Jill and Kristen met their freshman year of high school and have been inseparable ever since. From Sweet 16's and hallway drama to college, careers, advanced degrees, and meeting the men of their dreams — they’ve navigated it all side by side. Jill has been putting up with Kristen’s brand of chaos for over half their lives and somehow remains the same steady, down-to-earth friend she’s always been. Loyal, grounded, and the calm in the storm — she’s Kristen’s better half in every way. Move over, Austin — she had the job first.

Brandon, Miles, and Austin have been inseparable since middle school — a bond forged through years of talking Austin out of questionable decisions and showing up when he insists he’s “got it under control.” They are fluent in sarcasm, guardians of stories that should never see the light of day, and undefeated when it comes to having Austin’s back. Their official duties on the big day: keep Austin looking sharp, prevent any major foot-in-mouth moments, and exercise strategic veto power every time he says, “Don’t worry, I’ve got a plan.” Offical Titles include: "Best Men", "Best Friends", and "Co-Chairs of the “Don’t Let Me Ruin My Own Wedding” Task Force." If everything runs smoothly, you can thank them. If it doesn’t... Austin probably said, “trust me.”

As Kristen’s older sister, Lauren has been part of her life… well, forever! From Polly Pockets and Barbies to swapping endless book recomendations, buying houses, and celebrating weddings, they’ve tackled every stage of life by each other's side. They’ve survived a massive- and wildly entertaining- extended family (love ALL Y'ALL!), crossed every milestone, and built an unbreakable bond along the way. Their journey has felt a little like surviving the Oregon Trail: full of twists, questionable decisions, and the occasional metaphorical snakebite, but somehow they made it through with stories to tell. And no matter what chapter they’re in, Lauren is always Kristen’s built-in cheerleader and biggest fan.

Landon is Austin’s built-in co-pilot, Head of Damage Control, and original bad influence (the good kind). He’s the big brother behind Austin’s controller calluses, countless Titans game sunburns, and early, unpaid enrollment in the “bring-your-little-bro-to-work” program. Always up for “just one more” — one more level, one more catch, one more laugh. Steady as ever and always looking out for him, without Landon, Austin may have a few less (throwing knives) scars, but wouldn't be the same person he is today.

Marie and Kristen met at Florida Tech while serving as Resident Assistants on the same staff. Bonded by their love of space, rockets, and the moon, they fully embraced the university motto — “To the stars through science.” And honestly, it seemed their friendship was written in the stars, too. While Dr. Marie holds multiple degrees in planetary geology and knows more about space planets than most people know about Earth, she’s also explored this world to its farthest edges; Together, she and Kristen have climbed the mountains of Machu Picchu, crossed a desert, and dipped their toes in both the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans. Her next journey? Helping Kristen walk down the aisle — in Rocket City of course!

Kyle and Austin met during Austin’s first real job at the 716th Test Squadron, where they survived round-the-clock wind tunnel shifts — Kyle doubling as both shift-change therapist and loyal adventuring partner along the Sword Coast (online). Together, they endured the grind of early careers and a statistically improbable number of Baldur’s Gate team-kills — all courtesy of Austin, of course. Wedding-day duties include: morale officer, hydration manager, and holder of veto power over any plan that smells like a Nat-1 waiting to happen.

Jen and Kristen met in high school and have been close ever since — a friendship built on passed notes, hallway laughs, and a shared love of all things creative. From teenage art projects to long-distance check-ins, they’ve stayed connected through every move and life change — truly a bond that’s dino-mite. With Jen’s love of dinosaurs, books, and her artistic eye, their friendship has always been full of imagination, laughter, and a *healthy* amount of fabric paint. While their tastes in morning drinks and wine may differ (coffee vs. tea, white vs. red), their passion for arts, crafts, and thoughtful details is perfectly aligned. From high school crafts to wedding day details — Jen’s been by Kristen’s side, glue gun in hand and heart wide open.

Greg and Austin met at work and bonded over craft beer, good whiskey, and far too many late-night game sessions. On the field, he’s a two-way problem — one of Austin’s best linemen and receivers — and the guy behind the most improbable catch Austin’s ever seen (he still tells the story like a fisherman). Greg also has a PhD, which might explain why even his routes have great lift, minimal drag, and an annoyingly perfect sense of timing. Whether he’s breaking down complex systems or breaking tackles, he shows up with brains, balance, and just the right amount of chaos. That’s Greg — the friend who brings laughs, loyalty, and clutch plays exactly when you need them.

Kristen and Corey met at Northrop Grumman, both doing a double take at the rare sight of another woman nearby. They quickly bonded over the shared struggles of being female engineers — and an even stronger dislike of their jobs (spoiler: they’ve both since escaped!). Fueled by tea, wine, and a love of books, their friendship ignited — fitting, since Corey is a Master of propulsion. And on a wedding day: it’s good to have someone who understands combustion! She’ll make sure no pressure builds, nothing blows up, and the only sparks flying are the romantic kind. Fortunately for Kristen, nothing beats a friendship forged in equal parts engine fire, dumpster fire, and dragon fire — and no one better to have by your side when it’s time to take off on a new adventure.

Kristen and Austin first met Dr. Craig Morris while working in the wind tunnels, where he impressed everyone with his knowledge of optics, aerodynamics, and… administrative paperwork. He even became Kristen’s boss for a brief time when he promoted her to supervisor—which, let’s be honest, may have been the greatest professional decision of his career. When Craig and his wife, Shana, moved into the neighborhood, their friendship with Kristen really "took off" (pun intended)- thanks to long wine nights, good conversation, and of course, their pets. While Maple supplied plenty of doggie kisses, it was Mario the cat who truly sealed the deal. In fact, Kristen may have been visiting more for Mario’s purrs than Craig’s optics expertise, Shana’s open ear, or—dare we say—even the wine. Though Craig and Shana have since moved away, Kristen and Austin are so grateful he’s here to be part of their big day!