Lauren is not just my best friend; she’s an irreplaceable part of my life. Her unwavering love and support, even on my toughest days, have meant everything to me. Despite life’s changes, one thing remains certain: I’ll always be there for her, and I know I can always count on her to be there for me, no matter what.

My little baby sister… when she was born, I was taught to be gentle with her to not “hurt the baby”. I have learned from her that you can’t hurt steel!! She is strong, independent, and outspoken. When she loves you, she loves you with everything. I am so freaking grateful for her!

This is my big sister Tracy, who has been like a mother to me my whole life. She is one of the strongest people I’ve ever known. She may not always see it in herself, but I’ll always be there to remind her how beautiful and strong she truly is. She’s kind, generous, and loves with her whole heart. Tracy gave me the tough love when I needed it and the unwavering support I needed to thrive.

Tanner Bananner, my cousin, is one of my biggest fans! She is strong-willed, fiercely loyal, and will absolutely kick your ass if you get on her bad side. My hardcore ride-or-die cousin has faced incredible challenges in her life but has shown resilience and strength that inspires me every day. She is a true fighter, proving that recovery and perseverance can lead to amazing things. I’m so lucky to have her in my corner!

Sara is also one of my best friends, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. Watching her grow into the beautiful, strong woman she is has been an honor. She is fun, quirky, and, yes, a pain in my butt sometimes, but I love her with all my heart! Sara has been by my side since the beginning of my recovery, and she’s stuck with me for life!

I met Kari through the recovery community, and our connection truly blossomed while working together at SARC. She is a natural leader who inspires everyone around her through her actions. Because of her example, I realized that I could get my boys back and become a sober, present mom to my kids. Resilient, bold, and hilarious, Kari is an incredible friend.

My son Kaleb will be walking me down the aisle. As my firstborn, it’s an honor to have him by my side on this special day. He has loved me unconditionally, even when I couldn’t love myself, and we’ve truly grown up together. Kaleb is smart, resilient, and brave, and I’m so proud of the incredible man he’s become despite the challenges he’s faced.

Hope, my precious Goddaughter, is our flower girl! She is our little rainbow baby and has brought so much joy into my life. I’m so grateful to be her Godmother and to have her and her mom, Karli, in my life. Hope is the sweetest, brightest, and most beautiful little girl, and I’m so blessed to have her by my side on this special day.

Mary has been one of my most incredible supporters, standing by me not only during my struggles with addiction but throughout my entire recovery. She stepped in to help raise my boys, becoming a mother to them when I couldn’t be the one they needed. I am truly blessed to have her in my life. Mary’s unwavering love and support have been a constant source of strength, and I am forever grateful for her unconditional care and kindness.

Bob is the kindest man and a true example of the husband I prayed God would bless me with. He has played a critical role in raising my boys, offering them unconditional love and guidance and showing them what it means to be a good man. Thanks to Bob, they’ve grown into kind and gentle souls—I know they wouldn’t be the remarkable men they are today without his influence. When Dean passed away, Bob stepped into their father's role with grace and love, and we are forever grateful for that.

My youngest daughter was one of the greatest gifts in my life. She is one of many reasons I continue to strive to be a better man and father. Her mother has given me more grace than I deserve to be a father to her. Jamie and I are truly excited about her being in our wedding and walking down the aisle as one of our flower girls.

From the beginning, Deric has been more than just a cousin—he’s been my ride-or-die, always there when I needed him most. Deric has given me invaluable advice, shown me tough love, and helped me grow tremendously. He’s not just my best man for this wedding, but a lifelong friend and someone I deeply admire. I’m incredibly grateful to have him by my side as I take this next step in my life.

Mr. Stay Positive has treated me like family from day one and has always had my back when I needed it most. He constantly reminds me to look on the bright side and always cracks me up with his sense of humor. His ability to make me laugh, even in tough times, is something I truly cherish. I’m so grateful to have him in my life and honored to call him my brother-in-law.

Micah, when I met your mom I knew she was the woman I wanted to spend my life with, I also gained three amazing bonus kids, and you are one of them. You are a smart, incredible young man, and I’ve genuinely grown to love you! Not only are you a wonderful person, but you’re also a great cook and make the best chicken Alfredo! I’m so excited for the future and to be part of your family.

From the moment I met your mom, I knew I had found where I was meant to be—and along the way, I gained three incredible bonus kids. You are such a smart, kind, and hard-working young man, and I’m so excited to see what the future holds for us as we come together and continue building our family. You make us all proud every single day! P.S. I’ve never known someone who loves A-1 as much as you!

From the moment Jamie introduced us, you’ve shown me compassion, love, and unwavering support—not just in my recovery, but as a true friend. Now, as we join our lives in marriage, I’m grateful to have you as part of our family and this journey. Thank you for being by our side.

My brother from another mother has been a constant source of support since I got sober, serving as my spiritual advisor and mentor when I was early in recovery. He helped me open my eyes to things I was once blind to and has been there for me every step of the way. He will always be a brother to me, now and forever.

From day one and as far as I can remember, you have loved me unconditionally even in my darkest moments. You have given me some sound and spiritual advice and some great marital advice, "Yes Dear", that I will use for sure. Jamie and I are truly blessed to have you and Gene in our life and be a part of this amazing journey. We love you both. Thank you for allowing us to have our wedding on the river.

So much to say about these wonderful souls and not enough room to say it so I'm going to keep it as short as possible. You both believed in me for years and I was to blind to see it myself. You have been more than enough to me all these years and you continue to do so now. There are no words to describe how much you mean to me. Jamie and I want to thank you from the bottoms of our hearts for giving us great advice and loving us unconditionally, even in our darkest moments and being a part of this wonderful step in our life.