Hillary & Zachary
Wedding Party
Emily Gantt
Matron of Honor
Emily and I met in high school, but have not lived in the same state since. The distance has only made our friendship grow even stronger through tons of communication and trips to visit each other, especially when I lived in Boston. I admire Emily in so many ways and am so proud of her as she continues expanding her career as an accomplished actress, in both Atlanta and Los Angeles. Her bravery, strength and determination inspire me on a daily basis. Her compassion, consideration, and unwavering love make me know that I am never alone in this world. Her humor and gorgeous smile brighten every day! It has been so much fun jointly planning our weddings as we are both each other’s maid of honor! Words alone cannot thank her enough for fully embodying what being a best friend truly means.
Patrick Stevens
Best Man
Pat and I grew up together going to Oyster River High School. We played lacrosse and found ourselves in many classes with one another, where we most likely annoyed our teachers a little too much. I always looked forward to Pat coming home to visit when he was on leave from the Army. He and his fiancé, Carrie, came to visit Hillary and myself in Colorado and we have all enjoyed many times together since.
Lauren Beneduce
Bridesmaid
Lauren and I were in the same PT class at Northeastern University where we bonded over late nights of studying, celebrated surviving certain exams, and enjoying everything that Boston had to offer. Her relationship with her fiancé, Brandon, inspired to me to find my best friend within the man of my dreams. Zack and I have enjoyed countless double dates with them, including many hiking day trips during this past year. Lauren and I also created some great memories when we went to California for a wine tasting girls trip for her bridal shower. Lauren is one of the most thoughtful, smart, considerate, and fun friends whose sense of adventure and personal drive (which I’ve seen when cheering her on during her competitive ice hockey games in college), are all awe worthy qualities.
Eyad Ashraf
Groomsman
Eyad moved to Oyster River in middle school and quickly became a great friend. We’ve had many fun times playing soccer with one another. Eyad lived in Boston during the same time when I met Hillary and we all shared many fun nights out together. He is now a professional DJ living in Houston who also owns his own recording studio. Eyad made the trip to visit Hillary and myself when we lived in Colorado. He also met up with us when we all went to see Tony in Arizona and explored the Grand Canyon together. We had a great time visiting Eyad in Houston when Hill and I were on our road trip moving back to the East Coast from Colorado.
Ashley Benuck
Bridesmaid
One of the things that initially attracted me to Zack was his deep love, pride and protectiveness over his family and especially in relation to his younger sister, Ashley. On our first date, I heard all about Ashley’s fun-loving spirit, humor, professional success and impressive work ethic, as well as her personal strength. As I have become part of the Benuck family, I have loved getting to experience all of these traits first hand. Ashley makes every family gathering so much more fun and I love her honesty and energy. I am so excited to “officially” be sisters and to continue making more memories every summer at their family lake house, and at our weekly Tuesday night dinners at their grandma’s house. Thanks for always making me feel like such a natural part of the family, Ash!
Tony Brownell
Groomsman
Tony and I grew up playing a variety of sports together, including our one and only year of football. We used to frequent his parents’ house in Lee, NH, and played many games of full court basketball there. His parents' house is where I saw the first of six Patriots Super Bowl wins. Tony was with me the first night I met Hillary at a bar in Boston. He currently lives in Arizona, where Hillary and I got the chance to visit while we were living in Colorado.
Jordan Drouin
Bridesmaid
I first met Jordan as a coworker when Zack and I moved to Maine and I began working at Accel Physical Therapy. She made hard workdays so much more enjoyable and joined Zack and I as we explored our new home state. She has spent many days at Zack’s family’s lake house during the past few summers and she and I had the best time attending a concert together in Augusta, ME which she gave me as a Christmas gift. She is an avid long distance runner, and it was incredible getting to cheer her on in person as she conquered her first full marathon in Rhode Island a few years ago. Jordan’s personal resilience, adoration for her new puppy Bella, and personal drive make her a wonderful friend.
Owen Chalmers
Groomsman
Owen and I grew up playing basketball with one another. Owen has an infectiously happy personality and is always the life of the party. Hillary and I spent many times in Boston with him and his now wife, Molly. We enjoyed watching Owen’s amateur boxing debut in Boston a few years back. Owen is consistently putting fun things together like trivia nights, along with other activities.
Colleen Jackson
Bridesmaid
My brother, Shannon, started dating Colleen right around when Zack and I began dating. It has been so exciting having all of us become close. Spending weekends together just the four of us, and spending just girl time together, always results in way too much laughter and tons of cherished memories. I was Colleen’s maid of honor in their wedding and had so much fun celebrating their love. She has been a big help contributing her savvy computer skills to designing our wedding invites using my Mom’s watercolor artwork. Colleen has such positive enthusiasm and energy, contagious happiness, fierce competitiveness as a previous D1 soccer star, impressive intelligence, and a wonderful love for my brother. Thanks, Shannon, for giving me the sister that Mom and Dad never did!
Robert Daigle
Groomsman
Robbie and I grew up playing baseball together, and being coached by my Dad. We spent a lot of time at his house in high school playing a variety of video games and ping pong. I had the honor of being a groomsmen for Robbie and his wife, Kelsey, who now have three beautiful children of their own. It’s always a pleasure hanging out with their family, and watching the kid’s play at the lake.
Rebecca Lellis
Bridesmaid
Becca and I met when we were co-op interns at a hospital in Boston. Becca has always known how to play and party just as hard as we worked and studied. She and I have shared many late nights out embracing the bar scene in Boston, gin and tonics in hand, dancing the night away. She always came to my dance performances at Northeastern. She has proceeded to become a Physician Assistant and currently practices in Manhattan. I could not be more proud of her success and I value the time we do get to spend together either when she visits me in Portland or joins us at Zack’s family’s lake house. Her ability to make any situation so much more fun, love for her family’s adorable dogs, devotion to her friends, and her fervor to be up for any adventure, all make her a wonderful friend.
Gregory Davidson
Groomsman
Greg moved to Oyster River in 7th grade and quickly became a great friend. We’ve had fun times playing basketball and have enjoyed a couple vacations together, We have also played many rounds of golf over the past few summers. Hillary and Greg’s wife, Gabby, have also joined in on the golf adventures, which we look forward to continuing. I had the pleasure of being a groomsmen for Greg and Gabby a couple years back and have had countless fun times together since.
Alison O'Leary
Bridesmaid
I met Alo in high school when she became friends with my brother, as they were in the same graduating class. Alo has always gone out of her way to develop our friendship as we both moved away for college and then to develop our careers in different states. Distance has only enabled us to grow closer and have fun visiting each other. She came to Denver for an extended vacation and we celebrated her 30th birthday with a girls trip at Disney Resorts in Florida. Alo’s devotion to being a great friend, her humor and contagious laugh, as well as her compassion and dedication to those she loves has always made her more like a sister. Alo’s smile and happiness light up any room she enters. I can’t wait to be her bridesmaid in January!
Shannon Jackson
Groomsman
On our first date, Hillary told me her brother was her best friend. Once I first met Shannon and saw the two siblings interact, it was incredibly evident that this was indeed the case. I have enjoyed getting to know Shannon and adding a brother to my life whom I can call up out of the blue and ask for advice. We have enjoyed many times with Shannon and his wife, Colleen, who is also one of Hillary’s bridesmaids.
Jenny Radcliffe
Bridesmaid
Jenny and I lived on the same floor of our freshman dorm. We became even closer when she and I joined the Northeastern University Dance Company. Some of my favorite memories with Jenny happened during dance rehearsals, during celebratory dinners with our families after our dance shows, when we went on Spring Break to the Cayman Islands, and of course when I was a bridesmaid for Jenny and her husband, Alan. Their family has now grown to include their dog, Bo, their handsome son, Carson, and soon they will welcome their new baby girl to the world in May 2021! Jenny’s enthusiasm, humor, unwavering loyalty, devotion to always being there for me, intelligence, and her genuine kindness are qualities that I have always appreciated in our friendship and these also make her an incredible mom.
Thomas Lynch
Groomsman
Tommy and I grew up in Oyster River playing many sports together. There were countless sleepovers at his parents' place in Durham. Hillary and I have enjoyed many fun times with Tommy and his wife, Erin, who have made quite a few trips to my family's lake house where they always bring their signature watermelon infused with vodka. Tommy is always a fun person to go for a hike with and catch up with whenever possible.
Kaila Wilson
Bridesmaid
Kaila and I have shared so many experiences in college and beyond. We were in the same graduating class for PT at Northeastern. We became close through being members of Northeastern University Dance Company. She is the reason that Zack and I met one night out at the bar, Howl at the Moon, in Boston! We finished grad school as roommates and then travelled throughout Europe together. Her spontaneity, love for good food and drinks, eagerness to explore and experience new things, curiosity and appreciation of other cultures, and general enthusiasm created so many memories that I will always cherish! We have continued creating great memories as we have met up halfway between both of our current homes for day trips to go skiing, and she has visited us for fun weekends in Portland.
Ibo Merdesi
Groomsman
Ibo and I grew up playing basketball and soccer with one another. He lived right down the street from me when I moved to East Boston after college. Hillary and I spent lots of time spent exploring the city with him. Ibo has made many trips to my family's lake house at Mousam Lake in Maine and is an infectiously fun person to be around.
Graham Phelps
Groomsman
Graham is one of my oldest friends from growing up where we played many sports together. When he’s not out hiking (running) up a mountain, traveling the world, or now working as a nurse, he is always just a great, energetic person to be around. Graham’s the type of friend you might not see for six months while he’s traveling, but we catch up like he never left when he comes back to town.
Benjamin Rollins
Groomsman
Ben and I grew up going to elementary school together at Moharimet in Madbury, NH. We played many sports with one another at recess including our daily football game. After college, Ben and I moved in together in East Boston where I met Hillary shortly after. Hillary and I spent many fun times exploring Boston with him and his fiancé, Julie, who got engaged the weekend after us and will be married this year.
David Wilson
Groomsman
David and I grew up going to Oyster River schools together. He was the reason I started playing lacrosse in 8th grade, and we had a lot of fun times riding the bus to practice with each other. David was actually friends with Hillary at Northeastern University before we met and has since spent many fun times with both of us together, including when he visited visiting us in Colorado. David has lived in San Francisco the past few years, but makes frequent visits to NH and Maine and is always a pleasure to have around.