Shae & Nick
Our Wedding Party
Kyle Jimenez
Maid of Honor
They shared a bedroom wall, a handful of pets, their favorite snacks, and a TV remote (sometimes civilly) for the first chapter of their lives — and they've shared quite a few tears and a whole lot of laughs since then. As the big sister of the bride (and the momma of Shae's two favorite small people ever), Kyle has always been someone Shae has looked to for guidance (...maybe most notably, to determine whether or not it was polite to ask for something she needed at someone else's house). Kyle has spent a lifetime leading, encouraging, and championing Shae, and her big day will be no exception.
Ben Sattler
Best Man
As the older brother, Ben was forced to endure Nick’s early years of immaturity until, finally, Ben graduated high school in 1999. At that point, he fled the country to Germany until Nick became a man. Once Nick realized how cool his brother was, their friendship grew far beyond the blood bonds they share. Some say they look like brothers, and they think those people are blind. But, they do sound alike and share the same lack of volume control. A couple of Oregon boys who went very different paths with no love lost, Nick considers his big brother his best friend and could think of nobody else to be his best man on this special day in his life.
Melanie Kahn
Bridesmaid
A best friendship 20 years strong, Melanie and Shae are all-but-blood sisters (though, we probably became "blood sisters" at one time or another, inspired by some witchy teen movie). Melanie and Shae have seen each other through so many curveballs and celebrations, and Mel is the only friend of Shae's who knows what really happens when she brushes out her curls. With countless inside jokes, favorite childhood cult classics, endless joint teenage memories, and the more recent joy of living only a town apart in LA, Shae couldn't imagine getting married without Melanie standing by her side.
Ryan Swift
Groomsman
30 years ago, Ryan’s older sister, Melissa, showed up at Nick’s door looking for Ben. With Ryan in tow, they asked if Nick could come out and play too. Ever since, the Swift family’s door has always been open to Nick. Through those 30 years, Ryan and Nick were teammates, schoolmates, and roommates, sharing their first apartment together in Eugene at 18, fresh out of high school. Live with your parents to save money you’ll need later? Not these two! They had little time for such wisdom. Many-a-nights were spent discussing life, music, religion, and Family Guy. Nick and Shae got to share Ryan’s wedding day with him, and Nick couldn’t be more honored to have Ryan stand with him as a brother on his big day.
Jessie Slocum
Bridesmaid
Jessie and Shae's bond officially began after an entire night staying up, sitting on the hallway floor of their college apartment, talking about their lives (truth be told, though, they'd both secretly decided to become friends with the other years prior). Though they haven't lived in the same city since their lawn-frolicking, deer-head-thieving, steam-tunneling days of UVA, their friendship hasn't missed a beat, and they're as close as ever, confiding in each other through the lows and reveling in one another's successes. You can bet Jessie's presence at the alter with Shae on her wedding day is a must-have.
Andy Harris
Groomsman
Sometimes you can't predict who will remain in your life for the long-run. Sometimes a punk-ass, red-headed skater becomes a punk-ass, bald wiseman who Nick looks to for advice and honest feedback. He's a loyal and incredibly generous friend, a great father and husband to his wife, Janel, and their two wonderful daughters, an honest and hardworking businessman, and all around one of the best guys we know. Andy and Nick have known each other essentially since birth through their mothers' friendship. This duo is not for the thin-skinned, so consider yourself warned.
Chelsea Bent
Bridesmaid
If ever Shae had to name a mentor, Chelsea would be the one. They successfully wrangled 130 fifth graders together (and managed to teach them a damn thing or two, too!); and every day, Chelsea taught Shae to be more patient, more compassionate, and a more self-reflective educator. Chelsea also had the pleasure of seeing Shae through some of her less-than-awesome days way back when (before Nick, of course) and did so always with a supportive shoulder for her to lean on. A 'work marriage', indeed, this lady has truly been a rock for Shae since 2011 when their partnership and friendship began. Shae's thrilled Chelsea said 'yes!' to her bridesmaid proposal.
Charles Ifegwu
Groomsman
They say real recognizes real. When Charles and Nick met working together for a digital marketing agency in 2012, they both knew what was up. Over the years, they’ve closed countless deals (and bars) together. In fact, Charles and Nick were together the night Nick met Shae. He likes to take credit for the whole thing, which Nick occasionally allows, but either way, it was surely Charles’s charm and humor that let Shae know right away, “This guy must be great if he’s got such awesome friends.” Shae and Nick spend many weekends at the Ifegwu residence grilling, watching fights (Shae’s favorite), and sharing the kind of laughs that make those muscles in the back of your head start to hurt. Nick is honored to have such a true friend and advocate of his marriage to Shae standing by his side.
Kara Engemann
Bridesmaid
Kara and Shae were destined to be friends. Shae first moved to LA just as Kara temporarily left, so Shae moved into Kara's old room. Against geographical odds, they discovered they enjoyed all the same pastimes & just wished they lived closer. When Shae suddenly entered single life (B.N. = Before Nick), Kara miraculously entered the realm of singledom then, too! They continued to bond over their love of all-things-fun (music! dancing! food! wine!) and spent an unhealthy amount of time together, lying poolside and talking about it all. Enter: Al and Nick. Their friendship only continued to grow, and they (plus Al and Nick, and now the sweet Engetwin boys, too) are living happily ever after. Kara's heart (and door!) is always open to Shae, and she's honored to have her be a part of this day.
Al Engemann
Groomsman
Nick met Al very shortly after he and Shae started dating. Al and his now-wife, Kara (of Shae’s bridal squad), had just started dating, so it was Nick’s job to size Al up to see if he was a good guy (100% not true). Nick and Shae have spent many days-into-nights at the Engemann’s, sipping wine, discussing life, and playing with their twin boys, of whom Uncle Nick and Aunt Shae can’t get enough. Anyone who knows Al will tell you he’s sincere, thoughtful, kind, and always an overly-gracious host. Nick even lets him win a game or two of Fibbage sometimes because he appreciates him so much. Nick and Shae consider Al and Kara family and couldn’t be happier to have them stand and offer support and witness for their day of celebration.
Tamara McGuckin
Bridesmaid
When Tamara and Shae get together, you'll either find them laughing until they cry, or crying until they laugh. Emotions run deep with these two, and for that, they seem to share insights and stories with one another that others may deem "oversharing" — they wholeheartedly disagree. Now that Tamara is living her best life as a successful songwriter in Nashville, Shae doesn't get to see her face as often as before (much to Shae's dismay), but that hasn't stopped them from having each other's backs and building each other up when needed. Tamara has been the biggest NicklaShae cheerleader since day one, and her presence on this day is a no brainer. Hashtag-creator-extraordinaire, Tamara Laurel sure has fans in us!
Patrick Ryan
Groomsman
Patrick danced (quite literally) his way into Shae and Nick's life at Coachella 7 years ago and, well, just never left. A friendship became a roommateship (is that a word? It is now!), which then became a work relationship when Shae made the leap from education to marketing under Patrick's mentorship at Outer. Basically, Patrick has prominently and permanently woven himself into the fabric of the NickLAShae story, and we are thrilled to have him. This wise owl with a bright smile, unparalleled perspective, and a calm joy about him is definitely one you want in your corner. He's been a steady presence through so many ups, downs, and twists, and Nick and Shae are grateful to call him a forever friend.
Whitney Campeau
Bridesmaid
When Shae thinks about who she wants to be like when she grows up, she thinks of Whitney. The classiest woman she knows with the greatest sense of humor, Whitney's (surprising to some) party mode and unexpected laughter, paired with her decorating prowess and chic sense of style all leave Shae wondering what the heck she even brings to the relationship for Whitney. They lived together for the first year Shae was in LA, and Whitney's immediate warmth helped get Shae through those first years. She's a friend always ready to help (even when that meant inviting Shae to become her impromptu roomie again for a stint along the way), and that friendship means that much more today, as Shae becomes a bride.
Kyrie Weiss
Groomsman
Like fire and smoke, it's rare to find Nick without Kyrie. They go by many names. Klean Jones, Two-O, the Dynamic Duo, The Boys. Call them what you will, these two are kindred spirits cut from the same cloth, brothers in music, and ride-or-die friends for life. It's hard to find a bigger fan of NickLAShae than this one. Their friendship was immediate and undeniable. During quarantine you could often find this party of three dancing into the wee hours of the night in their apartments. If you don't like fun, you should avoid Kyrie. He is an infectious vortex of positivity, smiles, and laughter. You've been warned.
Laura Avril
Bridesmaid
In the 5 years Laura and Shae have known each other, they have easily shared stories and vulnerabilities spanning quadruple that. Laura is someone Shae knows she can talk to about the tougher subjects without judgment, and Laura's thoughtful, compassionate take on each situation reminds Shae to be more forgiving of herself and to trust her intuition. Always down for some girl time, and the most fun to share a giggle with, Laura is the kind of friend any woman would be lucky to have. Her support means so much to Shae, and she is so excited to have Laura's energy beside her when she and Nick say their vows.
Alon Ravid
Groomsman
“Where is that accent from? He must be from Arkansas.” This quick-witted South African Jew was Nick’s first real friend in Los Angeles after he moved from Vegas in 2005. Nick and Alon met working for a mortgage broker in Century City in 2006 (yes, it was exactly like "The Big Short"), and the two quickly became friends, breaking up the grind with laughs and sweet kung-fu moves. Alon is a truly caring and sincere friend who has never gone too long without checking in, offering advice (solicited or not), and often selfless generosity. These two might not be the best to plan a night scuba dive with, but they are a great example of what real friendship looks like.
Paul Chambers
Groomsman
Nick and Paul met in 2013 after Paul hit on Charles’s cousin Richard in a bar. (No not really. Paul did ask for Richard's number though... #bromance.) Man, does this guy have some great stories. Don’t let his GQ façade fool you. Paul is a trained killer who will defend his dog and his friends with deadly groin kicks and eye gouges. Paul is an incredibly sincere and selfless friend, the best roommate (tied with Ian, Patrick, and Ryan), and an amazing party host. He’s a guy Nick knows he can always count on and one who truly cares about his relationship with Shae. Nick feels lucky to have Paul stand with him as he throws away his freed— ...I mean, professes his undying love to Shae forever and ever.
Bill Swano
Officiant
Ah, the chosen one. They say love is a journey—a collection of memories...a story. And marriage is a chapter. The honor of narrating that chapter calls not only for a witness to the story, but for a leading character and sincere supporter of the partnership. Bill has been a bringer-of-fun and instigator-of-adventure for Nick and Shae since the early days, and we can think of no better character than Mr. Swano to marry us.