As Terrell told me, "It all started with UIC Med school." Adam's classmate Amy Brown was the main contact. She was the roommate of Terrell's roommate's friend and that's how they met in 2011 (crazy the degree of separation there!) Anyway, after that, the rest is history! They began doing trivia around the city and spending almost every other night hanging out. They blazed the Bourbon Trail together, closed down Ricks bar together, developed a love of Revolution Brewery beer together, went on several Vegas, Reno, and other casino-based trips together, and ultimately became best friends. Terrell actually went with Adam and helped him pick out the engagement ring. He also bought him Lou Malnati's pizza and beer afterward to ease the sticker shock. They talk all the time and Adam turns into a kid at Christmas whenever he knows his best friend Terrell is coming to visit. It's a bromance of great proportions.

I've known Chelsea since 2002 when we met at CSLC Leadership Camp for Law and Diplomacy! Wow, that's like 15 years by the time the wedding rolls around. As Chelsea says, "We're getting old!" Anyway, we were randomly selected to be roommates and instead became instant and life-long friends. We bonded over being only children and having very over-protective (and extremely loving) parents. Our conversations have spanned the threads of time, covering career, family, boys, money, big life decisions, friendship advice, and relationships. We've been through the ultimate highs and lows with each other, and always managed to hold one another up. She is the truest of friends, strong in her convictions, loyal to a fault, forgiving of mistakes, and supportive always. Unconditional love doesn't even begin to cover what we have. We are tied together as sisters from another life and it's an honor to know her and stand with her on my big day! She lives in Indianapolis, IN, and travels to Chicago frequently to visit with friends and my family.

Steve and Adam met in medical school and became good friends. Steve basically did everything mentioned above in Terrell's blurb with Adam, Terrell and Jordan from trivia nights to Rick's.

Rosa and I met in 2011, because my other friend and bridesmaid Linda was moving back to Long Beach, CA. Linda was her son Jayden's babysitter, and she recommended me to Rosa to take her place. I happily babysat her amazing son for years, but always felt that our connection was beyond that. Turns out, it went far deeper! She is my sister from a different lifetime and we have grown so deeply close, throughout all our shared life events and fun adventures. Rosa and I have had soul affirming interactions that have helped shape who I am, today. Her heart is so loving and giving, and in knowing her I have learned how to better see the world from other perspectives. I call her my "Portuguese Buddha" because she's from Portugal and she is also so wise about so many life topics! Honestly, Rosa's support and unwavering love for me was what made me feel strong enough to endure 3.5 years of long-distance and ALLLLL that comes with it. She was my go-to person, the shoulder to cry on, the logical voice when I felt panicked and upset. She was also my source of levity and joy, reminding me constantly that "Everything is going to work out. I just feel it. Focus on that and blow your nose, dude, that's gross!" She could always make me laugh, even when I was crying. I'm so glad I listened to my Portuguese Buddha! She lives in Cambridge, MA.

Jordan and Adam met in medical school and became roommates, as well as good friends. Jordan basically did everything mentioned above in Terrell's blurb with Adam, Terrell and Steve from trivia nights to Rick's.

Nicky and I met at St. Ignatius College Prep high school in 2004 and have managed to nurture a deep, lasting relationship, ever since. She walked up to me in the hallway in sophomore year and said, "You have a beautiful voice," after hearing me sing for school mass. Anyone who knows me, knows that a compliment goes a long way in my book! After that, we came to know each other and grew to be best friends with treasured secrets, great adventures, deep conversations, and inside jokes that led to belly-aching laughter. Nicky is one of the strongest women I know. She's always proving, in every way, that we all are the sole catalyst of our own destiny coming into fruition. I try to surround myself with strong, independent, and inspiring women like her because it reminds me to constantly strive for my new best. For all her strength, though, my favorite part about her is her heart. To say our relationship is based on unconditional love, through thick and thin, would only cheapen the definition of our friendship. I'm so happy I found another soul sister in her! She lives in Chicago, IL.

Linda is a treasured friend whom I met in 2010. We were in the same Master's program together at Tufts and bonded, almost instantly. We did everything together: went to the same gym, went out to dinner, partied, studied together, took the same classes, and more! Linda even referred me to my now-friend and bridesmaid, Rosa, when she was moving away. Linda is such an inspired and intelligent educator, and she's an equally phenomenal friend! Her spirit is as bubbly as the day is long, and her smile (which makes an appearance often!) warms your heart completely! Don't let her positive personality fool you, though. Linda is one of the deepest people I know, and she is excellent at having the intensely profound conversations that create the foundation for strong and lasting friendships. She now lives in Long Beach, CA, near L.A., and her daughter Quetzal will be the ring bearer.

Yeah, you read that right. We're breaking gender barriers and having a strong, amazing girl as the ring bearer. It's going to be adorable. Quetzal and I have a special bond. I'm known as "Auntie Kate" because since she was only a month or two old, I am the only person outside of family with whom she has felt comfortable enough to be held, to fall asleep with, and to be without mommy and daddy around. I can't explain it, well enough, but when we're together it's as if our spirits "know" each other beyond explanation and we bonded, instantly. I am so excited to have her and her mommy in the wedding!

Elliana is Adam's soon-to-be 5 year old little cousin, and he absolutely adores her. Our favorite memory of her was at his graduation party, when she gave kisses to anyone who would give her M&Ms. She followed Adam around for a while until she was full, haha. It was so cute! Adam doubts that she will be just as enthusiastic about M&Ms when she's older, but hopes she might be more inclined to make it all the way down the aisle with her flower petals when she sees he has the M&M candy wrapper, at the end of the aisle. We'll see!