Sarah & Eric
Wedding Party
Caroline Pember Lynn
Maid of Honor
Sarah asked Caroline to be her maid of honor at least 10 years ago, on the off chance she ever got married. Because, sisters. Caroline was born five years and a day after Sarah was, and while it ruined her 5th birthday, Sarah now accepts that she was the gift that keeps on giving. Caroline may technically be a matron, but she's too young for that we think. WARNING: Will dance like a maniac with or without champagne.
Adam Giannini
Best Man
Aka Radam. Eric's brother and the main reason he basically knows Back to the Future by heart. If Adam's not skiing, he's probably biking or playing volleyball.
Lindsey Finch Williams
Bridesmaid
There are very few photos of Sarah as a child that do not also feature Lindsey. She's been getting Sarah into trouble since they were two years old and covered each other in baby oil and baby powder when their moms weren't looking (all Lindsey's fault). Lindsey is no longer Sarah's summertime bunkmate, but it was almost unthinkable that she wouldn't be standing up there with her on her wedding day.
Eric Buskirk
Groomsman
A man of many weird hobbies, Eric is a fellow engineer and UVA classmate of Eric's.
Emily Finch
Bridesmaid
Emily was part of the gaggle of girl cousins who spent a LOT of time together when they were young. Always known for her easygoing nature, outgoing personality, and those blonde curls (!), Emily and Sarah truly started to bond when they fell in love with Camp Mont Shenandoah as girls. To quote another family member, "Emily is just so much fun." Sarah couldn't agree more.
Kevin Sheldon
Groomsman
Although Kevin also grew up outside Syracuse, he was in a different school district, so he and Eric didn't meet until Kevin started dating Angie, a friend of Eric's from UVA. It didn't take long for a bromance to bloom. Kevin is a fellow diehard Yankees and Syracuse fan, beer connoisseur and bbq enthusiast, and unrepentant pint glass klepto.
Ann Harrison Pember
Bridesmaid
If there is a 90s-themed dance number at the reception, it's because Ann made it happen. Sarah met her match in planning and organization with Ann, but also found an unexpected friend and second sister. Marrying Ann might be the nicest thing Stephen ever did for Sarah. SECRET SUPER POWER: Chasing down every possible type of cake available at a wedding and eating them all.
Justin Knapp
Groomsman
Justin and Eric go back to their days at Chestnut Hill Middle School and Liverpool High School. They killed countless weekend afternoons with backyard football and College Football National Championship on Sega Genesis. Both devoted Syracuse basketball fans (though Justin is arguably more so), they met up for multiple Syracuse-Georgetown games in DC when they both lived in Virginia, and at the 2013 Final Four in Atlanta.
Christine Hackman
Bridesmaid
Christine...oh, Christine. Sarah still remembers the exact moment she 're-met' this girl, her first week at Alabama. Sarah was waiting outside of Dr. Usdan's office to meet with him, and suddenly there was Christine, arms open, ready for a hug. Sarah never felt so welcomed anywhere in her life. (Or at least, that's how she felt at that moment.) On a long road trip to and from San Antonio, it's possible Christine learned more about Sarah than even Eric knows now. Every time they see each other it's like they were just in the same room 5 minutes before, and that's the beauty of their cross-country friendship. Also, Nala was the gateway dog that allowed Sarah to love Holly. So there's that. WARNING: Just like Sarah, she may look more lovingly at her dog than her beau. #justthewayitgoes
Paul Robertson
Groomsman
No, that's not Tobias Fünke, and Paul does actually have hair. Paul is perhaps best known for organizing epic group Halloween costumes every year. Eric and Paul are friends from their time at UT-Austin for grad school, where they studied nothing in common, but devoted vast amounts of time to hosting backyard and poolside cookouts.
Amanda Wilkerson
Bridesmaid
Amanda can't be the little sister Sarah never had, because Sarah has one. [Also she acted more like the OLDER sister at times.] Sarah was assigned to be Amanda's student mentor at the University of Alabama, but it was often a bit muddled about who was mentoring who in that relationship. Sarah wouldn't have survived grad school without coffee (or tea) at Harrington House and the almost daily texts about nothing in particular. SECRET SUPER POWER: Drinking red wine while dancing in a wedding dress.
John Jardel
Groomsman
Nobody can spike a perfectly good set directly into the net like John, hence the volleyball term "to Jardel". John is a lapsed astronomer, expert mixologist, and another friend of Eric's from UT-Austin. John can be found in Big Bend National Park whenever he gets the chance, which is a little surprising given his many irrational fears and the number of things in the park that actually can kill you.
Andrea Glenn
Bridesmaid
Andrea was assigned to be Sarah's faculty mentor her first year of grad school, through the program she would later coordinate, Tide Together. Andrea and Sarah tried the whole "official mentoring thing" just one time, over a cup of tea in Andrea's office. It was quickly discovered, however, that they should just be friends (but not in a whole, unrequited love on one side kind of way). Their "mentoring" took place over dinner and Brian-made dessert while watching The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and all of the series iterations every Monday (...or Wednesday when Sarah had that stupid night class) night for the next four years. It may have been the most consistent part of her graduate school experience. SECRET SUPERPOWER: Reading criminal minds. (Unfortunately for Sarah, not on TV.)
Rick Dortch
Groomsman
A frequent partner in crime over the years, Rick and Eric have been friends since their first year at UVA, and were housemates in Virginia Beach for a time, where they hosted some epic beach weekends for their friends (back when none of us cared about piling 14-deep into a two bedroom condo).
Laura Giannini
Bridesmaid
Laura and Sarah may have met during sorority rush at the University of Virginia, when Sarah was a second year and Laura was a first, but that also may be a story they tell themselves. Regardless, Sarah is so excited that she gets to call her a sister NOW. Fantastic skiier, fan of UVa basketball, and mother of (any day now) two, Sarah would feel inadequate except it just means Eric can talk to HER about sports and snow instead. Also, when Sarah talks about "Daniel and Kelly" like their old friends, Laura gets it. (Do you?)
Stephen Pember
Groomsman
Sarah's brother, computer nerd and member of the controversial non-Paleo side of Crossfit, Stephen is the reason why Sarah hates adult feet, cringes every time she hears Stairway to Heaven, and-because of a gruesome dinnertime reading of the novel over pizza as kids--refused to associate in any way with Jurassic Park until her love for Chris Pratt (and Eric?) led to her to say yes to going to see Jurassic World in the theater. Stephen is also the reason why Sarah bizzarrely spent a small portion of her life collecting Marvel comic cards (????) Although she begrudgingly admits he is an awesome father and is grateful that everytime she calls him for computer help he tries his best to accomodate her requests, Sarah will never completely forgive him for making her cry while playing Risk.