Melissa & Greg
Wedding Party
Lauren
Maid of Honor
Lauren Esther and I have been friends since we met on the Emilie Ritchen basketball team in the 5th grade. Before we met our soulmates, we were each other's person, roommates, teammates, partners in crime, wedding dates, and more! Lauren has encouraged my love of dancing, shopping, hot cheetos, crossfit and so many other things. We know each other almost better than anyone else (Greg and Kevin are catching on) and as I got to stand by Lauren on her wedding day, I am so excited for her to be next to me on ours.
Bob
Best Man
Full disclosure, I saved Bob "Sully" Sullivan for last when working on our website because I know for sure 800 characters won't be enough to describe the impact Pops has had on my life. I have so many fond memories growing up as my father's son, but probably none more than when he broke down in tears after dropping me off for my first semester at JMU when we hugged goodbye and I said "We had a good run, didn't we?". Over the years, I've seen him evolve and develop into such a selfless, patient and loving man towards everyone he meets. If I'm lucky, I'll end up being half the man he is today. At this point, though, I'd take that bet because having my Dad stand up with me as my Best Man might make me about as lucky as it gets. And yes, we HAVE had a good run and it is FAR from over!
Ashley
Bridesmaid
Ashley and I met our Junior year in college, both working towards becoming teachers. We had an instant connection and have been close friends ever since. We have experienced so much in the past 11 years including college graduation, trips to San Diego, Hawaii, New York, San Francisco, Vegas, Costa Rica, marriages and babies! Our days are no longer filled with VRB's and late night donuts, but the family adventures our futures' hold are pretty exciting to look forward to!
Aaron
Groomsman
Outside of my Dad, Aaron will be my longest-tenured friend at our wedding. Our friendship goes back to 4th grade when we both attended Coventry Elementary together. We shared many living room floors together growing up sleeping over at each other's homes and even spent a few years playing on the same baseball and football teams together in high school. We will always have trips to practice in The Toaster with pit stops at 7-11 for nachos on the way home. I was fortunate enough to witness Aaron marry the love of his life Kara Dawn shortly after college and I am really looking forward to them both returning the favor when I say I DO to the love of mine!
Molly
Bridesmaid
Lauren and I met Molly our freshman year at Cal Poly (in 2005, wow!) We immediately connected with Molly's positive spirit and adventurous attitude. Over the past 13 years we have gone our separate paths but always seem to find our way back to each other. Molly is always ready for a vacation to somewhere hot, a nice cold Coke, a homemade latte, a yoga class and anything fun! It has been so exciting to watch Molly change and grow, especially becoming a mom! I'm so grateful that she will be by my side on our special day!
Matt
Groomsman
Matt will undoubtedly bring the laughter to this bridal party. It wasn't until York and Tabb schools merged some of their population into Grafton that Matt and I met. Our friendship really took off towards the end of High School as we found ourselves in many of the same AP classes, although my earliest memories of Matt are watching him take some of the shortest, choppiest steps ever recorded while patrolling the back third for Grafton High's Varsity soccer team. They stayed close throughout college, even while Matt was working his way into and through the Air Force Academy and I was fortunate enough to stand up with Matt for his wedding in the Outer Banks. With three kids and a busy life at the FBI now, I am so blessed that Matt will still be able to stand with me on July 14.
Emily
Bridesmaid
Emily is the youngest of our group of "Girls" but she has fit in from the very beginning. Emily is Molly's sister so we have known each other for a long time but became especially close when she moved into the Flora house with the rest of us. Her enthusiasm and love for adventure always inspires all of us to have more fun, from yard sale adventures, happy hours, waxing sessions and more she is always ready for a good time! I'm so excited to dance beside her on the big day!
Henry
Groomsman
JMU will always be an important part of my life, even more so now that Melissa and I got engaged there, but it is also where I first met Henry. We became fast friends in Harrisonburg, bonding over our immense love of sports and virtually anything else that you can compete on. We've spent many late nights over a beer pong table or Xbox controller and will always be close friends so long as there is a game or match going somewhere that we can discuss. Spending the weekend with Henry and his wife Elena for their wedding remains one of the more fun times of my life. Melissa and I cannot wait to return the favor!
Kali
Bridesmaid
Kali is another one of the "Girls" and we've been friends since college. After our girls trip to Costa Rica, Kali and I have grown close. Kali's love for others is contagious and I'm so lucky to call her my friend. She is an amazing mother, wife, daughter, sister, cousin and friend. I got to see her marry the love of her life five years ago! Now, I'm so excited that she and Jake will both stand beside us as we say "I do!"
Kelsey
Groomswoman
Before anyone else, Kelsey was the first person I asked to be in our wedding. We never officially "met" when I was a regular customer at Nucci's, but she isn't the kind of person you look past. When I started CrossFit and was introduced to her as one of the coaches, I knew that we had met before! A few weeks into my membership, we both had one of those "AH HA" moments and became instant friends. Kelsey is one of the more entertaining people that I have ever met and her generosity towards others may only be rivaled by my beautiful fiance. I know it isn't always "traditional" to have a Groomswoman in a wedding, but I couldn't imagine my life without Kelsey nor would I want to marry Melissa without her by my side!
Jayme
Bridesmaid
Jayme and I have countless laughs and adventures together! We met when Jayme and Lauren worked at the great FMC Mclintocks together and Jayme soon became our roommate. From then on there were Grey's Anatomy episode binges, downtown dancing, late night pizza, and dancing and laughing all the time. From our trips to Vegas, Santa Barbara, Costa Rica and of course Europe we have seen the world together, and eaten our way through it! I'm so happy to have Jayme stand with us on our important day.
Jake
Groomsman
Sometimes I have to remind myself that it has only been 2.5 years since Jake and I met, only because he is the type of person that you instantly feel like you've known your whole life once you meet. I will always be thankful to Jake and wife Kali, also in our Bridal Party, for having Melissa and I over to their house early in our relationship for Sunday dinners. While it may have been part of their initial vetting process for me, their generosity has always been on display. When Melissa and I decided to remake the backyard at our house in Oceano, it was Jake who spent countless hours handcrafting the Chicago Cubs cornhole boards that you will see on display at our reception. Jake is a role model both as a husband and father and I'm honored that he'll be up there with me!
Megan
Bridesmaid
Megan is my younger sister and the middle girl in our family. We've had a lifetime of adventures, laughs and of course sisterly fights! We've now grown up and followed the same career path and now as adults can relate on a new level. I'm so grateful for her excitement and support during this amazing time!
Bryan
Groomsman
Bryan's wife Ashley is also part of the Bridal Party, as she has been friends with Melissa since college, he and I have done our best to make up for lost time since meeting shortly after Melissa and I started dating. His love of baseball is something that will always keep us close, but his immediate acceptance of me as the "new guy" in Melissa's close group of friends is something that I will forever be indebted to him for. He, along with Ashley, has done a remarkable job raising two young children and I look forward to really growing our friendship in the years to come as Melissa and I also look at starting our own family.
Michelle
Bridesmaid
Michelle is my other younger sister, the youngest of the three of us. She has always been a dreamer and a planner, excited for what the future has to offer, especially when it comes to weddings. Throughout this entire process she has been ready to help in any way and I could not have made it all happen without her!
Lance
Groomsman
Lance might be the most unlikely of my Groomsman simply because he is still a few years away from having his Driver's License, but he isn't flying all the way from Virginia to sit on the sidelines. The first child of my younger Stepsister Leigh, I have unfortunately missed way too much of his youth being in California. He has turned into quite the mature young adult and I am very proud of the man he is becoming. I love all of my friends and I am honored by the group that has chosen to stand up with me on July 14 that I'll be very proud to have all of their influence on Lance for the extended weekend.
Miles
Ring Bearer
I can't begin to put into words what Miles means to me! I've known him since before he was born, working with his amazing Mom Vanessa at Hawthorne. I have loved him since the day he was born and have gotten to watch him grow up into a funny, sweet, loving, smart boy! He is the perfect one to be in charge of our special rings and I couldn't imagine our wedding without him being a part of it. I'm so grateful to the entire Parsons family and all of their love and support they've always shown us!
Nola
Flower Girl
Nola is Lance's adorable little sister and Greg's first Niece. She will be making her first trip to California to be our Flower Girl for the big day! We are beyond excited to have her and her brother as integral parts to the ceremony and cannot wait to spend as much time with them as possible, since we know how difficult it can be seeing them from across the country.