Mara & Randolph
Wedding Party
Alexis Ramsey
Maid of Honor
These two have been inseparable since Spring 2007 when they met during lacrosse try-outs. Alexis was only a year ahead of Mara at West Potomac High School. Every day after school during the season they would walk home (or bug Mara's brother to drive them), heat up buttered noodles and veg out watching What I Like About You on tv. This was before TiVo so the two would make sure to get home just in time... They had it down to a science. Alexis is a year older exactly—they share the same birthday. They even attended the same college, rushed the same sorority, and lived together. It's honestly kind of ridiculous. They've been through so much. Though they have moved away over the years, the two have tried to spend every birthday together, but no matter the mileage, these two don't skip a beat.
Thomas Buckley
Best Man
Randolph & Thomas met at the Naval Academy and were roommates all throughout their years at USNA. Many nights were spent hanging out in DTA (downtown Annapolis), traveling to Washington DC, or losing to Randolph in Mario Kart. Thomas went off to drive subs with the submarine corps while Randolph went off to fly jets with the Marine Corps. They’ve kept in touch over the years, and now with Thomas stationed in Atlanta at Georgia Tech, they’ve been able to meet up several times being so close to Beaufort.
Lauren Ebberts
Bridesmaid
Lauren & Mara met in middle school where the two bonded over the fact that they were the shortest girls in their class. (Just aaaaalmost making it to 5 feet in 8th grade.) Lauren will try to say she's taller now but somehow is always wearing heeled shoes... They became even closer as they entered high school. Mara's house was only a few minutes walk from West Potomac so it became the perfect after school hangout. The two would make pierogies and watch CSI: New York religiously. Even though they went to college 5+ hours apart, they always called, texted, and occasionally made the trek to visit each other.
Christine Brennan
Groomswoman
Christine and Randolph have known each other for longer than he can remember. Whenever Randolph thinks back to a vacation or holiday growing up, Christine and her family were usually there as well. Even though Christine is a few years older and their paths have separated over the years, the two have always planned an annual Six Flags trip with homemade screen-printed shirt’s. It will be challenging when Mara & Randolph move to Japan, but he’s determined to continue the tradition.
Niki Flores
Bridesmaid
Niki & Mara met in 2012 down in Richmond through a mutual friend and hit it off immediately. The two have so many memories made in the last 7 years, it's hard to really sort through them... With the many horse races (or lack of horses), to the several St. Patrick's Days spent down in Savannah, to the many spontaneous weekend trips out of Richmond. Despite their friends' warnings, the two lived together during Mara's last year at VCU in Richmond and absolutely loved it. Mara will never forget the homemade family dinners, late nights blasting one song on repeat for hours, the hospital visits, and many others. Mara and Niki became so close that when Mara moved to Kingsville, Texas to be with Randolph, Niki moved to Austin, Texas 6 months later. You could say she's a little obsessed...
Andrew Sanchez
Groomsman
Randolph and Andrew met in Corpus Christi, Texas both waiting to start jet flight training. From field exercises in Arizona to acting platoon commanders in San Angelo, TX they suffered together through all the menial tasks the training command could give them to keep them occupied during the T-45 OBOGS crisis. They even almost lived together but then Mara decided to move to Texas... ruining what could’ve been. They then went through all of flight training together in Kingsville, TX and now are both training to fly F-35B in Beaufort, SC.
Lauren Crawford
Bridesmaid
Lauren is Mara's big sister in their sorority, Tri Sigma. For those who don't know, a big is meant to guide you through the incredibly overwhelming beginning of your college (or as a transfer in Mara's case) and sorority experiences. But Lauren became so much more than just that. Mara has always looked up to Lauren. She was kind of a mother figure down in Richmond for Mara while at VCU. She'd check in to make sure she was doing okay, she'd make sure she was going to class. She’s was her therapist: always there to listen, to give advice, and to sometimes tell her the harsh truth that she may not have wanted to hear. But also her biggest fan. Lauren was always there for her, whether it was lunch dates on campus or a good Thirsty Thursday downtown.
Chase Wojie
Groomsman
Chase and Randolph met in Kingsville, TX while waiting to start flight school. Chase was ahead of him by six months or so but they still found time to hang, go hiking, plan weekend trips to Lake Austin, etc. Chase and Andrew often opened up their home in Kingsville to host parties, brunches, and for all the sporting events that required cable with only a few moments notice. Chase is out in San Diego right now flying F-18s and will hopefully be making it to Beaufort before Randolph and Mara leave for Japan.
Samantha Suraz
Bridesmaid
Sam & Mara rushed Tri Sigma the same year, becoming pledge sisters in Fall 2011. Sam lived fairly far from campus and Mara loved to cook so Sam always came over for dinner at least once a week. One of Mara's favorite memories is when they got snowed in on Cary St. and made Mara's Mom's chili recipe with a few other friends and just vegged out all night. One of the greatest things about Sam is she's a living, breathing, juke box. She knows every lyric to every song you can possibly imagine. Though Mara will make fun of her Spotify line-up, she loves her acapella. Since college, the two have been dealing with long distance but Sam is always a phone call (or usually FaceTime) away. Keep an eye out, Sam will probably be crying before Mara on the day of the wedding.
Fabio Garcia
Groomsman
Fabio and Randolph met back in 2015 while Randolph was temporarily assigned at the Naval Academy in the Admissions office. They both went on to flight school and re-connected in Kingsville, TX learning to fly the T-45. The two both survived Kingsville and are together again in Beaufort, SC learning to fly the F-35B. Randolph and Mara have become close to Fabio and his wife Amelie through countless family dinners and trips to Charleston, Asheville, and Atlanta to name a few.
Kendall Gordon
Bridesmaid
Kendall & Mara have known each other since middle school but didn’t become close until high school. When Kendall left Alexandria for boarding school, the two kept in touch whenever they could via Skype. Kendall would come back home for holidays and was at so many of Mara’s high school events, she even managed to make it in their yearbook. The two closed the gap on their long distance friendship when they both transferred to VCU. The two even coached a local high school field hockey team together down in Richmond. After college, regardless of the distance, they have managed to maintain a close friendship by always spending time together when Mara is home for the holidays.
Evan Staton
Groomsman
These two met at Beer Olympics on the roof of Chase Wojie's & Andrew Sanchez's house back in Kingsville, TX during their time in flight school. Randolph and Mara became close to Evan and his wife Maleah with their many potluck dinners, often trying to recreate meals from "Spice Station" down in Kingsville. Once Randolph left to go to Beaufort to learn to fly the F-35B, Evan decided to follow Randolph to Beaufort as well to learn to fly the F-35B. But that wasn't enough, so he also decided to select to go to Japan to once again follow Randolph. All jokes aside, Randolph and Mara are thrilled to have Evan and Maleah also joining them in Japan.
Tia Green
Bridesmaid
Tia & Mara instantly bonded when they rushed Tri Sigma in Fall 2011. They were both transfer students, grew up only a few miles from each other, and had several mutual friends back home. For the 2012-2013 school year, the two lived together with two other sisters. Out of the four girls in the house Tia and Mara had the most comfortable beds, instantly becoming snuggle buddies. Sunday mornings you could hear Tia running up the stairs to jump in Mara's bed to recount the weekends’ shenanigans. It's hard not to love Tia with her infectious laugh, knowledge of all the ad-libs in songs and squeezing Mara's messy bun on her head in times of stress. It was hard when Mara moved out of the house of four, but it was only across the street so Tia would come over for homemade meals and snuggles often.
Chase Hammack
Groomsman
Chase and Randolph were in the same flight school class in Kingsville, TX. Chase and his wife, Wynston, became close friends with Mara and Randolph when they lived in the same apartment complex. Every sunny afternoon was spent by the Oak Tree pool, blasting tunes, drinking claws, and complaining about flight school. Many evenings were spent at the dog park with their dogs becoming unlikely best friends. There isn't a memory from Kingsville that doesn't include Chase's dancing which hopefully you all will get to witness on the night of the wedding.
Monet French
Bridesmaid
Monet and Mara met through mutual friends in 2013. They started hanging out with their group of friends and when Mara was in a pinch and needed to find a new roommate, they suggested Monet. They became instant friends, even though Mara may have drove her insane when she adopted Hugo (the cat). She’ll say she hates him but deep down she misses him sneaking into her room every time she opened her door. When Mara moved to Texas in 2017, Monet came to visit for NYE and immediately decided she was moving to Austin. Having her so close helped Mara handle being so far from home.
Robert Beydler
Groomsman
Robert and Randolph met while in flight school together down in Kingsville, TX. Robert lived in the same apartment complex and had the big TV, the kegerator, and plenty of seating to host sporting events. Robert and Randolph got to know each other through several expeditions to the Alamo Draft house movie theater and breaking a handful of tennis rackets on the tennis courts of Kingsville. Robert is stationed out in San Diego with the F-18s but hopefully him and his wife Emily make it to Beaufort before Randolph and Mara leave.
Aubrey Gibson
Bridesmaid
Aubrey and Mara's families are super close, spending almost every other weekend and even summer vacations together. So when Mara was in high school, Aubrey's mother asked her to babysit. Mara started nannying Aubrey when she was just 5 years old and didn't stop until she entered high school. The two treat each other like they're blood-related, Aubrey is the little sister Mara always wanted. Mara always joked with Aubrey that she would be her flower girl but with Aubrey now in college, that just doesn’t work.
Stewart Throckmorton
Groomsman
Stewart and Randolph met in Kingsville, TX during flight training. When Stewart first arrived to Kingsville, he lived over on campus which wasn't far in normal standards but was too far for Kingsville standards. Regardless of how "far" he was, Stewart was always ready to play a quick round of golf or hit the tennis ball around. Always a good time to be around, he then moved to Oak Tree to join the cool kids which made hanging out a lot easier. Stewart is also learning to fly STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) just in the wrong aircraft currently learning to fly the AV-8B Harrier in Cherry Point, NC.