Wedding Party
Hayley Spolter
Maid of Honor
I met Leila when she was two and a half years old as she was part of the welcoming committee who greeted my arrival to Earth. At preschool, Leila proudly showed me—her baby sister—off to her entire class. Now we talk on the phone almost every day on our car rides to work.
Matthew Weisman
Best Man
Tyler's identical twin brother. In his free time, Matt loves tending to his garden and spending quality time with his wife, Hope.
Camila Fishtahler
Bridesmaid
One November night in 9th grade Leila and I stole my mom's car. Okay, maybe we "borrowed" it and my brother was driving, but how else were we going to get to Clarendon to run around in a Pac Man and a Pac Man ghost costume? Why did we do this? Because we could. If asked how I'd describe my friendship with Leila I'd choose one word: "shenanigans". Our friendship began like so many others do, with timing and circumstance. Through a series of events, two groups decided to share a lunchroom table in 7th grade. Friendships formed as the awkwardness of the situation gave way to curiosity and to the discovery of shared interests. Leila and I were no exception. Both of us loved art. As we drew at the lunch table we started tentatively offering suggestions, which led to the two of us seeking each other out to bounce ideas off one another. This quickly moved to topics beyond our niche interests. We were "OMG so random", shared countless laughs, were free to be as silly as we wanted, and were LOUD about it. There are so many joyful moments from what was arguably our most awkward phase in life til now (obviously our most poised and wise form to date).
Emily Walker - Maher
Bridesmaid
Arlington, Virginia, 2000. Bill Clinton is President, Brittney has just released her debut album, and, somewhere in Taylor Elementary School, two girls are about to meet. Over the next 25 years, Emily and Leila will go camping and trick-or-treating; they will stay up all night playing the Sims and recording YouTube videos; they will join Girl Scouts and art club and band. They go to different high schools, but they burn each other CDs and Emily sees all of Leila's shows. They travel together to Switzerland, England, Belgium, France, and Germany, and then they both get cats. They both get married...but not yet. They don't even like boys. They like art and telling funny stories and going to the pool, and they are going to be friends forever.
Anna Boisen
Bridesmaid
Anna and Leila met freshman year of college when they didn't go to the President's Ball. Since then they've been eating half of each other's food at restaurants, gossiping with turtles, and having strong opinions about minimalist decorating.
Nick Gardner
Groomsman
Nick is a middle school music teacher who met Leila in college at JMU! He became buddies with Tyler shortly afterwards through board games, Magic the gathering, and the power of friendship! When he's not working, you can find him dancing Lindy Hop throughout the DMV.
Caiti Baude
Bridesmaid
Leila has been one of my very best friends since we were neighbors our freshman year in Wayland hall. We’ve considered ourselves to be *very* well acquainted after a fateful spotting incident at the bouldering wall where I accidentally sent her flying across the mat. After that, our friendship was sealed. Leila is present in many of my fondest memories since then and I’ll forever be grateful for her friendship. She is so kind, loving, accepting, and so silly. I’m thrilled she’s found a match with Tyler and can’t wait to see the life they build together!
Sean Baude
Groomsman
Tyler and I's friendship was born from a mutual love of Magic the Gathering and board games. Whenever there was a party or event hosted by mutual friends, we would eventually find ourselves at a side table, shuffling cards and setting up pieces. That evolved into setting up regular board game days and magic nights throughout the year. Years later we're bound together by a bond infinitely stronger than the plastic and cardboard that brought us together. When Tyler and Leila first starting dating it was clear that they were going to go the distance, and I'm overjoyed to be witnessing them take the next steps on their journey together.
Haleigh Sapp
Bridesmaid
Leila is a certified silly goose, and a silly goose begets other silly geese, which is why when we met in freshman year of college I knew we would be great friends. Hanging out first at Wayland and then TMP, and then evolving into the family that is TMP are some of my favorite memories from the last 13 years. I know that every time I’m with Leila it means having fun hypothetical convos, silly vocal stims, a nuzzle, and the comfort of being with a true friend. I first met Tyler when we worked together at the same restaurant in college, and really became great friends after surviving bad O’Charlies parties and free pie Wednesdays together. Our mad manor dinners, game nights, and shaming of Delver the puddle drinker are some more of my favortiest memories. Getting to be a part of two of my best friend's big day is amazing and I love you guys so much!
James Watkins
Groomsman
I’ve known Leila since day one of college 14 years ago, and met Tyler a year or two later through my wife Haliegh and a strange series of parties that were quickly abandoned in favor of hanging out together doing things that were much more our speed (thank goodness). It’s been a joy to see two of my oldest and greatest friends, who just so happen to be two of the kindest people I know, come together and somehow become even greater than they were apart. I’m so happy to stand with them on their wedding day.
Grace Mauro
Bridesmaid
It has been my unique honor to have been standing close by on the sidelines throughout the course of Leila and Tyler's relationship. When Tyler told me about their first (secret) date, I was convinced he was still unworthy of someone so fantastic. When Leila told me that she was going to spend a week on Tyler's couch, I was somehow not suspicious at all about any particular goings on happening (we can blame the chaos of the pandemic for that oversight). As the months passed, I learned about all the times they secretly stole away to spend quiet weekends with each other, and eventually I was convinced that they were going to definitely be together forever. From being the first to learn they were an official couple, to being the first to learn that Tyler bought a ring (and then taking over the proposal planning lol), I could not be more overjoyed to stand next to two of my best friends while they commit to a life together in front of everyone they love. Thank you for letting me be a part of your big day <3
Brian Donovan
Groomsman
I met Tyler the way anyone in their 20’s meets a lifelong friend: in a musty basement where it’s too loud to hear yourself think. Over the years our social circles drew near, and we bonded over the shared hardships of living in Madison Manor and seeing Game of Thrones fumble its ending. I then repaid his good nature and hospitality by introducing Magic the Gathering to our dynamic (my bad). Whether it’s being humbled by Gloomhaven or endangering my tailbone on the packed snow of Massanutten, I’m excited to be part of this new chapter of Tyler’s journey.
Megan Holden
Bridesmaid
Leila and I always joke that we lived together for 10 years, survived 2-3 natural disasters and the plague together, and that we will move back in together after our separate internships. In reality, it was 2 years, a couple power outages, covid, and moving to new homes. Along side it all, a beautiful friendship grew even stronger and I couldn’t be move grateful to watch you and Tyler get hitched! I love you both lots! Never forget, we went to college.
Patrick Haggerty
Groomsman
According to James, Patrick isn’t so much a person as an event that sometimes happens to you. Patrick first appeared in Leila’s life Freshman Year at JMU where Leila quickly pulled him into the First Floor Ladies. Patrick then crashed into Tyler’s life during the Legendary Mother Pheasant era. He now feels honored to be here for their big day and swears to defend them from all enemies.