“Friends are Relatives You Make Yourself.”

Eustache Deschamps

The Girls

Sydney Levine-Flower Girl- Sydney is everything a little girl should be—sweet and sassy.  Sydney lights up every room that she enters, she has a contagious belly laugh, and she is the life of every party. I’m sure we will be the last two on the dance floor!

Melissa Rossman-Matron of Honor-What can I say? Hart has done a lot of things right in his life, but by far, choosing Melissa to be his wife was the best decision he ever made. She blends perfectly into our family, and has become both my sister and my friend. She packs a lot of spirit into that little body and she knows how to keep us all in line when things get out of control! Watch out for her kicks…

Maggie Sheer-Maid of Honor-Who knew that when we were assigned to write each other’s biographies in our 6^th grade English class that she would eventually become one of the most important characters in my life story! Maggie is truly my other half. She has encouraged me through some of the toughest times and celebrated with me in the best of times. I would not have made it through 6^th grade English, 11^th grade physics, college math, lawschool…or life…without her by my side.

 Erin Martin- Bridesmaid -Erin is my very first friend, and the only person who has known me and my family as long as I have! I treasure her friendship because she understands all of the things that have made me who I am, and she has been a part of every one of my milestones. She remembers both of my grandmothers, the day I got Mitzi, our first day of school…the list goes on forever. I could not have asked for a better life-long friend, and I know where ever our futures takes us, when I’m with her, I can always go home again.

Eliana Benavides- Bridesmaid -In 10^th grade, I had this great idea that we should get an exchange student. I’m pretty sure I thought somebody would come live with us, and then I would have somewhere exotic to go live for a while. Well, it didn’t exactly work out that way—but what I did get was my Colombian sister, and that’s much better than anything I imagined. Eliana and I first bonded over Dunkin Donuts at BWI airport. I survived her cooking, and she survived a year in our crazy house—and even came back for more! I feel so incredibly fortunate that we have been able to stay in each other’s lives for over ten years, even though distance keeps us so far apart. I cannot imagine my wedding day without my sister by my side, and I feel so lucky that I won’t have to.

Anne Chiasson- Bridesmaid -I feel like if ever there was a plan for my life…Anne was meant to be intertwined. We have so many bizarre connections that eventually led to her introducing me to Nick. While I am so thankful for that, I am even more thankful that Anne has become one of my bestest friends. We traveled Europe together, meeting strange men, eating strange food, and dancing in strange places. Anne picked her husband and her dog to be compatible with mine, she makes a wicked 7-layer cookie tray, is game for any kind of adventure, and knows how to boogie—what more could I ask for in a friend?!?!

Danielle Feinblum- Bridesmaid -First Danielle was my roomie, then she became a best friend, and now she is officially family—I can’t get rid of this girl if I try! Seriously, Danielle is probably the truest friend I have. She speaks her mind, and I value her opinions. She will tell me if my butt looks big, if I’m being irrational, or if I really smell. But she also has a way of convincing me that I am capable of doing things that scare me. Danielle and I have been through so much, it’s hard to believe we have only known each other for eight years. She probably gave me the best advice ever when she said (after falling in love with my cousin, Dan) “Mikaela, you want to date the Geeks. They make the best husbands.” I took her advice, and here we are! 

The Guys

 Rob Clark- Best Man -My brother. Rob spent most of his time when I was really young trying to torment me. Then, he became a teenager, and spent most of his time teaching me what not to do and how not to get caught. I am forever thankful that he led by ‘example’. Rob is getting married to his fiancé Maggie this June.

Hart Rossman- Groomsman - Hart is Mikaela’s big brother. We get along because we share a special geeky bond. We’ve been known to don ninja outfits and swing from ropes tied to chimneys.  I don’t think I could have asked for anything else in a brother-in-law.

 Ron Brown, aka RB, Bumper, and most importantly Brownie- Groomsman - I’ve known Brownie and he has been one of my best friends since freshman year of high school, although technically we met in the 8^th grade when our middle school wrestling teams wrestled against eachother, and I whooped him (although he may tell the story slightly differently).  Brown and I were voted “class couple” our senior year of highschool, but with his marriage in December to his beautiful wife Karen, I figured it was probably time for me to move on too.

Adam Shimborski, aka Shimbo or Chimbo- Groomsman -Shimbo and I go all the way back to elementary school. We spent our summers at the Jersey Shore, picking up chicks and cruising the boards. Shimbo introduced me to some of the finest things in life, like Pearl Jam, kayaking and rock climbing. He almost killed me on our first kayaking trip when my foot got stuck in the peddles after flipping upside down in the beginning of a rapid. Thankfully, I survived, and we had many more successful adventures.

Mike Latini- Groomsman -Mike and I are friends from way back in the days of kindergarten. We managed to stay friends even though we went to different schools. Mike and I spent our summers riding bikes and playing wallball at Longstreth. Who knew that back in the days when we used to use a puppet to scare his little brother that Mike would grow up to be a professional puppeteer…he is currently touring the country as Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors!

Brian Chiasson- Groomsman -I’ve known Brian since college days and he has come to be one of my closest friends. Brian is more than just a friend because he is my fraternity big brother—and in a weird Kevin Bacon-esque kind of way, he is the reason I met Mikaela. Brian is married to Anne, a bridesmaid, who was one of my first new friends at the University of Maryland. The stories are a lot better than that…but I just don’t have the space to write them all in.