Laura & Daniel
Wedding Party
Michael Druffel
Best Man
Michael is my older brother and best man. He has taught me everything from philosophy to music to how to be a thoughtful person. He has always been there for me when I needed encouragement or support. We have shared innumerable experiences growing up together, which I cherish, and some memorable adventures just the two of us: driving to Michigan together in high school, running up a mountain in Yosemite, and cheering an NBA game at Madison Square Gardens. I have learned a lot about how to cultivate a healthy relationship from observing and listening to Michael and Emma and I am grateful that Michael has welcomed Laura into our family. I am honored that Michael is my brother, friend, and best man at our wedding.
Claire Gilliland
Bridesperson
Claire and I share an advisor in the UNC sociology program, but for some reason, it took us a couple years to really connect. Thankfully, we realized we share a passion for tea, board games, and analyzing sermons, and soon Claire was stopping by my office daily for a quick chat. Claire keeps me calm, makes me laugh, and supports me in sociology and in life.
Sam Franer
Groomsman
Sam and I met before I can remember. Sam lived next door to my family on Hosea Ave and became a close friend of the whole family, even joining us on trips to Michigan. Every day I waited for Sam to come from school so that we could play in our backyard. Devastatingly, Sam’s parents moved to Terrace Park, but in middle school I started playing tennis and was surprised to run into Sam who independently had started playing too. We started hanging out again and stayed very close through high school. In college, Sam moved to Oregon. Again, independently we both chose to play club Ultimate and I ran into Sam at national tournaments. It has been amazing how our lives have taken interconnected paths, each time, our friendship picking up where it left off. I’m honored that Sam is standing with me.
Alanna Gillis
Bridesperson
We first met when I was assigned to be Alanna’s “grad buddy” in the Sociology PhD program, and we’ve been more or less inseparable ever since. We have lived together, coauthored a paper, shared an office, and navigated the job market together. Alanna reminds me to have fun, listens to me process my feelings, and shares in all my joys and my frustrations. It seems only fitting that we will graduate together as well.
Bradley Hinger
Groomsman
Bradley and I met in first grade and immediately became great friends. In third grade, we were assigned to make timelines of our life and we each put our friendship with the other on our timelines. Bradley and I shared the same classes from first grade through high school, were doubles partners in tennis, played in a blues band together, and hung out all the time. Bradley has joined us on family vacations and has been a staple of our New Years festivities for decades. We stayed in touch through college meeting up at OSU, Kenyon, Tennessee, and Penn State and connecting over the holidays. Bradley is one of my best friends and I am honored that he can celebrate the start of this new chapter of my life with me.
Karam Hwang
Bridesperson
We first met when Karam was assigned to be my “grad buddy” (do you see a pattern here?). From the beginning of our friendship, Karam has been a constant support, a voice of reason, and a willing study partner. We’ve enjoyed many nights of games, drinks, and good company, and I’m thankful that soon we’ll be living in the same part of the country again.
Rehan Bhatti
Groomsman
Rehan and I met freshman year of college when friends got together to play Super Smash Bros. By sophomore year, Rehan convinced me to join Kenyon’s Ultimate Frisbee team. We shared many long long car rides to tournaments talking politics, movies, and philosophy, and bonded over the competition and camaraderie of our team. When I started graduate school at UNC, Rehan was living in Chapel Hill and helped me transition to this new place, even recommending two places where Laura and I went on some of our early dates. Rehan and I played Ultimate each week at midnight with a group and hung out on the weekends. I’ve seen Rehan regularly on holidays when he comes down to Chapel Hill to visit and look forward to his humor, honesty, and friendship. “Serf love” as we said on the Ultimate team.
Rachel Kirk
Bridesperson
Rachel and I met at Grinnell College, where we bonded over theological conversations, late night studying, and paper writing. Our friendship has only continued to grow after graduation, and we’ve seen each other in Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Colorado. Rachel encourages my religious and spiritual growth, listens to me talk about my research, and supports my love of cats.
Jason Malizia
Groomsman
Jason and I met our first year of graduate school and became great friends. By the end of the year, we decided to rent a house together. We hosted a lot of parties, started brewing beer, and routinely stayed up late talking about crazy chemistry ideas. Jason was the first of my friends to meet Laura and now the two are good friends. Jason is an amazing friend and I’m honored to have him in my wedding party.
Adam Krull
Bridesperson
Adam is my first and longest friend, my partner for countless piano duets, my long-time tennis training partner, my homeschool classmate, and my supporter and fan. Now, he and Dan enjoy talking about science and ultimate frisbee, and we all have fun playing games and making jokes. I am honored that Adam will stand with us at our wedding.
Adam Woomer
Groomsman
Adam was a year ahead of me at UNC and worked in the same lab. We shared daily deep chemistry discussions (and a lot of jokes) as we walked to lunch each day, and we got together for grill-outs, movies, and board games. Adam’s friendship helped me through many of the trying difficulties of graduate school. I am honored that he is standing with me on my wedding day.