Welcome to the Wedding!
Meet The Party People
Gretchen
Maid of Honor
Gretchen is my (Emma's) sister, travel companion, late night listening ear, soon-to-be ex-roommate (Gretchen won't deny that she's fine with getting her own room after approximately 17 years of sharing), esteemed style advisor, chairwoman of the Suitor Approval Board (which is now, thankfully, no longer necessary), etc. We couldn't be more different as people, but this has proven to be very beneficial to our character development. I'm so grateful for her friendship and the hundreds of times she's let me borrow her clothes (that 'younger sister is always borrowing from older sister' thing is reversed in our case ;). We've had many wild adventures all over the world, and I know that the adventures will just keep coming as we continue to weather the ups and downs together.
Annelise
Bridesmaid
Annelise and I met on a youth group trip down to California almost six years ago, and neither of us can quite remember what caused us to suddenly become glued to the hip... But from that moment on, we became fast friends, two extraordinarily different people who somehow fit into each other's lives like peas in a pod. Annelise would bring me freshly cooked potatoes when I was sick and a Dutch Bros drink when I was sad, and I would wash her hair in my sink and drive her places when her wrist surgery made life difficult. She became a delightful constant in my life, and we enjoyed many an errand run and 'please just sit there and motivate me while I clean my room' afternoon together. Through the most mundane and the most life-altering moments of life, Annelise has shown up with love, grace, and a good sense of humor, and I am deeply grateful for her insistent encouragement and wise advice over the years.
Claire
Bridesmaid
I have had the honor of knowing Claire literally since she was born. Our families have been fast friend since before either of us existed, and thus our earliest, fondest memories include much life spent together, jumping on trampolines, clambering through forests and green spaces, crafting and creating, and generally having the most amazing childhood imaginable. I'm so extraordinarily grateful for the way our friendship has grown up along with us. We don't spend as much time making mud pies together any more (which is actually kind of tragic, if you ask me) but we still share an incredibly meaningful bond and a lifetime of ups and downs, laughter and more laughter, challenges and changes and trials and so much joy. A life-long friend is such a gift, and Clairy is certainly that, ten times over.
Talitha
Bridesmaid
I met Talitha the very first day that my family visited what would become our church home for nearly ten years. I was a relatively shy eleven year old, and Talitha, along with a few other kind girls, cornered me to make conversation and extend a warm welcome. I gratefully sat next to her when I joined the youth group, and was thrilled when she became my small group leader the next year. She also became my horse back riding instructor, and not too long after that, my fellow volunteer at a horse ranch ministry where we worked, prayed, laughed and cried alongside on another for six years. I have deeply admired Talitha from the first day I met her -- her joy and flawless sense of humor, her depth and capacity for vulnerability, her strength and dedication to excellence... And I'm so grateful that she slowly but surely became my dear friend as well as respected mentor figure. Talitha is a genuine treasure and even a move to Georgia isn't enough to diminish the delight and encouragement she is in my life.
Skye
Bridesmaid
Skye and I met when we joined the same Discipleship Training School with Youth With A Mission in Mazatlán, México. We were certainly friends, but our friendship reached a whole new level when we both felt led to surrender something rather significant, and on the same day. We became sisters the day we both shaved our heads for Jesus. (I tell ya, being bald together will create a bond like no other!) Once we finished our DTS, we found ourselves immensely grateful that we lived so relatively close to each other, and managed to find a way to spend a few days every month or every other catching up and processing our experiences. I can't begin to describe how grateful I am for Skye's consistency and the way she shows up, often without being asked, to be a really wonderful friend. I'm so thankful and full of admiration for Skye's love for the Lord, her grit and perseverance, and the honesty with which she lives life and loves those around her.
Braden
Best Man
Braden is my (John's) main man. He has been a friend, confidant, advisor and karaoke buddy for many years. Without his wheedling, I never would've met Emma (see "Our Story" for details), and without his encouragement and advice the road to the altar would've been significantly bumpier. People frequently ask me what it was like to grow up as an only child. I tell them all the same thing - everyone has siblings; some people get to choose, and some people don't. I got to choose - and Braden is the best brother that a guy could ask for. Thank you, brother - here's to many years of memories already made, and many more years to come.
Craig
Groomsman
Craig is my (John's) ACTUAL oldest friend. Sorry, James - he's got you beat by 19 years. We met at Good Samaritan Hospital on June 16, 1994. I don't remember it, but there are pictures. Most of what I know, I learned from him. He taught me how to throw a ball, how to read, how to tie my shoes. He taught me how to make pancakes, how to start a fire, how to catch a fish. He taught me how to run a table-saw, how to tell if music is any good (read: if it was written after '85, it's probably not worth your time), and how to hang sheetrock. He taught me what integrity looks like, he taught me how to serve with diligence, and he taught me how to love well. In a world that desperately needs fathers, I had one of the best. Thank you, Dad. I love you.
James
Groomsman
James is my (John's) oldest friend. We met in college and bonded over a shared love of musical theater (auditioned for a LOT of the same roles... he usually won), Call of Duty, road-trip playlists and cheap pizza. After college, James moved to Charlotte, NC with his wife, Mary Grace. I followed a year later - taking a job with the same company, moving into the same apartment building, and frequenting the same pizza joints. We've done a LOT of life together - lots of Chinese takeout, lots of bad television, lots of disc golf, lots of late nights, lots of inside jokes, lots of arguments, lots of forgiveness, lots of laughter, and a few tears (from me - James is an oak). Thanks for ten years of friendship, brother - and here's to the next ten.
Brandon
Groomsman
Brandon and I go way back. He is the proud owner of moondogger.com and batmandoesshots.com (mark my words - these domain names will be worth millions of dollars one day), a genuine grill-master, and one of the most steady, generous and reliable people that I've ever had the privilege of knowing. We lived together for several years - during which time we invented the finest burger that North Carolina has ever seen, did significant damage to the walls in the garage while learning to throw ninja stars, and played way too much disc golf. Over the course of many years, I've never known Brandon to complain, to lie, to give bad advice, or to make a selfishly motivated decision. The world would be a better place if it had more Brandon's in it - and I'm grateful that he's in mine.
Travis
Groomsman
My life would be very different had I never met Travis Koch. He is the headmaster of St. Stephen's Academy (the school at which I'm privileged to teach), the president of the RATS (Radical Action Thought Society - or the "Crazy Idea Club"), and a man whose friendship and leadership have blessed me richly. I could not be more grateful for the hours that he's spent with me - mentoring, refining and sharpening - and for his example of gentle strength and Christ-likeness. Thank you, Travis - for everything.