Collin & Aisling
Wedding Party
Dara Cuffe
Maid of Honor
Dara is the youngest of the bridal party, yet has the tallest order- she has to say nice things about her older sister at the toast on the wedding day. She's a good sport, has an impeccable way with words, and is up for the challenge. Wish her luck! While she's not spending hours laboriously pouring over her drafts for the toast speech, Dara can be found navigating the streets of Providence, Rhode Island in search of higher education (college) and the best spots for a good brunch.
Brian Leibold
Best Man
Brian is a writer, a traveller, an athlete, and the older brother of the groom. Brian and Collin spent their childhood years competing against each other in nearly every existing athletic event (skiing, tennis, soccer, basketball, ping pong, to name a few) as well as some events that didn't exist until Brian and Collin invented them (the Bethany Beach swing-soccer game, the backyard "Ronaldinho" game, and the Bryce football game that somehow never resulted in a concussion, at least that we know of). Nowadays, Brian spends his days in the woods of the Shenandoah Valley, writing poetry and improving the trail system of the national parks and forests.
Nora Leibold
Bridesmaid
Nora is the future sister-in-law with incredible fashion, music, and all-around life style that Aisling never knew she needed until now. Nora is a Virginia native with California vibes who can be found riding her blue vespa into the Long Beach sunsets when she's not too busy being an awesome advice giver and friend to those in need.
Conor Cuffe
Groomsman
Conor and Collin share a love of Planet Earth (the thing itself plus the hit documentary hosted by BBC). Conor also has an encyclopedic knowledge of reptiles, which he has honed through careful observation and through volunteering at the Bronx Zoo. So if there is a snake at the wedding, someone go get Conor. (Don't worry, there won't be a snake at the wedding... probably).
Mikayla Bittner
Bridesmaid
Mikayla is responsible for almost 100% of Aisling's sports education- she introduced her to soccer (with moderate success), swimming (with less than moderate success), softball (with negligible success), and running (this sport managed to stick!). A Cornwall woman of many talents and very little fear, Mikayla has gone on to climb mountains and camp out in just about every corner of the country.
Chris Hutson
Groomsman
Chris is a proud graduate of the only #1 seed to ever lose to a #16 seed in men's March Madness. As a Wahoo, he is a huge fan of Dave Matthews Band. Chris first met Collin in 8th grade at a party Collin's mom and aunts put together to help Collin and his cousins meet lifelong friends and also not feel awkward at lunch on the first day of freshman year. While the latter goal may not have been achieved, the former was--Chris and Collin became fast friends. Thanks McCloskey sisters.
Molly McNamara
Bridesmaid
Molly is the chef-extraordinaire, emotional-support-human that played a large role in getting Aisling through five years of college. A native of New Jersey with the Bruce Springsteen addiction to prove it, Molly arrives at the wedding as a newly minted resident of the great state of Texas, where she is well on her way (in grad school) of becoming the greatest psychologist that ever lived.
Connor Ryan
Groomsman
Connor is an avid cyclist, a traveller, and co-founder of Oatmeal Anytime--an oatmeal-focused startup Collin and Connor worked on when they lived together in Silicon Valley. The venture fizzled. (Collin maintains they were just before their time.) Connor and Collin met at Gonzaga High School, where they ran together on the cross country and track teams, sharing the common experience of being inspired by Coach Maddox with coaching gems like "boy, if you had half a brain you'd be dangerous," and "try moving your legs faster!"
Vanessa Fraser
Bridesmaid
As a younger teammate of Aisling's in college, Vanessa redefined what it meant to dream big, and despite her youth, was able to teach ol' Aisling a thing or two (or ten) about living life with swagger (a "young-people" word for confidence) and purpose. Vanessa, a Santa Cruz California native, is a real-life good luck charm who brings laughter, sunshine, and a sizeable amount of glitter wherever she goes.
Mike Crozier
Groomsman
If during the wedding weekend you hear Mike and Collin talking to each other in Boston accents, just leave them be; they're quoting Miracle, and they'll stop sometime in the next few hours. Mike and Collin bonded over Miracle during their exploits at Gonzaga College High School, where they ran cross country and track together. Mike, a consummate running nerd, taught Collin about training method and theories in high school, continuing in college at Georgetown. All that practice will come in handy in the fall, when Mike starts his coaching career. Collin is a bit jealous of Mike's future athletes, who get to be coached by an eminently talented, all-around good guy with a sense of humor to boot.
Elise Cranny
Bridesmaid
Elise, a college track teammate, has been living proof in Aisling's life that age is nothing more than a number. A few years younger than Aisling, Elise is a wiser-beyond-her-years friend that is always ready to help someone through a tough time by supplying freshly baked muffins, or lending her time as the world's most patient listener. This Colorado-native's little-known claim to fame is that she taught Aisling how to flip turn in a pool.
John Murray
Groomsman
John Murray is a man of many talents. He can tell stories that will make you laugh and cry and reflect on the beauty and sadness of life, and he can put together a fine 5000 meters to boot. John and Collin ran together at Georgetown, forging a friendship over morning miles on the C&O canal towpath and evening conversations about religion or history or rock 'n' roll. John faces the world with boldfaced confidence and yet he doesn't take himself too seriously. John brings this way of being with him now as he coaches college runners at UMass Amherst.
Jack Connelly
Honor Attendant
Jack (Collin's cousin) may fulfill his groomsman duties in absentia, depending on his work duties. For the last several years, Jack has lived and worked in China, which (for the not-so-geographically-inclined) is far away from Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York. If Jack does attend the wedding, feel free to strike up a conversation (in Chinese or English) about some of his quirky athletic interests, including squash, ultimate frisbee, jogging with Olympic torches, and endurance downhill birthday skiing.