Naomi & Trent
Wedding Party
Elle Harazin
Officiant
Description by: Naomi During our first two years at CMU, Elle lived on the same dorm hall floor as Trent and I did. She became close friends with each of us right away, which meant she was caught in the middle of our early relationship drama. We would both confided in Elle and flood her with questions about one another like, "Do you think he likes me? Should I ask her out? How do I know he'll say yes?" Finally, she got fed up and told us to just go on a damn date, already. Over the years, Elle has become a mainstay in our lives, spending hours upon hours at our house, attending our birthday parties, and even travelling multiple states to visit us in grad school. She's been there since the dawn of our relationship and we can't imagine anyone else officiating our wedding.
McKenna Blyly
Maid of Honor
Description by: Naomi When we moved to Schoolcraft the summer before 8th grade, McKenna was the first person I met from my new school. Her mom sold us our house and we bonded over, of all things, Twilight. All throughout middle school and high school, I spent about one night a week at McKenna's house. We passed countless hours talking about boys, playing games with her family, and watching 27 Dresses. Her parents and younger brother basically treated me like another member of their family. Whenever I think about high school, all of my happiest memories are from sleepovers at her house. She is a truly dedicated, kind, and thoughtful friend. I appreciate her willingness to build me up, but also give me a good kick in the ass when I need it. And I'm blessed to have her as my Maid of Honor.
September Stahly
Best Woman
Description by: Trent I met September during my second year of grad school in Maryland. She was in the cohort just behind me and practically saved my entire grad school experience. The snarky comments she would make around the clinic instantly made me want to be her friend. Sometimes, it's tough for me to open up to others, but September makes it super easy. She's so gracious and understanding, while also managing to balance that with unparalleled sass. I really enjoy our repartee and I'm psyched that she agreed to be my best woman, despite living multiple states away.
Morgan Macfarlane
Bridesmaid
Description by: Naomi I met Morgan in high school. Her, Mikayla, and I spent many nights at McKenna's house for sleepovers. But, in my opinion, the highlight of my friendship with Morgan was when she moved Virginia for one whole year while I was in Maryland for grad school. This was our chance for more one-on-one coffee dates and meetups than we'd ever had before. She's one of the most clever, successful, and self-possessed people I know. I'm convinced that she will one day rule the world. Until then, I'm thankful that she took the time out of her crazy, jet-setting life to be in my wedding.
Mikayla Raifsnider
Bridesmaid
Description by: Naomi Mikayla was the 2nd person I met in Schoolcraft and as soon as I did, I thought to myself, 'This chick is too cool for me'. Thankfully, she didn't agree and I've had the honor of having her as one of my best friends since high school. My favorite memory of Mikayla is probably the time she made all of us custom t-shirts for the midnight premiere of Twilight: Eclipse. Mine said, "Team Edward". Every time I travel back to the Kalamazoo area, Mikayla is always up for brunch or a coffee date. She's an endlessly loyal friend, whose wicked sass got me through some tough times and I'm so glad she agreed to be a bridesmaid.
Joshua Henning
Groomsman
Description by: Trent Josh and I met as part of a Super Smash Bros club at CMU. We didn't talk much at first, but over time, I found myself just falling into conversations with him. He's super chill and can get into deep conversations about basically anything. Over the next few years, we got closer as friends and I even got to know his wife, Emily. My favorite thing about Josh is how unassuming he is. I could say something really stupid to him and he'd just laugh it off, never once giving me a hard time. I'm really thankful to a have such a kind and genuine friend in my life and glad that he agreed to help me celebrate my marriage to Naomi.
Tariq Brown
Groomsman
Description by: Trent Tariq and I were roommates during our freshman year at CMU. From the beginning of our friendship, Tariq was always an incredibly friendly and kind individual with a wonderful heart and a brain made of dictionaries and encyclopedias. Of everyone I've had the fortune of knowing in my life, I may have learned the most from Tariq over the two years of living together and our friendship since then. I am proud to count Tariq as one of the most consistent and wonderful humans that have been a part of my life. I am thankful and proud that Tariq is going to be a member of my wedding party.
Molly Evans
Bridesmaid
Description by: Naomi Given that I'm older than Molly by about 9 years, I have some very early memories of her, including when she was born, changing her diapers, and how much of a tyrant she was as a toddler. However, now that she's almost 17, Molly has actually become one of my best friends. She's clever, authentic, and probably the most well-adjusted person I know. I love that I can just call her up randomly to chat about life. She's also the only person besides Trent who will scream/sing Taylor Swift with me in the car. Molly is an excellent sister and I can't say enough how thankful I am to not only have her in my life, but also in my bridal party.
Chance Evans
Bridesman
Description by: Naomi Being the closest in age of all my siblings, Chance and I have always had a pretty special relationship. We fought a lot when we were younger. Y'know the usual: hair-pulling, name-calling... dressing him up in my clothes. I even once convinced him he had an antenna on his head that he couldn't see. Now, though, he's one of my closest friends and I really cherish the bond that we have. I love calling him to talk about movies and TV shows, even though his opinions are usually terrible. He's such a sweet and funny person. I couldn't ask for a better little brother. He and his girlfriend, Kylie, even agreed to lend their musical talents to us for our big day.
Winn Evans
Bridesman
Description by: Naomi Winn is the youngest in my family, which means he's often had to fight to get a word in edgewise. He manages this by being super off-the-wall funny. Hearing Winn express his inner thoughts and feelings is an absolute blessing. I love cuddling with him on the couch and every time I visit my parents, I try to make time to play catch with him, even though it always turns into a pitching lesson. I love Winn with all my heart and I'm really glad that I get to be his big sister. I can't wait to celebrate with him and to see what kind of wild stuff he gets up to at the reception!
Busha (Terry Horiski)
Flower Grandma
Description by: Trent My Busha and Papa* lived in Florida for most of my life, but somehow managed to be more present and supportive of me than pretty much anyone, with the exception of just my parents. I was their first grandchild and they never let me forget it, spoiling me with love and gifts as far back as I can remember. Sadly, we lost my Papa a couple of years ago. But, I'm lucky enough to still have my Busha in my my life. Every time I get to visit with her, I always leave feeling all warm and fuzzy. I've never once doubted how much she cares about me and to me, that's what family means. Thanks for being a part of this day with us, Busha. We love you. *What I call my grandma and grandpa
Grandma Pat (Bishop)
Flower Grandma
Description by: Naomi My grandma on my Dad's side, Grandma Pat is a sweet, quirky, and giving person. When I was a toddler, I would visit her and my grandpa, who I call Poppy, for days at a time. Even through high school, I spent the majority of my summer weekends at their lake cottage, often hauling my friends up with me. Given how generous she's been to me my whole life, it's no surprise that she agreed to help Trent and I celebrate our marriage by being one of our "Flower Grandmas."
Grandma Linda (Bennett)
Flower Grandma
Description by: Naomi If you looked up "grandma" in the dictionary, you'd find a picture of Grandma Linda, my grandma on my Mom's side. She is a classic grandma in every sense of the word: gentle, loving, and she makes the BEST brownies. I love going to her house to do crafts and watch hallmark movies. She's such a sweet yet fiercely loyal grandma who gives the best life advice. I'm so thankful to have her as my grandma and my "Flower Grandma."