Courtney became Jess’s best friend (initially under duress) in 1997. Now, they are best friends by choice. I would be completely lost without my sister - for example, I would 100% still be wearing skinny jeans. Beyond the fashion advice, she is an excellent listener and cares deeply about all of life’s creatures. She is secretly the “glue” to our family, providing completeness to each interaction. I know deeply that our wedding would be incomplete without her standing next to me because it already feels cold having her 1,096 miles away from Dallas. We count down the days to our permanent reunion.

Twenty-one years ago, Brittany and I met at a swimming pool for a 3rd grade class party. She somehow smashed a brick on her finger at the party and cried the whole time to the point that my mother called her “the little whiny girl”. Little did my mother know, the little whiny girl would be a part of our lives forever. The biggest testament to our friendship is how we have changed over time yet still remain so close. Even if we don’t catch up on a regular schedule, we fall so easily back into place when we are together, and I truly know I could tell her anything. Thankful she is on this journey with us and really hopeful for more pool time soon.

The original "GG" (girly girl), Jenna and Jess became quick friends sophomore year at Clemson. Our friendship started after getting ready for a party in Jenna's dorm room. Since then, we became even closer after both moving to Charleston and have grown with each other through significant life changes. Most missed is the weekly GG dinner nights (every single Wednesday!) The GGs are now suffering in long-distance friendship as Jenna and Samuel moved to NYC, but they thankfully still plan on owning a duplex with Jess and Ash sometime in 2028.

Mi bestie! Paola and I are sad to be in our final years of Ob/Gyn residency at Parkland Hospital. We were assigned a month together in the ICU and bonded over chaos, patients we had lost, and feeling generally overwhelmed as new doctors. Since then, she's been one of my biggest supporters and is one of my first calls for a walk or a chat (literally on speed dial). Our friendship is easy, and we are always on the same page. Although we may have been trauma-bonded, I so cherish the friendship we now have and know it will be long-lasting.

Twelve years ago, Katie and I met at a swimming pool among mutual friends (catty girls that we are no longer friends with). Since then I’ve watched Katie become a homeowner, furniture refurbisher, wearer of every hair color, and a mom - which is the role I am most excited about. I wish everyone had a Katie in their life, but unfortunately, this one is spoken for. I am so grateful that she is my matron of honor and can’t wait to see everything she does for me on the big day :)

Samuel, future little league baseball coach and baby heart doctor, actually knew Jess long before Ashlyn but developed a wonderful friendship with Ash in med school founded on emo music, SNL jokes, and talking in stupid accents. This ultimately culminated in his bridesmaid role on my side. We definitely did not cry in a dark room to 2000’s Tom DeLonge at our goodbye party, but we definitely will be having regular dinner parties once a week at minimum in our duplex with Jess & Jenna sometime in 2028.

Olivia and Ashlyn became friends at the start of med school, so it made sense when Olivia asked Ash to be roommates at the start of 2nd year with the caveat that Olivia may get a (1) dog. Ash showed up to two French bulldogs - but to be fair, Olivia got two roommates because Jess moved Ashlyn in and practically never left. The 3 of them lived together as “House of Winners” and celebrated all the highs and lows of medical school together, fondly with “roomie dinner”, movie nights, and annual Christmas cookies. It was the best time, and I think we would all pay a lot of money for one more night on Bee Street.

Where to start... Rohan was Ash's friend first, and we laugh now that Jess was slow to warm to the friendship. We had a night out at our favorite dive bar when we first got together and Rohan asked "Are you guys dating? I don't really care but Olivia wants to know". He has since been banned from the bar for unrelated reasons. His pointedness and honesty were admired, and that one night out has grown into an unconditional friendship. Rohan meets criteria for a "ride or die" friend - always there no matter the offer or circumstances. Grateful he's decided to make his debut as a bridesmaid at our wedding.