Maddy and Michael
Wedding Party
Callie Hyder
Bridesmaid/Officiant
Maddy and Callie go way back - to 1992. When Maddy was born, Callie was determined that they would not only be cousins but best friends. Initially, Callie came on a little strong as she was older and bigger than Maddy, but their fate was sealed in 2000 when pop icon and heartthrob Aaron Carter released his song "I Want Candy." After hours of choreographing revolutionary dance moves to the song, they became inseparable, despite what Maddy said about Callie that one Christmas in relation to an Easy Bake Oven. Maddy and Callie spent the vast majority of high school patrolling around in Callie's ancient 4Runner. If you have a spare 15 minutes on your hands you should ask Callie about the "mothership" and if it has landed. Also, if you hear them speaking with a lisp - don't athk quethtionth.
Tenley Davis
Bridesmaid
Tenley came on the scene in 1996, so you could say they too go way back. After some skepticism at the hospital, Maddy allowed her parents to bring her new sister home. Tenley made quite the entrance her first year into the family, but eventually, she decided to settle in. Maddy would sit on the floor with Tenley and encircle her with her coveted dinosaur toy collection. Was it an attempted seance? The jury is still out on that. Maddy and Tenley spent hours reenacting Disney's Aristocats while dancing on the back of the couch, which Maddy and Michael have in their living room today, impersonating the Aristocats kittens with their babysitter, and cousin, Jamie Hyder. Even though at times they may have wanted to punch each other on Christmas Day (oh wait...) they still love each other.
Evan Campbell
Bridesmaid
Maddy and Evan met in 2009 in Zurich, Switzerland and immediately became friends. Have you ever watched your friend get washed away in white rapids in Switzerland? Maddy has. Thankfully Evan popped up like a bobber a few hundred yards away and crawled over to the rocky bank. I guess you could say Evan is truly Maddy's ride or die - if she likes it or not. Evan and Maddy survived backpacking through Europe together and maintained a long-distance friendship from VA to SC for several years. Eventually, Evan traded in the Piggly Wiggly for DC much to Maddy's delight. You'll find Maddy and Evan enjoying their favorite activity about every other week - eating at restaurants (although COVID has made this difficult). Anything is better than those God-forsaken noodles they ate in Germany.
Ninette Lyubarsky
Bridesmaid
Have you ever found a random roommate online and it worked out? Maddy did. After Maddy's three roommates were graduating from UD, she needed a new lot in 2012. Somehow Maddy ended up with a girl with a 2lb teacup chihuahua named Rex in a building where dogs were forbidden. In no time, they were staying up late offering each other slices of cheese and curing their hangovers with Chinese food at 11am. They tore down Kildare's almost every night and one time won a contest there dressed as Buzz Lightyear and Woody. Maddy survived a kidney infection because of Ninette and Ninette survived her 21st birthday because of Maddy - barely. Don't believe Ninette if she talks about a party she and Maddy were at when she got beer thrown at her. If anyone loses a tooth at the wedding, she's a dentist.
Lindsey Rubin
Bridesmaid
Most people would agree that Finding Nemo is a great movie. But, Lindsey and Maddy aren't most people. They think it is phenomenal (as is Shrek). Ninette brokered Maddy and Lindsey's initial friendship in 2013 in college over latkes and apple sauce. Maddy and Ninette needed 2 new roommates and Lindsey was their next target. Thankfully, with one quote from Finding Nemo, Lindsey decided they were just the kind of psychopaths she wanted to live with. Soon Lindsey and Maddy were wining and dining each other with gummy frogs and froyo on Main St. Many countless adventures later, including two extremely unfortunate Amtrak experiences, they've shared more laughs than ever thought possible and eaten some great food. Maddy will also be a bridesmaid at Lindsey and Seth's wedding this summer.
Jenae Sieben
Bridesmaid
If people tell you you're going to like someone, they're typically wrong. Thankfully for Maddy and Jenae, that wasn't the case in 2014. Working at Cosi in college provided Maddy with two things: bar money and exceptional friends. Jenae came in delivering nothing less than sass, sarcasm, and a good time so naturally, they were forbidden from working together after two shifts. What they lacked in "on the clock time" together they made up for in goofing off. From laughing so hard until they cried every moment together, to falling asleep on each other at The Starboard, to doing the Carlton at Jenae's wedding as a bridesmaid, they have had one hell of a good time. Jenae and Maddy are quite passionate about Bluecoast and pizza. Also, never rent a house with Jenae with an outdoor shower.
Nicole Osman
Bridesmaid
Are you at all familiar with Nicki Minaj? Sir Mix A Lot? Perhaps you are familiar with anacondas? Either way, Nicole and Maddy also quickly were forbidden from working together at Cosi after about two shifts largely due to a Nicki Minaj song involving an anaconda in 2014. Fortunately, management's efforts to separate them were futile. Dare you to find two people who broke it down on the dance floor better than the two of them. Nicole and Maddy have singlehandedly closed down Dewey together on multiple occasions and Paradise Grill. Even though Nicole has moved to Wisconsin, she still remains Maddy's little lost penguin friend. Nicole and Maddy also ate every scrap of pimiento cheese once in Charleston, SC together and Nicole is your go-to person if you want chicken wings in bed.
Julie Hughes
Bridesmaid
Julie has been "down to clown" with Maddy since 2013. Whether it was Julie passing Maddy a Mike's Harder Lemonade at the pool or acting a fool in Dewey, they have never been short of a good time. They used to carpool in the mornings into downtown DC, with Julie risking her life with Maddy's pre-7:30AM aggressive driving. Julie was nothing short of "appaused" but never showed signs of fear. When Julie runs for US Senate for the state of Delaware Maddy will be her Chief of Staff. Who says a Democratic member can't have a Republican Chief? Certainly not these two. They plan to hold fundraisers at the Rusty Rudder and The Starboard. Julie and Maddy's friendship is so deep that Julie (bravely) decided to live with Maddy and Michael. Now they can watch as many cartoons as their hearts desire.
Chris Martin
Groomsman
Michael and Chris are brothers and best friends. With Chris being the older one, Michael was always eager to trail along behind Chris as kids in an attempt to keep up. Chris always pushed Michael to work hard, and play hard, and has been there for Michael since the beginning. Chris and his wife Ariane moved to San Diego but the distance didn't stop the two from spending time together. Michael enjoys joining Chris on his Mexican waters fishing fracas, even though they have yet to catch a fish together. Whether it was breaking every traffic law possible in the Martin family Jeep, body surfing in Ocean City, Halibut fishing in AK, snowmobiling in Iceland in near subzero temperatures, or boating with Everglades gators - Michael and Chris have always enjoyed each other's company.
Josh Kidwell
Groomsman
Josh has been in the picture for as long as Michael can remember. From building ramps while sledding down Sully Hill in elementary school to driving up it again in high school, Josh has seemingly always inspired mischief and trouble without ever being implicated for the crime. As the years progressed, snow days went from sledding to throwing snowballs at cars, shoveling driveways for money, jumping off the roof of Josh's dad's house during the blizzard of 2017, to the last hurrah at Snowshoe for Josh's bachelor party right before COVID locked the world down. Michael will be standing by Josh's side this summer as his Best Man at Josh and Tori's wedding in the OBX.
Paul Mechlin
Groomsman
From rafting in the creek after hurricanes, tornadoes, and tropical storms to riding gas scooters all over town, Paul has always been up for an adventure since early elementary school. Roughly one month after Maddy and Michael's wedding, Michael will stand by Paul's side at his and Jenna's wedding as Paul's Best Man so it would appear the friendship is mutual. They have come a long way from playing little league soccer, throwing water balloons and tomatoes at cars, launching snowballs into their friend's faces, and being reckless boys behind the wheel after getting their driver's licenses. Michael and Paul can often be found hiking together, discussing their Aero Gardens, sharing cat pictures, and plotting ways to enhance Maddy and Michael's fish tank.
Tommy Lattimer
Groomsman
As a two time coworker and one time housemate, Michael and Tommy started their friendship playing basketball and walking home from elementary school. Due to his proximity of seven houses down, Tommy was in charge of steadying the ladder when Michael and Tommy would sneak out of the house at night in high school. Of course, they never did anything mischievous during those times, just sat outside and watched fireflies of course. Tommy and his girlfriend Erin bought a house down the road from Michael and Maddy so they've been seeing a lot more of each other and up to the same mischief as before. Tommy also lent a hand during Michael and Maddy's move into their house although the only thing Tommy lifted was his iced coffee, but he was a great supervisor and provided excellent commentary.
Ak Palla
Groomsman
A day younger and a foot shorter, Ak is Michael's right-hand man. Michael looks up to him for advice in English and writing, help with IT issues, and dreaming up the next innovative business idea. As kids, living a street over, Michael and Ak could be seen driving in the Jeep to high school or defending their school pride at the Taco Bell on a Friday night after a football game, don't ask. Ak has been known to boogie on the dance floor, even in spite of some orthopedic issues involving a set of rickety knees, and spearheaded many of the most fun nights when Michael and Ak lived in Arlington. Ak's zest for life is contagious and has always added in nothing less than pure fun to any outing he is at, that is unless of course, you have to share a bed with him then that's another story.
Tyler Ward
Groomsman
When Josh introduced Michael to his neighbor Tyler, Michael was hesitant at first. Once Michael gave Tyler a chance, he fit right in. He has now been promoted to designated nature guide and leads the way on regular hiking trips ranging from Local Virginia trails to Mount Rainer. Tyler has done his best to put substantial distance between him and Michael by serving as a part-time park guide throughout the United States - going as far as Alaska, Colorado, and Washington state - but Michael was always quick to make a trip out to wherever Tyler was. Michael's most recent trips include risking his life in CO with Tyler's driving while traversing steep cliffs, and in 2019 Maddy and Michael visited Tyler at Mount Rainier. They ate peanut butter cheeseburgers afterward to Maddy's horror.
Jack Rooney
Groomsman
Jack, the latest addition to the group, joined the squad in middle school and instantly fit right in. Michael didn't know that going 3x the legal speed limit was reasonable until Jack came along. Michael has since reduced his 3x the speed limit capacity but is proud to say Jack owns Michael's grandfather's old BMW and gives it a good life as a skilled Ferrari/ Maserati mechanic. Jack was the only friend Michael could ride motorcycles with but was scared to egg him on as he has a seeming magnetism for trees. Jack and his fiance Victoria have also proven to be excellent friends as they have helped Michael and Maddy move twice, including lugging furniture up Michael and Maddy's steep front yard - aptly named "Mount Early." If you ever need a moving service, they come highly recommended.
Matt Dumblauskas
Groomsman
The only one to continue the fun from elementary school up through college at JMU, Matt was a go-to pal for parties, tubing the Shenandoah, sporting events, and just about anything besides studying. Michael and Matt enjoyed countless summer nights in Dewey together enjoying Orange Crushes and swaying to and fro to the music. Michael was also a groupie of Matt's when Matt was in a local band. Although Matt and his fiance Allison picked up and moved to Nashville, Michael and Matt have remained close. In April, Michael, Ak, and Tommy flew down and crashed at Matt and Allison's apartment for a good ol' reunion.