The Groom's Party
Jon LoBello - Best Man
Jon, or more affectionately called J Lo (long before Jennifer Lopez), and I met our freshman year of high school in Mr. Boberg's English class. Let's just say the weirdness hasn't stopped since. He's the type of individual who can have fun in whatever the circumstance and whoever is around. We stayed really close friends throughout high school, often staying up late, watching dancing midgets on Telemundo or breaking fans in his house. After high school, we parted ways, myself going off to Washington University and he went of to Rollins College in Orlando to play baseball. Luckily I transferred into UF and started making some trips down to Orlando. I remember one night we all went out to a club with some of his friends and were just bored as can be. So while we were standing on a ramp that connected rooms in the club, we made it our goal to dance with anyone and everyone who walked by. Strange, I know. Jon is currently living down in Boca Raton, FL and going to FAU to get his MBA. I still find it ironic that the best man and maid of honor are J Lo and Lo.
Josh Doody - Groomsman
Josh and I met while I was at the University of Florida. Although we weren't close friends until my senior year, we've been really good friends since. I think our friendship all started around playing some guitars. Many a nights were had playing at the local coffee shop and Josh saying "What's this crap?" every time I started a song since we had barely rehearsed. A die-hard Gator fan like myself, Josh and I have attended many Florida sporting events together, including the SEC Championship football game in 2006 as well as the Final Four National Championship last year. We even took a trip out to Las Vegas where Josh distinctly remembers accidentally blowing cigar smoke directly at my mother. Good times. Josh is poker enthusiast, a very critical and shrewd thinker, and is currently an engineer in Gainesville, FL.
Dan Brothers - Groomsman
Dan and I met a few years back when we were looking for a drummer for our band. I had gotten a message from him offering his drumming services, and we've been friends ever since our first practice together. Currently engaged to my close friend Casey Dauer, Dan has become one of my closest friends in Atlanta. I remember while playing some gigs in the Midwest, we played a show in Belleville, Illinois. The venue was empty and we were all just trying to make the most of an empty show. The 'headline' band was playing and Dan went into the kitchen to get a pot and spoon in order to add the 'cowbell' into their song. Priceless. From going to shows to visiting his family in Jacksonville, we've had a number of fun adventures and I hope to continue as we both become married within a month of each other.
Eric Schwartz - Groomsman
Eric was a student of mine while I was college pastor a few years back. Since being his pastor, we have grown to become good friends. I had the privilege of performing his marriage ceremony last May and now I look forward to having him as part of my wedding party. I remember taking a long roadtrip to Charleston in the back of Eric's car. Much to the dismay of his wife and Taylor Gibson, we started busting out the rockin' 90s Christian music (i.e. Michael W Smith)... "Saddle Up Your Horses..." Sweet. Eric is also an avid sports enthusiast all around, so many of our conversations turn into discussion, debates, or arguments over athletic matters. By the way, the only way to describe his face in the picture above is, "bbbblllllllllaaaaaaaaeeeeeehhhh!" Eric currently spends weekends in Atlanta with his wife and spends his weekdays wherever his company takes him.
Jake Tompkins - Groomsman
Jake was also a former student of mine when I was a college pastor. Since those days, we have grown to become good friends as well. Often grabbing meals together, we never have a shortage of conversation about school, life, comic books, movies, or whatever else is happening in our lives. Last winter, Jake and I both went to Paris for New Years. We all bought some beer and chapagne to drink down by the Eiffel Tower for the countdown to midnight, and I remember Jake had bought this really nasty 'Witch' beer. Well, upon opening it, Jake managed to create nothing but foam, basically wasting a whole bottle of beer. This only made Jake louder, who is traditionally a loud person to begin with. We've spent many nights sitting on my roof, drinking beers, and just shooting the breeze about what's going on in life. Although Jake is an argumentative person, he is a really kind-hearted guy and a good friend. Jake is currently getting his Masters degree at Georgia Tech in Industrial Design.
The Bride's Party
Lauren White - Maid of Honor
Lauren, or more affectionately called Lo, and I met in September of our Senior year of High School and we have been best friends since the minute we met…seriously. From going to Starbucks every single day after school, to the best trip of our lives to the Bahamas, we have had many crazy adventures, most of which nobody thinks are as funny as we do! Lauren has been my best friend through it all. We made it through college apart and many other adventures, and now I am so excited to be living in the same (kind of) city. Lo makes me laugh harder than anyone I have ever met and she shares my love for teen Christian fiction…and a friend like that is hard to come by! Lo is the fourth sister in my family and I cannot imagine what our family would be like without her as a part of it, I am truly blessed to call her my best friend. Lauren is an eighth grade English teacher in Gwinnett County and a graduate of UGA. She is absolutely precious to me and I am so excited to have her as my maid of honor!
Jennifer Greven - Bridesmaid and sister
Jen is my oldest sister. I remember when she got married I thought it was so cool that I got to be a bridesmaid…I hope she thinks this is cool too! Jen, and her husband Reid, moved to Atlanta when I was in high school and this was the turning point in our relationship. She went from the older sister who I couldn't really relate to because of our age difference, to the sister who I look at as one of my best friends. Jen and I share a love for the same makeup and clothes which means she is really easy to shop for and we always have new things to tell each other about! I love having her close by and having the privilege of watching her raise her family and be such an amazing example of a wife and a mom who loves and fears the Lord. Jen has two amazing kids, Ella and Cooper, and she teaches group fitness classes on top of that!
Kelly Moreton - Bridesmaid and sister
Kelly is the middle of the three of us! Pretty much everything Kelly has done, I have copied. From going to Belmont University for one glorious year, to traveling over seas with Youth With A Mission, to the purchase of an iPhone, it would seem to most that I am Kelly's real life copy cat. Although Kel and I have had our share of sisterly battles (who hasn't??) we have come out above it and I truly cherish the friendship that has grown between us in the past few years. We are graduating from college at the same time, which is an amazing feat for us both, and we bop around town in the same cars…scary, I know. Kelly has an incredible passion for the world, kids, people, and Jesus and I admire her intensity in everything that she does. Kelly works at North Point Community Church and does special events and conferences, and, as I said before, will be graduating from Georgia State University in May with a degree in Commercial Real Estate.
Stephanie D'Herde - Bridesmaid and former roommate! (poor girl…)
My sweet Stephanie!! We roomed together my first summer at BigStuf Camps and I don't think she will ever be the same…and I don't know if that is a good thing. When I think of Stephanie I think of the times we had to spend one or two nights apart in our precious summer together and we cried because we would miss each other so much. We had such an amazing summer living together, laughing to all hours of the night, crying when things hurt, and just listening to each other when it was needed. She survived living with me, and for that I am so thankful… she will probably be warning Chris about what living with me is like. Stephanie is one of the most precious and sweet people you will ever meet and you have been truly blessed if you have had the chance to know her. Steph works for EQUIP, a ministry that trains leaders all over the world, and she just started back to school (and I am so proud!)
Tiffany Vazquez - Bridesmaid and former suitemate!
Lil' Tiff. That is how she is known in my world. Tiffany and I were in a small group together for a short time before we interned together at BigStuf. Her room was attached to mine that summer and she became my partner in crime all summer! One time I took her for a walk on the beach at a pace that no human should ever walk and I thought she was going to de-friend me right there…but she didn't, so I know she'll be around forever! Tiffany has the best hair of anyone I have ever met and I am always so jealous of her fabulous style. Tiff is unlike anyone you will ever meet. She is a woman who will listen to every word you have to say and tell you exactly what you need to hear. I have never met anyone like her. She is a beautiful and unique friend and I love having her in my life. Tiffany works at Collage Salon and Spa in Cumming, GA and she is also a student at Kennesaw State University.