Lauren & Paul

Wedding Party

Meet the whole crew!

Mary Fortney

Maid of Honor

Mary has been my best friend since preschool. After moving to Tennessee in kindergarden, we managed to keep in touch through letters and summer vacations to visit one another. She has always amazed me with her creativity, thoughtfulness, and ability to fix just about anything. Fun fact: Mary started a band in college by creating a profile on Tinder. She invited them on a "date" which was actually a group band try out. Somehow her tactic worked and "Mary and Her Men" became a hot commodity jazz band that rocked the Tuscaloosa bar scene.

Kelsey Fisher

Matron of Honor

Kelsey and I also met in preschool and have been mistaken for each other ever since. Kelsey is the most insightful, gracious, and kind person I have ever met. I don't have a childhood memory without Kelsey in it and I don't expect that to change through adulthood. Fun fact: Kelsey has never slept with her phone on silent. She has picked up almost every call the girls (and myself) have ever made to her over the last 23 years. As we exchange "I love you" at the end of calls, Kelsey will undoubtably say "I love you more". I have never met a person that does not absolutely adore her.

Ashley Dettmann

Bridesmaid

Ashley and I became friends in first grade. We did competitive gymnastics, trampoline gymnastics, and cheerleading together. Ashley is a natural at every sport, but has always been the most humble. As a testament to her thoughtfulness, Ashley has made a homemade birthday card for me every year since we met. She spends hours decorating the cards and writes the sweetest messages. Fun fact: Ashley and I used to collect snails in the garden and put them on our faces to freak our parents out. We recently learned that snail mucin is now a popular skin care ingredient in high end beauty products around the globe. I believe this is the reason Ashley is so beautiful.

Brooke Lindee

Bridesmaid

Brooke and I became friends in middle school. She has always been the most inclusive, accepting, and passionate girl in the group. There is nothing she cannot do, and do well. She is an extraordinary mother, loyal friend, and compassionate nurse. Fun fact: Brooke and I worked a summer job at the Hotel Del carrying chairs down to the beach together. Our fake ID pictures were taken in the fancy bathroom of "members only" locker room because it had the best light— worked like a charm.

Caroline Kaine

Bridesmaid

Caroline and I became friends in high school through cheerleading. We became fast friends and went on to attend college together. Since then, we have spent most of our adult life under the same roof. In the Fall of 2020, Caroline moved to San Francisco to pursue a career in interior design. I quickly followed her to explore the world outside of Southern California. Caroline was present the night Paul and I met and has continued to be a cheerleader in our love story ever since. Fun fact: Caroline and Paul worked at a wine bar in San Francisco together. They would come home from their shift in a contagious riot of laughter. On a walk home from work, Caroline practiced her speech that she would one day perform at our wedding. Paul laughed so hard that he dropped the entire pizza he had been carrying face down on the ground. That midnight disassembled Tony's pizza is still one of the best pies I’ve ever had.

Crimson Cashman

Bridesmaid

Crimson and I met in San Francisco. Caroline and I were looking for a roommate and when Crimson came to view the apartment, we prayed she would move in. Crimson's love for art and creativity shines through in everything she does. Crimson could easily be the main character of a movie and for that reason has become the ultimate "it girl" in my life. She romanticizes her life to the fullest and finds creativity in mundane tasks. I suggest everyone take a page out of her book. Fun fact: On a day on a whim Crimson picked me up in her VW bug convertible with the top down. It was a cloudy day in San Francisco, but Crimson had the music volume turned up and her red lipstick on. She suggested we take a detour over the Golden Gate Bridge just for fun, get a donut, then end our excursion at the ceramics studio where we could sip wine and throw clay for the remainder of the day. Best. Day. Ever.

Delilah Lindee

Bridesmaid

Delilah is the smartest, most intuitive, and caring 7-year-old. She joined our girl gang through her mother, Brooke. Delilah continues to remind her aunties of the most important things in life: girl time, being kind, going outside, and sparkles. Being a part of her life has been the greatest gift. Fun fact: When we were in college, the girls would all get ready at Brooke, Ashley, and Delilah’s house. We would blast music, swap outfits, and put on makeup hovered around the bathroom mirror. Delilah would pick out our lipstick and dance around our feet as she encouraged her aunties to add more “parkles” (sparkles). Whenever I hear the term “girlhood”, I think of those moments.

Joy Bartsch

Bridesmaid

Joy is my sister-in-law. I won the jackpot five years ago when my brother brought Joy home. She is incredibly intentional and generous when it comes to making time for people she loves. Our family's communication, organization, and faith have skyrocketed since Joy came around. We are all so lucky to have her. Fun fact: My brother brought Joy on a family vacation to the Caribbean after a few months of dating. It quickly became clear that she not only fit in with our family, but she enriched it every way. Joy and I had a goal of bringing back a fresh coconut from a tree on St Johns Island to make tropical cocktails. After a while of looking, we were just about to give up when we spotted a man cutting down coconuts from a tree down the beach. We are still unsure if it was our convincing sales pitch or our bikini attire that helped us win over the coconuts. Either way, it was our first sisterhood moment.

Katie Ramey

Bridesmaid

Katie is technically my aunt but looks and acts more like my sister. She has been the sounding board to my friends and I since we can remember. She is confident, fun loving, and generous beyond belief. Katie is the first to celebrate you and the last to let you live it down. She is a spectacular mother and honorary big sister of the group. Fun fact: Katie knows more secrets about each one of us girls than we know about ourselves. Talking to Katie has always felt like going to confession, but without formality and Catholic guilt. There was nothing we could do or say to surprise her as we vented about breakups, crushes, and friendships.

Katy Adams

Bridesmaid

Katy and I met at pole vaulting practice in high school and went on join the track team at Long Beach State. We loved the sport mainly because it allowed up to spend more time together. She is strong willed, passionate, patient, and full of beans. Katy will make you laugh until you cry, then laugh some more. Fun fact: Katy and I became great friends at a pole vault camp in high school. We had been acquaintances prior, but during camp she asked me if I wanted to see a picture of her with a missing tooth. She had knocked out her front tooth and instead of being embarrassed about it, Katy insisted on showing me an album of her on her farm with one tooth. We became best friends after that.

Morgan Thackston

Bridesmaid

Morgan and I became friends in elementary school. She has always been the a brilliant computer wiz and the comic relief to all situations. She is incredibly adventurous and pushes herself to step out of her comfort zone whenever she gets the chance. She has wins the "most likely to" contest every year. Fun fact: Morgan has travelled to more countries than all of us girls combined. She gives the best recommendations and never sweats the small stuff. If you are looking for a relaxing vacation or a once in a life-time 2 month backpacking trip through Europe, Morgan has you covered.

Riki Rabold

Bridesmaid

Caroline and I met Riki in San Francisco. She lived in the apartment below us and initially reached out to ask us to quiet down. After receiving a dinner invitation to her house, we soon realized that if the three of us were loud together, the noise problem was solved (in 2/3 of the apartment units). As a San Francisco native, Riki showed us the city through her eyes. It was easy to love our new home with a neighbor like Riki. Fun fact: Riki was also present the night Paul and I met. After we parted ways with Paul, Riki said "he seems nice but did he say a word?". Luckily, Tanner was also with us and acted as the best wing man there ever was. We all still laugh at how quickly Paul's quiet first impression washed away.

Sarah Anderson

Bridesmaid

Sarah and I became best friends in girl scouts in kindergarten. Over the years, Sarah and I have kept in touch, but we reconnected when we found ourselves back in San Diego after college. Sarah is a brilliant woodworker, adventurist, and friend. Sarah is the first to jump in the cold ocean and the last to get out. I have truly enjoyed seeing her spirit for adventure and creativity remain constant over the last 22 years. Fun fact: When Sarah and I were little, we had two priorities: cats and playing outside. I vividly remember asking our parents to set up a tent in the backyard to camp overnight. We stayed up late giggling and telling scary “campfire stories” with our flashlights held under our chins.

Shannon Snyder

Bridesmaid

Shannon and I met in nursing school. We quickly became friends and bonded over the hardships of becoming a nurse. Despite the intensity of her job as an ICU nurse, you will never see Shannon without a smile on her face. She is empathetic, kind, and the first to say yes to an adventure. Fun fact: When Shannon and I were in nursing school we were able shadow a doctor while he performed a neck surgery. During the surgery, I began to pass out and Shannon kept me up right in the corner of the room until I regained my vision. She was so discrete is her duties that no one noticed; sparing me a world of embarrassment. That was the day I realized Shannon was a one of a kind friend and that I probably should not be a surgeon.

Simone Gillberg

Bridesmaid

Simone and I have been friends since elementary school, but became particularly close after college. We both shared the love for running, surfing, and getting outside. On our long runs, we talk about life, love, work and everything under the sun. She is wise beyond her years, has a contagiously positive outlook, and a unique ability to see the best in people. Fun fact: A few years ago, Simone and I stumbled upon a cafe in Encinitas that specialized in preparing potatoes in every form. It became our go-to spot after a night out with the girls or a long run. We were so enthusiastic about the cafe that the owner asked us to "model" his merchandise which was made up of screen printed XXL Mr. Potato Head T-shirts. We thought the photos turned out great, but surprisingly were not asked model another gig.

Marshall Smith

Best Man

Brother of the groom

Aydan Scott

Groomsman

Aydan has always been a brother to the Bartsch family. Therefore, a brother to Paul.

Ben Cochran

Groomsman

Paul and Ben were roommates at Messiah College.

Benton Mitchell

Groomsman

Benton and Paul became friends in the adventure education program at Messiah college. They both shared a love for rock climbing, driving old vans, and helping others navigate the outdoors.

Conner Rienhard

Groomsman

Paul and Conner met in the Adventure Education program at Messiah College.

Eric Holerbien

Groomsman

Paul met Eric when traveling in his van through California. After college, Paul and Eric moved into a 2 bedroom apartment in San Francisco with 5 other guys in bunkbeds.