Wedding Party
Cerise Seery
Matron of Honor
I met Cerise first day of 6th grade when she asked me if I would like some Purell hand sanitizer while riding the bus to school, and it didn't take long until we were best friends. Looking back over my life, I consider it such a gift that the Lord blessed me with such deep friendships throughout middle school and high school, and Cerise has been a constant for the last 16 years, which feels absolutely wild. I cannot count the amount of sleepovers, late-night Harry Potter binges, and family trips I've gotten to experience with Cerise, and her friendship has meant the world to me. We've stayed friends through many different seasons, and I was honored to be the maid of honor in her wedding five years ago. Less than a year ago, Cerise became a mama to Liam, the absolute cutest red-haired baby boy on the planet!! I am beyond excited that Cerise will now get to return the favor and be a Matron of Honor on our special day!
Mary Kathryn Parrott
Matron of Honor
MK and I met after she joined the Advanced Chamber Choir as a freshman in high school, which was *gasp* unheard of. After stalking her on Facebook with several of our later-to-be friends, I ended up meeting her in person and we became such close friends, a friendship that only deepened as we both progressively and very imperfectly surrendered more of our hearts and lives to the Lord throughout high school. Mary Kathryn is a friend who has celebrated with me in seasons of joy, and has mourned with me in deep grief. She is a consistent friend who points me to the truth of the Word and encourages me in my walk with Jesus. She is loyal, steadfast, and is an inspiration to me in the way that she has walked through deep suffering and allowed God to shape her into looking more like Christ through it all. It doesn't take long when we're together until we're unpacking deep things, and I'm so grateful that she'll be serving as a Matron of Honor.
Sydney Grace Braun
Bridesmaid
MY SISTER!!! Syd and I have come a long way from our childhood where she somehow agreed to *always* be the horse in our various backyard games. Though a lot of her growing up I've only gotten to experience from afar after going to college when she was in middle school and moving to New Bern shortly after, it's been a gift to see the way that she's matured into one of the most emotionally intelligent people I know. She tells it like it is, isn't afraid to say the hard things, and is a force to be reckoned with. She is also an incredibly loyal friend, and I've loved getting to witness way that she's loved the people in her life over the years. Syd is a personal hype-woman, the most true-to-herself person I've ever met, and the one who keeps it real. I am grateful for her honest heart, as well as her willingness to let Alex slowly become part of our family by challenging him in lively debates about movie preferences. Syd is my favorite sister, and I am so grateful to have her by my side on this day. :)
Emma Klosterman
Bridesmaid
Though I started off mentoring Emma, we quickly became good friends here in New Bern. I cannot even count the hours that I've spent with Emma, running together in ministry. Going into full time ministry as a single woman in your twenties was hard, and I think the Lord knew I needed someone to do it with. Emma has been a steady presence for me over these last years, and she is the one who has heard my heart through all of it- the dreams, hopes, disappointments, plans for the future, all of it. When Alex moved back home after college, it was really her that bridged the two of us together, and was a forever advocate of the process of me slowly letting Alex in. Time with Emma is filled with carpool karaoke, really good Mexican food, and deep conversation about what it really looks like to follow Jesus. I am forever grateful for this adventure buddy who is a powerful leader with a servant's heart.
Laura Burke
Bridesmaid
As I look back over the last five years, I truly do not think I'd be where I am today without Laura Burke. Laura moved to New Bern a few months after I did, and has walked with me through some of the deepest and hardest times, steadfastly championing my heart, encouraging me in my faith, and fiercely advocating the truth that God was good despite it all, and that He does not leave His own. I've needed New Bern for many reasons, and the lesson of dependency on others has been a big one. Learning community with Laura and the group of girls in our circle has truly changed me, and I'm grateful for the massive role she's played in that. I will ALSO be forever grateful for her love for a really good espresso, a well-planned adventure, and a game night with friends. She is such a sweet friend to me, and I am beyond grateful that we both get to celebrate a massive part of what the Lord has been preparing me for all along.
Crystalin Trossen
Bridesmaid
Crystalin and I joke that our friendship is unlikely, and yet it was such a good gift for such a hard season of my life. Crystalin is a mom of three and I was a single gal in my early twenties when we first met, but over time we bonded especially as her husband was away on several lengthy training assignments for the Marines. In those difficult seasons, I got the opportunity to do daily life with the Trossen family, becoming Auntie Jess to her three kiddos, and watching her steadfastly face long months leading her family without her husband with determined grit and grace. Though she may think I was a blessing to her family in that year and a half stretch, I'll be forever grateful for the Survivor nights, Amazing Race binges, and home-made dinners that kept my hands and heart busy in a difficult season. Her family moving away was difficult, and I'm so grateful for the New Bern reunion that will happen in just a few months!
Tori Holbert
Bridesmaid
When I first moved to New Bern, I prayed hard for a friend my age. I quickly found out how transitional the area was as a few of the girls I had become close with ended up moving away a few months in. Cue: Tori (then) Connor. I met Tori in her empty apartment that I was planning on moving into until she married her (now) husband, Chase, and it wasn't long before we filled that home with furniture, my little kitten, Mo, and a ton of joy and laughter as we shared life together. Tori quickly grew into one of my closest friends that season, and I cannot think of that first year in New Bern without being so grateful for our shared dinners, the time I did the Whole 7 and Tori did the Whole 30 in preparation for her wedding, and our countless talent shows that we performed to absolutely no one. I am so grateful for the ways that Tori listens to people's hearts, feels deeply, and champions people. It is an honor to have her be by my side as I take my turn of getting married!
Lauren Holloway
Host
When I first moved to New Bern, it was hard to know what to do on a weeknight (spoiler: I ended up going grocery shopping for entertainment) let alone a weekend. Bennett and Lauren invited me to go blueberry picking with their family my first week at the office, and it wasn't long before I fell in love with their kids and felt like a part of the family. Lauren has encouraged me in seasons of confusion, and opened the door to their home in seasons of transition. She is similar to me- both of us wonder sometimes how the heck we ended up in a smaller town than we've ever lived in before, and yet it is the wildest thing to see the way the Lord has provided and led us both step by step. It has been an honor to watch the way Lauren has tackled years of transitions with grace and a heart to follow and be changed by the Lord. Creative artist, incredible mom, and builder of community; Lauren Holloway is our host and my right-hand woman through every step of this planning process.
Trent Hinson
Best Man
Growing up as twins, me and Trent were always competitive. We always had someone to compete against and most of the time it turned into a fight. As we matured in high school, I realized the value of always having somebody in my corner who would be there for me no matter what. Once we got to college our relationship grew into a friendship and soon into a partnership as we did ministry together on our hall. The past few years have been the best and worst as Trent moved to Virginia and got married. As we have shifted from always being together, to not living in the same state, I have grown in my appreciation for the little time we get to have together on holidays or weekend trips. I had the honor of being Trent’s best man in July of 2021 and now I get to have him as mine in September. I wouldn't want it any other way.
Blake Hinson
Best Man
Each summer while I was in college I went away to a camp in Virginia and then would come home for a week until I had to go back to college. That was a time when Blake was really growing into the person he is today and I didn’t even realize I was missing it. Coming home after college I got to meet my younger brother who was now a man. I am so thankful for the time that we had together as I got to know Blake better and better. In January of 2022, everything changed when Blake surrendered his life to Jesus and I gained a brother in Christ. Since that moment, I have watched him mature and grow exponentially, and am so proud to have him as my other best man. He is a trustworthy friend and has become someone who consistently encourages me with his life.
Colton Lee
Groomsman
I met Colton on the final day of hall leadership training before my Junior year at Liberty. I had never met him or heard of him before that day, but I remember coming back to my room that night and looking at his book collection and knowing we were going to be friends. Since then we have remained close and are now at the same Seminary. Over the past few years, we have gotten to share in the joys and hardships of being new to ministry. He is someone I can always go to when I need encouragement or just need to get another perspective on my situation. I'm so thankful to have him alongside me on this day.
Zach Long
Groomsman
To tell the story of my friendship with Zach I have to go back to middle school where we first met and got close. Through middle school and high school, there wasn’t a person besides Trent, who I was closer to than Zach. When we were freshmen, Zach got moved to varsity and so I had to wait a couple of years until I got my throwing partner back, but after that, we were locked in. There isn’t enough space to tell all the stories of the things that we went through together and so I’ll just say that the memories of those things will stay with me forever.
Nate Shaw
Groomsman
Nate was one of the first guys I met at Liberty. There aren’t many people that you meet and you know you are going to be close, but Nate was one of those guys. At Liberty, we had a 12 am curfew on the weekends, so Nate, me, and a few other guys would all pile into a car at 10 pm and drive exactly an hour to Krispy Kreme to get donuts and then drive an hour back just in time for curfew. From DC trips to hiking trips, to rock climbing every day during our Sophomore year, Nate has been a true friend to me for years and I am excited to have him by my side in September.
Jubie McGee
Groomsman
The only issue I have ever had with Jubie is that we didn’t become friends earlier. I met Jubie late in high school and over time have learned that he is one of the most genuine people I know. We had weight training together our senior year and spent most of our time in that class talking about life and laughing about everything. Outside of school, we started to hang out and he became like another brother to me. We caught back up recently after both finding our own ways the past few years and picked up right where we left off. I knew that I had to have Jubie as one of my guys on my wedding day.
Parker Floyd
Groomsman
I can’t tell my testimony of God’s work in my life without mentioning Parker. Parker sat with me through a few rough times at Liberty as I struggled to understand the things God was doing in my life. During those times he gave me wisdom and encouraged me to continue to grow in my giftings. He held me accountable and was a trusted friend as I navigated what it meant for me to surrender to the Lord. He was also a part of the Krispy Kreme runs and DC trips that I mentioned above in Nate’s bio. I wouldn’t be who I am today without Parker and because of that, I am thankful that he is one of my groomsmen.
Bennett Holloway
Host
In the summer of 2021, about two weeks before I was set to move to Wake Forest for school, I got a call from a random Texas number. Thinking it was a telemarketer I declined it. A couple of seconds later I got a voicemail from Bennett that said "Hey Alex, this is Bennett Holloway, I am not a telemarketer..." That was pretty crazy to me and so I quickly called him back. He chatted with me about a job opportunity that would eventually lead to me working at Temple. In the time that I have been here, Bennett has been my friend, my mentor, and my teacher, and he leads with integrity and humility. He and Lauren jumped at the opportunity to host our wedding at their house and I could not be more thankful for their help so far.