Michaela & Benjamin
Wedding Party
Caroline Trotter
Maid of Honor
We were lucky enough to join the same bible study our freshman year of college, and became fast friends when we started going to the gym together and talking about everything. While we didn't stay consistent at the gym, she became one of my most consistent friends. Caroline will tell you how it is, all while making you laugh, making witty comments, and impressing you with how smart she is. She has always showed up for me, and I've been so lucky to do life with her the past few years, whether we were eating too much ice cream or living together, getting way too excited about a new cleaning tool at the house. I am so thankful for her and how much she has shaped my life!
Luke Coffman
Best Man
I met Luke freshman year of college through Isaac (groomsman). We ended up getting pretty close through eating at the UT Dallas Dining Hall (and laughing about how vile the food was). By the end of the year we'd eat most meals together and it was then that he invited me to a Christian small group which would eventually lead me to meeting Michaela. Luke is one of the reasons I'm with Michaela in the first place, and he's been by my side every step of the way.
Lillie Regalado Kolkmeier
Matron of Honor
Somehow, I had the confidence to tell the really cool girl in our college orientation group that I liked her skirt, and we've been great friends ever since. I know that I can count on Lillie to be there for me when I need it, to pull me in bounds when I start to overstretch myself, and to binge all of the shows with me (whether I'm getting her into the Bachelorette or she's sharing the joy that is Grey's Anatomy). We always said we were the "other state" version of each other, and I've been so blessed by her friendship. She is ambitious, funny, kind, smart, and cares for others in every action she takes.
Justin Briggs
Best Man
Justin and I met in a tremendously dull history class, and at the time we both had different majors. Following that semester, however, we both independently changed our majors to accounting and since then we've been rubbing elbows in almost all of the most challenging classes I had to take in college. He's the reason I ended up in the program that set up my full-time position, and he's one of the most honest and genuine guys I've ever met.
Jessica Limon
Bridesmaid
This girl! We led a bible study group together, and somehow she became a sister to me - it feels like we've been friends our whole lives. She is so incredibly hospitable (to the point that we now live together), selfless, and welcoming. Everyone she meets can see her loving spirit, and people always walk away from a conversation with her knowing that they are loved. There have been so many times we meant to have a quick catch up, and we've either ended up having an hours long deep conversation, or been laughing so hard we're crying. She'll have just gotten back from a study abroad trip to Prague before the wedding - make sure to ask her about it!
Isaac Blackwood
Groomsman
I've known Isaac longer than I can remember. I think technically we probably met around the time I was 10, and we really began being friends through our church youth group. He's a close friend and someone I spend a fair bit of my time with, and who I met many of the other people in this wedding through. He makes people laugh and he cares a lot about the people around him, and I would be so much worse off if I had never met him.
Emily Smith
Bridesmaid
How do you explain Emily? Through sarcasm, advice that makes you realize that things WILL in fact work out, and loyal friendship. I know that I can always come to her, whether it's with an exciting or funny story, a problem that I just can't seem to work out on my own, or some weird adulting thing that Emily figured out years ago. We clicked immediately when we met, and I knew right away that I had earned a lifelong friend. Emily knows how to value people, and I've been blessed by that so much since we've known each other; she makes people feel heard, cared for, and known, and I'm so going to miss sharing a room with her!
Isaiah Blackwood
Groomsman
Isaiah was always just Isaac's younger brother to me growing up, but around the last few years I lived in Austin we started spending a lot more time with him, and after that it wasn't long before Isaiah was a friend of mine in his own right. He challenges me to think critically and differently than I do. He is willing to go out of his way for people he cares about and he is one of my best friends (as are all of my groomsmen!).
Wasta Shafquat
Bridesmaid
Wasta and I met in a freshman arts class that I'm not sure we ever payed attention to. We could not stop talking, and there were many times that out of a 300 person class we would be singled out to be quiet - sorry, teachers reading this! While our affection for each other sometimes comes out through insults, I love this girl so much. She is constantly teaching me; she's taught me how to have a more welcoming home because she will always provide you with homemade meals; how to be more generous with your time, money, and energy; and how to connect people and get your friends to be friends. I'm so glad we met in that class - even if we got in trouble a lot!
Zen Brown
Groomsman
I think the first time I met Zen was at one of Isaac's birthday parties (or something like that) around the time we were 14. Initially we would only spend time together if Isaac was around, but before too long we were finding time for just the two of us to hang out and kill time. Zen is an extremely honest guy who will spend however much time with you as you want to spend with him. Many of my latest nights are a result of he and I talking about whatever and doing who knows what for hours on end. He's a wonderful friend and someone I'm proud to know.
Adrienne Large
Bridesmaid
Adrienne is so incredibly wise, and my life has been so enriched by her questions, how she thinks through things, and the advice she gives. There have been many times that we've been in the student union until late into the night talking through things together, and I was always impressed by how much patience she showed me even while I went on my tenth tangent in order to explain something. She is silly, confident, and loves everyone around her. She knows that her purpose is to care for others, and lives this out every day. I can always trust her to bring her whole self to a conversation and to a cause, and feel so blessed to be friends with her!
Pradeep Fonseka
Groomsman
Pradeep is one of the nicest people I've ever met. He cares about everyone he knows and there's not an angry bone in his body. It's hard to think of someone that I've spent more time with and honestly never had a negative interaction with. He's a wonderful leader and one of the most honest people that I know.
Andrea Sierra
Bridesmaid
She is absolutely hilarious! Andrea will always make you laugh - sometimes you're not sure why you are, or even what the joke was, but you know that it was funny, and you know that you just got a gift. It's really such a privilege to know her; she is so loyal to her people, and she makes a point to be encouraging, talk about the hard stuff with you, ask the difficult questions, and be there whenever you need her. Anyone who meets her has made a new friend, and the best part is that Andrea treats everyone like a friend, too. I'm so thankful for her intentionality, her goofiness, and her wisdom.
Rhett Pippard
Groomsman
Rhett is someone that makes the world a better place. He's always smiling and he cares about everyone he knows so much. He can make you laugh and he gives so much of himself to others. He tells me that he has a mean side for his seventh graders when he teaches, but that's something I'll believe when I see it. Anyone who doesn't know Rhett is certainly worse off for it.
Karla Jimenez
Bridesmaid
Karla and I have been friends for 8 years, and so much of my life has been shaped by walks to the ice cream store after school, long talks on the phone, her teaching me how to bake (I'm still bad at it, even though she's a great teacher), and running things by each other over text when we're in different states. She makes me more adventurous, because she is brave, loves life, and cares fiercely for her people. I owe so much to our years-long friendship, and am so thankful for the many years to come. She's currently out of the country on a 1.5 year-long government program and will be unable to get the time off to come to the wedding, but I love her way too much to not include her as a bridesmaid, even if she can't be there physically!
Chris Sims
Groomsman
What can I say about Chris? As you can probably guess he's my brother, but throughout my life he's been so much more than just that. He taught me what it looked like to care about friends who are dear to me, he challenged me when I was admittedly kind of a jerk when I was growing up, and he taught me what it meant to have grit and keep moving forward when things were hard (sometimes by kicking my butt wrestling - after all, he had 5 years on me). He's everything I could hope for in a brother and he's one of the people who made me who I am today.
Casey & Katelyn Worsham
Officiant
This sweet couple met with us once a week for MONTHS to talk about our relationship, what marriage would be like, how our weeks went, and what a Godly life really looks like. They are the pastors of our church, and we are immensely grateful that they agreed to be the couple that walked us through our pre-engagement classes. They are so honest, funny, caring, and wise. They continually pointed our relationship towards Christ, taught us how to love each other better, and made us laugh. We are so grateful that they also agreed to be our officiants, and are excited to continue to get to be friends with such an awesome couple.