Wedding Party
Forrest Bennett
Officiant
We got tired of writing bios, so in addition to being a dear friend of Jack and Derek, from his campaign website: Forrest Bennett has been representing the people of Downtown, Midtown and Southside OKC at the Capitol since 2016. As the HD 92 Representative, he’s been fighting for solutions that directly impact working Oklahomans across his district and the state. For more information, visit www.voteforrest.com
Buzz Becker
Derek's Best Man
Derek met Buzz at High School Senior Prom, even though they did not go to the same school and lived in different towns in different parts of the state. Instant connection turned to instant friendship when they both arrived at the University of Oklahoma. Following a brief (but friendly) undergraduate rivalry, they visited each other often in Houston and Dallas. Today, Buzz, his wife Chelsea, and their new baby live in Chicago. They still get together regularly for weddings, graduations, holidays, backpacking adventures, and many, many weekend misadventures.
Corbin Carter
Derek's Best Man
Derek and Corbin went to the same high school and became close friends when they were in the same fraternity at OU. Late night pizza study sessions and drinking margaritas underage in New York laid a foundation for a lasting friendship that they continue to build on. Today, Corbin and his husband Michael live in Dallas, where they are building new memories with Derek and Jack.
John Fraser
Derek's Best Man
Derek and John met on their high school cross country team, and they were in the same fraternity at OU. When John and Corbin were roommates in New York after college, they regularly hosted Derek on their couch for weekend visits, one particularly amazing Thanksgiving, and a jumping off point for Europe. John, his wife Ishani, and their new baby now live in Dallas, and Derek and Jack are happy to have them closer.
Elizabeth De Leon
Derek's Groomswoman
Derek met Elizabeth (Ed) when he was new to Dallas and they quickly hit it off. Dallas in their twenties offered plenty of fun, and combined with Ed’s hosting talents, they’ve spent many summer and winter evenings cooking up 5-course dinners (she was an MVP on the wok at Derek’s rooftop birthday party in Deep Ellum), fighting over board games, or watching movies and drinking wine on Ed’s backyard patio. Ed lives in Dallas and still regularly hosts backyard movie night dinners.
Tory Hubler
Derek's Groomsman
Derek and Tory first met at OU, but became friends afterward between trips to Oklahoma City, Dallas, and many weekends at Tory’s family lake home at Fort Gibson in eastern Oklahoma. When Tory moved to Dallas to grow his career, he also perfected his skill of shot-pouring and is now the go-to at parties and pre-games. Tory lives in Dallas, now just down the road from Derek and Jack, and his warmth and supportive friendship mean the world to them.
Elizabeth Miracle
Derek's Groomswoman
Derek and Elizabeth were in the same major program at OU, and have used those life-skills ever since to act as each other’s informal life coaches (although one is maybe better at it than the other). From Norman to abroad and now to Dallas where they both live, they’ve cheered each other on as they’ve grown personally and professionally. Now Jack and Derek are enjoying watching Elizabeth, her husband Jordan, and their new baby making their home in Grapevine.
Lindsey Webb
Derek's Groomswoman
Derek and Lindsey met in 2013 when they lived in the same apartments in Dallas’ Deep Ellum neighborhood. Pool days, patio bbq’s, and late night rooftop cocktails (Lindsey was another MVP at the rooftop birthday) were the best way to spend the twenties in Dallas. When Lindsey started hosting weekly Sunday movie nights, a multi-year tradition was born and Jack fit right in when he moved to town. Lindsey’s home is now Austin where she’s hosted Jack and Derek when they visit and she is always welcome at theirs when she’s back in Dallas.
Audrey Burro
Jack's Best Woman
Jack and his sister Audrey have known each other for quite a while, pretty much his whole life. When Jack was young, Audrey would play Oregon Trail and he would act out the lives of the (most often doomed) travelers. A five year old has never died of dysentery or drowned in a wagon crash in their living room so realistically. Eventually, they were able to take trips of their own, including a fantastic trip through Germany, touring Christmas Villages across the country. Thankfully, there were no dysentery issues or wagon crashes.
Emily Forth
Jack's Best Woman
Jack has looked up to his sister Emily for his whole life. He’ll never forget visiting her and her husband Justin when they lived in Shanghai. On that trip, Emily’s ability to navigate the city, find the most amazing food, and haggle (in Mandarin, surprising the shop owners) cemented his admiration for her and his love of travel. They may all be back in the U.S. for now, but that hasn’t stopped them traveling. Between Yellowstone, Croatia, Lake Como, and more, they’ve had many amazing experiences together with no sign of that stopping any time soon.
Ben Becker
Jack's Groomsman
One of Jack’s oldest friends, he met Ben while on his high school’s academic team. Ben was a senior, while Jack a sophomore, but Jack’s immense skill landed him on the varsity team. Since then, Ben has practically become a member of the family. Ben has joined Jack’s family for Thanksgivings, Christmases, and more pool days than they can count. Now, living in Denver with his wife Katrina and new baby Madelyn, they don’t see each other as often as they would like, but always make the most of it when they do.
Devyn Kerr
Jack's Groomswoman
When Jack met Devyn, all he knew was that she was Wilson’s new girlfriend he met on a school trip to Austria. However, after they met, it was instantly clear that not only was she the best person Wilson had ever dated, but one of the coolest people Jack had ever met. Jack anxiously waited for Wilson to mess something up, removing Devyn from his social circle, but thankfully that never happened. Living in Dallas, Devyn and Jack became fast friends over double dates and movie nights. Now they share a deep common passion for many things, primarily making fun of Wilson.
Wilson Kerr
Jack's Groomsman
Wilson was Andrew’s roommate in the DU house, but he and Jack didn’t really get close till they were both living in the Old Towne Lofts in Norman. They quickly bonded over a shared love for movies (particularly the ones no one else wanted to watch with them), even though Jack really just wanted to hang out with Wilson’s dog Buckley. Now with everyone living in Dallas, they remain each other’s go-to movie partner to this day.
Andrew Matt
Jack's Groomsman
Jack and Andrew met in the esteemed halls of the Delta Upsilon house in Norman, where they would immediately become best friends. Andrew was a year older and his room became a second home for Jack, where he would sleep on a sectional that drifted apart in the night, causing immense back pain. Through college they lived together for a couple years before Andrew graduated and moved to Dallas. Andrew often visited Jack in San Antonio, but they were finally reunited when Jack moved to Dallas in 2018.
Colin McGoodwin
Jack's Groomsman
Jack and Colin met in college at the DU house as well, but with Colin, Jack found something important: someone he could talk to about video games. This was a lifeline for Jack, what with all of his new friends being too cool or jocks or whatever. That was enough of a foundation to eventually move in together, along with Andrew, and cement a lifelong friendship. Now, even though Colin abandoned his friends for graduate school and life in Massachusetts with his wife Sarah and daughter Mackenzie, he is one of the only people Jack regularly texts with.
Karen Steele
Wedding Planner
Karen is one of Jack and Derek's favorite people, and has been an incredible partner. As a 5th Generation San Franciscan with long time ties to Lake Tahoe, Karen's local relationships, insights, and expertise have been invaluable. She knows the nuts and bolts of event planning and Jack and Derek whole-heartedly recommend her for any of your Northern California wedding, event, and destination management needs. Her husband is also a fantastic boat tour guide. tahoebydesign.com