Groomsmen

For over 25 years I have known this man, this is a majority of my life. So long in fact that I am pretty sure we share a brain cell when hanging around together with our synchronized glances and jokes. Jonathan will always be there to make you laugh and I strive to bring the amount of joy he does when walks into a room. Too much time has passed at this point to summarize our full friendship and the appreciation I hold for Jonathan. It is truly hard to think of a better individual to be my best man.

I never knew that I would meet my brother when my 4th grade teacher came to me about welcoming the new student to our school and class, on a field trip day of all days too. We ended up bonding over Sonic the Hedgehog and finding out we lived on the same street! Eventually we even made our own characters for the Sonic series, Virus and Comic, creating comic books and constantly drawing them. We were inseparable, and though we no longer live on the same street or even same state anymore, put us in a room together and it is like no time has passed. I know Ira has my back if I get myself into trouble. He is my brother, it is that plain and simple.

We were introduced to each other through Boy Scouts, Troop 348 to be exact, but I remember it being summer camp at S Bar F Famous Eagle where our friendship and bond clicked. During that camp we shared our fears, dreams, and goals with each other, and ever since, Nick is the one I can go to talk to about anything and everything. He is the first to volunteer to participate in my hare brained schemes and follow through enthusiastically. I could ask him to jump off a bridge with me and he would simply reply “When.” So I knew my simple ask to be apart of my renewal party would also be an enthusiastic yes, and I can’t imagine Nick not being apart of this amazing day.

The first friend I made at North Central Hobbies. On Friday race nights, Iris and I ended up bonding over a band I thought no one knew outside the internet, Sonata Arctica, and over the new card game, Cardfight Vanguard!! She was the second to join the Vanguard team where a fierce rivalry would form and even an greater friendship. The loyalty and support I get from this woman is unmatched in so many ways and I am so proud and excited to have her be apart of my wedding party and ever grateful to call her a best friend.

Boy how do I start with the rambunctious, boisterous man that is known as Thomas Hannon. A bit of an unlikely friendship in high school started in a history class with a simple project where we got done early and began doing duels with made up warriors on a piece of paper. Making up attacks and defenses, never truly having a winner as we made broken hero figures with even more broken abilities. But one day my warrior happened to be Blaster Blade, a card from the card game Cardfight Vanguard!! This one decision led to getting Tommy into the game and being the third to join the Vanguard team. He will stand beside you through thick and thin and be your hype man even through the of darkest days. I know he will bring the party and energy and I cannot express how thankful I am to have him in my life to this day.

Grey is someone I met when finishing up college and reaching out to Jonathan about hanging out again. That is when Tuesday nights began for me and where I came to know Grey more and more each time we all met together, from having to play against his chaotic commander Party Deck or the infamous Thantis the Warweaver (who did the voice, be honest). Not to mention the release of my addiction TikTok and sending him personal for you pages to this day in the dms. I can always count on Grey to support my crazy ideas and plans and even call me on actually doing them, whether it be rolling for a sandwich or throwing massive parties like this one ahead. I cannot wait to have Grey be apart of this massive day as a groomsman.

We had met all the way back in high school, in passing mostly, through mutual friends. Over the years I got to know Jake slowly but even more so when I began attending Tuesdays game nights. He is one of the most intelligent and handy people I have ever met, whether he is putting up a microwave over a stove or executing the nastiest multi turn set up in a game of commander or the vast knowledge he has from his years of being apart of renaissance fairs. While I do wish that I would have hung out and gotten to know Jake sooner, I am elated to have him around now and to have him apart of this massive day.

David is the person I have known the shortest here, but the way it feels today is like he has been here my entire life. The generosity this man cannot be understated with the time and effort he puts towards his friends, even after a long day or evening working as a chef. From cooking for the entire group or offering up his knowledge of many things cooking, games, or internet oddities, he never fails to bring the energy and popcorn to the party. Even if a chair or three have to be sacrificed for him to be here, I cannot wait to have him along for this exciting adventure.

Chad is another I have known for over 25 years and is probably the reason I am so into tabletop and cards games as I am today. Being separated by schools never stopped us from hanging out together and bonding over so many things. As apathetic as he can come off sometimes, I know he truly cares for each of his friends dearly and hope he understands how much he means to me as well. Chad is also “putting up” with being a flower man along with our flower girl Elizabeth from an old joke back in high school, but I just know he will do this job perfect in his own way. I cannot wait to see him fulfilling this duty with that “Wishmaster” flair I know he will produce.