Mikalah & Banks
Wedding Party
Haley
Eisen
"Hi! My name is Haley, college friend of Mikalah. We met our freshman year and hung out non-stop for four years straight. We even shared a bed for a summer! Despite no longer being able to spend an absurd amount of time together after Mikalah moved across the country, she has remained and will always be one of my absolute best friends and most important people in my life. We always make time for each other whether it’s simply sending pictures of our cats back and forth or going on vacations together. Regardless of how long we have had to go at times between seeing each other we always pick up right where we left off- usually by drinking a beer!"
Reed
Hall
"I’ll never forget the day i met banks. He had just absorbed the life force of 6 of the other octuplets. He turned to me, eyes mad with power and said 'Now, all i need is one more and i will have the powers of a god!' There was nowhere to run. We were enclosed in a warm dark cave without an exit. Even in the darkness his eyes glowed red. I closed my eyes and prepared for the worst. Just then i heard a tearing sound and felt cold air on my back. Light blinded me as i was lifted upward by two giant hands. Two minutes later banks emerged. Although the power of our 6 fallen brethren was still coursing through him, he had no recollection of what had transpired. 18 years later he fell and got second on rings at the high school gymnastics national championships, only bringing home a single gold medal for parallel bars. A feeling of guilt washed over me.. If he had succeeded in absorbing my power he would have won two golds. Now that i am older and wiser, however, the guilt is gone. This is because i know that absorbing a 7th soul would have made him cold, unloving, and dark, the opposite of the man he has become. Mikalah knows as well as anyone what a kind bright and loving person banks is as he shows these traits every day in their relationship. I can’t wait to see how they continue to grow together in marriage. So maybe the real gold medal was love all along."
Sam
Lovitz
"M -my name is Sam I - I have known Mikalah since college and Banks since soon after the two got together K - kindred spirits are what me and Mik and banks are, always looking for a good time B - Baltimore the past year is where I have spent so much time with the couple. Countless trips to visit and spending holidays together A - Always in touch is how you can define our relationship, 5 different group chats by topic, and nightly video games N - newly Weds, will be what these two lovely young lovers will be K - Keeping our friendship thriving will be my treat as these two penetrate the trials of life together S - so much love and a life of happiness is my wish for this amazing weekend and life"
Ethan
Homas
"Banks and I met the summer before entering our freshman year at UW and hit it off immediately. Over the next four years, it didn’t matter the occasion, Banks was always my go-to partner in crime! I can always count on him to meet life with optimism and treat others with unmatched kindness. Banks has always been the steadfast sort of friend I feel truly blessed to have in my life and I’m so happy he has found a loving partner in Mikalah. Here’s to you two! "
Kaitlin
Murphy
"I met Mikalah when she and our mutual friend Evan decided to actively befriend the intimidating redhead in their freshman dorm. From animal-noise conversations to common room nerf gun wars, Mikalah gave me permission to be myself by being the same kind of weird. She has been a constant source of joy and support regardless of distance. Mikalah is my 3AM friend, my third macaw travel buddy, possibly my soulmate (sorry Banks), and one of the best people I know. There’s no one I’d rather have a matching tattoo with."
Peter
Vo
"I’ve known Banks since freshmen year of high school but we didn’t become friends until the end of junior year. Since then, he’s been one of my best friends along with Reed and Zach, and more recently Ethan. Despite most of us going to different schools we kept in touch and stayed close, typically getting up to no good during the summers. Banks has always been a friend you can count on; kind, trustworthy and always looking for a good time. I’m glad he has found a lovely partner in Mikalah that makes him happy and can keep up with his adventurous lifestyle. I look forward to celebrating their special day with you all!"
Mackenzie
Simerlink
"I honestly can’t remember when I met Mikalah, but what I do know is Mikalah is one of my oldest friends. She even attended the baby shower when my mom was pregnant with me. It’s rare that someone finds a friend with whom their bond survives growing up, different colleges, different career paths, and different cities. I am lucky enough that Mikalah and I have managed to remain close friends through it all. Mikalah played such a large role in making my wedding day special and I cannot wait to do the same for her and Banks. "
Zach
Gerard
“Hey, I’m Zach! I met banks back in early high school (go Apollos). Despite going to different colleges and living in different cities at times, Banks has remained one of my closest friends. Some of my favorite memories with him are hanging out and causing trouble back in Portland over the breaks from school. Regardless of his calm demeanor, Banks has a way of turning an average day into an absolute adventure. He is easily one of the nicest and most loyal people I know, and his positivity is contagious. I’m happy to be a part of this special day for Banks and Mikalah. Cheers to the happy couple!”
Myles
Smith
“I first met Mikalah in my freshman, her sophomore, year of college, where she was the cool older intimidating vaguely emo girl living across the hall. I, however, was just “some annoying freshman.” (Her words, probably). Through a series of fortunate events and mutual friends, I managed to stumble my way into a friendship with Mikalah, Haley, and Sam. However, it wasn’t until the two of us sat down and correctly wrote out every single lyric of “Kidnap the Sandy Claws” in under two minutes for an online quiz that our friendship really began to take flight. Though I had spent several hundred hours playing video games with Banks, I didn’t meet him in person until I visited them in Portland (and discovered “Banks” was, in fact, NOT his last name). It was easy to like someone who is so compassionate, smart, and fond of Mikalah. It sure doesn’t hurt that he has the same taste in video games as me either! I am so happy to have both Mikalah and Banks as close friends in my life and I cannot wait to officiate and celebrate their marriage.”