Wedding Party
Charlene Ducote
Matron of Honor
Charlene and I met in college back in 2008, when she decided we were going to be friends — whether I liked it or not. As the extrovert to my introvert, she basically forced her way into my life... and thank goodness she did. One of my favorite memories is when I was devastated after failing an exam (which, let’s be honest, never happened) and Charlene convinced me to skip class, drink wine, and watch scary movies instead. Since then, we’ve survived every major life phase together — and there’s no one else I’d rather have by my side for this one.
Reiley Van Osselaer
Bridesmaid
Reiley is my sister-in-law, but from the start, she felt more like a bonus friend who also gets to show up at every family event. Thanks to her, I’ve gotten to experience what it’s like to have a sister — complete with laughs, plenty of adventures, and more costume parties than I ever signed up for (she’s personally responsible for about 90% of them). I’m so lucky to have her standing by my side — whether it’s dressing up in ridiculous outfits, navigating family chaos, or celebrating one of the biggest days of my life.
Toni Carrigan
Bridesmaid
Toni and I met in 2008 through a service organization in college, and somehow, she’s been putting up with me ever since. While I was busy being wild and carefree, Toni was the calm, steady voice making sure I didn’t completely lose my way — and that I always got home safely. She’s been by my side through all of life’s twists and turns, celebrating the best moments and standing strong through the hardest. No matter how much time passes, being with Toni always feels easy — like slipping right back into a friendship that has shaped so much of my life.
Samantha Erwin
Bridesmaid
Samantha is my cousin, and with a six-year age gap, it took a few years (and a lot of convincing) before she consistently remembered who I was between visits. She started out as the little cousin who followed me everywhere, and somewhere along the way, she became more like a sister and one of my closest friends. Somehow, we went from sitting in Grandma’s living room eating spaghetti to figuring out life side by side — and even though she keeps me on my toes, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. These days, she brings the adventure and I bring the compass — and honestly, that’s pretty much our perfect balance.
Kyle Kuhn
Best Man
Kyle and I have been friends since 2018, when we met in the fire academy and immediately bonded over our mutual hatred of, well... pretty much everyone else. Since then, we’ve built a friendship fueled by football, casino trips, and a lot of questionable decisions along the way. Through all the wins, losses, and chaos, Kyle’s been one of the most solid people to have in my corner — and there’s no one else I'd rather have standing next to me.
Zach Albrecht
Groomsman
Zach and I met in 2009 at Texas A&M in the Corps of Cadets, where we quickly bonded over Aggie sports, the Dallas Cowboys, and learning how to “embrace the suck” of Fish year. We ended up living together for two years during college, which means he’s seen me at my best, my worst, and probably a few moments we’d both prefer to forget. Over the years, Zach has been a constant — always good for a laugh, a game day, or a reminder of where it all started. I’m lucky to have him here for this next chapter.
Michael Crowley
Groomsman
Michael and I met in 2009 at Texas A&M in the Corps of Cadets. We gave him a hard time that first year — mostly because we were just mean — but he was the bigger person and stuck around anyway. Somewhere along the way, he went from the guy we picked on to one of my best friends, and I’m glad he didn’t hold a grudge, because life’s been better with him around.
Matt Gettelman
Groomsman
I met Matt around 2006 through my sister, and over the years he’s become a good friend — despite the fact that most of our early bonding involved screaming at each other over missed notes in Rock Band and cheap deaths in Call of Duty. We also spent an unreasonable amount of time quoting It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which, if anything, may have permanently shaped our sense of humor (for better or worse). These days, there’s not as much time for video games or late-night marathons — but when we catch up, the Sunny quotes flow like no time has passed and no maturity has been gained.