Wedding Party
Jen Simpson
Maid of Honor
Where do we even begin?? Sister of the bride and built-in best friend for 27 years and counting. Through the highs and lows, she's always been by my side. She taught me crucial life skills, such as the right way to throw a party in college, that cats are the greatest animals to have ever lived, and that Coldplay is the best band (we've been to three of their concerts together, sorry not sorry). She's ready to bust a move on the dance floor and will most likely know all the words to every song as well. When asked to describe herself for this website, she wanted everyone to know that she has, "blue eyes and an amazing sense of humor".
Colleen McGuinness
Bridesmaid
Sister of the groom, and I cannot wait to officially have a younger sister! Whether we're just out shopping or out ordering drinks in bathrobes (strangely, not the weirdest thing you'd see in the Bahamas), we always have a great time when we're together. I can't think of anyone who loves dogs or has watched Elf more than Colleen. This girl's got a killer vibrato and knows every Disney song to date. You'll be sure to find her singing the night away on the dance floor!
Melanie Demakis
Bridesmaid
*excited arm flapping* Bride's BFF since 5th grade! We've grown up together and know just about every awkward/embarrassing detail of one another's lives. She introduced me to my favorite TV show, Friends, and it's safe to say that we have unagi. We've traveled to Ireland, Italy, and France together, and in doing so, learned that we are just as awkward abroad as we are in the States. I can't think of anyone who likes games more than Mel, good luck trying to beat her at Cribbage or Catan! If you see her at the reception, be sure to call her by her proper name, Melly Moo.
Taylor Levine
Bridesmaid
College roommate for all four years at Holy Cross, so I guess you could say we know each other pretty well! Taylor is hands down one of the best chefs I know, and taught me how to cook everything from gourmet Easy Mac to Beef Wellington (and also taught me how to properly cook vegetables). She also introduced me to In-N-Out and just how amazing Animal Fries are. This girl loves her labradoodle, garlic bread, and sleep. When asked for four adjectives to describe herself, she responded, "awesome, wonderful, fabulous and modest".
Victoria Lee
Bridesmaid
Another best friend from Holy Cross and roommates for 2 years! Whether it was going out to the dining hall, parties, or Dunkin, we were inseparable in college. Post-college, we have had some great times in Boston together! If you have a funny looking mole that you've been worrying about, feel free to have her check it out. She's currently studying to become a doctor. Likes: pandas, Taylor Swift, Disney Princesses, Oreos, her crazy dachshunds, and all things Irish. Dislikes: being called Vicky and the smell of bacon
Amanda Fyles
Bridesmaid
Last but NOT least, hailing from the tiny town of St. Albans, VT, is Amanda Fyles, a best friend from Holy Cross and roommate of 2 years! Throughout college and to this day, she is always ready for an adventure and to have a good time! My most fun memories from college all involve Amanda in some way. Ever spontaneous, one night during our freshman year, she bought a turtle on Craigslist (because why not?) and we had to smuggle it between our rooms as turtles were not allowed in dorms. Currently, she is traveling the world, but has promised to make it back to the States by June 6th and show up ready to party!
Conor McGuinness
Best Man
It's not easy to have a younger brother who's been taller than you since he was in 5th grade. It helps to be far more handsome than him though. The best man has clearly benefited from the strong example set by the groom in their childhood and is a quick witted, funny, and intelligent individual. Though, again, marginally less attractive than the groom. Look for him at the wedding explaining the writings of 16th century philosophers or preparing for his speech, which he has assured us will be both avant-garde and shocking.
Luke Barrett
Groomsman
Luke's impossibly deep voice first met the groom's ears on the first day of freshman year. We quickly discovered we had both met another 18 year old with the soul of 60 year old. From the 1950's. Roommates for the final two years of college followed by renting apartments just 10 minutes apart in Boston, Pat and Luke spent many an evening drinking whiskey and speaking as men do. From the mean streets of Worcester to the rolling hills of Galway, Luke is always ready to pour you a drink and inform you why he should be made Supreme Galactic Emperor.
Mike Silk
Groomsman
One of the groom's best friends since kindergarten, Mike is responsible for Pat's obsession with Band of Brothers as well as FIFA World Cup '06. As he is a paper sales manager who can become best friends with anyone with a quick conversation, Mike has been described as the "Real-life Michael Scott", just minus the shocking stupidity. Despite attending different middle and high schools, Pat and Mike have stayed close through different activities such as the Boy Scouts. Pat and Mike made Eagle Scout together in a ceremony that was described by friends as "oddly cult-like".
Matt Valade
Groomsman
Matt is one of the groom's best and oldest friends, having met in kindergarten. Matt introduced Pat to the Simpson's and his penchant for consuming media makes the groom acutely aware of how few movies he's watched and how little music he's listened too. Matt and Pat share a love a soccer, started during their time tearing up the field on the best team to ever play in the Fairfield rec league. The two can often be found watching Ireland soccer games together, whether they're 16 at a pub in Killarney where the locals are sneaking them pints, or just last year at Anna Liffey's in Fairfield, these two are always ready to be disappointed by the homeland's team.
Nick Salese
Groomsman
Pat and Nick met first in 7th grade, where Nick was the cool, leather-jacket-wearing, big-hair-having, girl-advice-giving confidant of the groom. Given this relationship, it should be no surprise that it was Nick's counsel that gave Pat the courage to first ask out Kaitlyn. Pat and Nick have spent countless nights debating the best animal appendages humans can have (it's not necessarily wings like you might think) and playing vintage video games (Nick still can't beat the groom at Mario Tennis, just saying). The two have shared some big moments, the biggest being when Pat served as Best Man at Nick's wedding to his lovely bride, Tara.
Oliver Debarros
Groomsman
Ollie and the groom have been friends since freshman year of high school. They first met in Mr. Cloutier's french class, where they both enjoyed great success despite neither of them speaking a lick of french. Ollie and Pat played soccer and were both on the track team, although rarely together as Ollie is naturally athletically gifted and Pat has been described as "lacking basic motor function". Ollie and Pat have maintained a fierce fantasy football rivalry for the past 9 years, and will always find time in their busy schedules to text during football season to let the other know how utterly trash their team is.
Patrick Kerrigan
Groomsman
Patrick, affectionately known as PK or the Big Red Machine, has been a friend of the groom since Wakeman basketball in middle school. Back then, they were still roughly the same height and actually competed over who got to take the jump ball (despite, even then, PK having about a two foot advantage over the groom in his vertical). Since then, PK has become one of the closest friends of the groom and was a key partner in various shenanigans all through high school. From study halls spent planning our survival plan for the zombie apocalypse (heading for the Yukon if anyone else wants to join) to Wendy's runs at 2am, PK has been through thick and thin with the groom.
Kenny Goettler
Groomsman
Kenny and the groom met in freshman year of college. Back in those days, Kenny was a good, studious young man and Pat mainly just distracted him and attempted to lure him into debaucherous activities. Kenny is Pat's favorite intellectual sparring partner. They can often be found arguing about, literally, anything. Pat and Kenny also share a deep seated love for Herb Brooks and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team in general. Oh, and also for the only decent Soviet, Kharlamov. Kenny hails from the great frozen north of Junea, Alaska, and is a certified grizzly bear killer and iceberg climber. Seriously, ask him about it.