Wedding Party
Sierra Rusco
Bridesmaid
Sierra is Carson's younger sister, though she is significantly taller than her and has been for many years now. Sierra recently graduated high school and is now studying at Mizzou, and is deciding between agriculture and environmental science. Conversation topics include: country music, spontaneous road trips, candle making, agriculture and FFA, and being crowned Miss Salem 2022.
Rebecca Pirtle
Bridesmaid
Carson and Rebecca met in 2016 on a trip to Washington D.C. with 80 other Missouri high school seniors and have stayed friends since. Rebecca has a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, and she currently works in the restaurant industry. Rebecca is an AMAZING cook and is constantly coming up with creative dishes. Conversation topics could include: her cats, Barley & Pele, Taco Bell potatoes, the podcast "Maintenance Phase," Stardew Valley, cooking, and books.
Samantha Taylor
Bridesmaid
Sam and Carson met in Women's Literature during their first semester at East Central College. Since then, they have enjoyed five years of chaotic and goofy friendship with a healthy amount of good-hearted antagonism mixed in. Even though they don't agree on the best love interest in Gilmore Girls, their friendship has remained a constant. :) Sam is in grad school working towards her long-term goal of becoming a counselor. Conversation topics could include: the movie "Practical Magic," her 100+ houseplants, her talents as a singer and guitar player, thrift shopping, and embroidery.
Abbey Hook
Bridesmaid
Abbey and Carson met in a new student orientation session their first semester at Southeast MO State University. After talking for a bit, they realized they had actually been in an online class together at East Central College just one semester earlier. Both English majors, they were in practically every class together and enjoyed regular trips to the campus Starbucks and Panda Express (cream cheese rangoons and chow mein on Wednesdays was the best!) Conversation topics could include: her cat, Maple, books, collecting vinyl records, their recent acceptance into a Masters of Library Science program, or Taylor Swift.
Liston Vance
Groomsman
Liston and Luke met their freshman year of college. They bonded over their similarly goofy senses of humor, an enjoyment of video games, and Luke's utter awe of Liston's prowess in ceramics. Liston suffered through many a road trip centered around Contra dancing (he took him up to Minnesota once!) and never complained once even though he wasn't a huge fan of the scene. He is married to Chloe, one of the Groomswomen. Through moves to Texas and back, they have remained his best friends (along with Becky!). Conversation topics could include: the drudgery of nursing school, how best to organize your Stardew Valley farm, and being the best ceramicist in the whole wide world.
Chloe Vance
Groomswoman
Luke and Chloe also met their freshman year of college. Without Chloe, Luke would probably not have had any friends in college (Carson thought this was a sad sentence, but Luke insisted we keep it in). She became the common thread in his friendships and is also one of his best friends. She was a more willing participant on the Contra dancing road trips and she got them all started in the activity. Chloe is an outstanding teacher and talented silk aerialist. Conversation topics include: her and Liston's cats, Kitty (her real name is Bonnie) and Valentine Suzette, making bread, and reading.
Rebecca Nash
Groomswoman
Luke and Becky met their freshman year of college when she came to visit Chloe. A few years later, she moved to Cape Girardeau and the trio became a quartet. Becky is a Physical Therapy Assistant and unusually gifted at every single physical activity ever. Luke and Carson invited her roller skating one day when they were all learning during the early pandemic, and she put them to shame in under five minutes. She bikes, is a certified scuba diver, and hikes. On the outside, Becky looks like a total normie, but deep down she's a beloved weirdo like the rest of us. Conversation topics include: identifying mushrooms, anything surrounding reptiles and amphibians, her one-eyed cat, Juniper, and her sweet gaming computer.
Emmanuel Alvarado
Groomsman
Emmanuel says the American culture has caught up with him--he is no longer on top of playing or watching soccer anymore (with the exception of the World Cup). Instead, he practices and watches--yes, he says, you can actually watch--endurance sports! He dates a very American girl whom he loves, and they have so much fun with their cultural differences. He says that after being in the States for almost six years, he is forgetting some of his Spanish and thinks his English also isn't improving. "Who knows what I'll be speaking soon?" he said. Conversation topics include: cycling, being the friend who goes running on vacations, and being a literal iron man.