Christiny and Linsi’s friendship started off a little rocky (thanks to five-year-old Christiny repeatedly calling her by the wrong name on the school bus), but years later, it turned into something truly special when their brothers ended up on the same baseball team. From slip-and-sliding in trash-bag pants to watching Dodgeball on repeat (Joni loves Chachi—giving rise to their forever nickname, Ose), their bond has been built on laughter and a lifetime of shared memories. Whether they were drinking grenades in New Orleans or Linsi was waiting in Christiny’s parents’ driveway for her to come home from a trip, she has always shown up without question. Linsi is her constant, her confidant and her forever “exit buddy.”

Brian and Omer have been friends since second grade, growing up side by side through every phase of life. Over the years, their friendship has been shaped by unforgettable moments—from recovering a crashed rocket with a shovel, to buying a $100 car in Waverly, to being stopped at the Canadian border over frozen fruit. In more recent years, they even lived just down the street from one another, naturally becoming each other’s go-to after long workdays—once the kids are asleep, the pets are fed, and it’s finally time to unwind over a beer. Omer has been a constant presence through it all, including having Brian as the best man in his wedding.

Ashton is the friend who guarantees a good time, whether they’re off on an adventure or hosting a perfectly themed girls’ night in. The two met in high school and have grown from planning random parties to planning weddings and unforgettable trips—from California to Greece. Through every season, Ashton has brought joy, spontaneity, and the kind of friendship that makes every moment brighter. Always down for a theme, she’ll wear a gown at a moment’s notice.

Brian and Hobie have been friends since second grade, growing up together through countless seasons of life—and sports. Many of their favorite memories revolve around shared fandom, from Jay Bruce’s walkoff that sent the Reds to the playoffs to celebrating the Bengals’ first playoff win. When Brian got his license at sixteen—the first of their friends to do so—he’d drive around Hobie’s neighborhood in circles just to stretch their time together a little longer. Hobie is the go-to source for all things baseball, often having strong opinions on Reds transactions before the news is even public.

Christiny and Lakeisha met in one of their core communications courses at Xavier, where Lakeisha kept her grounded with the constant question: “So what do you want to be when you grow up?” (The answer was always: “Make a lot of money, duh.”) Lakeisha is a true travel icon and never turns down an adventure, no matter how spontaneous. She shows up for all of Christiny’s plans (big and small) so consistently that Christiny’s parents often wonder why she keeps coming back for more. Lakeisha also claims Christiny has tried to kill her multiple times—once with fire—which only proves her loyalty runs deep.

Brian met Nick during their sophomore year of college, and from that point on, Nick quickly became part of the core friend group at UC. Their friendship has been shaped by unforgettable moments—like Nick moving into Brian’s living room in their college housing before they really knew each other, Brian standing as Nick’s best man, ski trips to New York, and attempting to watch Gettysburg with a dog who was absolutely convinced every cannon blast was a thunderstorm.

Gabby is the sister Christiny couldn’t have dreamed up more perfectly. They bond over a shared love of miniature things, crafting, and pastries, finding joy in the small, sweet details that make everyday moments special. The two spent a week together in Italy feasting on pasta, chasing down every sight on Christiny’s overly ambitious itinerary (which even meant skipping a few lunches) and somehow still finding time to completely take over the Italian leather shops, filling an entire suitcase with their finds and souvenirs. Now engaged to Christiny’s brother, Gabby truly is becoming family in every way. They’re both proudly cat-obsessed, endlessly supportive and truly made to be in each other’s lives.

Brody is Christiny’s younger brother—and no matter how grown he is, he’ll always be her baby brother. Their bond is built on shared loves, from watching The Mummy on repeat and quoting King of the Hill (“Dang it, Bobby!”), to spending time in nature and talking through a good DIY project. While Brody has always carried a more serious, steady exterior, his thoughtfulness shows in the quiet ways he cares for the people he loves. He’s a natural maker and craftsman, once creating a piece for Christiny from a childhood tree they grew up loving after it died in their parents’ yard. He’s also a diligent animal caregiver, running a tight ship with his and Gabby’s cats and just as trusted with Christiny’s pets while she’s traveling. Watching Brody grow into the person he is today has been one of Christiny’s greatest joys, and having him stand beside Brian feels incredibly meaningful.

Julia is one of the sweetest souls in Christiny’s life, and their friendship began on Christiny's first work trip, proof that the very best connections can start in the most unexpected places. The two share a deep love for vintage treasures and firmly believe that when it comes to antiques, more is always more (true maximalists at heart). They’re even training Julia’s daughter early in the art of the vintage hunt, passing down their shared love of beautiful, storied things.

Brian met Tom during their freshman year of college, and choosing just a few memories from their years of friendship has never been easy. Their time together has been filled with adventure—from driving through sand dunes in Michigan to night coaster rides at Holiday World and even briefly crossing the North Korean border. Tom and Brian are confident trivia teammates, until music questions come up and everything falls apart. Most recently, Brian and Christiny capped off Tom’s wedding celebration by accidentally breaking the homemade heart photo booth backdrop (sorry, Tom!).

Christiny met Emily during her college years when Ashton began bringing her around, and their friendship grew into something steady, genuine and deeply meaningful. Now, Christiny can’t imagine a get-together without her. From thoughtfully themed hosting to long hours cheering at the Crewe of Boo parade in New Orleans (at the expense of a reasonable bedtime), Emily always humors the group's quirky plans, whether it’s standing through a parade or getting low to T-Pain without hesitation. She is the perfect blend of grounded and fun.

Brian met Aaron during their sophomore year of college, and their friendship quickly formed around shared humor and a mutual appreciation for avoiding unnecessary human interaction. Aaron has been Brian’s most adventurous travel companion—never one to turn down a wild idea—which has led them from negotiating a bribe with a Mexican police officer to hiking snowbound trails in Iceland at 1 a.m. The two enjoy bonding over a shared love of truly ridiculous action movies and an easy ability to find humor in just about anything.