Wedding Party
Gracie Golden
Maid of Honor
Gracie and Addi met at Vanguard University while both studying Political Science! Gracie has since graduated and has remained a fast friend to Addi.
Sophia Simpson
Maid of Honor
Sophia is Addi’s little sister who is attending college at California Baptist University.
AJ Quarrels
Best Man
When they first met each other, Sam and AJ did not anticipate that they would be close friends. Little did they know, they would be lifelong friends. They met in the Vanguard music department, spending countless hours setting up and performing at different events as well as many hours talking about important things like theology and star wars. Over time they went from climbing the mountains of college and life, to scaling actual mountains together with AJ’s dad, in California. AJ now works for a private Christian school as a teacher and a coach.
Seth Melton
Groomsman
Seth and Sam met in 10th grade at Clear Falls Highschool during lunch. It was a lifelong friendship from the start, not even a pandemic or living in separate states could separate them! If there was a moment between track events for Seth or Choir for Sam, you likely would have caught these two fishing somewhere between Galveston Texas, and Toledo Bend on the other side of the state! Seth is now an Electrical Engineer at Exxon, after having graduated from Texas Tech.
Emma Lucas
Groomswoman
Emma is Sam’s little sister, or as he affectionately calls her “small one”. Emma has taught Sam both what it means to have to ask for the Lord’s patience, and what it means to have the best sister he could ask for. Throughout their childhood Emma inspired Sam with her persistence and creativity. In everything from her award-winning art, to her state award winning cows that she has raised, her God given compassion and sense of justice shines through. Emma is set to graduate from Tarleton State, and is pursuing a career as a large animal vet.
Alivia Osborne
Bridesmaid
Alivia is Addi’s older sister. Her daughter is Stella, one of the adorable flower girls!
Brielle Smith
Bridesmaid
Brielle is Addi’s older cousin who used to live in Washington! The Simpson family spent time in Washington every summer where all the cousins became close friends. Brielle now lives in Texas, only about an hour north of Addie and Sam!
Emilie Ellis
Bridesmaid
Emilie is Addi’s little cousin who lives in Washington! The Simpson family spent time in Washington every summer where all the cousins became close friends.
Selah Ellis
Bridesmaid
Selah is Addi’s little cousin who lives in Washington! The Simpson family spent time in Washington every summer where all the cousins became close friends.
Elise Short
Bridesmaid
Elise is one of Addi’s closest friends, they have known each other since they were three and four years old!
Abby Pettit
Bridesmaid
Abby and Addi met at Vanguard University!
Madelyn Dwyer
Bridesmaid
Maddie and Addi were family friends since they were little, and became close friends during their time together in high school! Fun fact, Maddie sewed the whole dress she is wearing as a bridesmaid!
Kris Ramalakan
Groomsman
Kris and Sam met in 7th grade gym class. Throwing dodgeballs eventually led to throwing jokes, which eventually led to throwing lures in any body of water they could find. These two have known each other for over a decade, and that time is only growing, as their friendship grows. Through middle school, high school, college, and beyond, they have continued their friendship with each other, growing closer together as “iron sharpens iron” (Prov 27:17), and sometimes out of the mud in their trucks. Kris has graduated from Texas A&M and is an engineer at Geon.
Clayton Thomas
Groomsman
Sam and Clayton met in Sam’s sophomore year in college, while Sam was Clayton’s RA. After a couple of late nights at canes, and a few fishing trips with lots of laughs and good stories, their close friendship was set on its course. They learned that they share things in common that not many at school could relate to, such as: ranch work, using tractors, towing trailers, country music, and a deep love for the outdoors. Clayton graduated from Vanguard University in 2023 and is pursuing a future in psychology.
Ezekiel Talavera
Groomsman
On the surface, many did not expect Sam and Zeke to be close friends. However, after Zeke and Sam’s first hang out ended with a several hour conversation about their testimonies in Christ, they quickly became what they were known as on the Vanguard’s campus: the inseparable “team Tex-Mex”. Zeke lives and works in Southern California after having graduated in the class of 2023, with a bachelors in Theology from VU.
Rhett Raymond
Groomsman
Rhett and Sam became friends during their freshman year of college, as they both ran in similar friend groups. After many conversations about life, guns, history, and super smash bros, they knew that they could trust each other. Rhett and Sam lived on the same floor their sophomore year, and eventually lived in the same quad. During this time, it was seldom that a day passed without these two talking about the most recent world events, or some outdoor tool they thought was cool. Rhet has graduated and is now becoming a teacher in Southern California.
Jack Pascua
Groomsman
As with AJ, Sam, and Jack both met in the VU music department and could not have predicted that they too would be as close as they are today. However, after: their time living together as roommates for two years, serving as lead worship leader and lead chaplain on SFD, countless hours fishing and exploring Southern California, and being in the music department together, one would rarely find these two apart! Jack is pursuing his master’s in psychology at VU.
Dylan Heifner
Groomsman
Dylan and Sam met during their freshman year in High school band, where they bonded over many late nights, and countless hours of marching and performing around Southeast Texas. The hours spent together in the band hall turned into hours spent exploring as many fishing holes as possible. The distance between LSU and VU couldn’t separate them. Dylan has graduated from LSU and is now taking steps to get into vet school.