Hannah & Benjamin
Wedding Party
Sydney Chivers
Maid of Honor
I met Sydney in January 2021. We were both new to the lacrosse team and became fast friends as we tried to figure out what we were doing. After countless post-practice Chick-fil-A runs and calling Coach while grabbing Starbucks after chapel, she became a part of my life forever. Sydney is the perfect mix of chaos and comfort. From doing crazy things like getting the car stuck in the snow and going cliff jumping, to relaxing on the bed watching Selling Sunset or cooking, I enjoyed every day I was able to spend with her in college. When out of the blue she asked me to travel with her to Europe, I thought she was crazy- but two months later, we were on the plane headed for London. From the moment we met through her graduation, buying a house, and adopting four little weenies, I’ve loved watching Sydney grow into the incredible person she is today. Our out-of-the-blue phone calls bring the biggest smile to my face. I am so lucky to call her my friend and Maid of Honor.
Katie Wetmore
Bridesmaid
I first met KT after she beat me in Uno multiple times on her dorm room floor using a stack of 200 cards, half of them brand new and half beat up and covered in grease. After that, I knew I wanted to be her friend. She became my setter and favorite peppering partner. After multiple Cook-Out runs and Chick-fil-A dates, she finally convinced me to try chicken again, and for this, I cannot begin to thank her enough. She even matched my weird by wearing an inflatable waving tube costume to complement my Mr. Clean. KT is the best kind of friend anyone could ever ask for. She was there to see me at my worst and best and has always supported and encouraged me. Although we only lived together for one semester and only went to school together for three, she greatly impacted my college experience. One of my favorite memories with KT is going camping and struggling for hours to make a fire with wet wood- but finally, we (mainly she) succeeded. KT is one of the smartest, hardest-working people I know. I loved watching her fall in love, marry Daniel, and start their lives with their dog, Luna. I am so happy to be able to call her my friend and a bridesmaid.
Haley Morris
Bridesmaid
Haley is my oldest friend and the person who taught me what it meant to be friends. I met Haley in 2016 as an incoming Freshman in high school at a volleyball open gym. By one look at each other, we instantly knew that the other played softball (shoutout to the tie-dye tournament t-shirts). From there, we clung onto each other and survived the craziness of high school as best friends. Haley and I spent every single day with each other, playing the same sports, drinking the same Starbucks, and coordinating outfits for spirit week. Having Haley as a best friend meant having someone I could always rely on; a shoulder to cry on, a math tutor, and a throwing partner. Haley was the sister I had always wanted. Haley helped me through more than I can remember, and I am constantly grateful for the impact she has had on my life. She always knew she would move to Florida, and I thought she was crazy. Now, we are both here together, starting a new chapter. We carefully planned our weddings using Pinterest boards, as high school girls do, and it brings tears to my eyes knowing that she will be a part of it, just like we talked about all those years ago.
Taylor Wallman
Bridesmaid
Taylor is the friend that I didn't know I needed, but God did. After moving 835 miles down the East Coast to a little town where I didn't know a single soul, I found one of the only people who loves Twilight as much as I do. After meeting Taylor for the first time, I called Ben and told him, "I think that I just met the most unironically funny person in the state of Florida." Having Taylor as a friend provided constant laughter at pickleball on Monday and Tuesday nights. Half of the calories I burned would come from doubling over and laughing at Taylor's jokes. I loved making fun of the rest of our pickleball friends, yelling at the birds, and randomly breaking out into TikTok audio with her. Although I had to leave Mount Dora and mess up our pickleball group, I am so happy that Taylor and I have remained friends and have branched out into different activities. I am incredibly grateful that I met someone who can be as weird and awkward as me, and even more grateful that she can be a bridesmaid.
Talia Franchi
Bridesmaid
Talia is the first person I met after moving to Mount Dora. I had never met someone as friendly and personable, coming up to me and asking for my number almost immediately. She was a life raft for me after being thrown into a sea of uncertainty, and she made my experience living alone a million times easier. In the time I have gotten to know Talia, I have envied her ability to spend time with herself. Never have I met someone more comfortable and confident in treating themselves and loving every minute of it. Although she may not know it, she has become a role model for me in independence. I've enjoyed spending time with Talia on the pickleball court, at wineries, and on little day trips. I never know what to expect with her, and I love every minute of it. I love living vicariously through her and talking with her about grand plans of traveling the world (and hopefully they make it out of the group chat). After meeting Talia, I told Ben that I had just found a friend, and hopefully, a bridesmaid. I knew that my friendship with Talia was going to last. She has the fantastic trait of pouring genuine effort into getting to know somebody and forming deep connections. From the instant I first hung out with her, I knew I wanted her to be a part of my life. It is amazing to see that this has come true, and she is now a bridesmaid.
Mayara Jarboe
Bridesmaid
Mayara is a sister by marriage, but a friend by choice! Never have I met someone more put together in every aspect of living. Getting to know Mayara makes me realize how small my closet is and how lucky my brother is. One of my favorite memories in the U.S. with Mayara is playing Cacheta in a tent we set up in the pouring down rain. She is the queen of cards, so I am fairly sure I lost badly every time. In Brazil, she and her family welcomed me and my father to stay in their home with open arms. She was an incredible host to us, all while planning the most beautiful wedding. Every day, I am thankful that Mayara entered my life, not only for my brother, but for myself as well. Having another sister to talk to, hang out with, and help with planning has been a blessing. I am so thankful to have her as a bridesmaid in my wedding, and I am sure she will be the best-dressed.
Deric Frost
Best Man
I’ve had the privilege of knowing Deric since we were both around three years old, and we’ve navigated nearly every stage of life together. Though he's younger than me, he seems to have a knack for doing things first—living on his own, getting married, having kids, and even saving for a house. Honestly, he's done it all faster and, let’s be real, a lot better than I have. It’s something I’ve both admired and been jealous of for as long as I can remember. Deric is the kind of guy who would do anything for the people he cares about. Back in college, he would make the two-hour round trip just to hang out, no questions asked. His loyalty and generosity know no bounds, and I’m incredibly lucky to call him my best friend. There’s no one I’d rather have standing by my side on this special day.
Joshua Stephenson
Groomsman
Josh is my oldest brother, and we’ve always had a strong bond. Growing up, I definitely tested his patience (being the youngest has its perks, right?), and I’ll admit, I’ve probably gotten him in trouble more than once—hey, it’s all part of the job description. But through it all, Josh has always been there, and he’s given me more “character development” moments than I can count. As we’ve gotten older, our shared humor and hobbies have only brought us closer together. Whether it’s the inside jokes or the things we’ve always enjoyed doing together, our relationship has only strengthened over the years. I’m grateful for the memories we’ve built.
Caleb Stephenson
Groomsman
Caleb is my middle brother, and let’s just say we didn’t always get along. I had a bit of an ego problem, and Caleb had a short temper—we were like a cigarette at a gas station, a recipe for disaster. It wasn’t until I finally grew out of my "rebellious and act-different-because-it 's-cool" phase that we started to really connect. Normally, it’s the older brother dragging the younger one into the social scene, but for Caleb and me, it was the opposite. I was the one "forcing" him to hang out with me and my friends, and looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. Those times only strengthened our bond, and let’s not forget the fun of trying to set him up with girls and seeing how it played out. Still waiting for that plus one to show up, though!
Julian Shardt
Groomsman
I've known Julian for decades, and let’s just say he played a big part in my rebellious phase, so much so that my mom resorted to tracking my phone before Life360 even existed. Julian has always had this free-spirited attitude toward life that made everything feel possible and pushed me to live life on my own terms. His influence was a big part of why I was able to break out of the mold and embrace adventure. Julian’s family has always been like my second home. The name “Schardt” became synonymous with adventure—and, let’s be real, a bit of danger. His mom, Caroline, played the role of the mastermind behind countless spontaneous late-night adventures, and those are some of my most fond memories to date. Whether it was getting into some mischief or just exploring the unknown, I always knew Julian and his family would be there for whatever wild ride came next. With all the memories and "Dad lore" we’ve collected over the years, if I could have the entire Schardt family as my wedding party, I absolutely would.
Michael Hicklen
Groomsman
I first met Michael during my lacrosse freshmen orientation meeting. The next day, I asked him if he was at the meeting, he gave me a warm welcome with a classic line: "We all don't look alike." In the years that followed, Michael became the glue that held our group together. His dorm quickly turned into the hangout spot for the team. From the countless nights out, the memories at "The Shack" and the countless videos of our activities, Michael was always at the center of it all, making everything more fun and memorable. Even after college, Michael has remained one of the guys I talk to the most, and our friendship has only grown stronger. He’s the type of person who’s there when you need him, no questions asked, and I’m incredibly lucky to have him standing by my side on one of the biggest days of my life.