Wedding Party
Michele Otake
Maid of Honor
Michele and Dana first met in 3rd grade after Dana had changed elementary schools. They've been sisters for over two decades now, and have so many memories together; singing genie in a bottle in karaoke, playing hours of Resident Evil and Super Smash Bros., spending so many Halloweens together, splitting an edible together and it not working, and of course the Disney World trip together. Michele is the only person aside from Thomas that will be stuck with Dana till death do us part.
Madeline Sharp
Officiant
Maddie met Thomas their freshman year of college, and then were roomies for their sophomore years. She's been one of Thomas's best friends for almost ten years. She had known "of" Dana for a while, but didn't properly meet until Thomas asked her to pick Dana up from the airport and they got cookout together. Now Maddie is one of the closest friends for both the bride and groom.
Alex Williams
Bridesmaid
Alex and Dana first met in fall 2020 when Dana took a pole dance class where Alex was teaching. Alex made the experience so fun and safe, and became Dana's pole momma. Alex's support through the ups and downs of Dana's first pole competition was invaluable. They laughed, they cried, and got incredibly close during that process. Their friendship has continued to grow outside of the studio they met at, and they spend time together along with Thomas and of course the sweet angel, Ahsoka.
Stacy Carlos
Groomsman
Thomas and Stacy were interns at the same time at Blackbaud. One summer, he finally got to meet the girl who brought order to the madness that is Thomas when Dana came to visit and they met at a coworker's house. Stacy and Thomas have been close friends ever since Thomas moved to Charleston, and have many memories together from when Thomas lived there, like Thomas literally running away from commitment when a little girl asked if Dana was his wife (although Dana put on her angry face we all could tell even she was going to laugh), to when heading to work together early in the morning and laughing over half-asleep inside jokes like when Stacy explained they had two more pay cycles left for the internship and Thomas responded, "2 Pay Mo Chay". Stacy still giggles to himself over that one.
Katie Merriam
Bridesmaid
Katie and Dana met through work when Katie first joined the company. Dana was Katie's buddy to help her get acclimated to the studio, and they bonded super fast over their shared interests in Disney, anime, Harry Potter, and of course their love of dogs. Katie has been the one of the kindest people Dana has ever known, and her friendship has been one of greatest gifts in Dana's life.
Devon Poynter
Groomsman
Devon met Thomas the way most guys make friends in college; NCSU housing authority putting them in proximity. Madeline introduced them early on during that proximity. Devon's first interaction with Thomas involved Devon trying to show off his computer knowledge, or lack there of, at the time. It had to do with Devon insinuating the VGA port on Thomas's ThinkPad made it old or something, and turns out Devon was woefully unprepared for that conversation. Now Devon virtually hangs out with Thomas and Dana while playing various games on discord, and was convinced to join in on the FFXIV fun, where another MMORPG can eat away at all of their lives.
Ahsoka Ortiz
Ring Puppy
Ahsoka met Thomas and Dana (or daddy and mama as she knows them) when she was 7 weeks old on February 5th, 2021 in a Krispy Kreme parking lot. She was picked up early because of a winter storm coming that weekend, and was very confused why Dana couldn't keep her warm in single degree weather. Then she was put in Thomas's arms and found so much heat coming off of him that she now views him as the sun god. Later that night, Thomas slept on the floor with her cuddled into his legs when she was scared of her new home, and she has been a daddy's girl ever since.
Ben Stone
Groomsman
Ben was first introduced to Thomas back in 2018 when Maddie recruited him to join their gaming squad. It wasn't long until that squad became a staple of their friendship. Despite distance, several years, and a handful of bad game updates, that squad still logs on as if it were 2018. While gaming has been the primary catalyst for Ben and Thomas' friendship, it has also played large part in Ben's connection with Dana as well. Some of Ben's most fond memories with both Thomas and Dana together come from evenings spent raiding in Destiny or hanging out supporting them during their streamer era.