The Bride's Side
Miss Kathryn McDaniel
The Maid of Honor
Katie has been my best friend since the sixth grade. We met in our sixth grade religious education class, and from there, the rest is pretty much history. For the next six years, we were virtually attached at the hip and did everything together. I lived at her house more often than my own it seemed, and her I started calling her parents Mom and Dad, and her huge extended family Aunt and Uncle. In middle school our summers were spent with her long time babysitter, Maggie, who was like a grandmother to us, and drove us everywhere we ever wanted to go. We shared lockers in high school, attended all the same classes and spent the summers traipsing through back yards to each others houses, and attending the fair eight days in a row.
We never got in much trouble, except for talking in class. One day, as our Senior year was ending, we decided to leave our last class early (study hall) and sneak out to the student parking lot. We were such rebels. However, once we reached the car, Katie's baby blue Oldsmobile Sierra Cutlass, we started laughing because we had actually accomplished the feat, but were stymied on where to go... since both of our fathers would be home. So we drove out to the lake and back, singing random songs the whole way.
We went to different colleges, but still kept in touch. Our relationship is one that ebbs and flows, but is always there, and always constant. We can not see each other for months at a time, but when we do, it is like no time has passed.
Throughout this whole process, Katie has been my voice of reason, my rational thought and my go to person for everything under the sun. She understands me the way no one else ever has, and she always knows what I am thinking, even if I cannot clearly express it myself. I am so thankful for her, and so much of our hard work would not have been possible without her.
I am truly lucky to have her standing by my side as I start this new chapter in my life.
Mrs. Alexandra Lyke
The Matron of Honor
My sister been called many names in her life - from Pookie and Timmy to Al J and Allie. But I am glad that no matter what name I have called her, she is with us on our wedding day.
 |
| Al and I ... the one serious photo I could find of us in adulthood! |
Although she might be my little sister, she is a Mrs. and so I have been looking to her a lot through this process, thankful that she has gone before me! Devin and I attended her beautiful wedding in 2011, and I hope ours is just as memorable and beautiful as hers and her husband Ryan's!!
As sisters often do, we have not always seen eye to eye, but I am glad we can come together to create such a special day! My sister, although very busy with her newly-wed life, has worked hard to arrange her schedule and help out as much as possible. Always a jokester, her antics have been entertaining throughout this sometimes stressful process!! I am very thankful for her gifts of time and humor, and I am even more thankful that she will be standing up with me on the big day!
As sisters often do, we have not always seen eye to eye, but I am glad we can come together to create such a special day! My sister, although very busy with her newly-wed life, has worked hard to arrange her schedule and help out as much as possible. Always a jokester, her antics have been entertaining throughout this sometimes stressful process!! I am very thankful for her gifts of time and humor, and I am even more thankful that she will be standing up with me on the big day!
Miss Jessica Stratton
Jessie and I found each other in our freshman dorm (yeah Onondaga 4s!), and found we lived three doors down. We had a lot in common, outside of the huge group of friends we had amassed in those first few weeks. Ever the night owl, I could always count on her being up when I needed her. She even talked to Katie on the phone a few times when I was really upset but couldn't talk.
The creative spirit like myself, I remember skipping freshman bio lab, just to go see the Swan Princess up in Rochester, thus began our long run of seeing the ballet, musical theater and other various
plays and productions. She even convinced me to go see a country concert one year for my birthday - I didn't know a single song, but I sure had fun!
 |
| Jess and I circa 2009 at a small impromptu Geneseo Reunion |
Jessie is very much my found sister. We are not exactly the same, and we do not always understand each other right off the bat, much like sisters do. But as an only child, Jessie has sure made me feel like a sister, as if we have been together our whole lives. Just as it is with Katie, Jess and I can go months without talking (especially during her busy winter season of ice skating!) - but the second we get together, it is as if no time has passed at all.
Her family has become my family, and I call her parents Mom and Dad, much like I do for Katie's. Her pets became my surrogate pets all through college and beyond. When I visit her house, it is like going to visit my own parent's house, and I love it.
So I am very fortunate to have two sisters standing up with me on my big day, and I am so glad I found Jessie through the random roommate assignments at SUNY Geneseo.
Miss Kristen Kimber
Kristen has been my friend since I was old enough to walk down the street at my Grandma Babe's house (my amazing babysitter). So from age 4 on, Kristen has been a constant in my life. We attended most of grade school together, often in each other's classes as we moved into high school. And then we ended up at Geneseo together, running in different circles, but still seeing each other now and then.
After college graduation, Kristen moved in with me for the summer, as I had my first 'grown up' apartment in Avon. It would be the first of a few times I have called Kristen 'roommate', and miraculously, we did not kill each other or hate each other by the time she moved out. We often joke that this has not often happened with our roommates in life, but somehow it worked out for us.
When I met Devin, she was very excited and wanted to know everything about him, just as everyone else in my life it seems. She has always supported us and even gave us anniversary cards and a 'congratulations on being engaged' card. She has helped me shop for presents for Devin and been there through every step of our relationship. I am very thankful to have my lifelong friend standing up with me on our day.
Miss Lyndsey Allison
Lyndsey is our Junior Bridesmaid and a very special person in our lives. I have known Lyndsey and her family for almost a decade, and have come to see Lyndsey as a sister and her family as my family. I began working as Lyndsey's nanny when I was in college, and have been with the family ever since. Her and her brother Rory have filled my summers with fun, excitement and laughter. I look forward to spending time with them and hang with my kid sister. Miraculously, even in her teenage years, Miss Rita is still cool to hang out with, and I am very thankful for that (because, let's face it, I have never been cool!).
We joke that between her and her brother (who happens to be autistic), she was definitely the most difficult of the two when I first started working with her. The first summer we were together, I think we did 500 activities a day, because she had the attention span of a goldfish. And then there were those summers where she was supposed to read 20 minutes a day, and would complain for over 30 minutes about how she didn't want to read, before she would finally start reading. But we found some fun games that we still continue today when the mood strikes: chasing each other around the house, tickling the crud out of each other and generally just annoying each other.
Although Lyndsey is going to be a freshman in high school this fall, and although she is off babysitting on her own, I get to see her still when I go to watch over her brother. She is very focused on her studies and her sports (cross country, Nordic skiing and track in the spring). Over the years she has wanted to be many things when she grows up: a baker, a forensic anthropologist, a vet and currently an orthodontist. Lyndsey is very bright and has the full support of her wonderful family, so I am sure she will go very far in whatever path she wishes when the time is right.
I am very thankful that Lyndsey can be with us on our day, as I am sure she will keep us on our toes and roaring with laughter. I am so thankful to her and her family for all their support and love. It is such a wonderful thing to be a part of a family, and I am so thankful I have a second little sister!!
The Groom's Side
We are lucky to have some amazing guys standing on Devin's side! Two of his brothers, Trevor and Ryan will be in the wedding party! And one of Devin's best friends, Gus will also be in the wedding party! Being mushy still isn't Mr. Wade's thing, but I will try to persuade him to head back here to fill in some details!
No comments:
Post a Comment