Kristen & Angelo
Wedding Party
Cindy Weisberg
Maid of Honor
Our brothers became best friends while we were still in high school. They continually told us both that we were exactly the same and we would love each other! "You should meet Cindy! She's exactly like you. She doesn't like steak ..." Upon finally meeting, we both thought, "Eh." After more and more time together, thanks to our brothers, we became closer and closer and realized more and more how much we belonged together as friends. Who would have thought from that first meeting that I would gain a best friend, a "cousin-in-law" (my brother married her cousin), and a sister I chose for my own. Cindy is an incredible woman and I wouldn't even know what to do without her.
Sara Trupski
Maid of Honor
Fun, creative, passionate, loving. Sara is my ComicCon buddy, my costume designer, and my favorite movie critic. Sara and I were thrust together by Cindy (whom you previously read about). Cindy and I were planning to go to the beach together and suddenly Cindy asked Sara to join us. I was bummed as I was looking forward to spending the day with Cindy and I'm usually not too keen on meeting new people. Let's just put it this way: By the end of the day we had taken countless pictures of us being weird and were driving home, top down in Sara's car, blasting I'll Make a Man out of You and various other Disney songs as we drove over Hwy 17. The rest is history. Sara is my best friend, and my chosen sister. I wouldn't be who I am today without her.
Caroline Hainry
Bridesmaid
She is a beautiful and wonderful human being. We met in a membership class for East Valley Church. She's extremely outgoing and I'm kind of an extroverted introvert. We became fast friends and shortly after meeting her, I invited her to our young adults/college small group, hoping everyone would be ok with it, since I was fairly new to the church as well. Caroline is one of my favorite people, and she quickly became like a little sister to me. She is fun, carefree, and always interested in trying new things. I am so glad that life brought her to me. She is like sunshine and her joy has been a constant encouragement in my life.
Natalie Boney
Bridesmaid
My cousin, my friend, and most of all my birthday buddy. I feel like every time we see each other we become closer. Growing up, our Grams used to dress us in the same dresses, so that every Christmas or Easter we would match. I don't know if she hated it as much as I did, but now in more difficult adult times, I long for the times when I celebrated my birthday with my two cousins (whose birthdays were one day after mine) and the days I was dressed the same as my beautiful cousin Natalie. Our relationship really grew when Natalie lived with Grams. I had lived with her a few years before, and it became like we were war buddies, swapping stories. I finally, as an adult, have realized how much I need family in my life and I'm lucky to have her as a cousin.
Alyssa Friend-Lobert
Bridesmaid
It was on a trip to Mexico I first got a picture of who Alyssa is. Fun, bubbly, excited about life, and totally in love with her boyfriend (now husband) Trevor. I had just started to go to East Valley Church when I heard they were having a Mexico Missions Trip to build a house over Spring Break. I was put into a car with Alyssa, and Trevor and a few others. They started peppering me with questions about who I was, what my tattoo was about, and how I came to East Valley before we even hit the freeway. We became such close friends by the end of the week, Trevor invited me to his proposal, and Alyssa asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. We've been through a lot together: co-workers in children's ministry, co-leaders in youth group, friends, and many ministry opportunities.
Eve Lanham
Bridesmaid
Always supportive, always encouraging, always wonderfully helpful! Eve is going to be my new big sister! I'm so excited to be part of her family. From the first Christmas I celebrated with the Lanham's, I have never felt more welcomed into a family than I have by Angelo's siblings. I think within the first minute of walking through the door at their house that Christmas, I was pulled into the family room and every single Christmas song toy was playing at once, and all the siblings tackled me and handed me gifts. When they found out we were engaged, and Eve knew I was using silk flowers, she immediately offered up her bouquet from her own wedding for me to use as an example. Her generosity and just all-around love and kindness makes me so glad to be calling her my future big sister!
Ray Lanham III
Best Man
Ray's been my brother for at least as long as I've been alive. I have vivid memories of him teaching me how to ride a skateboard, scaring me with an Iron Maiden poster -- and those are just from last week. I kid ... He's always been there for me, always been my bro, and was naturally destined to be my best man.
Sean Mingus
Groomsman
The only respondent to a rather shakily written add seeking a drummer for a three-piece noise band, I'd never have guessed that 16 years later, Sean would be one of my few true friends. Beach trips, skateboarding and of course the music we played - or as some would call it, racket. Glad you're on our side.
George Mendez
Groomsman
I've known George so long that we occasionally have conversations about our old conversations. They were pretty bizarre back in the middle school days and, well, some things never change. We've had lots of good times since the old days at Herman Intermediate School. Lots of beers, which always let to lots of philosophizing, which sometimes led to lots of banging on instruments. A more committed friend would be hard to imagine.
Greg Knudsen
Groomsman
I've been playing music with Greg since my high school days. It's added up over the years, and when I see him without some kind of instrument hung around his neck it's almost strange. That's the good thing about Greg, he's always there with a guitar or a gin, whichever's most handy at the moment.
Andrew Lowe
Groomsman
Andrew may actually be the first non-family member I can recall ever meeting. If memory serves, he was climbing a gate in his back yard when our mothers first set us down in the same house. Not to say he doesn't climb the occasional gate still, but we've moved on with the times, whether endless pool games or seeking out the perfect slice of pizza .... we'll find it someday, buddy.
Greg Pearson
Groomsman
It's honestly hard for me to see any relation at all between my future bride and her supposed brother, Greg. I mean sure, they're both tall gingers, quick to smile, a little goofy, well into the geeky fare ... and they look just about identical ... But c'mon, other than that? I had the pleasure of meeting Greg in Italy, and I immediately decided he was my brother as well. He's that cool. I never mentioned it to him, though, so keep it under your hat, eh?
Elizabeth Lanham
Officiant
Back when my baby sister Elizabeth emerged from the hospital, in a bundle in our Mom's arms, I thought, "Yeah, she'll probably be responsible for my marriage ceremony someday." OK that is NOT what four-year-old me said, but the fact that my sis turns out to be a minister is some kind of luck. We've been through everything together, and are two of the very closest siblings I know. I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have nearby the moment the knot is tied.
Pastor Patrick Boyd
Officiant of Communion
I have had the privilege of working with Pastor Pat for just about 5 years now in youth group and it has been such a blessing to be on his team. From my 2015 Easter trip to Mexico with East Valley Church, to working on staff at the church as his assistant and the interim Children's Minister, until now, he has been a constant source of encouragement and exhortation in my life. I know that no matter where our paths lead in the future, Pat will always be a great, influential part of both Angelo and my life.