Dung and James were high school acquaintances who became great friends after high school. In 2018 James and Dung went on a long trip to Europe with a group of friends and really bonded. After that trip they remained in contact often. After meeting Meagan, which Dung helped James with, they've been on two trips together and support each other often. When thinking of who to be the best man who knows Meagan and himself the best to judge if he supports the marriage, James thought of Dung.

Emilie and Meagan met on the 7th floor of Regis as part of the Leadership Learning Community at Loyola University in Chicago. Emilie and Meagan later became roommates, and spent their first full Chicago summer riding bikes along the Lakeshore Trail and going to festivals in Grant Park. Emilie and Meagan remained close throughout college and beyond, supporting each other through graduate school, job changes, several moves to different states, and new relationships which would eventually lead to weddings. When James and Meagan decided to do a self-uniting ceremony, Meagan picked Emilie to be her witness and Maid of Honor, knowing that Emilie would be there by her side to start this next great adventure, just like she'd been there for so many wonderful and exciting adventures in the past.