JACOB & JARED
Wedding Party
William & Margaret Burnley
Jared's Wedding Party
... Jared and William have been best friends since 2019 when they met during undergrad at Texas A&M. After A&M, they moved to Atlanta together for grad school at Emory University. William is the best best friend a guy could ask for. He is thoughtful and encouraging. He has valiantly sat through a recap of every tv show Jared has watched or book he has read! He is always ready to impart some philosophical or legal wisdom, and he is a plant propagating fiend. Will and Margaret started dating shortly after the start of grad school, and she became a constant fixture in Jared's life! Margaret is intentional, purposeful, and has a keen eye for a good aesthetic. She has been our constant champion over the last four years. Jared, Will and Margaret enjoyed Tuesday night dinners throughout most of grad school—a tradition that Jacob was brought in on when he joined them all in Atlanta!
Rachel & Hagen Gurley
Jacob's Wedding Party
... Rachel and Hagen are two of Jacob's best friends, and they happen to be married! This all started when Jacob and Hagen moved in together sophomore year of college and Rachel lived next door. After a few years of not living in the same state, this dream team reunited in Atlanta in 2021 and brought Jared into the mix. The Gurley household became a mainstay of Jacob's and Jared's weeks – dinner and movie nights, Catan marathons, quiet reading hours, and endless conversations about Taylor Swift, pop culture, God, the meaning of our work, and what we hoped to get out of life. Rachel is intelligent, funny, and compassionate – and she definitely makes better Spotify playlists than you. Hagen is a fierce friend: deeply caring and always interested in how you're really doing and what he can do to help. Together, they're a warm invitation to come, be yourself, and enjoy excellent company.
Allie Wilder
Jared's Wedding Party
... Though they met at the beginning of seminary, Jared and Allie's friendship began in earnest when they decided to be manifestation partners. What started out as some slightly awkward encounters quickly turned into a deep friendship and the realization of many dreams and goals (rumor has it they even manifested Jacob right into Jared's life)! Whether she is leading some yoga or reminding others to check in with their body, Allie is one of the kindest people you will ever meet. She prioritizes connecting with others, being in tune with the seasons, and living life to the fullest!
Jarvis Benson
Jacob's Wedding Party
... The closest Jacob has ever come to having a brother. Jacob and Jarvis had never met and had only spoken briefly online when they decided to be roommates freshman year of college. Oftentimes these situations become horror stories, but this ended up being one of the greatest blessings of Jacob's life. Jarvis is Jacob's oldest college friend, and he has been a constant in life even when living in such faraway lands as Washington DC and New York City. They got their first tattoos together – Jacob had agonized over this decisions for months, while Jarvis walked into the shop and picked out a design on the wall. That about sums them up. Jarvis is a scholar, an artist, a creative to his core, a carer for all life, a great lover of Doritos, and a shining light in any room he graces with his presence.
Coleton & Juliann Bryan
Attendants
... The first friends that Jacob and Jared made as a couple! Coleton was the barista in Jared's apartment complex, and they first connected over Coleton reading A Pilgrim's Progress (who knows if he finished it...Jared definitely hasn't). Jacob and Juliann were soon brought into the friendship, and it has been a joy for all of them to get to know each other. Coleton and Juliann are creative, intentional, and quick to offer a warm cup of tea. As a couple they are not afraid to step out of their comfort zone—having taken French classes and several types of dance lessons since Jared and Jacob have known them!
Emily Elder
Ceremony Participant
... Lover of love, the ultimate cheerleader, and the funniest gal you'll ever meet. If you are looking for meaningful conversation or a wild story about an angsty youth group that she led, Emily is your girl! She'll manage to work in a storyline of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the theological implication of a New Testament verse, and a lyric from a queer artist you've maybe never heard of. Emily is known for her catchphrase "How the hell are ya?" – and Jacob has taken to yelling it across any room she enters in an effort to beat her to the punch.
Rev. Hannah Vandermale
Ceremony Participant
... No one gives a better birthday gift or delivers a wittier zinger! Careful if her and Emily are together, they will have you rolling with laughter. Hannah is an Episcopal priest, she cares deeply for those that she loves, and she has a gift for making others feel seen and understood.
Hunter Wade
Officiant
... Hunter is a ray of sunshine incarnate! She is always ready to laugh, have fun, and spread joy. A deep lover of studying the Bible, reading, and writing, Hunter is sure to speak some much needed wisdom into your life. She is a fierce friend and a fabulous human being!
Beth Spencer
Ceremony Participant
... Beth advised Jacob's honors college thesis, which was a collection of short stories about growing up gay and religious. At the time, he had no idea how large an impact Beth would come to have not only on his writing but also on his life. They have since became friends and fellow sojourners, and Beth is a constant source of encouragement, affirmation, and wisdom for her community and those lucky enough to cross her path.