A Bear in the woods wedding
Wedding Party
Liz Cox
Maid of Honor
Liz and Samantha met in high school on try outs for the track and field team at DPHS. Now Samantha was a senior and this would mark her second year on the team and Liz was a Freshman. Samantha knew that if Liz did not commit to the Track and Field team that the likelihood of them hanging out would most likely not come to fruition, so Samantha made sure to tell Liz all the wonderful parts of the Track team especially the throwing component, as Liz was checking out shot put and discus, which were the sports that Samantha participated in. Well after it was too late for Liz to drop Track and Field Samantha came clean that while most of what she said held some truth it may not have been as truthful as it sounded. But luckily for all involved both Liz and Samantha had a great experience on the track team and more important this laid the foundation for their friendship to flourish! They used to wait until 7pm for free cell phone minutes - remember that! When Samantha was in college at SDSU just to catch up on the goings on in each others lives. They have traveled around the world together and were so often at one another's houses that locks just seemed unnecessary and each family never questioned why the other was there but was simply happy to see them. Liz and Samantha always have called each other their other half and that they share a brain, because following a conversation between the two of them you'll notice they often say only half as many words as most people.
Abby Goode
Maid of Honor
As many people know, Sam and my Birthday are one day apart, and we love a reason to dress up. For our 2017 birthday celebration, I flew out with a goal to have a different costume for every event of the weekend. It started when Sam picked me up at the airport, blasting a goofy movie soundtrack as loud as her car would allow. Once the hugging and of-tune singing was complete, we raced over to dinner as hipster Disney princesses. Followed by a midnight screening of IT where we transformed into clowns freaking out the entire theater as the lights came back on. The following morning decked out as Champaign bubbles, we “ran” a 5K as we sprayed each other with silly string and blew bubbles at fellow racers. Next off to Malibu for a 5-mile hike to the MASH 4077 set. Then back to Santa Barbra to rock the best of our 90 Grunge with some LED lights to ensure everyone could see us shine during our night out on the town. We had one more day left of our birthday extravaganza and 2 outfits remaining. We woke up early to do an HHIT workout as the SDSU workout fairies, where we got the instructor to don a matching glitter tutu. Once our trail of glitter ran out, and to round out the weekend of mischief, we went to enjoy the Titanic exhibit dressed as maids. Apparently, not many visitors come in costume so we were put in the library newspaper. We rounded out the weekend with glitter poppers before Sam dropped me off at the airport covered in glitter much to TSAs disapproval.
Amanda Tawzer
Bridesmaid
During our Senior year at San Diego State, the Men’s Basketball Team had an unprecedented season. Student tickets were free, but became harder and harder to obtain as the team’s win streak grew game after game. Our biggest rival in the conference was BYU, and they were scheduled to play at SDSU in late February. By that time, our record was 27-1 and the campus was electric with excitement. Students (including Samantha) camped out at Viejas for three days to wait in line for tickets. I joined in later but was unfortunately too far back in line to claim a ticket, and thus gave the diehards their due respect and moved on. Fast forward to the night before the game... I was at a friend’s party when my phone rang. It was Samantha, offering me an extra ticket (at face value) to the game. I immediately accepted and became the envy of everyone at the party. The next day we dressed head to toe in SDSU gear and prepared signs and chants to heckle Jimmer Fredette. Viejas was sold out and The Show student section was on fire (I still get chills to this day thinking about it). Unfortunately we ended up losing the game but I will never forget sharing that experience with Sam. She even bought us the first round of consolation drinks after the game.
Sarah Hintze
Bridesmaid
Sarah and Samantha met by luck and by fate as they happened to both choose the same study abroad program and their paths crossed in Madrid. There connection was immediate and before they had even taken a trip together they booked two months worth of travels as adventure companions! They both had the same concern before their first weekend trip, "Oh gosh, what if we really are not good at traveling together and we've booked all of these non refundable plans together..." However the fact that they each had that same thought just points to how compatible of a friendship Samantha and Sarah have with one another. There is immediate ease, lots of laughter, and a healthy combination of spontaneity, trust in the universe, luck and bad ass energy to keep them both safe and fulfilled in their wildin! Together they have almost been kicked off a train in Europe, explored the ruins in Italy, chased a man down to find out where he got his gyro in Greece, woken up in the middle of the beautiful full moon to gaze at the Alps, dined in Germany, snorkeled in Fiji, hiked a volcano in Bali, touched the waters in Bath England, gambled in Las Vegas, cheered on St. Patrick's day in San Diego, and enjoyed a tequila shot with mama bear in Santa Barbara. They are two peas in a pod and always hold a strong place for one another's friendship.
Shauna Ericksen
Bridesmaid
Shauna and Samantha met while playing roller derby, technically they played trivia at Old Kings Road on opposing teams for a few months before actually meeting as nuggest for the Brawlin Betties. Shauna, came to Samantha's rescue when she got her thumb trapped in her trunk - screaming at the top of her lungs for help because her car fob didn't work, she needed someone to go to the drivers side and pop the trunk. It's wild how long it took for someone to realize, this was not a bit, but true fear and terror. Shauna came running to the rescue, popped the trunk, did an assessment and in true Shauna fashion, said, "You'll be fine, I bet you can still do the workout." Well Samantha did stay and do part of the workout then went home, cried, and well the thumb didn't fall off! Once again in true Shauna fashion, when Samantha thanked her at the practice the following week, Shauna asked her what she was up to after practice, Samantha said she was going to grab lunch with a friend then go swimming at the Bacarra. Never one to shy away from a good time, Shauna said, "Oh wow that sounds fun! I'd love to join!" And the rest is history, they two found out they lived a few blocks from one another in Goleta, and even more fortuitous they each were looking for the perfect roommate to move downtown with. Luck smiled on each of them and they found the most perfect casita duplex just three blocks from the beach, they dubbed it Casa Sexy Beast! Living together were some of the most fun years!
Teresa Bray
Bridesmaid
Teresa and Samantha met while Samantha was pledging Alpha Pi Sigma...without getting into the sacred secrets of the sorority let's just say that Samantha was not a fan of Teresa during the process, however at the speed of light as soon as Samantha became a sister, their bond was stronger than a diamond! They have traveled the world together and explored the Bahamas with a private beach and more hitchhiking than they thought they'd ever do, enjoyed real Cuban cigars in Cuba, danced the night away in Mexico, swam through waterfall pools in Guatemala, and frolicked in the snow together in Mammoth. Teresa and Samantha were paired up as buddies within the sorority and they took their buddy points very seriously! These two are a bonded pair, who just understand one another, they love hard, they work hard, and you better believe that they play harder! Teresa and Samantha just make sense, they have many conversations through glances and getting married without Teresa by her side, just would never be a possibility.