Leah & Warren
Wedding Party
Katie Paulson
Matron of Honor
Katie and I met several years ago when she was dating my brother, Billy. I thought we hit it off immediately but according to her, she was afraid of me when we first met. Even though Katie is technically my sister-in-law, she has always felt more like a sister. Some people have even mistaken us for sisters. While I was a struggling graduate student at ODU, Billy and Katie would treat me to lavish dinners on the weekends like I was their adopted child. Now Katie spends much of her time wrangling her two dinosaur loving sons and bravely using a black pen to complete the Sunday crossword puzzle.
Peter Partee
Best Man
Peter and I have been best friends since birth after our parents' close friendship brought us together. We quickly made them pay the price for this when we intentionally flooded his parents' upstairs bathroom while they were drinking cocktails downstairs. Peter is an incredibly loyal friend. He has remained a steadfast companion despite the Volunteers pummeling his beloved Crimson Tide for most of our childhood and my subpar blocking resulting in several uncomfortable hits for Peter during a short but memorable JV football career. Peter ended up at Washington & Lee playing in the defensive backfield while I ended up at Sewanee heckling Peter and the other W&L players while wearing a cape. Peter now lives in Richmond with his wife, Jane, and daughter, Grace.
Caitlin Lamb
Bridesmaid
Caitlin and I have been best friends since we were babies. We grew up terrorizing Laurel Cove together where we had milk-chugging contests and hosted a Winnie the Pooh Club. We were so close, I even knew the secret password needed to enter Caitlin's childhood bedroom. Caitlin and I parted ways in high school when she attended Bishop Sullivan and I went to Cox. We did get to meet on the lacrosse field, however, where I managed to score two goals against the mighty Crusaders (please don't ask how many goals they scored). We've stayed close over the years thanks to goofy text messages, lake trips, and annual girls' trips. In her free time, Caitlin enjoys designing our save-the-dates and invitations and also caring for her new baby, Jack.
Hunter deButts
Groomsman
Hunter and I became friends in Kindergarten and formed an unbreakable bond after getting in trouble during our first play date at my house. Our friendship remained strong even after Hunter cruelly moved away to Alexandria where he had an illustrious athletic and academic career that took him to a small college in New Jersey. Luckily, we both found ourselves in the Tidewater area a few years later where we returned to our mischief-making (see the above photo). Hunter currently serves in the US Navy and enjoys sending me inane text messages and pictures of my celebrity "dopplegangers".
Lauren Morgan
Bridesmaid
The best part of Caitlin going to Bishop Sullivan was that I got to meet Lauren. I became so close with Lauren that I sometimes pretended I also went to Bishop Sullivan instead of Cox High school. We continued our friendship at JMU and then lived together in Ghent after graduation. Life with Lauren was always an adventure-- we took trips to California, weekend road trips to Richmond and D.C, and several midnight journeys to Cookout for quesadillas and milkshakes. After short stints in Charleston, Miami, and Augusta, Lauren will soon be settling back in Norfolk with her husband and new baby boy, Rhett!
Bennett King
Groomsman
Bennett and I became friends during our first year at Sewanee when we both lived in the Gorgas dorm, along with several other poorly behaved wedding attendees. Ever since my mother reminded us not to drink too quickly during Sewanee parents' weekend, Bennett has been a paragon of responsibility, going to bed by 9pm and eating vegetables each weeknight. We have shared several adventures over the years, including a New Years Eve Widespread Panic concert (eek) and recent trips to Chicago and Savannah.
Catherine Snead
Bridesmaid
Catherine is Warren's sister and a close friend of mine since Warren and I started dating. We've gotten to spend lots of time together in Richmond, Virginia Beach, family vacations, and a trip to Knoxville where I got to watch football in the rain. Catherine has been an important source of comfort in learning to deal with Warren's many quirks. When she's not busy working with country music stars, she enjoys having an Aperol Spritz, talking to Warren about football (so I don't have to), and sleeping in.
Billy Paulson
Groomsman
My first memory of Billy was returning Leah's bike back to his house on 69th street where I unsuccessfully tried to make small talk with him. Months later, our friendship began to blossom after an enjoyable evening at Gringos and during my going away party a few days later. Since then, Billy has helped bring my golf abilities from horrendous to mediocre and introduced me to creative fantasy football punishments. Outside of playing golf, Billy enjoys watching golf, and teaching his sons how to play golf.
Stephen Elliott
Officiant
Stephen and I became friends while at Sewanee. I was initially skeptical of Stephen after seeing him dressed like a Wizard during the midnight premiere of a Harry Potter movie but we quickly became friends nevertheless. We've maintained a close friendship over the years due to our shared interest in reading, American politics, and SEC football. Stephen spends his free time patronizing bookstores and wine bars, shaping the local political discourse, and seeking out Bachelorette parties passing through Nashville.