John and Travis. I felt like I was annoying them with my friendship, but they readily accepted me. Some of the best times were the massive amounts of food we ate in the cafeteria, the constant sports debates that we had, playing intramural football, and the many hours of COD. After college, we both became teachers and there was one semester that we were both at Royal together. That was a fun semester of teaching and coaching football together. Although, there probably wasn't a great deal of work that was completed during that semester. We still try to hangout as much as possible and go to as many Star Wars movies with Kevin Adams as possible.
Chris Park
Groomsman
We met during orientation at Cal Lu in 2010 as we both transferred into school that year. I became friends along with Chris and Petey Ciaramitaro since they came from the same school. The following year we all lived together in a 6 person dorm room, which was pretty much the greatest living situation ever. Chris and I then would live together until August of 2018. We have had a lot of fun and crazy times with one another, such as running to Jack in the Box at midnight because we wanted milkshakes. It was definitely very beneficial to live with Chris because he is a great cook and introduced seasoning food to me like Salt and Pepper. He was clean too. I was not a very clean person, so he forced me to become more of an adult. Alli really appreciates that.
Kevin Adams
Groomsman
Kevin also went to Cal Lu but we were not in school at the same time. Kevin actually also taught and coached at Royal the year Sean was there as well, but he was there during the second semester. Not a whole lot of work was done that semester either. I actually met Kevin when he came to observe my class during my second year of teaching and he had much longer hair then. Now we teach in classrooms right next door to one another, coach together, and go to as many Marvel and Star Wars movies with Sean as possible. We are much better about getting work done nowadays even when we try to distract each other TOO MUCH.
Peter Ciaramitaro
Groomsman
I also met Petey during the first days of our orientation at Cal Lu with Chris and my life became much better because of these two. We had way too much fun together and Petey always makes sure everyone is taken care of whether that is with food or drink. That hasn't changed over the years whether we were living in Trinity Hall together or if we are in Vegas. He really takes the phrase "don't your worry baby bird, I'll feed you" to heart. I have learned so much from him and his willingness to go out of his way and do anything for his friends is something that I have always admired.
Derick "David" Welsh
Groomsman
He was living with Sean in 2010 and I also forced him to become friends with me as well. There has never been a bad idea to "David" and has always been down for any adventure. I really liked going to Sean and "David's" dorm room because there was so much innovation in their room like Mega Couch and Mega Bed. "David" also lived on the floor in the living room with Chris and myself for a summer. We had way too much fun together. He is the one person that I have learned to dance from, whether it was in our living room or at our friend Taylor's wedding. There has never been a dull moment with "David" and I have been real appreciative for his friendship.
Erik Kerr
Groomsman
I did not meet Erik until Alli was put into the Cal Lu Hall of Fame (She is a much better athlete than me). Erik has been extremely welcoming me into the family and has shown us around San Diego. He has introduced us to bars, breweries, gone to baseball games, and basically made me jealous that I don't live there. Erik also went to Cal Lu and was one of the reasons that Alli decided to attend Cal Lu to play volleyball. If it wasn't for Erik, I would never gotten the chance to trick Alli into loving me. Erik travels all over the world even though he will tell you he doesn't travel that much and has inspired me to do some traveling as well. I am deathly afraid of boats and planes, but I will get to places somehow.