Best Friend of the Bride for 14 years

Mia and I met at our dance studio at ages 10 and 12. The majority of our free time was spent at the studio which was the perfect environment for a growing friendship that would last over a decade. Even though we went to different schools, we remained close and reunited in college! 

I am overjoyed and honored that Mia is my Maid of Honor! She's been there for me in more ways than I have ever imaged and I hope I can do the same for her in the years to come. 

Future Sister-in-Law

Kayla and I instantly bonded over our dealings with the Lee brothers shenangians. As many of you know, they can be a handful at times especially when they both get going on hot topics such as politics. In some of our many Skype sessions we would talk about some of the things the guys put us through and laugh at the situations. She has helped me to understand situations and has been a sounding board for me. I'm so excited to have Kayla as part of my family and bridal party. 

College Friend of the Bride

I met Paige in college and we became really close our freshman year. From our Fried Pickle Fridays to helping keep each other sane throughout our journey in college, my life would not have been the same without Paige in it. She constantly finds the joy in the little things and big things and reminds me to do the same. I'm so excited to have her join my bridal party and can't wait to tear up the dance floor with her again!

College Friend of the Bride

I met Adriana in college and I was instantly drawn to her outgoing personality. She helped me find the fun in everything and showed me what it meant to be true to yourself and to think outside the box. Adriana has this amazing sense of humor that would have Paige and I laughing along with her inside and outside of dance classes. I'm so honored that she will be there for me during this exciting time in my life. 

Well what can I say about my brother. Mike and I became closer as we moved apart. First when he moved to Gainsville to pursue Chemical Engineering at University of Florida, then to Colorado Springs for the Air Force Academy, and currently Dayton, Ohio to get his Masters Degree.

When we were kids Mike and I were not two peas in a pod. We liked different things, but still tried to hangout as much as possible. We did have a similar love for movies, but not always the same genre. From playing nintendo to sega, if it had anything to do with car racing games I was all over it, but Mike on the other hand loved other games that were much more tedious to say the least. I was always about instant gratification, especially when beating Mike. He always has had a quiet but dry sense of humor, and it hasn't changed much over the years other than becoming more and more obvious that we both share a distinct bond.

Over the years, even when we were apart, Mike and I always talked about what we were dealing with in life. Good and bad, personal and work, we have been continuing to building our freindship as brothers week by week with the help of skype video chat (Thanks Kayla!). 

Going back to some of our earlier childhood, some of our best times together were out skiing in Tahoe or Colorado, fishing and lobstering down in the keys or just plan hanging out watching tv, movies or football and I truly cherish those moments. It hasn't been too long ago when we watched three or four seasons of the walking dead during Christmas shutdown week.  I know when I get old, we will always have something to argue about or watch together since we will probably still be competitive, smart and hopefully able to get our butts off of the couch, and go and do something that doesnt involve sitting in front of a real retina display TV. That will later in the future look like actual 3D since all of this crap still isn't as good as the human eye. If you don't believe me just google it. 

So through all the craziness, we may not have always understood each other, but I can truly say Mike is my brother and I will always love him even though he might not agree with me sometimes.

Bobby and I met 15 years ago out on Lake Mary Jane wakeboarding with his dad. It has been an interesting 15 years packed full of adventurous moments. Bobby has done just about everything, and I truly admire him for everything he has done in his life. He has been a true friend/ brother that I have had some awesome times with throughout the years. Just to highlight a few of those moments here are my favorites. 

When we were kids we did almost everything you could do without getting into too much trouble. We wakeboarded and spent more time on the lake then most have done in a lifetime. We've swam across lakes and surfed tons of places without the fear of gators or sharks. We've shot guns, rode dirt bikes and motorcycles. We started skiing and snowboarding when we were younger with our parents, and that is one true love we have shared even through our twenties. 

My twenties we rode motorcycles to New Smynra Beach (NSB), and took vacations to Park City and Montana to ski and snowboard. We've partied after sky skydiving in Deland, Sebastian Inlet and Puerto Rico, landing all sorts of places like the beach. We've had some great times at NSB celebrating the 4th of July, Birthdays, Vacations and much more. We have always shared many passions, and we still do to this day. We may not skydive like we used to, but we still love living life and that is one of my favorite things about Bobby. Bobby got me into Scotch and Bourbon and we share that passion still. He is magnetic like the earth and gravity is his power that brings all types of people together that truly enjoy his ability to have a great time in any situation. I hope you all see what I see in him during this special time in our lives.

Oh and his favorite frozen pizza is homerun pizza and I'm eating one right now while enjoying a glass of boubon.

Rob and I had a strong friendship from the start. Most would've called it a Bromance since we just hit it off when it came to sports in general but our true fan favorites are Orlando Magic and New York Knicks, Tampa Bay Bucs and New York Giants. I wouldn't have called it a Bromance, but I'm not the one that gave it the name. Anyways, you know me I'm a fan of watching sports, and during that time I enjoyed watching the Magic and the Bucs so we hit it off hanging out at his house drinking beer and scotch. Over the next year or more, we continued hanging out. When Rob asked me to be his groomsmen, I was honored that we were close enough that he wanted me to be apart of it in New York! His family and friends accpted me without hesitation and we had a blast together at Rob and Karla's wedding.

After his wedding, I told Rob I wanted to buy a house and he helped me find my house that I had been dreaming of. I met my goal of getting out of my dad's house by 30! Well I accomplished that goal with the help of Rob and his outstanding Realtor. It wasn't easy since it was a short sale owned by the bank. 

Anyways, Rob and I have been friends ever since, and even though we haven't had much time to hang out in the past year or so, he has an awesome son (Alex with a full head of hair) that is a spitting image of him and his wife Karla. I hope you get to know him and Karla and if you ever need advice remodeling they have done great remodeling townhomes, condos, and homes while working their full time jobs. I have been and continue to be inspired by them and their hard work building towards their future.

Oh and did I mention Karla is also in Quality Control, so you know us Quality folks always stick together! 

Travis and I began our relashionship on a program at Lockheed.We work for competing companies that, if you know anything about defence contractors, we are like two arch enemies competing for ultimate rein over the universe. Much like Oregon Ducks (Me) and Arizona Wildcats (Travis's Team) or Florida Gators (Me Plus UCF) and the Florida State Seminoles (Megan)... Go Ducks and Gators!

Well that's how I would describe our two companies competing for contracts in an ever so changing economy and government that thinks freedom is cheap and comes in COTS parts. Sorry, inside joke for us Quality and Defence Contractors. Let's just say building things cost money and if you go to the cheapest bidder you get crap that doesnt work.

Back to Travis. Even though we work for two competetors we truly hit it off as friends. We both were in Quality, and as you know anyone in Quality Engineering is amazing. We know everything. After some long hours and tons of phone calls, three times zones apart, Travis and I became close through our passion for beer and tequila, snowboarding and outdoors, and constant pursuit of perfection and having fun at work. Over the few years working together, we met up a few times and it was always fun hanging out and talking about non work stuff. So much fun that he invited me to Oregon for his bachelor party, which I had a blast at. One of the things I have started to really believe in, is that you can be measured by the company you keep. His friends were truly friends that embraced life, they had a great time all the time, and accepted me into the group without hesitation. I enjoyed every minute hanging out with all of them. Travis and I continued our relatshionship through the years, and I'm truly honored to have him as a groomsmen and a friend. He married a wonderful woman, Irene. She and Megan became instant friends, and we both love spending time with Travis and Irene! I can't wait for you all to meet them at our wedding!