Bridal Veil Lakes - Bridal Veil, OR

Maid of Honor: Ari Zreliak, a.k.a. Trucka’

Raised as sisters since birth, we did practically everything together including getting in trouble. Whether it was creating new recipes (which later got us banned from the kitchen) or flooding the bathroom to create an indoor slip ‘n’ slide, life with Ari was never boring. We went to elementary, middle, high school and college together. We even slept in the same bed for six months while dancing in New York. These past five years have been the most time we’ve spent apart since I was born 1.5 years earlier than Ari and it has been hard not to see her everyday. She is a constant in my life and I am so excited to be her maid of honor on December 31st of this year.

“Ain’t no thang but a chicken wang.”

Bridesmaid: Erienne, a.k.a. Smellyanne

For the record, she doesn’t really smell . Many, many, many of my favorite memories include the shenanigans that occurred with Erienne. Whether it be late night trips to Wendy’s for a JBC cut in foh’ fohs’ or Tuesday night technique class that we got kicked out of for uncontrollable, delirious laughter, life is better with her in it. We’ve traveled the country together and still can have the most fun in a random parking lot. I wish that she would finally pack up and move to SD so that we could create more memories. I am sure as she reads this she is saying the same thing about me packing up and moving back to Oregon. I am so excited that she is sharing this day with me.

Sex and the City and Olive Garden parties brought us together and life has never been the same since.

Bridesmaid: Casey, a.k.a. Scuntress of the Unitard

Casey makes life more interesting no matter what city she lives in. I’m convinced she could live in _________ and still have the best stories to tell. Whether we were teaching old school hip hop or learning that tres is no beuno, nothing quite compares to an afternoon with Casey. Even though we only live 2 hours apart (So Cal Scunts) we can only seem to hang out when we are both in Oregon…we really need to work on that. We’ve spent hundreads of hours together sweatin’ (not to the oldies), laughing and trying to figure out what a citag is…..I wish my life had more scuntress in it. I can’t wait for her to shake it on the dance floor at the wedding.

We bonded over Napoleon Dynamite and haven’t looked back since:)

Bridesmaid: Tali, a.k.a. Noodle

One of my favorite people on Earth, Tali has been one of the best parts of my life for the past 13 years (coming Aug. 5th). Noodle got her name on a family vacation in Florida where she in return dubbed me Dodgies (to this day no one knows where that nickname came from but my dad of course still uses it).  We’ve traveled all over together from train rides in England, to swing dancing in Chicago, to Friday “Ramen Noodle” nights in my college apartment. Tali has been hanging out with Nick and I since before we started dating  and it took her a couple of years to warm up to him (It took me 9 so who could blame her) but she has been asking to be a flower girl for the past 6 years. Sorry I waited so long that you ended up being a bridesmaid. I wish more than anything that we didn’t see each other only a couple times a year but I can’t wait for you to finally get to walk down the aisle. (You can totally throw flowers if you still want to)

Dinosaurs say rawr! (still don’t get it but that’s what I love about you)

Best Man: Kevin Haselwander, aka K-Bo

I have no idea why I call him K-Bo nor do I think anyone else actually calls him that. Anyway, the best man is like a brother to me…wait, he is a brother. Growing up, I’m sure we did our fair share of causing hell for mom. You know…fights, rambunctious games, a general lack of respect for couches, carpets, lamps and just about any other home furnishing. Nowadays, we’re more likely to laugh and do our damage to a pitcher of beer or maybe whine incessantly over text message about the Blazers losing.

The kid’s always kept me entertained…truly never a dull moment. I’m glad he’s my brother and he’s a deserving best man.

Groomsman: Nate Jolly, aka Jolly(?)

When random roommates work out, this is what you get. I was the supposed German exchange student (Nichalas Haselwander didn’t scream “suburbs” on paper), he some random dude from Eugene and after a year of rooming in a space smaller than Oprah’s linen closet, we ended up living together for the rest of college. We had a damn good time in Eugene and it’s hard not to miss those days. The ‘G’ Spot, Duck sports, Pit Crew, random awesomeness…ah, take me back.

I’m glad to call Nate a friend after all these years and I have a feeling we’re going to be crotchety 90 year olds some day telling the “damn kids” to sit down at Autzen Stadium so we can enjoy the game. He recently (as of June 5) got married himself so be sure to pass along your condolences.

Groomsman: Alex Shum aka, uh, do you have a nickname?

Alex is making his bid to become the Asian version of Most Interesting Man in the World. He’s well-traveled and probably has never seen the inside of a chain restaurant (well not true…can’t forget that obsession with Outback). He’s without a doubt the only reason I’ve ever ate Vietnamese food. I’m fairly certain he’s never slept. I met Alex in a random grouping in college before we’d taken our first class as freshmen. Every minute of the 4 years with Alex was entertaining. And that includes time spent in class because that didn’t shut him up either. You try hearing the nicknames he has for people in the room and getting a passing grade. Oh, poor Bueler.

He’s a great friend and I’m lucky to have him as a groomsman.