Carly & Jared
The Wedding Party
Andrea McCarty
Matron of Honor
It all started in 2015 when she saw that I was also doing a Disney princess swimsuit cosplay in a group on Facebook. At the convention, she screamed at me from across the parking lot and I had no idea who she was. She wouldn’t stop talking to me the rest of the day and I thought it was kind of odd (I’m severely introverted). After the con ended, she kept messaging me and talking to me everyday and I remember asking Jared why this weird girl wouldn’t stop talking to me. It ended up working out for the best since she adopted me and she’s now my best friend. We talk 24/7, hold hands in the lazy river as otters, and will definitely be in a nursing home together at a ripe young age. She’s always there to catch me when I fall (literally) and I couldn’t say I do without my otter bbt by my side.
Reagan Creekmore
Maid of Honor
Spice and I met through a Bible study group that a mutual friend invited me to. I decided to claim her after some other girls decided to be not so nice. Our friendship really kickstarted when I asked her to go mini-golfing one night when she was sad at home in her Ninja Turtle pajamas. Since then, I don’t know what I’d do without this bubbly and sweet lady in my life. If you don’t have a Spice in your life, get you one. But not this one because she is my Spice. Spice is the variety of my life. Not to mention, she could wear a trash bag and still be beautiful. I can’t wait to have this steak dinner with a side of loaded fries up there with me as we exchange vows.
Storm Spencer
Bridesmaid
We’ve been best friends forever, quite literally! We met in kindergarten at Kilby Laboratory School and sometimes I’m honestly not sure how we became friends. Storm always interrupted my nap time and even got me in trouble by making animal noises (I had to pull a card!) but we’re still going strong! We’ve experienced all the highs and lows together that you can imagine, have shared the same house for awhile, gone on the most random adventures at 3 AM to Walmart, battled chronic illnesses together, and more. Life hasn’t managed to separate us yet after all these years and I couldn’t imagine this day without this fierce and high-spirited lady beside me when we tie the knot.
Beth Caldwell
Bridesmaid
Beth and I met because she was dating Jared’s best friend, Kody. It took awhile to get things going, but now I can’t picture life without this incredible lady! We first bonded when I decided to dye my hair with a box color and turned into a rooster. No one else was available and I remembered that Beth did hair, so I went to her to fix it. We spent a solid five hours together that day fixing my hair and I have trusted no one else with it since. She has stuck with me through some tough times and for that I’ll be forever grateful for this super sweet lady. She’s also made me cry because she made me a huge Chespin holding a macaron (and we all know how much I adore Chespin). She’ll be doing my hair the day of my wedding, as well as being beside me when we say I do!
Christine Patko
Bridesmaid
I met this gorgeous lady through cosplay! I had seen where she wanted a Buneary hat and offered to do it and sent her a friend request and then she forgot about it, and then a mutual friend of ours reminded her in person to add me as a friend. I still like to remind her that it took her awhile to add me from time to time. We bonded over making the perfect sock, pumpkin spice lattes, and me carrying her gum around at a convention. If you mess with this girl, I will gladly fight you and quite a few people found that out the hard way. She is quirky in the best way and never fails to make everybody laugh and is all around a lovely lady, inside and out. I’m so excited to have her stand by me and Jared on our special day.
Caitlin Cox
Bridesmaid
Caitlin and I are about to be sisters! (sisters-in-law, but same thing!). Caitlin is married to Jared’s best man and brother, Nathan. We’ve experienced all the joy of joining families together with each and learning about every new family member together. She is also the mother to my cat goddaughter, Simone. We’ve recently bonded over both having Cricut machines and I’m so excited for us to have future crafting days together. I’ve always had older brothers growing up, so I can’t wait to officially have a sister that’s my age! I’m so thrilled and honored that this kind and gorgeous lady will be standing with me and Jared when we get hitched.
Nathan Cox
Best Man
I met him when I was about 1.5 years old, and I haven't been able to shake him since. I don't really know how to go on about him. He's my brother and best man. He bought a house in 2012 and asked me to move in with him while I was barely managing to pay bills in the first place. We literally grew up together. We've physically injured each other more than a few times, played through a million video games together, and risen each other up when needed. I have a lot of brothers, but Nathan is the only one I share blood with. Which is great, because if there were others I'd probably hog him.
Kyle McKinney
Groomsman
I honestly don't remember when our friendship actually "started". It may have been 8th grade in gym, or it was 9th grade when we would copy off of each other in class and play Spades with two other kids. We started beating each other up with lightsabers. He would skateboard down to my house to play video games because he didn't have any, which worked for me because I was a bit too pansy to play Resident Evil 4 by myself at the time. We worked at the same job for like four years before going off in different directions, but he's been Chris Redfield in my phone since like 2009. I've seen him come into his own as he's seen me come into mine, but at the end of the day we're both just a couple of degens who ditched prom for video games.
Kody Caldwell
Groomsman
I moved to Russellville 2002, changed schools and all. My first day there, in gym class, the teacher told us we could go get drinks from the vending machine if we wanted while we wait for the lunch bell to ring. This kid next to me asked if I was getting a drink. I told him I didn't have any money. He gave me fifty cents and said "Don't tell anyone". Kody is by and large the genuinely oldest friend I have. I met him on my first day in a new school and he's been there ever since. We've also physically injured each other on more than one occasion, but it was intentional. He taught me a lot growing up and is someone I did and still do look up to. I don't have an older brother but I always liked to think Kody was supposed to have been mine.
Sammy Raynor
Groomsman
Carly and I both met Sammy at the same time, at a convention in Tuscaloosa in 2012 a little while after we started dating. He was cosplaying as Christmastown Sora from Kingdom Hearts and good lord did it look sick. I think we actually met in line for the cosplay contest, if I remember correctly. We all friended each other on Facebook and vaguely kept contact. He joined us for Thanksgiving for a couple years, and made a trip or two up outside of holidays just to hang out. Now we've all even gone on vacation together, and I think and hope it's something we do more often. Sammy is one of my closest friends, if not just because we have the same sense of sarcasm.
Turk Wilson
Groomsman
Turk is quite literally the oldest friendship I have. I met him when I was about 4 because his grandparents lived next door to us when we were little. We both moved off to different places and only occasionally had a chance to talk and catch up, but in the last few years we've been able to get together more often. Carly and his wife Desirae bonded over similar health issues, which means a lot to me in a way I can't really explain. Turk has told me time and time again to call him anytime we need anything. I hope I never have to, but I'm happy to know his support is there for us.
CJ Stokes
Groomsman
I met CJ in college, either over a mutual interest in Magic The Gathering, or a mutual disdain for some of our teachers. We studied the same thing and even ended up in the same job after graduating. We played games together all through college and after, and were fortunate enough to end up in the same Dungeons and Dragons game sometime in 2016. It started with two separate groups but circumstances cut that down into one, and since then we've gotten to hang out at least once a week for the better part of three years now. He's one of the best guys I know. If you don't have yourself a CJ, get yourself a CJ. Just not this one - this one is mine.
Kyler M. Wilson-Baptiste
Officiant
I’d heard of the legendary Book Tour leader before I ever met him, and after having met him, I’m so glad I did. He is a big reason I came out of my shell because he was so friendly. This man is such an inspiration, and a kind and gentle spirit. He is the life and sunshine of the party and never meets a stranger. ~Carly The founder of the Book Tour, I owe a lot to Kyler Wilson-Baptiste. He mainly helped to bring me out of my shell. I slept in the floor of a closet in a townhome he rented for a bunch of people during a convention, and I've never lived it down. That was early 2010, and now he's the DM of my weekly DND campaign that's been running for over 3 years now. He's the best and only choice for officiant. ~Jared We are absolutely enthralled that he will be the one to marry us!