Wedding Party
Ellen Clinton
Bride
Shawn and Ellen met through mutual friends. Over the years, they grew closer through being terrible at bowling, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and heckling Russell Crowe's singing in Les Miserables. Eventually, Ellen uncharacteristically made the first move and asked him out. She knew he was the one when we simultaneously sang "Mask! A-aah!" to the tune of the "Flash" theme by Queen. He's a keeper.
Shawn Beard
Groom
Shawn has had the pleasure of being Ellen's friend for many years. Thankfully, she decided they should be more than friends and asked him on a date. As she had assured him that she would be there early, she proceeded to arrive (quite) late. His anxiety was lessened when she arrived, but it soon spiked again when she explained that her tardiness was due to driving the wrong way on a one way road. Needless to say, this rollercoaster of emotions helped both of them quickly ease into a great date. Shawn knew she was the one when his cat Ink, who normally avoids people when he first meets them, chose to curl up with her instead of him. Ellen quickly became a daily part of Shawn's life, and he wouldn't have it any other way!
Alison Clinton
Bride's Attendant of Honor
In the days before recorded history, in a land long forgotten, there lived two sisters. Each sister possessed unparalleled intelligence and wit, unfathomable beauty, and unimaginable power. In their youth, the sisters forged an unholy alliance which allowed them to rule the land with an iron fist. As the ages of mortals passed, the younger sister grew weary of her tyrannical rule and began to yearn for the greatest power of all: love. Against all odds, the younger sister's heart had been ensnared by a dashing mortal prince of the southern Realm of Flowers. The elder sister had never seen the younger so enamored before, and though it pained her greatly to lose the closeness they once shared, the elder sister knew it was time for one unholy alliance to give way to another. "I think you should go for it," the elder said, forever shifting their destinies. Thus, on that fateful day, the younger sister and her prince were bound together with unbreakable vows. The elder sister bore witness to their union and, knowing that her reign was over, stepped down from the throne and disappeared, never to be seen again. Over generations, the elder passed into legend, but the mortals who remember say that the elder would return someday. In her hour of need, the younger sister would summon the elder to appear at her side to honor the pact they once swore to each other. All the younger sister would have to do is whisper the elder's name: Alison.
Bill Chopik
Groom’s Attendant of Honor
Shawn and Bill’s friendship began on a friends trip to Shadow Moses Island. They bonded over obscure video game references and music. Since then, they’ve bonded over going to many music concerts, movies, apartment/house moves, pandemics, Thanksgivings, Jerry Lewis telethons, Festivus, and many shared meals together. They’ve celebrated each other’s birthdays for the past 15 years—each year taking a photo, looking at the photo, and in unison saying, “we still got it!” Bill couldn’t be more excited to celebrate Ellen and Shawn’s special day together; he thinks they’re really wonderful people that make each other very happy. Can’t wait to meet their friends and family. It goes without saying, but we still got it!
Daphne Mendez
Bride's Attendant
A single mother to two cats, Daphne was born and raised in NJ - Northern NJ, not the Jersey Shore - and now works in NYC. Daphne and Ellen met in college and bonded over their mutual love of the chicken dance. Daphne actually has Ellen to thank for bringing Bernard and Gertrude (her cats) into her life, as well as introducing her to Electric Six.
Dan Gosnell
Groom’s Attendant
Shawn and Dan’s friendship began when they were introduced through mutual friends. They quickly connected over their mutual love for art, books, and movies. Many of their conversations delved into the deeper meanings and societal impacts of their favorite works, finding comfort and inspiration in the stories and visuals they cherished. Beyond their shared love for art and literature, Shawn and Dan bonded over the hypothetical live-action casting of the animated series Daria. Late-night discussions about who would best capture each character's essence were filled with laughter, creativity, and a deeper understanding of each other’s perspectives. Their friendship, encapsulated by the Prince lyric, "If you’re lookin’ for the man that will put you in your place, you don’t have to look too far; you’re lookin’ at his face," has been marked by unwavering support and camaraderie. As Shawn embarks on a new journey with Ellen, Dan proudly stands by his side, honored to be part of this special day.
Jason Clinton
Bride's Attendant
Jason has been Ellen's brother his entire life. Ellen was his first roommate, first role model and first friend. They bonded over their shared interests and microwave popcorn. Whether it was Candyland, or one of the old Sega Cartridges, or the scavenger hunts that she would write for him; they could always reliably find a way to have fun together. You can imagine his joy when he heard that she wanted him to be a bridesman. Today he lives as a part time barista and full-time eccentric. Using his spare time to build various skills and random things he dubs his "projects". He continues to use his bachelor's degree as a paperweight and dreams of someday owning a yard.
Matt Berman
Groom’s Attendant
Most people assume that Shawn and Matt met in a Moroccan prison after accidentally starting a street fight over an axe gifted to the city of Marrakesh by the Czarina of Tokyo. This is not true. Shawn and Matt met in college through mutual friends. They soon discovered that they had a shared interest and taste in books, comics, TV, film, and video games (though thankfully, not women), culminating in Matt's prolonged stay on Shawn's futon for a semester of school. Despite this, they remain friends to this day.
Amelia Pickard
Bride's Attendant
Amelia is Shawn's niece and met Ellen when they visited NYC for her birthday! They were fast friends and even have matching yellow dresses.
Joe Coeling
Groom’s Attendant
Joe met Shawn in the rope-ridden trenches of the Challenge Program (now Adventure Leadership) at UofM. As legend has it, Joe spoke of his Limited Edition Legend of Zelda 3DS, and Shawn swooned like a southern belle. "I must have him," he uttered with a gasp, and chose Joe as his mentee for the Challenge Program staff cohort. They became fast friends, bonding over fantasy games, hard ciders, and an uncomfortable showing of Lawrence of Arabia. After a stint as roommates and a number of remote work B-Dubs lunch dates, Shawn and Joe are inseparable. Unless Joe gets a fork anywhere near the non-stick skillets again. Joe first became connected with Ellen via dish room osmosis at Michigan Dining. While they both had managed students at casa bigmess (AKA South Quad), Ellen's very direct feedback for Joe during his stint as manager (which won't be repeated here unless a formal FOIA request is submitted) helped them become culinary closing time pals. Enjoying tabletop adventures with frisky paladins, confusingly attractive bears, and halfling bards that enjoy being thrown around, they've shared many stories and libations.
Michael Turner
Officiant