Friends since the womb... literally. Both our moms met when they were pregnant at swimming in Illinois, and then had us become best friends. We would play dress up, make artwork on Katie's driveway, and most importantly, put on shows for our parents with Wenxia and Katie's brother, Joey to help. Since I moved away in 2006 to Colorado, they have remained best friends throughout high school, college and now big girl jobs. Katie, you are the most kindest and generous human, and I can't wait to have you by my side.

Claire and I met at an all girls youth group named Challenge in 2007. We had both moved to Colorado recently, and were trying to retain as many friends as possible. But our bonding really solidified when Challenge camps came along; a week summer camp made up of 50-60 middle school girls, having mental breakdowns and trying to find Jesus. Eventually, we grew up, and I couldn't be prouder of the woman you have become. From single gal going to Florida for PT school, to finding your husband, and now becoming a first time mom. I love you through thick and thin, and am honored that you will be by my side as I enter marriage as well.

Autumn and I met when both of our lives turned upside down, and we didn't know what the future held for us. Living quite literally across buildings from one another, but never knowing it for 1.5 years, we became roommates after meeting one time for kombucha, and both of us needing a roommate. From writing down the most hilarious sayings that come out of her mouth, going to Autumns classroom and watching comedians in the dark, to random mountain drives for our mental health, Autumn has been a rock for me. I love you so much and can't wait to write down more quotes from you that will bring a smile to my face everyday.

Ummmm, let me tell you about Haili. If I didn't write a dramatic piece about her, I would be doing both of us a diservice. Meeting in college in the undergrad. admissions office, we had a slow start to our friendship. But then I realized that this girl seemed like she had her stuff together, and I needed some of that in college. As heartfelt and kind as she is, she is also the most dramatic gal in the best way. When together, we will most likely be at Plato's Closet, Target, the mall, or all three. I love you to mars and back. Now, let's go to Target because I don't need anything :)

Going back to middle school, where I met Liz. She was one of my first solid friends that I had met since moving to Colorado. It started with eating lunch with our other girls, gossiping about whatever drama was happening, to then moving to high school and shopping for prom dresses like our lives depended on it. Now, we're shopping for wedding dresses and marrying the loves our lives. Thank you for being with me through it all, and so much love to you.

Bonding in college in the undergrad. admissions office, Laura is a ray of sunshine that I didn't know I needed. We worked together as temps after we graduated, and were tasked with minimal responsibilities. So, we took it upon ourselves to take pictures for the "admissions newsletter", leaving for hours at a time exploring Denver. She has been a constant and rock in our ever changing lives, and I'm so honored to call her my friend. Love you Capricorn Twin.

Evan has known me longer than everyone other than people who share my name. We met freshman year of highschool and were friendly throughout our 4 years in highschool. It was not until we met by random chance in the University of Indiana Bloomington's ballroom at a Super Smash Brothers Melee tournament that we realized we had more in common than we thought. We would become fast friends again and see each other periodically through the years of college at tournaments around the country. When I moved back to Colorado after my undergrad he was one of the first people to join my community of friends as an adult. You can find us playing melee together, doing trivia on Thursday nights, playing board games on the weekends and taking trips to the park or bars with our friends. He has been such an amazing friend not only to me but to Ellen as well. It warms my heart that my friends have accepted and brought her into our community so seamlessly. This is a huge part to Evan and Sammy always making her feel welcome at our gatherings and party's. I am honored to call Evan one of my best friends and now my Best Man

My brother and I have had an interesting relationship throughout our lives. Through living together in three states and multiple cities our patience for each other was always tested. As adults I am so happy to call my brother my friend. I am proud of his accomplishments. I am amazed by his bottomless grace and golden heart. I love to brag about his accomplishments and accolades to anyone who will listen. I have been the most amazed by his love and relationship he has fostered with Ellen. They have grown to be the best of friends and to trust each other with their troubles and challenges. Through this relationship Ellen, Eriq and I have grown together to see each other not only as family but as friends. I look forward to spending my wedding weekend with my brother taking photos, playing volleyball, arguing in the kitchen, and running with the dogs.

Thomas Judy was my best friend and roommate in college. We met playing for Xavier's Club Ultimate frisbee team BLOB and immediately knew we were the same type of crazy and dysfunctional. After a year of sharing the sidelines and cafeteria table we decided to live together our sophomore year. Spending an entire year roughly 15 feet away from each other quickly developed our relationship to be life long friends. Drinking wine and singing our favorite musical theatre songs, countless pieces of drama with women, intramural sand volleyball and arguing about every topic we possibly could just to make the other person feel stupid. It wasn't until the Covid-19 Pandemic that I realized how much I valued Thomas as a friend. Living on my own for over 2 years really pushed me to my limit and threw me into a pit of loneliness. Calling Thomas and playing games online through this time gave me the human interaction and the love and acceptance I needed to push through this difficult time. I cannot thank him enough for this. Thomas is one of best friends and I am so happy he will be standing with me during the happiest day of my life.

Mitchell and I have a very funny relationship. Meeting at Returnament(SSBM regional event in CO) just after I moved back to Denver I was looking for a roommate so I could move out of my families spare room. He asked me about myself and the conversation went like this. "Well I love to play volleyball, Melee, Ultimate Frisbee, and do bar trivia." To which he responded, "No shit?! Me too!" I would then procede to run into him at the park to play volleyball, frisbee, and then get drinks after. After this incredibly convenient depth of friendship you would think we would have lived together. That was not the case. However, we would continue to hang out on an almost weekly basis and that trend continues to this day. Ellen and Mitchell have also developed and amazing deep friendship, all on the standard of honest communication. I am so happy that Michell has helped me grow as a person and helped me build a community here in Denver. I could not see my life the same here in Colorado without him.

Richard has been a good friend of mine ever since I moved back to Denver. Meeting for the first time in Detroit I knew he was a fun loving and all around good dude. His dry humor never ceases to get a laugh out of me. He is also never far away when I am hosting a dinner party, famously devouring everything I put on the table for friendsgiving. Richard is the perfect example of a reliable and consistent friend. He has been so kind and welcoming to Ellen, further enforcing the feeling that I am bringing the right people into my life as I begin to build a family. I am so happy to have him join us for a full weekend of fun and lifelong memories.

I met local purely by coincidence. I wanted to spend time at our weekly trivia night with Ellen and she wanted to invite her good friend and future bridesmaid Liz to join us. Liz asked if her boyfriend could come along as well and we were happy to include him. After a brief introduction the conversation shifted to us complaining about how we both still lived with family. After a minute of realizing a simple solution to this problem, we started looking for an apartment together that next day. We had known each other for twelve hours. Logan moved in with his angel of a pup Lilly and we spent the better part of two years under the same roof laughing and making memories. Logan has been such an amazing friend, roommate, and supporter of Ellen and my relationship that I am blessed to call him one of my groomsmen.