Wedding Party

Emily Arthur

Bride

John Marshall

Groom

Sydney McGillis

Maid of Honor

Syd and I met while working together at Starbucks (hence our matching coffee tattoos). We started hanging out when we agreed to go running after we found out we lived across the street, but ultimately our friendship took off quicker than our running did! After a few months we ended up living together for about a year and a half until I moved back to Kingston (and met John shortly after). Since then, we’ve always lived a few hours apart, or for a brief time across the country, but no matter the distance we always remain best friends even if it means we only see each other once a year. We have laughed so much together, cried together, DANCED together and everything in between. Sydney is without a doubt my best friend and there is no other person I’d rather have as my Maid of Honour.

Heather Marshall

Best Man

I raised Heather to be the ultimate best friend and the results stand before you. Selfless, witty, and able to bend 12mm bars of low carbon steel: the perfect companion. Seriously though, a new room in my heart opened up the moment I heard Heather was going to be a thing, and I dedicated myself to cultivating in her an appreciation of all things good in this world. I did well, but I kid, and Heather truly deserves all the credit. She knows everything about everything, from mythology to science to, of course, video games. As a result she serves not only as my own personal Google and Wikipedia but also as a supplement to my memory of my own life! And if you think I don't appreciate it, you're crazy. Heather was once bitten by an anaconda, but don't worry, the anaconda survived. Not a joke.

Heather Arthur

Bridesmaid

For as long as I can remember, Heather and I have imagined the day one of us would get married. I think we have probably known most details of our wedding day since high school and that vision only enhanced when the days of Pinterest and Instagram came to fruition. We would send each other posts about dresses, rings, table settings, you name it since before either of us ever had a serious boyfriend. Most importantly, we talked about who we would marry and how important it was to us that we love each other's husbands. THANKFULLY she has been the biggest fan of John and our relationship from the very beginning. It is a dream come true that she can finally stand beside me as one of my bridesmaids and that we get to live out our childhood dream together.

Brien Primeau

Groomsman

Brien was my original best friend. Amidst the dizzying pageant of the Brady cousin pantheon, I was truly blessed to come into this world just ten short days after such an excellent amigo. What would I have done without Brien? Too young for a Matthew or a Josh; too old and a boy for Paitlin and Kaige or whatever they call themselves. No, Brien was just right. Also Brien was a great investment. "While he's hogging the Sega Genesis now, he'll be giving you free insurance advice and hitting homers for your fiancée's softball team down the road," I definitely thought. Honestly, Brien is such a solid man (in terms of character, not softball physique... although that too) and gets more excited than anyone about all the best things in movies, like when war boys cry "Witness Me".

Paige Marshall

Bridesmaid

Paige and I have been close from very early on in my relationship with John and I feel SO grateful that we get along so well. It is a rare thing to get along so well with your significant other's family, but the fact that I truly consider her a good friend means so much to me. She has the best advice on basically any topic (especially restaurants and vacation planning), she is hilariously funny, she is the most honest and real person you’ll meet and she's become the best mom. I feel incredibly lucky to have Paige as one of my bridesmaids and even luckier to have her as another sister for the rest of our lives.

Alex Solski

Groomsman

What more can be said about everyone's favourite Out-Law/Person-in-General? Apparently 731 more characters worth! 704! 699! This is easy! But look at me go, trying to out-clown possibly the funniest person I know. Solski is a constant irreverent cut-up, whose sense of humour is only outshined by his love of and dedication to my family. I love him for it. Also, when he was writing one of these things about me, he said I was the person he'd most like to take a road trip with, which would be his funeral but remains a really nice thing to say. Finally, having Al... Al-ex... Alex? Sorry I've never called him by his first name before. Having Alex on my team is like choosing my beloved sister Paige as my very own bridesman. Too bad you can't have a woman on the groom's side. To Solski!

Elisabeth Beard

Bridesmaid

I am eternally grateful for my fellow gin lover, Elisabeth because she helped John plan our last-minute first date location and without her we might not be here today! Unfortunately (for me) Elisabeth moved to Sweden for two years near the beginning of our relationship, so it kind of delayed our friendship a bit. Thankfully she moved back and we have really been able to bond since then. Elisabeth is so thoughtful and considerate and she is the best person to have deep talks with. I again am so grateful to get along so well with members of John's family, and I am so lucky to have Elisabeth to bond with at all of the Marshall gatherings.

Alex Marshall

Groomsman

Now here's a real Alex (whose first name is Thomas)! Alex is my brother and I love him. Alex has a Beard and a beard (usually). They're both great. He is much smarter than me and better than me at everything – thanks a lot! Now I'm left to ferret out obscure fields of endeavour like Divinity and eke out what meagre accolades descend into my beggar's hands – thanks a lot again, Business Boy! Wow, Alex is really good at cooking, food/wine/beer appreciation, photography, computers, video games, fantasy football, style, and I guess business stuff??? And more.

Michelle Arthur

Bridesmaid

My sweet sister, Michelle. This girl has been my little sidekick since she was born. I am always the happiest when we have bed couch nights together and spend hours quoting one of 3 movies we remember the lines to. We have gone through a lot of ups and downs together, but ultimately we both know we'd do anything for each other. I have watched her grow into such a beautiful woman and a great mom, and it is such an honour to have her as one of my bridesmaids.

Philipp Grimm

Groomsman

What can I say about Phil Grimm? No really, help me cuz I haven't seen him in a while! Phil is repping my old Harvard crew and may I say – he's repping it HARD. Phil actually worked in the Obama White House and basically served as Vice President while someone else was mugging for the camera and mowing down on ice cream cones. Even though he could have thrown his hat into the ring for the 2020 presidential race, Phil is pursuing his passion of discrete mathematics or something. Maybe he can calculate the chances of America forming a more perfect union without his leadership. Outlook not so good.

Nadine van Dodewaard

Bridesmaid

I have a thing for meeting my besties at the workplace. Nadine and I met at Structube and she became my first friend in Ottawa. We became friends outside of work very quickly and now she is my roommate and one of my closest friends. Nad has not only been a big part of my life the last 4 years, but John's as well. She has been with us through the best and worst times of our relationship and I don’t know what I would have done without her for a lot of it. Nadine has the best taste in music and clothes, and she’s always down to have a wine and girly movie night. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind about having her as a bridesmaid and I’m so happy she agreed to be a part of our day.

Chris Jackson

Groomsman / Officiant

I have known and loved Chris Jackson for nigh on two and a half decades. Through the years, I watched as he laughed at things that were patently unfunny, fell in love with sentient woodland creatures, got way more girls than me, became a local rockstar, and got even way way wayyyy more girls than me. We've shared many laughs and not a few tears. A truer friend there never was. One time in high school Chris and I had every class together and it was the best year of my life including this, the year of my wedding. I am happy to report that Chris is also serving as our officiant because of his powerful faith, magnificent sense of occasion, and great love for me and to a lesser extent Emily.