Meet the Groomsmen: Andy

 To kick off introducing my groomsmen, I am starting with a fellow close to my heart. Andy and I have been through a lot. Not meaning struggles or trials of any sort, just a lot of years doing some really great, memorable things. Hopefully you can skim some of the awesomeness from Andy's post. Take it away:

I honestly don’t remember when I met Matt.  Being from a small town like Flagstaff and going to the same elementary school meant that we knew each other from pretty early on.  Matt was like a lot of other kids.  Someone I knew, but didn’t ever really hang out with or really get to know too well for whatever reason.  I am pretty sure we played on the same little league team one summer(The Devil Rays with the Silver Fox as our coach?) and even after that still weren’t close like we are now.  In middle school we got to know each a bit more, but he went to the arts middle school and I didn’t.

Our freshman year in high school is where it all starting coming together.  We had English and P.E./health together and if I remember correctly they were 5th and 6th period.  Which meant we spent all afternoon together everyday of Freshman year.  Some of the things that brought us together was our mutual love of punk music, the outdoors, and being two of the only kids who were proud of being in the Boy Scouts.  Things got taken to a whole new level of friendship when we were sophomores in high school.  Matt, our friend Marcos and I became an unstoppable crew that year.  Matt and I were in the same English class again that year and became closer and closer the first semester.  Then second semester we had an independent study with the same English teacher together.  It was just the two of us in the class and though we worked hard we also ran pretty wild that semester.  We regularly “went to the library” to work on stuff and by that I mean we left to go to have breakfast at our schools favorite ditch spot, the Country Host.  That Spring, Matt and his dad came to my Eagle Ceremony.  That is something that has always been special to me, because we weren’t in the same troop and that meant they went through special effort to be there for a pretty huge day in my life.  One of my favorite memories from that year was during our spring finals when our teacher told us that we didn’t really need to come to our final.  Matt and I decided to run with that and skip our morning class as well.  We went and had breakfast, went and saw a movie, AND went to play videos games at the mall and still made it back for our 3rd period final.  A classic day to say the least.

That summer we had a blast.  Both of us had pretty easy jobs and similar days off.  We went on plenty of hikes and had many great lunches and breakfasts with Marcos.  Matt and I hiked Humphreys at least 5 times that summer with my dog Rocky.  We got that hike down to 1 hours and 45 minutes or 2 hours like it was nothing.

Junior year was just more and more of the same and as I have hopefully well established at this point that means pure magic.  One specific thing I think about all the time from that year is a post lunch tradition Matt, Marcos, and I had that made no real sense.  We would go out to lunch and once we got back to school we would walk our separate ways down the hall singing the chorus of Bon Jovi Living on a Prayer.  Towards the end of year Matt, the aforementioned Marcos, our friend Tim and I got a little band together.  We played the talent show and were asked to play at that years graduation for our school as well.  We were also asked to play Grad Night as well.  At the end of junior year Matt was in the process of getting a job at Forest Highlands in the Rec Department.  He suggested that I apply as well and I did.  We both got the job and spent the summer working out there playing with kids and having a blast.  We both worked there for four summers eventually both getting into manager positions.  Thankfully Matt went back to work there after college, because he was lucky enough to meet Cassie through Forest Highlands! That summer Matt rode out to work on his bike quite a bit, as he generally does.  That got my interest in cycling going.  I starting working on my dad’s old beat Raleigh 10 Speed and joined him on a few rides out to work.  Bless him he never complained about pulling my slow butt up hills or holding back a little bit so I didn’t fall behind.  Thousands of miles later, hundreds of them spent on the road with Matt, and I have been totally hooked on cycling ever since and it's all thanks to Matt. 

Senior year was a lot of what you would expect.  We continued to miss class from time to time so we could hit the Country Host or play disk golf.  We were in yearbook together and worked on all the same pages.  Mostly clubs that we were the only members of like the Bike club, the Ultimate Frisbee club and the disk golf club.  Our yearbook teacher was a little loose and we would regularly leave early for lunch.  Somehow we decided to go to Sam’s Club for lunch one day.  Within a few weeks some friends were joining us and next thing we knew Sam’s Club Friday was a thing.  There were times when over 20 people would be there!  We even got everyone’s favorite science teacher to join us once. 

One big highlight of that year was the Senior Prank Matt, our other friend Matt, and I managed to mastermind and pull off seamlessly.  I will leave the details of that one just in case…

I left Flagstaff to attend the University of Arizona in Tucson.  Matt offered to take a few days and help move me into my dorm because he is just that kind of person.  I really appreciated everything he did for me and it was great way to be sent off to a new city and a new experience.  That year I was running a bit more than usual and really getting into cycling.  Matt had done a few triathlons and kind of jokingly suggested I do one.  Next thing I knew I was trying to swim and participating in a tri in December.  

One of my favorite pictures of us.  He is composed and together and I am mess.  Pretty perfect sum up. 

Since I moved to Tucson I have admittedly been pretty terrible about keeping up and staying close with some of my high school friends and seeing people when I come back to Flagstaff.  Matt has always been the exception to that.  I have been lucky enough to stay close with him and see him as much as possible when I get back to Flagstaff.
Physically separated, but emotionally connected…

I was first able to meet Cassie at one of our friend's Christmas parties.  Her and I had a couple beers, they told me about a backpacking trip to the Zion, and I was totally sold. I mean how could I not have been?  Every time I have gotten to spend time with Matt and Cassie it has been great.  I was able to see from jump street that they were great together.  They had great similarities in interests and yet they have both been able teach each other a great deal.  What else could you ask for from a partner? 
Matt is someone who has given me so much throughout the years that we have been friends.  Even though he is someone I am incredibly close with I am constantly in awe of him.  I don’t know many people that work as hard as he does.  He works harder than anyone no matter what the task or the situation.  We have spent 14+ hours at work together and he will be kicking as much ass at hour 14 as hour 1.  He has the discipline to train in ways that I have never been able to commit to.  He wins races, he gives time to his faith, his family, and his friends.  I like to think I have been able glean a little bit of his ethics and character throughout the years.  If I did I would be a lucky man.  It means the world to me be able to call Matt not just a friend but a close friend.  I feel so lucky to not only
get to share such an important moment with him and Cassie, but have the opportunity to be involved in that moment.  I am so looking forward to this wedding and everything that comes along with it.  It sounds cliché to say, but this wedding means I am getting one more awesome lifelong friend in Cassie.  You got yourself a good one Cassie.  I know I don’t need to convince you of that, but I have to say it. There is no one else I would rather get kicked out of a movie theater in Pine Top with.  No one else I would rather ride bikes to work at 4:45 am with. 

Brothers in beards

Meet the Bridesmaids: Kara

The next gal in my bridal party has a special place in my heart. We have been through so much together and I will always feel as if she is more of a sister to me... meet Kara (aka K-Killa).

This must have been 8th grade around the time we met.

 

I vividly remember the first time I met Cassie. It was in junior high in our social studies class. She walked in all NorCal with her middle part, choker necklace, and acrylic nails. To be honest I think she initially scared me. I want to say we began to develop a friendship through our girls soccer team. Shortly enough, we realized our similarities ran deep. (Also Cass, I read a BuzzFeed article on introverts… and it discussed the "resting b**** face", so our face has now officially been diagnosed).  Our friendship continued to grow all the way through our cross country days in high school which brings me to some of my favorite memories with Cass. Our senior year we were co-captains. However, anyone who knows our running ability, we were granted this honor based on our… we will say personality rather than our superior running ability. Cass and I ran our first half marathon together senior year of high school. As runners, training with someone, putting in the hard work together, and then successfully completing the goal is something really special. As we've both grown up, we've continued to race together and have been able to seek support and guidance from each other. 

8th grade graduation, sorry everyone! hahaha..



Cassie's 17th birthday.

I remember hearing about Matt a couple years ago. I don't think Cass initially thought anything serious was going to come of it. To be honest, neither did I. I just remember thinking that they were so different and had been raised so very differently that I didn't know if that capatability was there. I've known Cass for almost 10 years now, and if I could have thought up the guy I thought Cass would end up with, I wouldn't have described Matt. But now, as I have seen their relationship progress, it is their differences that have allowed both of them to grow and prosper. While I haven't been able to spend a significant amount of time with Matt, I can tell that he supports her and pushes her to be better. In addition, when Cass loves, she loves hard. I know that they will both take the time and energy needed to continue to have their love grow and produce a successful marriage. 

Now that Cassie's time has come, I am more than excited to be a part of her special day! I am most excited about seeing her and Matt begin their journey as husband and wife. I am honored to be a part of her wedding party and to have the opportunity to help her on her special day. In addition, I'm excited to hang out with Deirdre and Andrew lol-- I consider Cassie's family an extension of my own.

I've worked for a wedding company for years now, so I would like to think I am very knowledgeable on the whole wedding process. Here are some basic tips I have picked up along the way:

1. Make a budget, and stick to it! Prioritize the various aspects of your wedding and spend money in areas that are truly going to enhance your special day.

2. Details. It's the details of the wedding that will allow you to truly personalize your day.

3. Have a day-of planner. This may be the venue coordinator, or often times the photographer keep everyone on schedule. Either way you need someone else to be in charge so you can truly enjoy every part of your day.

4. Have some sort of guest book! The day will be so chaotic that it will be nice to go back and look at everyone who helped you celebrate your special day. 

5. I'm a fan of having polaroid cameras at the tables. It's old school, but it's always fun to go back and see the fun and silly pictures your guests take.

6. Everyone likes a good candy bar, just saying.

 

Cassie and Matt I am so excited to be a part of your special day! Love you both! XOXO

Meet the Bridesmaid: Laren

I first met Cassie about 3-4 years ago. I can't remember the exact date, I'll blame it on my short term memory. Basically I met Cassie when her dad was dating my mom, they dated for a few years and I had never met her. Finally we met and she became a very good friend and eventually I just started saying she was my step-sister. She started coming on boat trips with the family and spending holidays with us also. When I got engaged I knew I wanted her as a bridesmaid in my wedding. She was a beautiful bridesmaid and I couldn't have asked for a better new "Sister" or as we like to say "Frister" (Friend-Sister).

My favorite memory with Cassie? Hmmm. This is a tough one because my favorite memories of her are probably all things she doesn't want to me to mention. HA! I do like to say that "drunk" Cassie is my favorite, especially when she starts getting emotional and telling everyone she loves them. It is pretty awesome. :) Here are some of my favorite memories with her; San Diego boat trips, Bullhead City weekends at Robins, Bridal Showers and Bachelorette Parties, Sitting pool side with her drinking mimosas, and fathead fedoras. I know that there are many more memories but like I said my short term memory is getting to me right now. haha!

 

 

I have seen Cassie in a few relationships since I have known her. Lets just say we are so thankful that she met Matt. I remember when she first told me about Matt. She told me that she was kind of talking to this older guy who was her manager at work. She said it had to be kept a secret for awhile because he was her boss. She also mentioned that she was very religious and at that time she was not.

Finally, we met Matt. He is just the man that Cassie deserves. He is so kind and thoughtful. He fit right in to our little circle of craziness. He was kind enough to photograph my wedding and he did a fabulous job. I am so happy that Cassie and Matt ended up together.

I was not surprised about their engagement one bit. In fact, the day that it happened, I already knew. I was waiting by my phone patiently for a text from Cassie. Before I had even got out of bed that morning I received a picture of Cassie's hand WITH A RING ON IT!!!!! I was elated with joy for them both. They deserve it.

I am looking forward to being Cassie's bridesmaids for many reasons. She was my bridesmaid in my wedding and since she is my Sister I am honored to share her special day with her as she did with me. I am also really excited for once to just be a bridesmaid. I have been the bride (stressful) and I have been the maid of honor (also stressful). I am excited to just be a bridesmaid and be there with her on the biggest day of her life. I am SUPER EXCITED to visit Cassie and Matt in Missouri, I have never been and it will be an adventure.

I was married June 2, 2012. My sister Jenna was married July 13th, 2013 and Cassie will be married Summer of 2014. It has been non stop wedding talk, events and planning. It can be stressful and exciting. Cassie and Matt are planners, they will do a fabulolus job planning a beautiful wedding and I can't wait to be standing next to Cassie when she says I do.