Gina & Ben
Wedding Party
Cassie Hansen
Maid of Honor
I met Gina in elementary school, and even then, her personality was magnetic. She has an amazing ability to make people instantly feel connected to her and I’ve felt so lucky to call her my best friend ever since. Gina is so special to me and I couldn’t be prouder to be by her side while she marries the love of her life.
Aaron Tibbels
Best Man
Ben and I go waaay back! I've managed to get along with him well enough for 32 years now through countless video games, jokes, and drinks. Yet I'm grateful I can call Ben my brother, more so than I could ever express. I'm honored to be by his side when he weds the love of his life!
Natalie Feldman
Bridesmaid
I met Gina Marie Muir at work, but I’d like to think we met several lifetimes ago. I can’t imagine my life without Gina. What first brought us together was my need for a dogsitter, but our friendship has gone beyond random favors and has blossomed into a friendship in LA I never thought I’d have. Gina is my LA rock and I can't think of a better friend to live life with.
Alex Winn
Groomsman
Alexander met Ben while helping to prepare for Joe Lupo’s wedding in 2013. Since then they’ve worked on projects, served in wedding parties, gone on trips, traded book recommendations, and played D&D campaigns together, along with maintaining a running commentary on all things geek culture. Alexander hopes one day to see what happens when Ben drinks wine.
Sarah Manson
Bridesmaid
Gina and I met in passing at Camp No Counselors in Los Angeles. We actually became friends through mutual friends when we went hiking at Runyon Canyon and followed that up with a hearty meal at Saddle Ranch, some sing-alongs, and riding the mechanical bull (those things pretty much sealed our friendship). From then on, it was non-stop sing-alongs, bottomless brunches, potlucks, weekend getaways, and all the free and random workouts I could find (because balance, ya know). I cannot be happier to have someone like Gina in my life. She may never be on time, but she is always there to provide support, advice,a laugh, her dogs, and that hot gossip. I can't wait to be part of your big day and give you the most hugs!
Jon Merchen
Groomsman
I'm not exactly sure when it happened, but I know for me at least it was instant friendship. He was always so quick with a joke and they mostly worked. Mostly. I gravitated toward him not only because of our similar sense of humor, but also because he's a very caring and genuine guy. I remember walking through Lincoln riffing a customer service phone call with him about a weirdo that was complaining about the butt pouch in his jeans being too small which spawned some jokes we still do together! Ben is the best and I'm very grateful we're friends!
Dani Lazar
Bridesmaid
Gina & I met at adult sleep-away camp in 2017 (although Gina didn't remember me at first, I like to think I quickly made a lasting impression). We attended several trips together and formed a bond over dipping chips into rice for snack (to be fair I did the eating and Gina did the watching in amazement). We maintained a long distance friendship living on opposite sides of the country until I made the big leap out west and now we spend every weekend together! I truly don't know what I would do without her and can't wait to celebrate Gina & Ben!
Karl Spurzem
Groomsman
How did Ben and I meet? How did ocean creatures first crawl onto the land? How did Carrot Top discover prop comedy? These historic moments are lost to the shifting sands of time. We started goofing off together doing low-rent theater in Lincoln, Nebraska and then we simply never stopped goofing off together. The lesson here is that persistence pays off.
Jenette Phillips
Bridesmaid
I met Gina at a pre-camp group trip - a beach house on the Jersey Shore. She introduced me to Rick and Morty and I was HERE FOR IT! I pulled a chair right up literally and figuratively. We have been tight ever since. I will always cherish our memories together as both CNC campers and staff. (dancing like crazy people and yell singing along to Disney songs are some highlights) She is one person I can come to with anything and know she will not judge me. Cannot imagine going through life without this gem of a person and I’m truly thrilled to be part of such an awesome event.
Joe Lupo
Groomsman
The first time I remember Ben is having him come to a Rough Magic improv night. It was my first and only time when the company let me M.C. so I was super nervous and worried about being entertaining enough. Of course, having Ben constantly upstage me from the audience helped with that immensely. The photo is from Pure Anima, a play we built and put on together a few years later, once he joined Rough Magic. I thought burying him under that mask, makeup and hood might stop him from stealing scenes. I was wrong.
Kate Butler
Bridesmaid
I met Gina working at Roaming Hunger. We started out as department competitors (for the record, I ALMOST won) but we quickly became friends that would goof around and laugh all day. I am so happy to be a part of her big day!
Chad Nagel
Groomsman
Ben and I met in the hollowed walls of the Fifty1twelve in Los Angeles. We became friends over beers, board games and holiday parties.
Sarah Austin
Bridesmaid
I’m Sarah Austin! I met Gina when I transferred to Ithaca College through a mutual friend and we quickly became thick as thieves. I’d love to pretend we have nothing but respectable memories together but I’m pretty sure most of them involve Gina kindly covering my unfinished cocktails with cling wrap in the fridge for freshness and me using sharpie on her arm to tally her drinks at the bar for safety. Oh and bagels. We’ve eaten a lot of bagels (eaten... not shared, she doesn’t share bagels and this has modeled for me a life philosophy I’ve adopted proudly). We’ve been there for each their through some big milestones and I cannot wait to add our weddings to the list!
Doug Palmer
Groomsman
I met Ben in the mean streets of Advanced Acting class at Lincoln High where we learned, not only to survive, but thrive. Dressed like members of a Reel Big Fish cover band, we formed a friendship that has lasted 20 years....holy lord, it's been two decades already. I'm proud to call Ben my friend and I'm honored to be a part of his wedding.
Julia Lewis
Bridesmaid
As the saying goes, “friends don’t judge each other, they judge other people.” I am not sure the exact moment Gina and I figured out we judge the same people, but it was probably somewhere between the class projects and copying each other’s answers during a group final in the TC Lounge at Ithaca College. We ended up living together in LA for a semester and I do not think I would have survived it if it weren’t for Gina. We became so co-dependent we started dressing the same (see picture). She is the type of friend who is always there when you want to unload your problems and will give you the advice you NEED to hear. I am so glad she is in my life and it makes me SO happy to see how happy she is with Ben, because she deserves ALL the happiness in the world!
Phil McGinn
Groomsman
After meeting at the infamous Fifty One Twelve apartment complex in Valley Village, Phil and Ben became roommates for long enough to consider a common-law marriage. Lucky for Gina they don’t do that in California. The two are seen here on a quick 24 hour Vegas trip c. 2014
Kelly Wakelee
Bridesmaid
Gina and I met at Ithaca College but formed a lasting connection through our awkward humor. Im not sure if it was the late nights in the television studios or the later nights at the bars (with blue fish bowls), but somewhere along the way, I realized Gina makes every activity more fun and every bad night better. And now she’s met a man that can keep up! ;) wishing you both all the happiness and cannot wait to celebrate you!
Rob Ward
Groomsman
Rob met Ben shortly after moving to Los Angeles, and soon thereafter would begin to call him a friend. They bonded over their shared love of drinking one too many beers and loading the jukebox up with "the other good song" from any late 90's era one-hit-wonder band. Despite Ben's fanatical love of the Bare Naked Ladies, Rob still looks forward to the many poorly soundtracked laughter-filled nights ahead.
Stef Fredriks
Bridesmaid
Hey! My name is Stef and I met Gina at Roaming Hunger where I was somehow included in her interview process. I asked her a bunch of off the wall questions (because why not) and I think we clicked from that moment. Gina's corgi Carl taught my dog a lot of confidence when she was new to LA and I think in a way Gina has done the same for me. There's no one else that could inspire me to run miles when I hated running or make it to the top of a hike when all I could think about was brunch. loll She's the first person I go to with piping hot tea, and I'm pretty sure we have a library of curated memes sent between us. I love these amazing humans and cannot wait to be part of their special day!
Drew Roder
Groomsman
Ben and I were introduced through mutual friends Chad Nagel, Rob Ward, and Ian McCarthy. We have shared many fond memories, and forgotten some really good times I'm sure. One thing I can count on is Ben Tibbles always having something funny to say... Even when it's super inappropriate.