Our People
Foster
Officiant
Foster is my right-hand human, business partner, creative partner, co-founder of The Drunken Retort and co-founder of The Diatribe. Foster was the first person to convince me to get out of the state of Michigan to pursue art. He is someone who is constantly in the mindset of "Well if we want it, let's make it - we can do it!", which is not how everyone is programmed - but it makes Foster the perfect Yin to my Yang. He is the oldest brother I've always wanted.
Amber
Officiant
Amber is 1/2 of the Minister Duo for our wedding. She has been one of my best friends since 4th grade when I convinced her to buy me cookies for an entire school year. Amber is the most ride or die friend you could ask for and will do anything and everything to ensure her people are good to go.
Darian
Best Man
Darian is the cliche definition of "light-skinned". For years, we have obsessed over fashion, sneakers, music and pop culture. He is one of my closest childhood friends, former roommate (when I wasn't as good of a housemate as I am now), and by far the person I feel wholly myself around. Darian is someone who can always put a smile on my face and who I look forward to talking to when the world feels like too much - he is also somebody who makes me want to throw my PlayStation Controller against a wall.
Sam
Maid of Honor
Sam is 1/2 of the MOH squad. She has been my best friend since we were in 3rd grade and I fell on my ass while trying to do a front kick at recess. She followed me to the bathroom as I sobbed. Sammy laughs at all of my jokes, is the most trustworthy person I know, and moved back to the continental United States solely because I asked her to be my Maid of Honor (and because she's in love and she has a whole family here, but I digress). Sam does everything she can to make sure people around her are happy, healthy, and using reusable bags. She has a heart that is made of pure gold and is the only person who I could ever convince that D.C was "on our way" when we were traveling back from Tennessee. I just wanted to see Marcel - she was on board :)
Alex
Best Man
Alex is my little brother and the better, more caring, patient, and compassionate version of me. He's, without a doubt, the greatest human being on the planet. Alex has a beautiful way of asking questions, looking at the world, and knowing when to speak in a way that challenges your perspective with love. To this day, Alex has never beat me in video games and I truly believe he never will.
Maddy
Maid of Honor
Maddy is the other half of the MOH squad. She's my baby sister, my protégée and has the ability to laugh and cry in literally the same sentence. She takes the best selfies, keeps me up to date on what all the cool kids are doing, and insists a FaceTime is necessary when she cannot decide on her outfit. She's hilarious and makes me proud every single day by the way she carries herself. She's curious, adventurous, and is always down for a photoshoot. Maddy is the best person to sing in the car with and the only person who will be more dramatic than me on August 8.
Gleason
Grooms Person
Rachel is not only my friend, but also someone I have been lucky enough to share so many journeys with - be it across the country competing on stages or through the hallways of countless schools. Rachel is a fearless human being who I feel lucky to call a friend. For the last 6 years, Rachel has been a co-host of The Drunken Retort and is now Education Director of The Diatribe. Without her determination and brilliant mind, The Diatribe would not be what it is today.
Kaitlin
Bride's Person
Kaitlin 'Roberta' Greene has been one of my best friends since high school where she hid her middle name from me for six years. She is one of the most loyal and efficient people I know. Kate is down for anything with an early morning, set agenda, and is the best at texting back. Her favorite word is "steady" which is the exact word I'd use to describe her. No matter the situation I'm in, I can call Roberta and I know she'll be honest, transparent, have my back, and always come from a place of love.
Martel
Groom's Person
A wise person once said, a home isn't four walls but home is in fact found in the people that make us feel wholly ourselves. Martel is someone that I truly consider a brother. I live for his sense of humor, his incredible cooking, and his desire to make the world a better place. Some might think (although we look nothing alike) that we are the exact same person because our name has one letter that is different and because we both have dreadlocks which sucks, but hey, it's West Michigan - what are you gonna do?
Lydia Marie
Bride's Person
Lyd is my soul sister twin. We met in college and, to say I did not have it together at that time, is an understatement. She is cool, calm, collected, and has the voice of an angel. She was the first person to teach me about relaxing my hair and I could kick both of our 19-year old asses at the thought. She is the first person who gave me the confidence to walk in my authentic self & being called her twin is my favorite compliment. Lyd lives in Colorado but is never more than a text or FT call away. She keeps me up to date on whatever my soul should be doing and brings me back to center when I'm feeling off-balance.
Sprout
Groom's Person
Sprout is a genuine, caring, Pisces human who lives their 'water-sign' nature to a T. Sprout's ability to cool down my hot head, challenge the way I think and 'call me in' are second to none. Sprout has been my tour partner, show co-host, and is not only one of the most talented writers I've ever met - but is someone who is wholly themselves. Whenever I'm around Sprout, it pushes me to get more comfortable in my own skin while also working to make myself the best human I can be and challenge my norms.
Frazier
Bride's Person
Frazier is also one of my favorite cousins and my first best friend. Our moms getting impregnated around the same time was the best recipe the Universe could have cooked up. Frazier and I have spent countless nights in Fowlerville wondering why TF people made fun of our hair to nights wandering around Rome because he thought he could handle the booze. Spoiler alert: he could not.
Samar
Groom's Person
From crackers + cheese with hot sauce on Saltines to journeys on the bus to going '30-seconds' on the stops. From countless sleepovers to birthdays to movie experiences gone wild - Keenan is not only one of my childhood friends but is also another one of those very rare individuals with an outlook on the world that challenges the norm. Keenan has always looked at the world with a different lens than those around him and it is because of that, along with his ability to scale adversity with a smile, that makes him one stand up human being that I feel lucky to have in my corner.
Kelsey
Bride's Person
Kelsey is one of my dearest cousins and oldest friends. When we were young, I always thought Kelsey was the coolest person in the room and we secretly made fun of our cousin Mario until we got hit with a rose bush branch by our Grandma Brenda. Grandma denies this but I know what happened...Erika was also there. Kels is the definition of BOSS and works harder than anybody I know. Seriously, I don't think there's ever been a time where she's only had one job. She's got her shit together & isn't afraid to let you know when you need to catch up -I love that about her. Kelsey is beautiful, strong, opinionated, and has taught me so much about being a strong black woman! She also always has the hookup on candy - we share a wicked sweet tooth.
Brandon
Groom's Person
B. Hughes has been my manager, confidant, friend, road-trip partner and was the first person to invest in me as an Artist. We have shared countless drinks, way too many cigarettes, and a ton of nights plotting on how we were going to take over the artistic world. Brandon is somebody who has always kept it real with me, opened his home to me, and has pushed me further than, at times, I was willing to push myself. I have been fortunate to have a lot of people who believe in my Art, but Brandon believed in me as a human being during so many times I felt lost in the darkness.
Erika
Bride's Person
When we were little, Erika, Kelsey, and I were the inseparable trio. Whenever I went to my dads, spending time with the two of them was my favorite thing to do, and it still is. Erika is a bomb ass mom to three adorable humans and is always grinding to give her kids the world - I admire her so much!
Roach
Groom's Person
Roach has been the most consistent woman in my life. Not in a romantic or motherly way, but in a "We are going to have fun, I don't know what the world has in store for us, everything is going to work out, let's live in the moment, so what if we blackout" type of way. For seven years, Roach has been the bartender of The Drunken Retort, but also Foster and my road-trip buddy to The Drunken Retort in Detroit, the 'Welcoming Committee' for countless out-of-town Features, and also someone who made me believe in myself during times when all I thought I was good for was nothing healthy or productive. Roach was the very first person to not only invest in me, but also, convince a company to invest in my Artistic Career. Roach gives the best hugs that I always need.
Adam
Bride's Person
Adam Jayroe is unlike any other human on this planet - that is a fact I am certain of. Adam is hilarious, he's smart, he's fashionable, he loves making plans and loves when I give him shit. He makes fantastic playlists and is the only other person I know who is ready to start their weekend at 8am. We text about our favorite TV shows & encourage each others online shopping habits whenever we find a sale on ASOS. Adam will always bring me back to center and asks the questions nobody else wants to. He is one of my favorite humans on this earth and makes my life brighter just by being in it. One of my favorite memories of Adam includes a pan of gravy, our Sunday Best, and an Easter egg hunt.