Wedding Party
Johnny
Groom
First of all, I really just want you to have a great time. In life, at our wedding, shoot -- I hope you’re enjoying reading this blurb at this very moment! I’ve always been someone who strives for balance across the various aspects of my life. Thankfully, in Eva, I’ve been able to find the perfect partner toward this end! She’s simply the best, as far as I’m concerned, and I’m so excited to spend the rest of our lives together! As for me, I’m a fun guy. Obviously I love the game of basketball. I don’t even know where you’re sittin’ at. Ahaha!
Eva
Bride
The girl who is always, and I mean ALWAYS cold, has found the one she wants to snuggle up next to forever! Born in the frozen tundra of Calgary, Alberta, Evangeline made her way down south to the great state of Oregon, then to Illinois for a spell, then back to Oregon where she works as a pharmacist. When she's not working, she loves thrifting, eating jollof rice, and country line dancing (she contains multitudes, ok?!)
Dylan
Best Man
The fella who has been there with Johnny since day 1. Well... technically since day 692, but who´s counting? Johnny feels like he won the brother lottery with Dylan. A ready-made best friend simply delivered into the home?! Their friendship began with Dylan crawling around the house while 2 year old Johnny did his best to bludgeon the newly arrived intruder. From there, Dylan earned Johnny´s trust through the age old collaboration of blanket forts and video games. These two brothers have navigated this world together step for step. That journey, and the vibrant frienship that has accompanied it, is one of the most important aspects of Johnny´s life.
Sarah
Matron of Honor
Sarah and I met in 2nd grade at Harding Elementary School in the year of our Lord, 1996. My earliest memory of her is when she graciously took it upon herself to teach me about the St.Patricks Day tradition of pinching someone who is not wearing green! It took a few years but our friendship recovered and by high school we were thicker than thieves! I was devastated to have to go to college in my home town, but I got over that real fast when I realized Sarah and I would be living in the same dorm. We've seen each other through so many of life's and downs but this girl remains one of the best people I know. Also, as an aside, Sarah is a phenomenal designer. Seriously, 99th percentile of handwriting in the world.
Clay
Best Man
Clay Ham is an incredible man. He has been Johnny´s best friend since he was in 5th grade. Get this! A year younger than Johnny, Clay actually skipped a grade in elementary school, which led to the two of them walking step for step all the way until college graduation! Clay is incredibly smart, loyal, and loves his wife even more than he does his dog. Clay is not only an incredible friend to Johnny, he is his second brother at this point. The groom simply cannot imagine his life without the Hambone in it.
Sari
Bridesmaid
Sari is such a steadfast friend and one of my favorite friendship stories. We connected at a mutual friends wedding shower, and then again at that friends bachelorette party, and then again at that friends wedding! Third time was the charm and we bonded over our mutual love for the enneagram (a couple of 9’s!) as well as The Bachelor and it was a done deal. There are so many words that come to mind when I think of Sari but she is courageous, kind, creative, adventurous, and generous. I climbed a freaking mountain in part because I knew she believed in me. She is someone who I know would be there for me in a heartbeat in my time if need and I’ve learned a lot about friendship from her.
Greg (aka Balter)
Groomsman
Ever met a man who would do anything for you while simultaneously playfully insulting the form on your jump shot? That´s Balter. Johnny loves him to death, and is so grateful the two of them met while walking the grounds of UC Santa Barbara (or was it in Germany that they met? Not sure, maybe ask him when you see him).
Chelsea
Bridesmaid
I never would have thought when we were having our awkward friend date at Townsend’s Tea House in Portland that the girl I was sitting across from would come to be one of my best friends. Though our friendship started in the pews of the church, it has taken us to so many incredible places and I can say without any trace of hyperbole that my life is better and richer because of Chelsea McDaniel. She introduced me to the greatest podcast of all time (especially if you’re Black)—The Read. She brought me to the second love of my life—hot pot. She understands and appreciates my need for warmth and she is the ultimate hype girl. I hate that she lives on the other side of the country from me but it’s all good because her proximity to bomb Nigerian food makes up for it.
Andy
Groomsman
One of the sharpest minds you´ll ever meet. A genuinely unique perspective on life, with an incredible sense of humor to boot. Johnny and Andy became friends freshman year of college, spending many hours each week in their dorm lounge making sense of the world around them. Andy has since lived all over the world, all the while maintaining such a wonderful friendship with the groom.
Monsurat
Bridesmaid
My sweet Monsurat…she’s like the sister I never had but always wanted. We met at a mandatory board of pharmacy training back in like, 2017. At the end of that meeting we realized that a) we were both Nigerian, b) we were both about to be pharmacy managers, and c) we both lived in Eugene! It felt like an absolute miracle that our paths crossed. It has felt so extremely invaluable to have a friend like Monsurat who I have SO much in common with. She is so incredibly thoughtful and has given me best gifts on several occasions but the best gift has continued to be her friendship.
Brian
Groomsman
Brian and Johnny became friends in Portland, when Brian would not only let Johnny park his bike in his equipment closet at work, but would also offer his comfy couch as a perch for joyful morning conversations. Thankfully, those conversations blossomed into a beautiful friendship that Johnny very much cherishes. You can now find the two of them romping the streets of Portland, cramming as much sports programming as humanly possible into their brains whilst waxing poetic about how to enjoy all of the things this life has to offer. Johnny very fondly feels that Brian reminds him of his late father more than any other person in his life today. Like Big John, Brian is dedicated to having a good time, and you can’t help but want to join in when you’re with him.
Carissa
Bridesmaid
This beautiful angel has been one of my closes friends for around 13 years and counting! We met at Oregon State University and were fast friends. Our friendship blossomed after college and she was actually the first friend to visit me in Chicago which was the greatest gift ever. We have really grown up together, navigating the treacherous waters of dating, graduate school, homeownership, and working in the healthcare field. I simply would not have survived without her steadfast friendship and support. Carissa is such a gift in my life, words almost escape me. What I'll say is she is loyal as they come, as kind as they come, and as good a listener as the good lord makes. She shows up for her people and I'm so thankful to have her in my corner in this life.
Blake
Groomsman
Blake Newcomb is such an incredible person to have in your life, and Johnny is so lucky to call him a close friend. The two of them met when Clay invited Blake over to their dorm room to study for a math test the following day. That test..? Well, Johnny failed it. However! He nabbed himself a life long friend in the process. Johnny has always thought that Blake is the most open minded person he’s ever met. He’s hilarious, thoughtful, and simply a joy to pal around with. If you’re looking for a great conversationalist, you’ve found him!
Jessi
Bridesmaid
Did anyone ever post cryptic posts on Facebook that were secretly a cry for help? Well anyways, I did once (only once, certainly) in college after royally bombing an exam because I felt my life was over. Jessi, who I didn't know well at the time, responded and I think offered to call me and talked me off the proverbial ledge and has been a close confidant ever since. Sadly, college was the last time we lived in the same state so we have had to maintain a long distance friendship through the years. She is perhaps my most inspiring friend and the one I wish I could be most like. This girl can seemingly do anything by herself and what she can't do, she'll learn. She can replace a toilet, put in new floors, fix a leak under the sink, replace a tire, assemble IKEA furniture, change out faucets, and I am certain the list goes on and on. She is resourceful, hardworking, and honestly such a badass. I'm grateful that our friendship has grown and flourished over the years and I hope one day to be able to do life together from the same region of the country at the very least!
Gaston
Groomsman
Gaston just might be the most interesting man in the world, but he´ll hate that you now know that about him. Johnny met Gaston in college, and they quickly decided to join a community garden together. At that plot, they crafted their plans to save the entire planet from greenhouse gas based doom! Clearly, they failed. But! It´s not about the future of the planet, it´s the friends you made along the way. In Gaston, Johnny found a lifelong friend who does it all: cracks dumb jokes, processes major life events, and provides mind stretching ideas for debate.
Amanda
Bridesmaid
Amanda and I crossed paths briefly in college and I remember the overwhelming sense of joy I felt when I caught an invite to her graduation party because she was so cool and up until that point I had just admired her from a distance. It turns out that once you know her up close, she is even more unbelievably incredible. She is as radiant internally as she is externally and will move mountains for those she loves. We are both finally living in the same place after years of ping ponging around and it has been so fun to go on cute breakfast + dinner dates. She is kind, SO generous, has the most adorable pups, and is a proper sports fan who has earned the respect of my betrothed, which, is kinda hard to do in this particular regard!