Lorri & Wesley
Wedding Party
Fiona Johnson
Matron of Honor
Lorri and I met many times before we actually really got to know each other. As Wes’ overprotective big sister, I only knew Lorri as “the girlfriend”. But, as the years went on, I got to see how amazingly kind, thoughtful, and dedicated Lorri is. When they lived in Chicago, Lorri and I had the chance to bond over our love for cats (especially Lilly), making fun of Wes, and Orange Theory, even though she is way more hardcore and in shape than me. Our meat and cheese + games double date nights are my favorite way to endure the long Chicago winters, even when we did get a tad over-competitive (sorry, Wes and Max!). Lorri and I are similar in so many ways and we truly feel like sisters. I am so lucky that she will be officially joining our family and stuck with me forever!
Patrick Pesch
Best Man
It is so difficult to narrow down one memory because anytime you are with Wesley, great memories are going to be made. Because there are so many, I will describe my earliest memory of Wesley, which is the first time we went to Six Flags together (see pic above). At the time, I did not realize the significance of this particular visit to Six Flags. To me, I was just a lucky 7th grader hanging out with his new friend. Looking back now, I can see we were building the foundation of a life-long friendship. Also, Wesley blacked out on the Batman ride, which I always thought was pretty funny.
Bella Giorno
Bridesmaid
Lorri and I were lucky to meet when she was doing master scheduling in the Dean of Students office at Bulls. On my first day of work, we spent the day in the office organizing, a task we both love! Lorri quickly became my mentor, secret buddy lol (she knows why this is funny), and close friend! Since our first day of meeting, we've shared a lot of fun memories together in Chicago (frequently involving eating pretzels), and she even flew all the way to Miami with me to help me celebrate my bachelorette! Wesley and Lorri are such a fun couple to be around, and I'm so excited I get to help celebrate the future Mrs. Lorri Cary! (She loves it when I call her that!)
Max Johnson
Groomsman
One of my favorite memories with Wes and Lorri was when they took Fiona and me to visit Austin. We spent the weekend exploring new places and old favorites, listening to music at Austin City Limits, drinking giant margaritas, and watching a kid almost get attacked by a peacock. 10/10 would do again!
Jenny Johnson
Bridesmaid
Congrats Lorri and Wes! Lorri and I were in the same bunk room during our internship in Ghana in 2013. I knew we would be friends when we fought off other interns for the only air-conditioned room in the lodge. We bonded over both being from Texas, going to UT, and our love for pickle juice. Lorri, myself and the other girls in our room spent that summer like we were sisters separated at birth. Our friendship stretched from Ghana back to the USA and has lasted through moves from Texas to Boston, Chicago, and Nashville. I am thrilled for Lorri to find her perfect match in another UT lover, and cannot wait to stand with them on their big day!
Ben Howard
Groomsman
Wesley and I really hit it off junior year when our lunch and Spanish classes lined up. We decided it would be a good idea to partner up to perform the weekly vocab skits together, thinking we could practice at lunch and give an outstanding performance in class later that afternoon. It worked out for a while, but then we hit some roadblocks - Will, Patrick and Kevin. The three of them (being students of German and French) thought lunch was best spent off-campus or making fun of Ben's less than perfect accent. This led to some improv and one day Wesley thought it would be a good idea to OPEN HAND SLAP BEN ACROSS THE FACE. I guess it worked because no one was paying attention to what they were saying anymore. To this day we remain great friends, but hold all our conversations in English.
Jordan Rueter
Bridesmaid
Lorri and I met in first grade, which is appropriate because since then we have shared many firsts together and have been by each other's side every step of the way. Some highlights include, the first (and hopefully only) time we were cursed - our pre-cal teacher practiced witchcraft and decided to put a spell on the entire class to make us behave. We also shared our first year of college together before ultimately choosing to leave the mountain and spend our last 3 years of college back in Texas. We threw Christmas parties together, lived together, and got our first cat together (ultimately turning me and my whole family into cat people). Over our 23 years of friendship, we have created many amazing memories and will continue to as Lorri embarks on this next stage of her life!
Will Howard
Groomsman
Oh the stories I could tell... I have many great memories with Wesley and even better ones once Lorri entered the picture. One of my fondest is when Wes and I booked last minute flights to go see Ben, when both of our flights got canceled we Ubered home and ended up driving to Virginia for the weekend instead. Wes tolerated my singing and even my driving. Whether it be overnight road trips, sailing in Miami or the nostalgia of Renaldis, it is always a memory hanging out with Wes & Lorri.
Erica Stivison
Bridesmaid
Lorri and I met in 1st grade. We were trouble makers from the start. But most of all we were adventurers. I made Lorri try new things in the kitchen: like avocado with balsamic vinegar and tuna salad with mustard. She made me watch scary movies like Jurassic Park and the 2-VHS-long Titanic. We adventured together to Washington, DC with our girl scout troop and attended Choir Camp in the middle-of-nowhere, rural Texas. But most of all I remember our crafting - scrapbooking, making felted hats, beading necklaces. You name it, we crafted it! I have always appreciated Lorri's let's-try-it attitude. I love that about Lorri and am so happy to celebrate this new chapter in her life!
Kevin Davidson
Groomsman
It’s hard to hone in on a single memory with Wesley. That could be because a lot of them involve us being the greatest beer pong duo ever (please don't refute that with facts). Another thing complicating the issue is that many of our memories involve the whole group of guys in the wedding party. So what really makes our connection unique? Well, that's just it: I wouldn't even BE in the group if it weren't for him. He and I met freshman year in percussion. Having just moved back from California, I was between friends. Then came the day he invited me to hang out with him and some crazy Lake Forest kids during lunch. It's funny how cliche that sounds- he changed my life because of an invite to a new lunch table. I don't know if I've ever really said thank you for that Wes. So, thank you.
Manon Billaud
Bridesmaid
The first time I met Lorri we were in Ghana. We got paired in the AC room as top bunk buddies with all of the other amazing girls in our gang. That summer was horrible, but it was also the best summer of my life because of Lorri, Jenny, Adriana, Lisa, and Kate. I remember all our walks in the early morning when everyone else was asleep, our runs to the breakfast so Danny wouldn’t take all of the crepes, you allowing me to jump onto your bed every time a spider came too close to my side of the wall, all of our secret vents on the patio, and how we got so close so quickly because there was no actual door on the bathroom lol. You are an amazing person, I'm honored to call you my friend, and I am so excited for this beautiful next chapter with Wesley.
Max Moore
Groomsman
What “WESLEY” means to me... Weston Caryville, Founder of RePower Emotional speeches and toasts Spontaneous helicopter sightings Loves to party (obviously) Excellent ATV driver Years of friendship
Hilary Falcon
Bridesmaid
Lorri and I have been friends since first grade and I cherish the abundance of hilarious and endearing memories we've created and will continue to create! I don't know how I would have made it through swim team, high school, or life without her. Lorri is driven, kind, smart, motivated, and positive. We are always finding something to giggle over and I still can't get enough of our old mixtapes and shows. There is a nostalgia to the 90s and early 2000s that my memories with you shaped in the best way. I am so grateful for our friendship foundation. Fast forward I remember the first time you and Wes came to visit me in Boston you two were cute as could be and all smiles. I think you were already practicing for your engagement photos under those willow trees in the Boston Common :)
Lee Marlow
Groomsman
Most of my memories of Wes are around holidays, due to never having lived in the same city. One memory that sticks out is when he taught my family how to play Shanghai, a rummy-like card game. We played for hours and hours, and I remember my sister getting mad at him for playing by the rules and trying not to lose, gasp! I enjoy simple moments like these, and Wes creates a lot of them. Also, the first time I met Wes, I had just hopped out of a pool in a speedo. Good times.
Sydney Timpe
Bridesmaid
Although Lorri and I have known each other for over 5 years, it was a New Years Eve trip to Nashville that helped us quickly determine we were always meant to be friends. A walk to Starbucks, Nintendo, competitive board games, a New Years Eve cover band, a few too many drinks, and that was it. It might have taken us years to take the big step to friendship, but since then, we have become close so quickly. We have yet to live in the same state as each other, but that hasn’t stopped us from having frequent phone calls, Zooms, and brewery visits with my husband, Wesley, Max, and Fiona. Almost every single time we are together, we laugh until we cry and I am so grateful that through distance and COVID, we have managed to become closer than ever!
Nick Van Antwerp
Groomsman
Like many of the groomsmen, I was fortunate enough to have met Wesley in Lake Forest. My favorite memories are from a time when, amid the bustle of our Chicago lives, we went on a couples "Friendsgiving" trip to a cabin in Michigan. It was a great opportunity for everyone to relax and spend quality time with those we consider closest to us. Wes was a great hype man when we were unsure how our first deep-fried turkey would turn out; between bites, he adamantly assured us that it was the best turkey he had ever had, while later Lorri took the lead in starting the evening’s dance party (which included a fog machine). I still smile thinking about the positive energy Wes and Lorri radiate; I could not be happier to stand with Wes and Lorri on their day.