Wedding Party
Melina Cange
Bridesmaid
Melina is Laura's sister and role model. She's an amazing mother of four, a superb cook, and has to re-explain her job to Laura every few months. If you challenge Melina and Laura to any team games, you will definitely lose. Likewise if you challenge them to trivia involving FRIENDS, The Parent Trap, Mean Girls, or Harry Potter. There is something special about having an older sister who was learning to drive when you were learning to tie your shoes. While Laura may have sometimes been the Stephanie Tanner of their relationship, she will forever treasure being the younger sister to such a cool, confident chick. Melina will be walking down the aisle with her husband Craig, who is an awesome dad, coach to many kids sports teams, and will never live down the time he dislocated our little brother's elbow the first time he met the family.
Josh Maile
Bridesman
Josh is Laura's not-so-little brother. He's studying engineering at UC, he drove (most of the way) across the country in a tricked out van last summer, and once made eye-contact with Drake at a concert. He is basically the coolest person she knows. He is the baby of the family, which was not always easy. In fact, Josh once got so mad at Laura for going to a big kid party without him that he cut the fur off her stuffed animals. Since then however, they've only gotten closer. Now, sometimes all they have to do is look at each other and they laugh. Interesting fact: Josh was a student in Laura's Anatomy class his junior year of high school. Pro-tip: do not challenge him to any online word games.
DeeDee Bailey
Maid of Honor
We've been friends since our moms were pregnant at the same time - our birthdays are exactly one month apart. She was the louder of the pair of us, but that meant she often spoke for me when I didn't feel like talking. Her mom babysat me from when I was 11 months old, and when my parents would come to pick up me, we'd pretend we were "attached at the hip" so I wouldn't have to leave. We share the same favorite "fair foods," (corn dogs with painted ketchup and frozen lemonade from the 4-H stand), sounds (crickets and tree frogs), and childhood memories (anything we did together). One day we'll be like the Golden Girls.
Kristina Liming
Groomswoman
Kristina is a nurse practitioner and wonderful mother and giver to all those around her, but before all that she was Ryan's older sister. She introduced him to teaching by playing school when they were kids, was the glue to their siblings, and was often frightened by Ryan standing over her bed while sleep-walking. Kristina will be walking down the aisle with her husband Justin, who has been a brother to Ryan for as long as he can remember. He's an awesome dad, an avid fisherman and hunter, and is credited for taking Ryan hunting for the first time 18 years ago. Yikes.
Jason Shearer
Groomsman
Jason is Ryan's oldest brother. He's an awesome dad and brother, and can answer any question about any car ever made. Some of Ryan's fondest memories of childhood are the times spent watching Jason play basketball. He will be walking down the aisle with his wife, Melissa. Melissa is an amazing mom and sister-in-law, and has been bringing big energy and emotion to every Shearer family event for years. Try to catch her without a smile and a bud light at the wedding; 5 bucks says you won't.
Adam Shearer
Groomsman
Adam is Ryan's older brother and go-to person for advice on all things. He is the singular reason Ryan hates video games, but is also the one who taught Ryan how to look at things objectively. While they have many similarities, it is telling that Adam won "best sportsmanship" the same year Ryan lead the league in yellow and red cards when they played varsity soccer together. Adam is a natural father and friend for life, and if you ask him how many times his daughter has pooped since she was born, I'll bet he knows the answer. Adam will be walking down the aisle with his wife Shannon. Shannon is equally as brilliant, and is somehow managing to be a stellar new mom while earning her PhD from UC. Her laugh is infectious and her love of pups unmatched.
Vos Taylor
Best Man
Vos is Ryan's best man, but will also be officiating the wedding! Ryan's BFF, co-creator of their fantasy football constitution, and truest friend you'll ever have. He's the embodiment of a lifelong friend and has always understood what's most important in life. You don't hear Vos's laugh without laughing, hear him sing without wanting to sing along, and there has never been an OSU game where he didn't yell "LET'S GOO!!!" and clap loudly at the TV. Vos will be walking down the aisle with his wife Joni, who has also been one of their closest friends since 8th grade. Joni is the world's best listener, brings sunshine to every room she's in, and has a way of making you feel like the most important person in the world. Joni, Vos, Laura, and Ryan lived together for two years and have been "roomies" at heart ever since. At "Grovedale" there was unending laughter, late-night takeout runs in snowstorms, and frequent spontaneous spring cleaning sessions with windows open and music loud. Ryan and Laura would not be who they are without the love and support of Joni and Vos, along with the rest of their amazing circle of friends who have been together since high school.