Taylor & Jessie
Wedding Party
Hannah Pruitt
Maid of Honor
Hannah and I became best friends in 7th grade. With 10 years of amazing friendship under our belts, Hannah accepted the position of Maid of Honor a long time ago. I am so thankful for her; all the sleep overs, college visits, high school activities, learning golf together, family vacations, group dates, girls trips, pond house nights, Christmas parties, birthday parties, shopping trips, coffee/hot tea dates, watching NCIS, obsessing over books and so many more adventures to go on and memories to make this upcoming year. She always inspires me to set goals and chase my dreams and I am so thankful for her friendship, love and care! Hannah is a gem and I am excited to have her by my side on my wedding day.
Avery Waters
Best Man
Avery and Jessie have been friends since 2016. Avery and Jessie have so many memories together such as riding dirt bikes in West Virginia on the mountain trails, beach trips and a special trip to Charleston, nights in the Boone cabin and apartment, going to work out at the gym, shooting pool, night swimming, Top Golf and more! Avery is one of the closest friends that Jessie has ever had. He's the type of guy that will always have your back and will help raise heck while he does it. Avery has been such a great friend over the years. We are thankful for Avery and his helpfulness, his boldness, his spontaneity, and his friendship. We love you, Avery!
Carrie Ward
Matron of Honor
Carrie and I met at Grace Baptist Church in 2015. She was dating Seth Ward who was best friends with Jessie. Carrie introduced me to Jessie in March 2016. Jessie and I had the privilege of standing by Carrie and Seth's sides on their wedding day in October 2019 and now Jessie and I both have the privilege of having Carrie and Seth by our sides on our wedding day. Carrie, I will always admire your craftiness, your love for spending quality time together, and your heart for friends, family, and animals. I am so thankful for all the coffee dates, Boone trips, photography sessions, antique shopping, TJ Maxx runs, house parties, Lola snuggles, beach trips and endless sleepovers. I can't wait to go on couple trips and continue our friendship as married couples!
Seth Ward
Groomsman
Seth and Jessie became friends back in 11th grade at BMC in English class. One of his favorite memories with Seth is stalling Mrs. Wall's English class. Seth and Jessie have been through so many adventures together like Jessie being a groomsmen in Seth's wedding, living together in an apartment and cabin at App State, having friends dinners and parties, and going on couple trips with him and his wife, Carrie. Seth always helps Jessie be his true self: carefree and fun. Seth and Carrie are the reason we met! We love spending holidays, random date nights, and meals with Seth and Carrie and Lola at their beautiful home that we had the blessing of helping them fix up. Seth, thank you for your friendship and being a part of our lives and wedding party. We love you!
Erin Seawright
Bridesmaid
Erin and I met our freshman year at East Burke High. She reminded me that when we first met, I looked her straight into her eyes and said, "Yeah, we are going to be friends and I'll introduce you to all of my friends;" and the rest was history! We have been through crazy English class projects like the tunnel and Mufasa potato heads, Homecomings, Miss East Burke pageants, Proms, birthday parties, Dutch Blitz and coffee dates at Barnes and Noble with Hannah, Clemson and Greenville trips, lake trips, hiking trips to mountain tops and waterfalls, shopping trips, trying new workout plans, all the long conversations about family, friends, and relationships both good and bad. I am so thankful to have you as my bridesmaid; my selfless, kindhearted, hardworking, soon-to-be doctor friend of mine!
Garrett Nichols
Groomsman
Garrett and Jessie have been friends since they met on the 5th grade Valdese tigers basketball team. They went to Heritage Middle, Draughn High School, and lived in a cabin together at App State. Garrett and Jessie have been through a lot together: life in Boone, kayaking, car meets, car shows, beach trips, a trip to Stone Mountain in Georgia, West Virginia dirt bike trips, group dates, high school shenanigans, cruising, movie dates, holiday and friends dinners, and so much more! Garrett is Jessie's oldest friend. We are thankful for your friendship; we always enjoy your love for vehicles, West Virginia, driving country roads, car shows, Toyotas, and supervising! We love you, Garrett!
Michaela Willis
Bridesmaid
Michaela and I met in 6th grade at East Burke Middle. She and I have been through so much in the past 11 years: sleepovers, school store, speech contests, classes, relationships, college visits and road trips, Goodwill and Chick-fil-a dates, lake side chats, hammocking and reading, book hauls in Lenoir, bachelorette and birthday parties, wedding festivities, and so much more to come! It was an honor to be by your side as a bridesmaid on yours and Austin's wedding day and now I am so excited to have you as my bridesmaid as well on mine and Jessie's big day! I am forever thankful for our long chats about relationships, college, books, and life. You are so sweet, tenderhearted, and I've always loved your attention to the little details. Thank you for your part in our beautiful friendship!
Carter Rhyne
Groomsman
Carter and Jessie became friends in 2015 through Seth. Carter and Jessie have great memories like playing XBOX at Seth's house, playing basketball at the Hallyburton court, nights at the cabin or apartment in Boone, Top Golf trips, being a fellow groomsmen in Seth's wedding and hanging out late the night before Seth's wedding. Jessie claims that Carter is the best golfer he knows. He is an all around smooth and classy stud; the looks and the legacy of the group. He is always willing to help out and have a good time. We are thankful for your friendship; we love you, Carter!
Molly Brown
Bridesmaid
Molly and I became friends at Grace Baptist Church in 2015. She and I have been on many trips, Sunday school get-togethers and classes, dinners, shopping trips, and vacations together. We bond over our love for antiques, books, book series that have become movies, Marvel & DC Comics, and I love to talk about her interests in art, painting, wood burning and carving, anime, Star Wars, animals, and planning our future kitchens together. Molly got engaged to my brother, Beau on February 13th, 2021 and I am so excited to be a bridesmaid in their wedding! Molly is going to be a great sister-in-law and I am thrilled to have her soon as family. I am so thankful for her friendship and to have her by my side on mine and Jessie's wedding day!
Beau Hildebrand
Groomsman
Beau is my brother and Jessie's soon-to-be brother-in-law. Beau and I were best buds growing up as sister and brother: we enjoyed playing video games, LEGOS, playing outside with scooters, riding dirt bikes, sharing about books we loved, and visiting each other at college. Beau always has a word of wisdom or wit to offer at family dinners and get-togethers. We enjoy holidays, family dinners, birthday celebrations, and more with him and Molly! Beau and Molly got engaged on February 13th, 2021 and we are excited to be a part of their big day! We are so thankful to have Beau in our family and in our wedding party. We love you so much. Thank you for being there for me growing up and giving me advice that helped lead to me to Jessie and loving with my whole heart!
La'rel Hildebrand
Bridesmaid
La'rel is my sister-in-law and friend. We met when she started dating Jess nearly 5 years ago. We have been on group and double dates, enjoyed game nights, vacations, family dinners, family weddings, her bachelorette weekend, shopping at Concord Mills, college graduations, paint parties, wedding prepping for both of our weddings and more! I had the special privilege of being one of her bridesmaids as well! We enjoy conversations about Star Wars, Marvel Comics, make-up, wedding, shopping, thrifting, movies and going to the movies, Disney, and cats (much love for Shadow). I am excited to have La'rel as my new sister and to have her by my side on mine and Jessie's wedding day!
Jess Hildebrand
Groomsman
Jess is Taylor's brother and Jessie's soon-to-be brother-in-law. Taylor and Jessie have been on double dates, group outings, family vacations, to family dinners, holiday celebrations, birthday celebrations, to Williamsburg, Virginia, to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and to Destin, Florida together. Jess is the family chef, the best and most enthusiastic story teller I know, an antique hunter, thrifter, anime/Marvel/DC/Star Wars/Pokemon/video game loving man. Jess, thank you for all the years you mentored me; I will always cherish our Waffle House dates, thrifting trips, fast food runs, and game nights. We are so happy to have Jess as a part of our family and wedding party. He is more than a brother; he is one of our close friends. We love you, Jess!
Leslee Kanupp
Bridesmaid
Leslee and I became friends in 7th grade. We always bond over books, plants, Marvel, DC Comics, road trips, hiking, travel stories, good food, and more. I am so thankful for all the Pondhouse nights, the college visits, the Dollywood trip, the Floyd trips, and more adventures to come this year. One of my favorite memories with Leslee is our Floyd trips when we go hiking, antique/thrift store shopping, parkway driving, reading, cooking together, and watching Matilda. Leslee is an avid reader, plant mom, dog mom, beloved aunt to her sweet niece and nephew, national and world traveler, fishing, hunting, antique shopping, sewing, crocheting, and such a crafty ginger headed friend of mine.I am so excited to have you by my side on my wedding day!
Caroline Sloan
Bridesmaid
Caroline and I became close friends when we started working together in the Education Department at GWU. Through mail runs, Stroup dorm activities, movie nights, Mac and cheese dinners, coffee runs, Cookout runs, Olive Garden dates, Homecoming dances and Spring Formals, our long talks, Christmas present exchanges, our Statesville dates, Hickory dates, 2020 College Graduation and so many more festivities to come in 2021. I am so glad that we had each other at Stroup and that we are still close after graduation! Now, we get to be bridesmaids in each others' weddings in fall 2021! Caroline, you are hilarious, you are spunky, and just as awkward and sentimental as I am. Thank you for all your love and care that you put into our friendship!
Leslie Watts
Bridesmaid
Leslie and I became friends when we met as college roommates in August 2016 at Gardner-Webb University. She is one of my lifelong friends that I was honored to make. We have been through countless study nights, pizza and movie nights, ceramics, Mount Airy trips, Hickory weekends cruising, antique shopping, Liberty trips, county fairs, Pelicans and Cookout dates, Spring Formals, Homecomings, Chicken stews, graduations, and so much more. My favorite adventure is our trip to Wilmington, NC to explore all things One Tree Hill related and Poe's Tavern. I love all of our conversations about books, Harry Potter, astrology, 80s movies, Star Wars, Marvel and DC Comics, music/records, and everything in between. Thank you for living with me for two years and still loving me and being my bridesmaid.
Tori Collie
Bridesmaid
Tori and I met over 5 years ago, but we became close at Gardner-Webb University when she basically became my adopted roommate. As a group, Leslie Watts, Tori, and I spent many nights watching movies, studying, pizza or Mexican food dates, Walmart runs, attended sporting events, Homecoming, ceramics nights, Mount Airy or Hickory trips, American Idol and Bachelor nights and more. My favorite memories with Tori is our trip to San Francisco, California and our One Tree Hill trip to Wilmington, North Carolina. I am excited to take on Atlanta, Georgia with you and more planned traveling in the future. I am so thankful for our friendship and many adventures we have had and the ones we have yet to have! I am blessed to call you my friend and bridesmaid.
Cassie Clemons
Bridesmaid
Cassie and I met our freshman year of college at GWU on an Honors camping trip. Then we had honors Old Testament and New Testament together and we hit it off so well when we realized that we were in the same major: middle grades mathematics education! We had all of our education and mathematics classes together practically our sophomore, junior and senior year. Through student teaching and all the nights in the library we made it and graduated together in May 2020. Now we are both teachers, we still encourage each other and share our teacher experiences. Cassie is the definition of humility and kindness and I am so thankful for her friendship. I was able to attend her beautiful wedding reception in September 2020 and now I am so excited to have her by my side in October 2021.
Danielle Harris
Bridesmaid
Danielle and I have been friends for 17 years since Kindergarten! We have been through elementary, middle, high school, and college together at Gardner-Webb University! We loved each other that much, we just kept following each other. Danielle is one of the most creative and kind souls I know. She is the most artistic, coffee loving, thrifting, furniture flipping, wedding planning, psychology learning, hardworking, and life-long friend. I couldn't imagine life without Danielle and our memories: birthday parties, study nights, Proms/formals, SGA, Anchor Club, Honors societies, AP classes, sleep overs, Walmart runs, McDonalds and El Ac runs, library sessions, coffee dates, Octoberfests, house visits, and so many sweet conversations. I am so glad to have you as a bridesmaid and friend.
Kaysie Lail
Flower Maid
Kaysie is Jessie's younger sister and my soon-to-be sister-in-law! She has always been so sweet to me. I love her pioneer woman personality as she raises her own chickens to have her own eggs. She is always baking and trying out new crafts. One of my favorite memories is her making her own candles and soap and giving them to me as gifts. She has a heart for animals and I want to be a great pet mom like her one day. She was so happy to say yes to becoming one of my Flower Maids! I am so excited to have Kaysie by my side on mine and Jessie's wedding day!
Brooklyn Bess
Flower Maid
Brooklyn is my first cousin on my mom's side of the family. She is a beautiful young woman who loves the Lord, takes pride in her academics, and is in my opinion, the Dancing Queen. She was crowned recently Miss Dance of North Carolina!! She is full of grace and laughter. I remember the day Brooklyn was born; she was a happy baby! I will always cherish all of the family vacations, sleepovers, pool days, family dinners, and when I used to babysit you and Carson when ya'll were little. I love how we started out as family, but now we are more like friends! I am thrilled to have you and your smiles by my side on mine and Jessie's big day!
Addison Beal
Flower Girl
Addison is my first cousin on my father's side of the family: Julie and Jon's daughter. She is so precious! I remember the first few months of her birth I was spending cleaning houses and helping look after her. Now she is all grown up: halfway elementary school, getting braces, and understanding technology better than I can sometimes. Addison is always up for a video game, play time, cat snuggles, and a big hug! I love this sweet girl and I love watching you grow up. I am so excited to have her as a flower girl on mine and Jessie's big day!
Scarlett Keller
Flower Girl
Scarlett is my first cousin Dillon's little girl! She is so precious. She loves her baby dolls, horses, dogs, dance, Dolly Parton, swimming, the beach, Bible verses, and singing about and to Jesus. I love watching her grow up and I hope she never loses that beautiful happy glow and smile. Jessie and I are so happy to have her as a part of our wedding!
Carson Bess
Ring Bearer Escort
Carson is my first cousin on my mom's side and Brooklyn's brother. I also remember when Carson was born and he was always fiery, wired, and full of energy and passion. He loves Jesus and he works hard to lift others up. He also loves sports such as basketball and football and his team, the UNC Tar Heels. I remember the good ole days when he would let me hug and kiss on him and play aliens versus monsters, nerf battles, the Wii, and more when I used to sleep over at their house or babysit him and Brooklyn. He is growing up to be a fine young man and I am so excited to have him in our wedding party to escort Henry!
Henry Keller
Ring Bearer
Henry is my first cousin, Dillon's son on my mother's side. He is the sweetest, most previous little boy. With a head full of curls and the prettiest blue eyes you ever did see. He loves animals, tractors, trucks, dogs, the beach, the pool, and his sister very much. He is always waving and blowing kisses. I am so excited to have him as our ring bearer in our wedding!