Elyssa & Bryan
Wedding Party
Caralyn Dawson
Maid of Honor
"Elyssa and I first met when we both joined Green Brigade freshman year at UNT, and became close when we pledged Sigma Alpha Iota together in 2016. We bonded over memes, our love of cats, and late night trips to Sonic for hot fudge milkshakes. From fleeing fire drills together at Mozart Hall and raising our adopted cat Gypsy in our college apartment, and now all the way to Chicago for Elyssa's wedding, I'm so grateful that our friendship has lasted and excited to be there for Elyssa on her wedding day."
Clay Reed
Best Man
"Hey y'all! I'm Clay Reed, and I'm from Oklahoma - truly Sooner born and bred. Bryan and I met at OU through the Pride of Oklahoma back in 2015, and at the time I didn't realize I met a lifelong friend. Just a few of our endeavors include 4 college football bowl trips, 3 years of living as roommates, 2 trips to Baraboo (as I'm writing this, 2 more trips than Elyssa has been on, I might add), and countless dinners at Slim Chickens. Bryan is like a brother to me, and I'm excited and humbled to be his best man."
Emily Smith
Bridesmaid
"I am the bride's younger sister! I graduated from Ball State University last year and currently work as an accountant in Indiana. Like Elyssa, I am obsessed with Dunkin iced coffee. I enjoy baking sweet treats, going on shopping sprees, and making memories with my friends."
Alex Smith
Groomsman
"Bryan and I met early in high school through his blossoming relationship with Elyssa. As the twin of Elyssa, the brother seal of approval was essential. This was earned through our common interests in meteorology, the White Sox, football, band, and golf."
Diane LeCount
Bridesmaid
"I met Elyssa through Green Brigade and Sigma Alpha Iota while at UNT. We hung out regularly as sisters bein' pals (nothin' better than that), and were study buddies for our music education classes. After graduation, Elyssa and I both found band directing jobs in Texas and have supported each other through the beginnings of our teaching careers and adult lives. Even though we don't see each other as often as we used to, we still can catch up, laugh, and talk about life as if no time has passed."
Matt Gonzales
Groomsman
"Bryan and I were standing next to each other during the first night of band camp. Hadn't really spoken before, but we soon started watching the lightning and radar of a nearby storm instead of learning the first show of the season. That was the first time leadership got mad at us."
Taylor Vanford
Bridesmaid
"Elyssa and I met at Green Brigade band camp our freshman year at UNT! We had the same clarinet teacher and we loved going to Waffle House. Now we bond over the craziness of teaching, and our future bowling team."
Sterling Allen
Groomsman
"Since we were both in the Pride and studying meteorology, Bryan was one of the first friends I met in college and quickly became one of the best friends I've ever had! Between carpooling from rehearsal to class together freshman year, late night pool/therapy sessions at Crossroads, having every single class together one semester, some moderately successful storm chasing, and playing disc golf together whenever we could find the free time, I can't think of many people I've spent more time around."
Minnie
Best Cat
Minnie was rescued by Elyssa in Mineola, TX in 2020. She now lives rent-free in the new house the bride and groom bought for her. Minnie franchises a biscuit business and works long hours kneading dough. Outside of work, she enjoys reenacting the Indy 500 around the house and napping on every soft surface available.