Meagan & Ben
Wedding Party
Julia Ruane
Maid of Honor
I saved Julia's leftover half-sandwich from a dog named Roger Federer at the beginning of freshman year at the University of Mary Washington, and it was best-friendship at first sandwich save. Julia and I lived together all of sophomore year, half of junior year, and all of senior year, and we didn't kill each other as roommates, even though we're both only children. Julia and her family basically adopted me when I came out to college and I'm so thankful for them. Julia has been a great friend, and always helps me to grow as a person and I'm so glad she agreed to be my Maid of Honor.
Tim Kiefer
Best Man
Tim and I went to boot camp together. It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times. When we graduated we were alphabetically assigned to be roommates in the barracks in California and it all went downhill from there. We both had the same bizarre sense of humor which helped us survive our year at A school. A friendship was created in that short year that has withstood the test of geographic separation, and will likely stand the test of time.
Bailey Paskey
Bridesmaid
Bailey and I have known each other since we were twelve and fifteen, respectively. We met at Glacier Lake, but our families lived in towns next to each other in Illinois, too, and we spent hours upon hours laying out on the swimming dock, driving to and from the lake together, hanging out with the Thompson girls and all of our families. Glacier Lake was one of the most influential parts of my life, and we're the closest thing to having a sister either of us will get.
Nathan Vorderstrasse
Groomsman
Nathan Vorderstrasse is a cartoon character. He's not a real person. There isn't a real person on this planet that has the natural instinct to always put everyone else ahead of himself, sometimes (usually) at his own personal detriment. Since we met at A school I've always given him a hard time and pushed to try and find that sliver inside of him that could possibly be seen as negative, but it simply doesn't exist. He is the nicest person on the planet. Period.
Erica Street
Bridesmaid
I met Erica when I started grad school at George Mason. We were both in the MPH program, and we were both research assistants in the department. We had a mutual friend, but she and I very quickly connected, and she has been so supportive through deployments, grad school, first "real" jobs, and I'm so glad we've been friends since we met.
Atticus McEntire
Groomsman
Atticus "Mac" McEntire is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, wrapped in an enigma. Since we met 6 years ago at A school I honestly think that I've heard him speak fewer words than are in this blurb about him. He is quiet and reserved, but when he does speak it carries weight, and is usually hilarious. Mac is so quiet he never even answers yes or no to plans for going out, and I almost expect he won't RSVP to the wedding. And if anyone can get him to reveal any details about his life before the Navy, I'll buy you a drink.
Annabel Fritsch
Bridesmaid
In another dog-related story, I tried to give Annabel my favorite Beanie Baby, which happened to be a dog. Annabel had just moved to the States from New Zealand and wasn't so sure about me trying to pawn my toys off on her. Since age 8, we have been friends and celebrated childhood and adulthood together.
Zach Miller
Groomsman
Zach and I met at A school and spent every morning together going through our morning routine: getting the bland chow hall breakfast, going to formation, walking down to the school house, and hating everything and everyone along the way. But the respect I have for this little hobbit-man is profound. Nobody is as determined as Zach, and he projects that motivation on to others. Any time he ever uttered the phrase "hell yeah brother," or "for sure man, go for it," it instantly gave me the drive to complete any task. Spend five minutes with this guy and you'll feel like no matter what you're struggling through, you've got the juice to make it happen.
Kirby Morphis
Bridesmaid
Kirby and I went to school together from middle school on, but didn't become friends until we were freshmen in high school. Kirby and I went through a lot of those "growing up" experiences you have that make high school a nightmare sometimes, but Kirby has never failed to make me laugh, or provide words of Ben Folds encouragement to help me get through something. My favorite memory of Kirby is the time she got me an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas one year because I told her I'd never had one before.
Matthew Escoffery
Groomsman
I often like to claim I'm the "wild card" of the group that hung out together at A school, but in our heart of hearts I think we all know that Escofferey holds that title. Whenever we were having a run of the mill night down at the Mucky Duck (RIP) we could count on Escofferey to make it more interesting. Raucous and hard to contain, sometimes to a frustrating degree, there's one thing I'll give him: I don't think I've ever seen him frown. The one predictable thing in the sea of unpredictability that is Matthew Escofferey: you will have fun, and you will laugh. Eventually.
Chelsea Tufarolo
Bridesmaid
Chelsea and I were introduced by one of my good friends at Mary Washington, and Chelsea became my roommate when Julia went to China for a semester junior year, and then lived with Julia, me, and another friend, Karissa, senior year of college. Chelsea, too, has been so supportive and caring for as long as I've known her and always makes me laugh.
Mike Davis
Groomsman
I first met Mike when I was a little E-3 at A school and he was a fleet returnee E-6 a few classes ahead of me. The first time I ever spoke to him was to ask him career advice, which set the tone for our relationship. We didn't really get to know each other until our first of two deployments together. What started out as a friendly mentor/protege type relationship eventually turned into a friendship, forged by the bizarre, grueling nature of our deployments together. I wouldn't be where I am in my career without his seasoned, sage advice. One of my favorite bits of advice I learned from Mike is that sometimes you just have to laugh at a bad situation, and that has gone a long way for me.
Hailey Thompson
Bridesmaid
Hailey and her family were the first people me and my family met up at Glacier Lake. Hailey was 6, her sisters, 4 and 2. I can hardly remember a time in my life that I didn't know the Thompson family, and they're some of my most favorite people in the world. Hailey is wise beyond her years (usually), and has always been someone I go to if I need perspective on something or just am homesick for the lake. From babysitting to drinking together, and everything in between, I can't think of life events we haven't shared together, even if at a distance. Lots of things in life have changed for us, but I'm lucky to always have her there for me.