Elizabeth & Stephen
Wedding Party
Ella Billiter
Maid of Honor
Ella is my little sister and has been my built-in best friend for almost 20 years. She is studying to become a radiology technician at West Georgia Tech, and is one of the hardest working people I know. Ella told me that she wanted to do something in her life that allowed her to help others when she decided to pursue this career, and I can say her spirit of compassion and servitude has been in her since the time she was born. She always has my back and has always supported me, whether it was being a shoulder to cry on when my heart was broken, or when she completed all the projects in my undergrad computer science course. Ella is extremely creative and can make just about anything out of crochet (check out her insta at @ellas_crochet ) and even tried (and failed) to teach me how to when I kept begging for her blankets and little crocheted plushies. Ella was the first person I told when I started talking to Stephen, and immediately adopted him into our family and made him her honorary brother when she knew he was my forever. I am so blessed to have Ella as my sister and best friend, and I am so proud to be able to call her my maid of honor on this special day.
Eric Brey
Best Man
Friend of the groom. Bald. Brother I never had. Eric and I grew up in the same neighborhood and became good friends in Middle School. I remember debating with him and Michael in Ms. Jenkin’s computer class about who would win in a fight, Yoda or Goku. Our friendship just never stopped from then. In High School, Eric and I joined the Tennis team together. During our senior year as the Doubles 1 duo, we joined the elite in Douglas County as one of the ALL-COUNTY doubles partners. Almost every Friday night throughout High School and College, Eric came over to our weekly night in my basement. He would always somehow end up with the remote and turn on WWE or That Metal Show when we were not looking. Even as we grew up, Eric and I still play video games, go to anime conventions and just enjoy life together that I will alway cherish. Eric is someone I can count on for anything and everything. He was the first one outside my family I told about Liz. Eric was also the first to meet Liz when we went to DragonCon 2022 together. I am so grateful to have Eric, a long time best friend and brother I never had, serve as my Best Man as part of Liz and I’s Wedding.
Sarah Davis
Bridesmaid
Sarah has been my bestie since our first real meeting in Mrs. Price’s social studies class in 6th grade. We had known each other prior to that meeting, but it was in that class that our friendship was created and we were able to bond over our love of Twilight, bad music, and our shared hatred for Temple Middle School. Sarah works as an RN at a pediatric outpatient clinic and is very talented in working with children and getting them the right care they need when they’re sick and in crisis. I abuse that knowledge by making her diagnose me whenever I feel even slightly sick and refuse to go to the doctor. Sarah is the kind of person that lights up any room she walks into, she is love and sunshine personified and always knows exactly how to cheer me up even on my hardest days. She loves anime, K-dramas, and going to conventions with me so we can nerd out together, and enables all my book buying binges. Sarah has always been my rock and has supported me when I’ve felt lost and alone on my darkest days. She is the person I call when I feel like my world is crashing down around me, because I know she’ll be there to protect me from the fallout. She is my platonic soulmate and sister; and I am so blessed to have her as one of my bridesmaids and best friends.
Weston Smallwood
Groomsman
Friend of the Groom. Husband of Tien and parents to some cat fur babies. Goofy brother I never had. Weston and I have known each other since Elementary school, but really we became best friends in High School. Whenever we hung out as a friend group, Weston was there no matter what. Just 6-7 dudes coming to my basement for some ping pong, Sock-away, Rock Band and whatever else we wanted to do. We would often talk about anime together too, including some planned nights where we show each other the first episode of some anime and rate them. Even when he moved to California, nothing really changed. He is still the same goofy, rocks in the ear, amazing best friend anyone can ask for. Weston is someone that is there for me no matter what. When I was telling the guys about my Mom’s health over Xbox, he was secretly booking the next available flight out of San Francisco to come be here for me. I will forever be grateful for this friendship and brotherhood we have and I am so honored to have him part of Liz and I’s Wedding. Little known fact, my love for Kingdom Hearts came from when I saw him playing it at Winston Elementary one day as we were there as our Moms were doing stuff at the school.
Abbie Post
Bridesmaid
From our first meeting together, I knew my relationship with Abbie would change my life forever. Abbie and I first met in undergrad where we studied psychology together and believed that one day we would make the world a better place. We followed each other into our Master’s program, due to our codependency, where we shared many late nights re-writing papers, crying because of group projects, and still dreaming of making the world a better place. Abbie has always been my confidant and has supported me as I’ve grown and developed into the counselor I am today. She is one of the most empathetic and loving people I know, and that shows in her career as a child therapist working in local schools. Abbie shows grace, love, and unconditional care to all her clients, no matter how difficult the case, how angry or resistant the child is, or however many insults are thrown her way. Abbie has taught me the importance of being myself and standing up for what's right, even when it's hard and other people may not understand, and it's because of that mindset that she is one of the most genuine and courageous people I know. I am so thankful for my counseling buddy, my forever twin, and all the memories we’ve made as we’ve grown into stressed out counselors together. Thank you for loving me, being my best friend and sister, and for being a bridesmaid to me on one of the happiest days of my life.
Joshua Singell
Groomsman
Friend of the Groom. Loving husband of Sam and Father of Nora and Auten. Kind Brother I never had. I knew Josh in Elementary School but became great friends in High School. In High School, Josh would be one of our crew that hangs out every Friday night in my basement! Even when Sam tried to steal him from us lol. No matter what he was there to hang with us for some Video Games, Tennis and even trivia nights. Josh is also very good at writing many lyrics for our group’s songs we’ve made. My portions in particular were written mostly by Josh as I definitely don’t have a talent like he does for it. Even when his family grew, he made time for his boys through poker nights at his house, video games and Frolf. Josh is also in our Fantasy Football where at first he didn’t really know football. Now he is contending every year and one day might win, but only if I don’t. Josh is someone that helped break me out of my introverted shell and be open to the outside world more. His and Sam’s relationship and family is a constant inspiration for how to build a sweet and fun loving family. I can’t wait to build a family with Liz as great as Josh’s. I am so proud to call Josh a best friend and grateful to have Josh part of Liz and I’s Wedding.
Amari Ephraim
Bridesmaid
Amari is one of the most emotionally intelligent women I know. We met while working at Chick-Fil-A and first bonded over our shared hatred for fast food work and nasty customers. We discovered we had a lot in common and were even in school to study psychology at the same time and same college (go West go Wolves). Amari is currently studying to receive her PsyD in Psychology in Hawaii, where one day she hopes to become an inpatient therapist and eventually work for the FBI. Amari is the type of person that likes to skip the small talk and get right into knowing you on the deepest level humanly possible, which means she had the privilege of learning all my darkest secrets within 2 minutes of first meeting me. Amari is one of the smartest people I know, and also one of the most loving and loyal friends anyone could ever ask for. Whenever I felt lost or alone, Amari was there to cheer me up, spend a girls day with me walking around looking at books or crystals, or make me some tea and let me look at her amazing plant collection. I am so thankful to have met Amari and to be able to call her my best friend and sister. Thank you for being a part of my life for all these years, and for standing beside me and being part of this celebration.
Guinness Dennis Brown
Groomsman
AKA Daniel Friend of the groom. He has been to India and is the short brother I never had. Daniel and I became amazing friends in High School. Though I would later find out he actually played soccer with my little sister when we were kids. Every Friday night, Daniel would join and bring the music, often having a guitar in hand serenading us as the rest of us played ping pong or pool. I tried to learn to play guitar because of him and Eric, though I failed at it and gave up. I still enjoyed trying to learn and maybe one day I will try again. On the weekends, we would occasionally play Golf with Daniel but he was so good it was impossible to compete. But it was still so much fun to play with him and at least I stand a slightly better chance at Frolf against him. Daniel was always down to hangout and just have some fun, even if life was tough. Daniel is a man that truly inspired me to push through anything, even when times get tough. When our Moms both had similar health issues, we bonded more and helped each other through it. I will be forever grateful for his support during my tough times and be there for him in his. I am so honored to have Daniel as a best friend and part of Liz and I’s Wedding.
Ashley 'AK' Kendrick
Bridesmaid
From the moment I met AK, I knew we would be great friends. AK is one of the warmest and funniest people I have ever met. She knows how to make everyone she talks to feel seen, heard, and accepted. Every time AK and I would hang out, whether it be a fun outing in Atlanta or a family event with the Kendricks, I would always find myself laughing until my sides hurt. AK has made me feel like I was a part of the family from the moment we met, and she has been equally adopted on my family’s side as well. She is an amazing cat mom and an incredible athlete with the Stonewall Sports League in Atlanta. I am so impressed with her dedication and commitment to her team and how supportive of a team leader she is. When AK won the Stonewall Alex C. Newbie award for being a welcoming presence on her team (her first year in the league mind you), I remember thinking that there’s no one more deserving of that than AK for all the support and dedication she showed in creating her team and leading them to victory. I am so honored to know her and to be able to officially call her my sister-in-law and look forward to making more memories together while we celebrate the joining of our families.
Michael Bearden
Groomsman
Friend of the Groom. Loving Husband of Lauren and welcoming their first child a week before our Wedding. Mikey may not come but will be in spirit. Bear brother I never had. Michael and I have known each other and became great friends since Middle School. Like I said above in Eric’s bio, I remember debating with him and Eric in Ms. Jenkin’s computer class about who would win in a fight, Yoda or Goku. During High School, we would always park next to each other and hop in Brandon Pennington’s truck to hang out before school. We played Overwatch almost weekly and as our team’s healer, he would make sure we supported like the type of person he is in real life. Whenever we had trivia night, Michael was there to either help answer some tough Disney questions, or derail us by saying New Jersey isn’t a state…true story. Fantasy Football is also a great passion for Michael, even being the commissioner for our league. Though he will never win so long I am here. Michael is someone I can always look to for comfort and joy. Michael and Lauren meeting on Hinge helped give me the confidence that I can find someone on Hinge as well and it did! I am so thankful that their success gave me a push to give online dating a try, which led me to Liz. Liz and I would hang out with Michael and Lauren for some couple board game nights and enjoy some FOGO. These moments have helped Liz and I grow closer together. I am incredibly grateful and honored to have Michael part of Liz and I’s Wedding.