Natalie and I met in 2001 as Freshmen at Marist High School. Since then, we have been best friends through all of the roller coasters life has thrown us on. We have traveled together around the US to New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, all over Oregon and more; internationally, Natalie was my partner in crime on adventures to London, Prague, Amsterdam, and around Australia. We have been best pals for more than half our lives and I can’t imagine how I would function without our amazing friendship. Natalie is the peanut to my butter. We have long referred to each other as platonic soulmates. People we encounter together are often drawn to our silliness, even without understanding our inside jokes or throwback references. Natalie is the person I can count on for anything, at any time, and I am so lucky to have her stand by me as my Maid of Honor while I marry my other best friend.

Davey and Josh have been in each other's lives since age 6. Josh was his Right Guard so it's fitting he be his right-hand man on his wedding day. The word "friendship" doesn't begin to encompass the relationship Davey and Josh have; a more fitting description would be, they have a brotherhood. They each know exactly how to push the others' buttons and thoroughly enjoy irritating each other, as only brothers would. Through it all, they have each others' backs and there's no one better to be in the position of 'best man' for our wedding.

Stone and Davey met when Davey was around 21. When I asked Davey what he would like to say about Stone on here, his first point was that Stone will be the oldest of his groomsmen, and he felt strongly that I include that. I think it's important that it's noted Davey's points are not in order of highest importance, as his second point was that Stone is someone he trusts deeply and someone he can "absolutely 100%" count on for anything. Stone is a steady presence and someone that Davey can turn to for candid feedback or advice.

Emily and I met at my first job at Oregon Electric Station (OES). We worked there together for many years, first as Hostesses and later as servers through my time in college and graduate school and her time in college and nursing school. Emily is the kind of person you instantly adore and our friendship has lasted far beyond years of working at the restaurant together. Emily moved from Oregon to Denver, Colorado in 2015 and I planned a trip to visit her for the Oregon v. Colorado football game that fall. It was on that trip, that I met Davey on my last day in the city on October 5, 2015. Emily was also the first person I told about Davey and it’s more than fitting she be here alongside me as I marry the guy I told her about just before I got on a plane to fly back home.

Davey has also known Calais since they were both 6 years old. With birthday's only one month apart, these two became as close as family very quickly. Davey shared that Calais is someone he was "just always with" and happy to be with. Along with Josh, they were together far more than apart. They played football and basketball together and stayed close even after Davey moved away from Denver. Whenever these two are together, it seems as though their friendship picks up where it left off without much time having passed and they know their friendship will be a constant throughout their lives.

Lauren and I met when she began working at OES as a hostess. Lauren was the youngest hostess at OES and her dad was our boss. Initially, I was intimidated by Lauren as a self-assured, outspoken teenager, and she was not particularly fond of me. Evidently, I seemed rude since I tended to scurry away from her in fear whenever our paths crossed. Our friendship is an excellent example of first impressions not always being entirely accurate as, over time, Lauren and I bonded and became confidants for one another. Lauren is someone I know will listen to my struggles and will always be honest with me in her support. I was honored to be a Bridesmaid when Lauren married the love of her life in September and I feel so lucky to have a friend like her in my life that will be standing beside me as I marry my soulmate.

Nicole was my very first best friend. We met at approximately age 3 in a preschool dance class at Sheldon when our moms struck up a conversation and arranged a play-date for us. That play-date turned into many more escapades than anyone bothered to count. Our early friendship was forged through playing ponies together and choreographing dances to various Disney soundtracks (putting that dance class to good use, I’m sure). As teenagers, we both were fortunate enough to get our first job at OES where we deepened our friendship even further. As Nicole and I both moved from our jobs at the restaurant into our careers, we have leaned on each other emotionally and been together for some truly adventurous experiences and escapades that have become treasured memories. She also has made herself a fixture at the Smejkal house during the holidays, as an honorary family member.

Following Davey's sophomore year of High School in Denver, he and his family moved to Houston, Texas. Moving away from his life-long friends was difficult, but being on his SHS football team is where Davey made two friends he couldn't imagine his life without. With Cole and Davey something clicked and they were best friends in an instant. Davey said he had no idea when they met that Cole would be one of the best people he's ever known, or that he would get to stand by Cole at his wedding, but he's so happy that Cole is still one of his best friends' today thousands of miles away. Cole being next to Davey for our wedding was decided long before we had even met.

Chase is the other best friend Davey met when he moved to Texas and his version of their friendship seemed perfect enough to leave here: "The very first time I met Chase, him and another friend tried to run me over in my driveway... thus began a beautiful friendship. I didn't know at the time, but that man that just tried to run me over, would be one of my best friends in life. I got to stand by him at his wedding and now he gets to stand by me at mine" - Davey

As most people reading this will know, Stacy is my younger sister. We grew up 2 years apart and did not always see eye to eye, as is the case for many sisters who are close in age. We played our birth order roles as the oldest and youngest sibling rather predictably and were quite skilled at them. Stacy knew how to get away with quite a bit as the youngest and blame things on me, and I would use my 2 extra years of wisdom to trick her into watching the shows I wanted or letting me read the next Harry Potter before her, even though I also read the last Harry Potter book first. As adults, Stacy and I have learned so much about life and each other, and have created a much more mature and overall positive relationship. We have moved beyond our childhood squabbles and learned to band together when we need to because we are, and always will be, family.

Stef and I were destined to be lifelong friends before we were even born. Our parents used to double-date together and our mom’s spent time together when they were pregnant with us. We grew up seeing each other at yearly traditions, like trips to Horse Creek Lodge and horseback riding at Camp Lutherwood. One of the most notable of these traditions, was our annual trip to Kirk Mombert’s pumpkin patch where we would scheme together and beg our dads to get pumpkins much larger than they had planned to, and that no one person could ever carry. Stefani also got her first job at OES where our friendship matured as we grew from kids to adults together. I was fortunate to stand by Stefani as a Bridesmaid at her wedding, and feel blessed to have her stand as a Bridesmaid at mine.