Haley & Matt
Wedding Party
Emily May
Maid of Honor
I met Em our first week of college at Shenandoah University. When we first met, we were talking about where we were from and how far away from home we were. We soon learned that Emily's hometown was just across the river from our family beach house! This was a HUGE deal, because both her hometown and our beach house town have a very small population. I mean, TINY. After learning this AND learning we were both majoring in Biology, we became the best of friends. From there we became roommates from 2009-2011 living on campus next to our best friends, Danielle and Tricia. Although the end of college took us to two different locations several hours apart, we have still remained the best of friends, making trips to each others cities. 11 years later, and you're my Maid of Honor!
Becky Pennington
Matron of Honor
I'd be lying if I said I could actually remember the first time I met Becky. The fact that I don't tells me that there was never one of those, "awkward family moments" that you'll never forget, as "the new girl." Becky has always made me feel SO welcomed into the Pennington family. Like I never missed a beat. Every single one of our interactions together has been meaningful and has either filled me with laughter or given me relief in times of concern. As cliche as this may sound, I've never quite known what it's like to have a sister. As much as I LOVE being from a "boy" family, I am extremely excited to gain a sister out of meeting Matt. I feel extremely blessed to have someone who knows my heart as well as she does and to be able to have her as my Matron of Honor on our big day!
Danielle Keegan
Bridesmaid
Danielle and I met our Freshman year of college at Shenandoah. We decided to get an off campus apartment our senior year of college. We spent many hours watching lacrosse and field hockey games at Shenandoah. She also spent many painful hours tutoring me in physics and cell bio. (Sorry!) We both had different aspirations following college which took us many, many miles apart. But no matter where life took us, we were always able to visit each other. Our adventures took us mainly to Boston, where we celebrated holidays, birthdays, engagements and even a wedding! It feels like not that long ago, that I flew to Boston to look at wedding dresses with her! I'm honored to have her by my side, not only on our big day, but also for the last 11 years of my life. I couldn't do it without you!
Tricia Lynn
Bridesmaid
Tricia and I met our Freshman year of college. We were neighbors for just about all of our time in college, until our senior year when we moved into an off-campus apartment with Danielle. Tricia was always baking or cooking something to make our apartment smell amazing. Following college, her and I spent hours in cars driving to Boston, off-roading at times and accidentally ending up in Rhode Island. I think that was the last time we drove to Boston. We spent a lot of time exploring monuments and creating playlists to entertain us. I'm so thankful that no matter how many miles are between us, we always find a way to keep our friendship feeling brand new. There is absolutely, positively, no way I could ever do this day without her. 11 years of friendship and many more to come!
Kara Rudisill
Bridesmaid
Kara and I met in Baltimore through her, now husband, Kent! As soon as I met her, I knew we were cut from the same cloth. She has the kindest heart and is always looking out for my best interest. We spent many late nights out in Canton and Fells Point in Baltimore, dancing, singing, walking MILES home through the city on New Year's Eve...the list goes on. No matter where life has taken us, we have always found a way to keep in touch. Kara has been pursuing her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology which has taken her from Baltimore, to Philly, to Oklahoma. Through all of these adventures, we have always managed to keep in touch through lunch dates, road trips and phone dates. I am so thankful for that fateful red solo cup night that surely sealed the deal on our friendship forever.
Eileen Jones
Bridesmaid
I met Eileen when we became roommates in Pigtown in Baltimore. The moment I knew we would become best friends was when we went to a party at one of my friend's houses and she started belting out Sia's, Chandelier, in the middle of the crowd and TOTALLY owned it. We spent many late nights out on the town, exploring bars and events in the city and usually ending the night with hiccups and mozzarella sticks. We also spent many nights binging RHOC, VPR and Catfish. Eileen recently married the man of her dreams, and I was lucky enough to attend her bachelorette party and her beautiful wedding. I am so thankful that I found someone who shares my love of Bravo TV. I am forever grateful that Charm City brought us together and to be able to share in this day with her. I couldn't do it without you!
Dean Pennington
Best Man
Dean is my brother, I have known him since I was born. We are pretty much the same person while simultaneously being completely different. We grew up just like any other siblings... Once I convinced him to bite a moving swing and his tooth ripped out, and one time he shoved dirt in my mouth and we couldn’t go to the carnival.... that kind of stuff. But we always knew we were brothers and at the end of the day we were glad to have each other. Nowadays we’re both just trying to adult while still being children. He’s the sister I never had.
Cole Haynes
Groomsman
Cole and I met through Haley. He’s not your average, run of the mill high school kid. He keeps up with my sarcasm and humor and can pick up on most movie quotes, unlike Haley. I’m not really sure if they’re actually siblings. I enjoy hanging out with him and shooting the breeze.
Kevin Curran
Groomsman
Curran and I met in Japan when we were at an early morning formation. I sat down against a wall and in the process, sliced my hand open on an electrical outlet. I ended up needing stitches and had to take someone to medical with me and Curran wasn’t interested in the early morning formation, so he came with me. We both found out that we knew every line of the patriot and it was pretty much true love after that. We later went on to be roommates in the town I grew up in, shortly before Curran moved back to North Carolina to be with his family.
David Steiner
Groomsman
David and I met on the school bus in fourth or fifth grade. I was talking to someone about how my brother was trying to collect all of the item Pokémon cards, and the only one he didn’t have at the time was a pokeflute. This little Asian kid held up the exact card Dean needed. I found out he lived across the street from us, and we started hanging out every day. David later joined the Marines, not long before convincing me to join. David lives in Hawaii now, but we still keep in touch to this day.
Vince Shifflett
Groomsman
Vince and I met in cub scouts when we were very little. In high school, when normal kids were having fun going to parties, we were sword fighting in the woods close to my house. We have always bonded over nerdy stuff and movies.
Corey Quill
Groomsman
Quill showed up to my unit at JBAB and initially I wasn’t too sure how much I liked how charismatic and funny he was. Eventually, he won me over and we bonded through the misery of the summer heat at Camp Lejeune. Quill has since left the unit and now we’re just two bros doing bro stuff.