Jessica & Benjamin
Wedding Party
Pheobe Maciel
Maid of Honor
I never thought my freshman year that the sweet girl who sung in the alto section would become like a sister to me! Sophomore year was when everything changed and we quickly became one of each other's closest friend. This girl has seen me cry (possibly more than Benjamin) and has listened to me bemoan school assignments (we both thought they were pointless.) Even when we were apart for two years as we took time off to be student missionaries, our mutual forgetfulness of staying in touch didn't keep us from missing the important parts of each other's life. I love her for her laugh when she knows she needs to be more positive, her hugs when she knows you need one, and the love for a future in education we both share!
Charles Lawson
Best Man
Charlie has always been the best and worst brother I've ever had. Mainly because he is my only sibling. I can't begin to list the projects we've worked on together or the goals that we've set. Countless memories have been made and lessons learned as we grew up and continue to go through life together as brothers. Charlie has never let me down where it matters most. If I'm stranded somewhere, he'll drop what he is doing and get me. If I am having problems with my dirt bike and getting frustrated, he is right there to help me fix it. He is the loyal type. Even when we disagree, I know he loves me as he loves the rest of our family and that he is doing what he believes is right. At the end of the day, he will always be my brother no matter what.
Starling Eargle
Bridesmaid
It's crazy to think that Starling and I have been friends for over half our lives! We met when my family moved to South Carolina, and although there was a pause in our friendship when I moved away, Starling's coming to Southern was the rekindling of our friendship. There hasn't been a single person, besides my mom, that I've talked to more about all the wedding details because this girl loves relationship talk. I love her random calls (that I usually miss because my phone is on silent) and her willingness to do crazy things (like go to a bridal show months before I got engaged!) She was one of the first people I told about my first crush (which she has never let me live down) and one of the first friends Benjamin told of his engagement plans.
Wayde Minett
Best Man
Wayde is one of those unique kinds of people. His upbeat personality and perseverance always lighten the mood wherever he goes. I don’t think he has a single enemy. His willingness to help has always been appreciated and he is a joy to work with. We grew up together, worked together, and rode together. But what sets him apart is his care for others. I remember texting him when his car broke veered into the ditch on his way to Southern Adventist University in Illinois. Did that change how he treated others? Of course not. It never has. I think that everyone who knows Wayde can agree that quality is what makes him such a unique person: he sincerely cares for people regardless of himself. He is selfless.
Jedel Butoy
Bridesmaid
During Jedel's freshman year at Southern, I sat right besides her during choir and quickly noticed this girl could sing! After some encouraging, the next year Jedel tried out for I Cantori and for the rest of our time at Southern we sung next to each other on two different continents and over 8 different tours. My favorite memories together are spending time at her house singing after eating amazing food. Like myself, she loves hosting events and always knows the best people to invite who end up making the best impromptu music together. It's amazing to have a friend who has a brilliant mind for science (this girl is soon to head off to medical school!) and a beautiful love for life. She's passionate about missions and lives each day with purpose.
Samuel Martin
Groomsman
Sammy boy has always been my go-to receiver. Football was always the main sport we played at recess, and Sam and I would always be on the same team. He is athletic (one of the fastest people I know,) but he is more than that. He is a good friend with a soft heart beneath his stoic exterior. He's a protective brother who cares for his siblings, he is known for carrying a joyful grin wherever he goes, and he has always been someone I consider to be among my closest of friends.
Daniele Kuhn
Bridesmaid
As soon as I walked into our dorm room and saw Dani's smiling face looking back at me, I knew we'd quickly become friends! That year was a growing experience for both of us, and growing together made us dear friends. Although we haven't seen each other on this continent since she left Southern, we did get to see each other in Thailand where I told her all about Benjamin. She was a little hesitant, wondering if this guy really was all I was saying, but after hearing more about him, she quickly became one of our biggest "Instagram fans". Dani has such big dreams and seeing her go after them is a wonderful past-time, however her big heart for people is what makes her a one-of-a-kind!
Nicholas Winkie
Groomsman
Nick is hilarious. Unintentionally most of the time which is what makes him so hilarious. There are so many stories I could tell. But in all seriousness, Nick is a joy to be around. He goofs off and has alway kept me from taking myself too seriously. He's willing to talk about the "deep stuff" and sincerely cares for me as a friend. I think part of what brought us closer as friends was that we could identify with each other's backrounds. There were battles we had to fight that the statistics said were not in our favor, but we survived primarily because of God's love for us, and secondly, we survived because of the family members around us. Nick has always been a dear friend, and we continue to be ridiculous to this day.