Tess & Clay
The I Do Crew
Shirley Mangum
Matron of Honor
My sister, my best friend, my role model. How does one capture the weight of what this woman means to me in an 800 character bio? You can't. But I can give you an idea. In a room full of people, Shirley is the person I will always look to if ever something funny, happy, sad, or bizarre happens. We have this unspoken bond where we can just look at each other an know what the other is thinking. My life is enhanced in every way whenever we're together. She has a level of wisdom and kindness that I will forever be striving to replicate. I am truly the luckiest bride with her by my side.
Jessica Tamburrino
Bridesmaid
Jess and I met in college through our sorority and I was lucky enough to get to live with her twice over the span of 3 years. When I lived with her I learned so much just by observing the way she treats others. She is the kind of woman that would take the shirt off of her own back for a stranger in need. She also can make me laugh harder than anyone I know. When Clay and I first started dating she would make everyone that came over to visit watch a video from college of Clay singing and she'd say, "Isn't he amazing?!" I think we doubled the videos' views on YouTube in less than a month!
Ellen Richardson
Bridesmaid
Ellen and I crossed paths our freshman year of high school in choir. I don't know what I would have done without her to help me navigate the good, the bad and the down right awkward moments of high school we shared together. Although we were apart in college we stayed best friends and even started a blog together at one point! We have this dream that one day our houses will be next to each other and we'll sit on our front porches together and sip wine while our kids play.
Lizzie Driggs
Bridesmaid
Liz is my longest friend. She and I met when I moved to Massachusetts in 5th grade. She saw me alone on my first day of school at recess and invited me to pretend to ride horses with her. I thought it was totally weird (lol I love you Liz), but it was her kindness in reaching out to a newbie with no friends that has made her stuck with me since that day. Thank you for still being my friend, even though I used to bother you until you'd wake up and hang out with me when we had sleep overs.
Lauren Daniels
Bridesmaid
Lauren became my one of my best friends when we ended up in the same dorm our freshman year of college. One day when we were getting lunch together she spontaneously quoted one of my favorite lines from the movie "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and I knew in that moment that she would be in my life for a very long time. We were about as attached at the hip as they come and when we weren't together we were on the phone with one another. This one time we talked on the phone for so long that Lauren ended up getting in trouble with her parents for using up all of their minutes (sorry Mr. & Mrs. Daniels!)
Rachel Deacon
Bridesmaid
Rachel and I became soul sisters when I moved to Michigan in 7th grade. There are so many incredible memories I have shared with her. One of my favorites is when we went to Florida together in college. We were driving home from getting food on a windy and cold day and Rachel made me pull over when she got a look at the waves. They were giant so she yelled, "Come on we're going in!" and she started running towards the water. I thought she was nuts but I jumped in after her and we spent what felt like hours laughing and diving in and out of the ocean. She's that friend that makes every experience better.
Colin Thomas
Best Man
As my older brother, Colin has been there from Day 1. Growing up we shared a lot of the same friends and interests, we lived together for two years in college in the Beta House and somehow we've made it to our mid-twenties without getting into too much trouble.
Joe Simmons
Groomsman
Joe and I became friends immediately after we moved into the Beta House together as freshmen, and have kept it going strong. We were practically attached at the hip our Junior year when we were roommates, in the same finance classes, and antagonizing the SILC Office while serving on the Interfraternity Council. We probably drank a few too many beers together at The Wheel, but we didn't want to let school get in the way of getting a good education.
John Killen Jr.
Groomsman
Killen is a 1-in-a-million kind of friend - he is unlike anyone I've ever met before. John has never met a stranger and would give someone the shirt off his back in a heart beat. KU was a big school, but it seemed like everyone on campus knew Big John - a testament to the kind of man he is.
Ben Sych
Groomsman
Ben and I met when we were interning for Stryker in 2015 and were assigned as roommates in a sketchy apartment they put us up in. That summer we spent a lot of nights drinking beer and blaring George Straight's Troubadour on our balcony. Once we graduated and started full time, we lived together with another Stryker guy, Scott, for most of 2017, 2018 and 2019. Ben is brutally honest and calls it like he sees it, making him a great friend that will call me out if I need it.
AJ Bradley
Groomsman
The first time I "met" AJ was over FaceTime and he called me Clay Aiken. I knew I was going to like him. As Tess' twin, I appreciate him always looking out for her and I'm excited to have another brother to hang with.
Sam Bradley
Groomsman
As a fellow little brother, Sam and I have always had a good connection. Other than the fact that he's a die hard Kentucky Wildcat fan, he's a great guy!