My older brother whose list of roles and responsibilities include: lifelong friend, childhood mentor and corrupter, revelrous instigator, lead singer, and irreverent impersonator. It's high time Nic got his chance to reciprocate the Best Man toast - it should be good. I promise, the band won't be getting back together at the reception.

As my younger sister of two years and person in this world who has known me the longest, it was important to have my best friend at my side. She's been there for all the important moments in my life and, of course, was the first person I thought of for my wedding party!

The integrity of my professional and public persona will forever be in the hands of Adam. Starting from our years together at Vanderbilt to present day, Adam and I relish our relationship built around trust, camaraderie, an affinity for ridiculous movies, and mutually assured destruction. Adam, in case you needed a reminder of my abilities, this picture should help reaffirm what I am capable of.

Catherine and I met in graduate school when we spent a short time working in the most awesomest lab together. Neither of us stayed in this lab, but we did end up in similar labs so we got to bother each other frequently. I went looking for her whenever I needed to talk science, vent frustrations, as well as decompress from the lab. We formed a kickass trivia team and spent many a Monday night at the bar (Go Planeteers!).

Like an elusive snow leopard, Drew is rarely seen in his natural habitat. This intriguing man of mystery was first spotted while I was in San Antonio, TX. We became fast friends over vast quantities of food, libations, and chainsaw-powered destruction of rampant cedar. Years later, I discovered he tracked me to the mid-Atlantic. He claims it was for a job, but I know the truth - he wanted more guacamole.

Uyen and I met the first day of graduate school. We were enrolled in the same program and basically became friends on day one after realizing we could vent to each other about classes and labs.We kept in touch even after she left the program and moved to Memphis for pharmacy school, but I was thrilled when she moved back for her final semester of classes and rotations! Ryan happened to be her husband's roommate when they were in college, and when Uyen and Kevin got married, Uyen conveniently decided Ryan and I should sit together. It was clearly her best wedding planning decision, but I'm biased.

Casey and I first recognized the other's talent on the grit and sweat filled hours of a baseball diamond. High-waisted spandex-blend pants, knee-high striped socks, and helmets befitting our future adult heads - these are the things lifelong friendship is made of in Orange County youth baseball (Go PIRATES!!!). Years later and after many hours of video games, cards, Italian food at Colichia's, and NCAA football, we still marvel at how terrible we are at Spanish. No lo sabemos.

Jen and I met in college but became friends in Nashville. She was at Vanderbilt for medical school, while I was in grad school. We happened to run into each other when going to a Clemson football viewing party. We joined the Clemson kickball team, went to all the watch parties and shut down the honky-tonks. Nashville wouldn't have been the same without her!