Katie’s cousin and lifelong sidekick. From childhood adventures to late-night talks, they’ve been through it all together. Ryleigh has been there for every major moment and wouldn’t miss this one for the world. She brings the sass, the humor, and the best stories from growing up.

Katie and Brendalyn have been inseparable for 13 years, brought together by their love of horses and long days at the barn that sometimes felt more like boot camp than a hobby. They spent their teen years side by side riding, working, laughing, and basically living at each other’s houses. Their friendship is built on grit, loyalty, and a million memories made in and out of the saddle.

Caroline and I met at the barn in 2013, bonding over horses, long barn days, and the shared chaos that somehow always seems to come with them. What started as a simple barn friendship quickly turned into years of early mornings, dirty boots, horse show adventures, and plenty of laughs along the way. Anyone who’s spent time at a barn knows those friendships tend to stick, and I’m so thankful this one did.

Katie’s former neighbor turned roomie, Raising Cane’s sidekick, and member of the Disney pack (Katie plans, Leslie shows up for the snacks and vibes). Their friendship grew from driveway chats to full-blown adventures, with Leslie always bringing the laughs, the late-night energy, and a suitcase ready for whatever Katie’s got planned next.

Katie and Marissa met through a mutual friend (college dating drama really does bring people together) and have been inseparable ever since. As Austin roommates, they mastered the balance of late nights at Buford’s and early morning hikes. Marissa is always up for an adventure, brings unmatched energy, and still can’t pronounce turquoise no matter how hard she tries, which only makes her better.

Katie and Madi met in college, where they were technically classmates—but realistically, they were just trying to survive lectures by playing The Sims and whisper-laughing when they shouldn't. Their friendship was sealed over group projects, mutual eye-rolls, and a perfectly timed round of last-day-of-class margaritas. Madi brings the sass, the heart, and the kind of friendship that feels effortless—even when life isn’t. She's been a constant ever since, and Katie wouldn’t have it any other way.

Justin and Andrew went to school together for years, but it wasn’t until freshman year that they actually became friends. They bonded over video games, late nights, and just messing around—and they’ve been best friends ever since. Even now, they still game together from different states like nothing’s changed. Same jokes, same energy, just a little worse at staying up past midnight

Ethan married Ryleigh—Katie’s cousin and lifelong partner-in-crime—which means he, like Justin, got suckered into Katie’s family for life. Now the two of them are surviving group chats, family get-togethers, and big personalities with shared glances and the occasional perfectly timed eye roll. Ethan brings the dry humor, steady patience, and a quiet understanding that sometimes, the best move is to just nod, smile, and grab another drink.

Justin and Justin have been friends since they were kids, growing up together and sharing more memories than they can probably count. Ryleigh solved the name confusion by officially naming them Justin 1 and Justin 2 though the debate over who is actually #1 may never be settled.

Justin met Chris during their time in the Army. Between long days, plenty of chaos, and a lot of shared experiences, they quickly became good friends.

Justin met Tony while serving in the Army. Through long days, plenty of laughs, and the ups and downs that come with military life, they became good friends.

Justin met Oz during their time in the Army. Between long days, plenty of chaos, and the kind of experiences that turn coworkers into real friends, they built a solid friendship.