Ellie & Garrett

Wedding Party

Nicole Linn

Maid of Honor

Nicole and I met the same way that Garrett and I met- on the Internet. After stumbling across a Tik Tok video Nicole posted in September of 2020 featuring both running AND her bunnies, I knew I had to leave a comment on our similar interests. Fast forward about 1.5 years and I am flying to Florida to run the Ft. Lauderdale half marathon with Nicole before ever meeting her in person. Upon meeting my "stranger" friend at the airport and talking, discovering MANY similarities between us, and laughing nonstop, we quickly realized this was a friendship for the ages. Since then we have run the West Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale half marathons, and the Pittsburgh, Miami, and Dallas Marathon together and we don't plan on stopping any time soon. Now I couldn't imagine a single day going by without talking to Nicole, even just a quick 1-hour phone call ;)

Meghan Wolfe

Bridesmaid

The Robin to my Crow! Meghan and I met while we were both interning in Apalachicola, Florida (if you've never had the chance to visit Apalach, you should). We quickly realized that there were only so many 20-somethings in the quaint town of ~2,250 people and we had to make do with what we had. Thankfully, Oyster City Brewing Company, Bowery Station, and St. George Island were just minutes away from our trusty trailer and were frequently visited by the two of us. If we weren't at any of those places, you could catch us on our backyard trail & boardwalk watching the sunset, taking a walk along our backyard marina to watch the shrimp boats, or talking about going to Up The Creek for some fried fish baskets. The good times never seem to stop when Meghan is around, so now we strive for a "once-a-year trip" to wherever one of us may be to carry on those good times and continue to make the most fond memories.

Nina Stott

Bridesmaid

In 2014 Nina and I were seniors at rival high schools and had no idea the other existed. After both committing to NDSU, we chose to use Room Surf, an online roommate matching service, where you are given a quiz on living and roommate preferences in hopes to find a good fit for a freshmen roommate. We were matched up and made the decision to be freshmen roommates- the rest was history! Nina and I were not only freshmen roommates but continued to live together for the remaining 3 years of college in good ol' apartment 21 with fellow bridesmaid, Lindsey. Library visits, coffee dates, boy troubles, living room movie nights, college parties, downtown bars...the morning after college parties and downtown bars...and everything in between. Nina got me through the good and the bad of college and I wouldn't have it any other way, my forever roommate!

Lindsey Beisner

Bridesmaid

Lindsey and I had also gone to rival high schools but knew of one another from track & field. Lindsey & Nina are high school best friends, so it came full circle once Nina and I had decided to room together and Lindsey committed to NDSU as well. I first met Lindsey after Nina and I had settled into our dorm and walked across campus to Lindsey's dorm. We hit it off immediately and little did we know, 9-10 years later we would be bridesmaids in each other's weddings. Lindsey and I found a common interest in working out and running. We spent many mornings leaving for the gym before 5:00 AM and going on to run our first half marathon AND first full marathon together. We weren't always that serious, though. You could always catch us at every holiday/fun 5k or 10k doused in glitter and "WOO"-ing the whole way. Halloween, NDSU football games, or any other event would bring the same- glitter and "WOO"-ing. If Lindsey is present there will never be a dull moment. I know that will never change ;)

Michaela Jarvis

Bridesmaid

Not your usual friendship story ahead... Michaela and I became friends AFTER college where we were BOTH in sororities, BOTH Bison Ambassadors, and BOTH members of the Blue Key National Honor Society. We began speaking more often when we found out we had both recently been broken up with by our long-term college boyfriends. It was comforting being able to talk to someone in such a similar position, even though we hadn't spoken much more than a few passing words throughout college. As we bonded over our heartbreak, our own friendship grew stronger. We finally admitted that we were intimidated by one another in college. Imagine that: two extremely confident, outgoing, ambitious girls scared of one another for being too similar to themselves. Now we find ourselves on totally opposite sides of the country chasing our dreams and living our lives. Thank God for technology- FaceTime and texting are long-distance friend savers. We still manage to try to meet up in MSP if our travel plans coordinate and will always keep an eye out for a good flight to the others' city.

Kristin Nelson

Bridesmaid

My (much-needed) college mom. Kristin and I met when I started working at the YMCA during my sophomore year of college. We got close immediately by bonding over dogs and beer, making work more enjoyable by playing ridiculous games with the kids, and starting our weekly frozen yogurt dates. I frequently invited myself over to her apartment when I needed someone to talk to. She would welcome me with open arms and an open bed to lay on, occasionally accompanied by a tub of ice cream. If I wasn't inviting myself over you could always catch us at an NDSU tailgate, football game, or basketball game. Some of my favorite college memories were at those events with Kristin! Now we try to catch one another when I'm up in the twin cities area or making a trip to Fargo (it's secretly to see my puppy niece, Mina).

Oakleigh Hogg

Bridesmaid

Oakleigh and I met when I moved to Virginia on a whim knowing nobody and in need of a place to live. I found her on a Richmond, VA roommate search Facebook page searching for an additional roommate in a cute little house. After a phone call discussing general roommate things, I officially had a place to live and a new roommate! Oakleigh and I became close right off the bat. We loved making dinner together, going on walks with her dog, Boomer, and enjoying my famous Oreo balls. Nearly everyday Harper and I would get a knock at our door with Oakleigh behind it asking if we wanted to hang out, watch TV, and talk about our days (we gladly accepted each time). I moved to RVA on November 7th and by November 26th, 19 days later, I was brought along to her family Thanksgiving. I never felt an absence of love and acceptance from her and her family while I was away from mine. Life moves fast and its hard to catch up. Oakleigh and I haven't seen one another in person since I moved away from RVA. A common theme in my bridesmaid descriptions: thank God for technology!

Erin Quesenberry

Bridesmaid

My most adventurous friendship. Erin and I met when we both began working at Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary with big cats in Imlay, NV. We dropped everything and moved to the middle of the high desert in Nevada knowing no one or what we were about to get into. I arrived a few weeks before Erin and was eager to meet our new co-worker. Upon her arrival, we both quickly figured we would NOT be good friends. On my end, I heard mentions of video and computer games, TV shows, and other interests that I know nothing about. On her end, she noticed photos of me and my sorority sisters on my walls and blonde hair. But, much to our surprise, we evened each other out perfectly. Our time in NV was filled with hard work, crazy memories, and a lot of the song "Don't Trust Me" by 3OH!3, but it does not stop there. We took a road trip home from NV to WI as we were leaving Safe Haven during peak COVID. I introduced her to St. Catherines Island and our lemur keeper position which she got to experience a few months later. Fast forward another few months and we are together on SCI working the Sea Turtle Program. 2 years go by and some of the best memories I have ever made have happened. Laughing until we were crying, learning and trying new things, late nights, early mornings. I wouldn't trade a single moment of our time spent together for anything. Now we make sure Erin makes her way down to SCI a few times per year to relive our time together and continue to make amazing memories.

Dori Tignor

Bridesmaid

Dori was apart of the original SCI Turtle Team along with Erin during the 2021 season. Erin and I were nervous to meet her, not knowing how she would feel about us and handle the island. Little did we know she was the most perfect addition we could’ve asked for. Early mornings fueled by coffee and motivating post-its, exploring the island, hanging enos on the beach, playing a little too much “I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany, ALWAYS being sure to think of what pose we would strike at each (and every) game camera, and late nights at the pool accompanied by, who would’ve guessed, Pink Whitney. Dori and I combated the early mornings by always keeping it interesting. Any time “Copperhead Road” was played, we stopped the gator and proceeded to dance (who was to judge anyways, the turtles?). Since then, Dori has made a point to visit from Virginia as much as possible, specifically the 4th of July party (where all of the original SCI shenanigans continues).

Taylor Faherty

Bridesmaid

Taylor was the very first intern that I hired- she made me an official boss! I was so excited to begin running the SCI Sea Turtle Program and nervous to meet my first hire. Little did I know she would be such a huge part of my life just months later. Working with someone every day brings a new level of closeness, and we reached it fairly quickly. I had an amazing time guiding her through her first sea turtle season and getting to know her better. Toward the end of the season, Garrett and I had tickets to a Savannah Bananas game with a group of friends. We had frequently spoken about getting her set up with someone but never had anyone in mind. A lightbulb went off in our heads when we realized the newly single Groomsmen Ross would be a great match for Taylor. Coincidentally, he would be at the game. We managed to secure Taylor a last-minute ticket after convincing her she had to meet him. Taylor and Ross hit it off like a baseball bat (ha). They were the coordinators behind our engagement day in October, and even started officially dating on the same day! I now get to see Taylor at all of our friend events and continue to be a proud boss from afar as I watch her continue her sea turtle work elsewhere!