Madison & Logan
Wedding Party
Laney Etheridge
Maid of Honor
I have known Laney since the day she was born, and she has always been clever and funny, driven and kind. It took us a long time to become best friends (as the oldest and youngest siblings, it wasn't exactly written in the stars), but as soon as it happened, we were inseparable. Some of the happiest moments of my life have been driving with Laney, singing at the top of our lungs, whether we were on the backroads of McComb or the highways of Arizona. I can be truly one-hundred percent myself with her, which is more and more rare the older I get. She is the best at taking naps, painting watercolor puns, binge-watching TV shows, crushing science and math, shaping eyebrows, setting up a tent, and reading quietly across the room from me. We share a one-track mind and focus that aggravates the mess out of everyone who knows us, and a passion for coffee that rivals the Gilmore Girls'. I know she will be the absolute best maid of honor because she is the best sister & friend.
Mallory Head
Matron of Honor
Mallory and I met in our American Lit class at USM, the day after I saw them perform at open mic comedy night at Keg and Barrel where I distinctly remember thinking, "Man, I want that person to be my best friend!" That's called manifesting, people. They invited me over later for board games, and then as soon as I got there, the plans changed to a party in the woods--not the beginning of a teen slasher flick, as I briefly thought, but a fun night with new friends. Mallory quickly became a constant in my life, someone I couldn't imagine living without. We have memories in Hattiesburg, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C. But my favorites will always include cleaning behind them while they cook the most delicious food, adventures from farmers' markets to zoos, taking stupendous naps together, and feeling the chaotic competitive energy of playing ANY game (board or video) with them. They are the most creative, energetic, and caring person I know, and I'm beyond proud to call them my best friend.
Hale Thomas
Bridesmaid
Hale and I have been friends since the fifth grade, meaning we stuck with each other through our colorful middle school fashion sense, awkward junior high haircuts and braces, and every cringe-worthy relationship that characterized our school days (and I have plenty of pictures to prove it)! College brought us even closer when we moved in together junior year, and having Hale right down the hall was like the best endless slumber party. I loved our jam sessions, family dinners, and our (mostly) chill time watching football. We can have a good time wherever we go, even if it's a party where we don't know anyone or a night out when we're both down. Hale is smart, passionate, and musically talented as hell. She's also been present for some of the biggest moments of my life and has the most massive heart of anyone I've ever known. She goes big (as evidenced by all her School Spirit awards) and rarely goes home! I am so lucky to have grown up with such a wonderful best friend.
Lee Smith
Best Man
Logan here--I have known Lee since he was born but we didn't start our journey of friendship until we were both at Co-Lin. When we were younger we were too busy fighting like cats and dogs that had been trained for the WWE; sometimes testing our moves on pillows but more often on each other. I remember when Dad took us to the Vicksburg Military Park and Lee had his first supernatural experience (presumably with a Civil War ghost): that's one of my favorite memories with him. Our dad actually played a large role in our bond, because he made it a point when we moved to Hattiesburg to tell us how important we would be to one another. We can also attribute our closeness to a mutual appreciation (obsession) with Pokemon, Digimon, RPGs, Star Wars, and E-sports. Lee is often quiet, but he's always observing and taking things in--and he's always been there for me when I need him. He's mega smart, super caring, and truly dedicated (he's one of the only Browns fans in Mississippi!). It took an act of God--a literal fire--to separate us, after all. I'm so grateful that he's my brother and even more grateful that he's my best friend.
Dylan Farris
Groomsman
Dylan and I (Logan again) were not immediate friends as children, mostly because I was already friends with his sisters Ashley and Kaley, and he was "the baby." But because we were also cousins, we spent a lot of time together, and as we grew up, he transitioned from being the baby to being one of the bros. We spent countless hours playing the N64 and later the Gamecube, running around outside, and jumping on the trampoline--Dylan actually taught me how to do a backflip! He has always been a fantastic storyteller, and that talent showed itself early on in his tall tales: my favorite is the one where a bat flew into his room at night and bit him, and he was able to fly around his room and the ceiling fan until morning (I believe he was 8 at the time). Dylan is always entertaining, witty, and hilarious, but the cheese is genuine. He is an excellent cook, a wonderful listener, and the best dog father. I'm so stoked for him to stand next to me on the big day!
Nate Turner
Groomsman
(Logan, one last time): Ironically, I first met Nate when I was about 20 years old and he was my replacement at the GameStop in Brookhaven. He eventually became the manager of that store and we would talk when I came back as a customer. We found a mutual obsession with Call of Duty early on. Our big routine was playing Call of Duty for hours and then smashing pizza and wings at the local Pizza Hut or the Chinese buffet at Bobo's. When I first moved to Hattiesburg, Nate and Lee were my roommates for five years, and those five years were full of shenanigans. The first and only time I ever played Minecraft, Nate and I spent eight hours building a biome in the sky, only to be quashed by a freak power surge that destroyed all of our data. Through all of our video (and other) game mishaps, Nate has never, ever failed to make me laugh--and his laugh is contagious as well! He has a natural talent for a lot of the games he plays, in addition to a talent for true companionship. I'm so happy Nat's going to be there for my big day.