November 7, 2021

Sunset, SC

Amanda & Eric

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Wedding Party

Mrs. Shaylin Gignilliat

Matron of Honor

One of my first friends in vet school, Shaylin was my Athens Symphony Orchestra Buddy, and got me involved with the VBMA (Veterinary business management association). Little did I know we would eventually end up in the same town, Greenville, SC. She decided to get married on the day I graduated vet school, so I will forever remember May 2nd, 2015 as a happy day for us both! Although she roped me into running the Greater Greenville Veterinary Medical Association as co-presidents, it gave us plenty of time to hang out over the years - using it as a “work” excuse, but really just hanging out. Shaylin is an amazing Emergency veterinarian and soon to be mother of a baby boy! She has helped to keep me sane since 2011, and I wouldn’t know what to do without her!

Mrs. Jenna Benett

Matron of Honor

Keeping me sane since 2015! Jenna and her husband Matt have been our Sunday night dinner friends (pre-pandemic) and The Walking Dead buddies (even when the show got bad - really bad). Their dog, Badger, and Eric have a special bond, enough so that over the years they have gifted us with various “badger” themed gifts - most recently a WWF donation towards the honey badger, complete with a stuffed replica we had to hide from our dogs. Once COVID hit, we really missed our get togethers, and I missed getting to do breakfast and coffee dates with Jenna in Easley - it always happens that when my car has to go in for service, she is off work and comes to save me from waiting at the dealership. Jenna is a small animal vet and soon to be mom of twins.

Mrs. Haley Webster

Bridesmaid

I met Haley when she was my TA for a class at Clemson called LNA - short for Little North American. This class was for showing animals, and our group was beef cattle. It was a wild ride to say the least! I didn’t know it then but she would become one of my closest friends in vet school. We went to the Kentucky Derby together (not the glamorous seats they show on TV), binged on more ID channel murder shows than was healthy, and were always there for each other. She was the one who forced me to create a match.com profile, saying “If you don’t fill out the profile information, I will.” Thanks to her, I met Eric! Haley is now a veterinarian in Summerville, SC. She is married to a wonderful guy and still has her “fart machine” Boston terrier Gabby (whom we all love regardless!).

Mrs. Holly Whitson

Bridesmaid

I met Holly at Clemson when we were in the university symphony orchestra together. We became good friends in vet school, and our dog’s Emma and Mongo also became best friends. She was my concert going friend for the Athens music scene, and we laughed often at being the only people of drinking age at her younger brother Sam’s concerts. We held our vet school graduation party together, complete with a live band and “mama-ritas”. Margaritas were always our go-to drink at La Fiesta in Athens - probably the most horrible Mexican food in town, but it was our place! Holly is now an amazing exotics veterinarian in Decatur, GA. She is married to her college sweetheart and they have a plethora of animals at home.

Mrs. Sarah Fowler

Bridesmaid

Sarah and I met at Clemson in the WAVS (women in animal and veterinary science) freshman dorm hall - she was my next door neighbor! This fun lady from Ohio has always been there for me. Even though we went to different vet schools, we would still make trips to visit each other - the fastest way to Tennessee from Georgia is not through the mountains, despite what google maps says! Sarah married her college sweetie, Lee, and they live in Charleston, SC. She is one of the kindest people you will ever meet and I am so happy to have her as part of our big day!

Mrs. Katie Olson

Bridesmaid

Katie is my oldest friend in the bridal party. We met playing in youth orchestra together in Lexington, KY as awkward 12 year olds. We ended up going to the same performing arts high school and became fast friends. Even though she was a much better musician, she still hung out with me. One of my favorite memories of Katie was at a Halloween party she hosted. She dressed up as William Wallace from Braveheart and rode around on her horse yelling out lines from the movie. I will forever treasure our memories from our high school years, countless orchestra concerts, including traveling abroad for youth orchestra tours (yes, I still have pictures from these showing how awkward we were!). She is now a UK law graduate living the dream in California, married with an adorable rescue dog, Prim.

Ms. Jana Powell

Bridesmaid

Jana and I met in vet school, when we were both living in the OTS fraternity house. She makes the best coffee, and the house would smell delicious every afternoon. Her dog Cooper was my dog Emma’s best friend in the house as well. One of my favorite memories from living together was having a roommate dinner for St. Patrick’s day. She made the most delicious Guinness cake and corned beef and cabbage. I’ll never forger our other roommate Tristan proclaiming “I don’t even taste the corn!” when we chowed down. Our mutual love for travel led us to taking a trip to Ireland together in September 2017. We had so much fun exploring, but could not drive on Irish roads! Jana is one of the smartest people I know and is currently a dairy veterinarian who gets to travel the world for work.

Mr. Thomas Valentine

Best Man

I first met Thomas in kindergarten and once it was established that we lived three houses down from one another we have been friends ever since. It was Thomas who introduced me to comic books, ninja turtles, good music, movies, boyscouts, politics, and far too many other things to count. We would bike or walk to and from school every day together and I found then (and now) always a sympathetic ear and an educated opinion. Thomas married the love of his life Laura and together they had their lovely daughter Norah. He lives in Athens Georgia and is the Director of Historic Athens. I was the best man in his wedding and it is an honor to have him serving the same role in mine.

Mr. Nathan Edwards

Groomsman

Nathan and I met in high school and he has pretty much been cursed with my presence ever since. In the words of the Beastie Boys "I've got friends and family that I respect, when I think I'm too good they put me in check" and this sums up Nathan to a T. Poor Nathan has had to listen to my hare-brained ideas, been pulled into far too many awkward adventures, and yet somehow always remains a stoic supporter and a grounding force. He married his awesome wife Ali and somehow they still allowed me to come around. They even let me be a godparent to one of their children (Joey! Charlie and Ila fared far better!). Regardless of mustache, bow tie, turtleneck, or tequila umbrellas I consider myself blessed to count him among my friends.

Mr. Jacob Liu

Groomsman

Jacob Liu and I have known each other for far too long. He is wiser, smarter, in better shape, and all around superior to me in all regards. And yet, for some reason he still will hang out with me. I like to think that regardless of his pro-bono charity time I have done something to enrich his life because he agreed to be one of my groomsmen. Jacob is a Doctor of Veterinary medicine and an authority on far too many subjects to count. He is also loyal, humble, and kind and that is what I admire about him the most. He knows where the skeletons are buried (heck he even helped cause a couple himself) and yet in a world where three can keep a secret if two are dead we are both still here... sorry Bob, not everyone made it.

Mr. Stephen Price

Groomsman

Stephen and I met in our favorite spot in Athens, the old Jittery Joes roasting house. Our mutual friend said, "Oh you like coffee, cigars, and guns? You need to meet each other..." and that was that. Together we found out that pretty much everything one of us was into the other was probably into as well (or if not would soon be) and we have spent endless hours educating each other, philosophizing, smoking cigars, and finding new passions to share. An avid polymath, speak Stephen on just about any subject and prepare to take notes. When he isn't in Athens running Jittery Joes (that's right, he is now a green coffee buyer, runs the roastery where we met, and is one of the few Q-certified coffee graders, like a somme in wine) you will find him frequently crossing the country on motorcycles.

Mr. Pablo Kienzle

Groomsman

There were a good many years where anytime I introduced myself to anyone in Athens they would immediately say "oh, are you Eric of Eric and Pablo?" Whether we were famous or infamous there was rarely a time where you could find one of us without the other. I like to think I've saved his life as many times as I've endangered it and I'm sure Pablo would say the same. Be it on the streets of Cedar Creek racing our cars or the streets of Spain during the running of the bulls, we've had too many adventures to count. Now with old age upon us I like to think we've become wiser but probably not. Our schemes are just more elaborate and better funded. If ever I need a person, Pablo is always there. He has been there for me more times than I can count, and saved me more times than he will ever know.