Wedding Party
Katie Applebee
Matron of Honor
Katie and Lauren’s friendship has been nothing short of special, which is why she is so excited to have Katie be her Matron of Honor! With nearly 20 years of friendship, Lauren and Katie have countless stories dating back to the first day of sixth grade when they became fast friends. Over the years, there are few things these two besties haven’t done together—from sleepovers in the Sanders playroom, to girls' trips to New York, Nashville, and Charleston, to celebrating major life milestones like graduations, engagements, and weddings– they’ve truly experienced it all side by side! Katie has been there for Lauren through every happy and hard moment, always offering support with a hug, a joke, or a glass of wine in hand. Now, Lauren is beyond excited to have Katie by her side as she begins her next chapter and becomes a wife!
Grant Cassidy
Best Man
As Austin’s older brother, there’s no one better to stand by his side on this special day than Grant. From childhood adventures on Red Apple Lane (like running around for hours on hot summer nights playing manhunt with their friends), to late nights in Baltimore (which always ended in Grant blasting music until the wee hours of the morning), and now to offering advice as adults (Grant is always the first person Austin calls when his car makes a funny noise), Grant has been one of Austin’s biggest supporters and closest friends. Throughout all their adventures and life milestones, Grant has proven to be the best big brother, which is why Austin is so excited to have him as his best man on the big day!
Andrea Cassidy
Bridesmaid
Andrea is not only the groom’s wonderful sister-in-law but also one of Lauren’s amazing bridesmaids! As one of the kindest and most positive people Lauren knows, Andrea has welcomed Lauren with open arms into the Cassidy Family! Whether talking about the Baltimore Ravens with Austin, laughing alongside Lauren to stories of Grant and Austin’s childhood antics, or chatting about anything and everything with a glass of wine in hand by the fireplace at Bryce, Andrea always brings a contagious energy that makes everyone feel special and loved. Lauren is beyond excited to officially gain a sister once she marries Austin, and looks forward to continuing to create memories with Andrea and the Cassidy Family!
Douglas Andrews
Groomsman
Meet Douglas – Lauren’s little brother! Between watching and betting on their favorite sports teams (Go Vens & Go Birds!), enjoying Lauren’s home-cooked meals, jamming to their favorite artist, Billy Strings, and sharing a cold Levante beer in the Andrews’ family room, Austin and Douglas have spent countless hours bonding over the things they love and growing not only as family but as friends, too. As Austin marries Lauren, he is thrilled to have Douglas stand by his side, and both Lauren and Austin are excited to celebrate all of life’s big events with Douglas in the years to come!
Sara DeGraw
Bridesmaid
Meet Sara– Lauren’s college best friend, former roommate, and fellow teacher bestie! After taking ALL of the same classes together during their final two years at Towson University (Go Tigers!), Lauren and Sara’s friendship only grew stronger as they became roommates in Fed Hill. Over the years, they have navigated life’s challenges side by side, supporting each other through career changes (hello grad school and new schools), personal milestones (engagements, weddings, trips to Italy, and first homes), and everything in between. As one of Lauren’s biggest cheerleaders and hype girls, she is beyond lucky to have Sara by her side as a bridesmaid on her wedding day!
Tony Kobel
Groomsman
It’s clear why Tony and Austin have become the best of friends over the past five years– Tony is able to make any gathering more fun with his easy going personality and infectious laugh! Most weekends, you can find Tony and Austin drinking a beer, eating snacks and cracking jokes at a local Baltimore brewery, with Em, Emmitt and Lauren just along for the ride! No matter what they are doing, Tony always brings the good vibes to the party. Because of this, Austin and Lauren are so excited for him to bring his fun and carefree energy to the wedding day as one of Austin’s groomsmen!
Tess Riley
Bridesmaid
Lauren first met Tess in an Ethics in Education course at Towson University and the two quickly became best friends! Together, they joined the English Language Learner cohort (with their other bestie, Sara), drove to their student teaching internships together, and, eventually, they both became Baltimore City teachers. Since their days at Towson, their friendship has only grown stronger, with Tess always being someone Lauren can lean on for support, guidance and a good laugh! As you can tell, Tess has become such an important part of Lauren’s life, which is why she is so excited to have Tess be a part of her wedding day!
Linwood Araujo
Groomsman
As a member of the “Red Apple Gang,” Linwood is one of Austin’s oldest and most trusted friends. Their friendship dates back all the way to middle school, where they would spend hours running around the neighborhood and **occasionally** getting themselves into trouble. Those early days of mischief (and lots of laughter) laid the foundation for a lifelong friendship. Today, Austin and Linwood continue to bond over their favorite animes, especially One Piece, their shared obsession with Lord of the Rings, and their appreciation for good music. As Austin begins this exciting new chapter with Lauren, he’s thrilled to continue creating unforgettable memories with Linwood, especially on wedding day!
Schyler Bailey
Bridesmaid
There is no question as to why Austin chose Schyler (and her now husband, Mike) to be the first friends he introduced to Lauren! Schyler and Lauren hit it off from the moment they met, and since then, their friendship has flourished. There is no limit to what these two can yap about over a glass of Savvy B– as Austin and Mike know all too well, they can talk endlessly about clothes, recipes, the latest books they’ve read, and all things girly. Now, Lauren is so excited to talk wedding planning with Schyler and to have Schyler stand by her side on her wedding day!
Mike Patel
Groomsman
Austin and Mike “used to ball” back in the day, but now these two have hung up their Jordans for a pair of Crocs and wedding rings! As one of Austin and Lauren’s closest friends, Mike and his wife, Schyler (one of Lauren’s amazing bridesmaids), have shared countless laughs, adventures, and unforgettable moments together—like trips to Charlottesville and Bryce in Virginia, home repair projects, and lazy Sunday dinners in Baltimore with Bruno by their sides. Austin even had the honor of officiating Mike and Schyler's wedding back in May 2023! Through all of these moments, Mike has been one of Austin and Lauren’s biggest supporters– always ready with a laugh, a helping hand, or a classic “clown” move– which is why Austin couldn’t think of a better person to have stand by his side on his wedding day!
Joey Andrews
Officiant
Playing one of the most important roles in our wedding weekend is Joey, Lauren’s older brother and the wedding officiant! Both Austin and Lauren feel incredibly lucky to have such an amazing brother and friend standing by their side on their wedding day, and as they continue to build their life together! Joey has been a constant source of laughter and support throughout Lauren’s life, he is truly someone she can always count on, and has become great friends with Austin over the years– bonding over sports, beer and the anime show One Piece. After fulfilling his officiant duties, you will most likely find Joey dancing to Rasputin, Lauren and Joey’s favorite long car ride song, with a Guinness in hand!
