Our Wedding

Lauren

As soon as I could reach her, I asked my sister Lauren to be my maid of honor.  She was my side kick growing up and we have grown closer over the years. Aside from Allan's proposal, she was the only person in my life who could inspire tears of joy.  A very talented dancer, she competed with her dance company in tap dance in the early years. You know you had talent on the stage when the stage mothers of opposing companies would stand up and cheers as a hive of bumble-bee looking dancers were executing perfect wings. I always wanted her to dance at my wedding growing up and now perhaps I will get my wish.

We would often get goofy (still do!) and laugh until our eyes teared up. She makes me laugh with her free spirit and smile with her artistic look on life.  She talks to me about aliens and suspicious looking dancing lights in the sky.  I show her "middle C" on a purple, plastic dualing keyboard hailing from 1986. 

I love my sister very much and her enthusiasm for our wedding is a wonderful gift and endorsement. I hope that I can return the favor one day. 

My Best Man is my dad.  We had some rough spots while I was growing up, and we don't always agree on things, but he's a great dad, and always wants the best for me.  What more can you ask?  He is also a very loving and caring husband for my mom.  He's a CPA who retired from FDIC a couple of years ago and is now enjoying semi-retirement teaching accounting at DeVry University and the University of Phoenix.  I recently attended one of his Managerial Accounting classes and think that teaching was his true calling. 

This is Eric and his better half, Holly.  They have a beautiful baby daughter, Hannah.  I met Eric in 8th grade, playing basketball for the Albright Warriors.  We got to be better friends after working at Fame City for a few summers as lifeguards, and roomed together for two semesters when we lived in Austin.  It's rare that you stay good friends with someone you've known that long, but I am glad we have.  I was a groomsman at his wedding.  He was my workout partner for a long time, but now Lee has slowly moved into that role.  Eric, Kyle and I did the MS 150 together a few years ago. 

All of these pictures of my groomsmen and ushers were taken at our Engagement Party on May 3rd.  Not pictured is Jacob.  He had a family emergency that night.  But as far as our relationship, it's the same story as Eric - met playing basketball in 8th grade, worked at Fame City, roomed together in Austin.  I am an only child, but these guys that I grew up with are like my brothers.

Jenni

Jenni and I met several years ago when I joined her dance troupe.  I was very unsure about this new enterprise I was embarking on and I'm sure it showed. But she was the nicest girl in the room and the most talented using her years of ballet training.  We practiced together, performed together and taught each other and quickly became friends.  This is my intrepid, globe trotting friend and is one of the most interesting people one could meet. I had to ask her to be my bridesmaid since she does some of the best voice impersonations I've ever heard. :)

Kyle, the guy on the right, is one of my other groomsmen.  Almost the same story as Eric and Jacob - met playing basketball in 8th grade, worked at Fame City, and remained good friends.  I was a groomsman at his wedding a couple of years ago.   I'm the last one getting married from this group.  I guess we all gotta grow up some time.  With everyone getting hitched, we don't get to see each other as much, but I think married life is agreeing with my newly married buddies.

Mike, on the left, is my other groomsman.  I've only known him for two years.  He answered a roommate ad on craigslist and we exchanged a couple of emails, talked breifly on the phone, and we decided to room together.  I never met him in person, until the night he showed up at my door at 2am with a Camaro loaded down with all his stuff.  We hung out a lot in midtown until Lee settled me down.  Mike has been a great roommate and friend.  He's one of those guys that has done a lot at a young age.  He's been engaged, done the MS150 twice, got certified with a scuba AND motorcycle license.  Mike is big into his alma mater: Penn State.  He taught me how to play beer pong.  He's moving to San Francisco for work in May, but said he'll be back for the wedding.  Lee and I are gonna miss him.

These are my ushers (except Erin, who is dating John).  They are all people I have met in the last few years and have become good friends with.  Harry, on the left, is one of my ushers.  I met him through his sister Heather, whom I was already good friends with.  We got to be pretty good friends over the past few years.  He went to UH and knew many of the same people I did, although we didn't really start hanging out until a few years ago.  John is sitting down with a beer.  I met him through a mutual friend, and we had such a good time running around midtown, that we decided this should be a recurring event.  He's a good friend who is always up for hanging out at an outdoor bar or pool.  Marcus is the guy on the right.  I met him through my business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi.  We didn't start hanging out right away, but the more I got to know him at Deltasig events, the more I thought he was a good guy.  He and I actually met John on the same night.  I met so many great people who are Deltasigs (300+ have joined at UH alone since I was initiated, not to mention all the DSP friends outside of UH), and for Marcus to be the only one in my wedding should tell you how much of a good friend he is.

We all used to go out a lot before I got "married".

Brian, on the left, is one of my ushers.  I met Brian a few years ago while working at Amegy Bank.  That was a fun place to work.  Lots of happy hours.  I try to stay in touch with friends who are former coworkers, but sometimes that is difficult.  I am happy that Brian and I remained good friends and still hang out for a beer even after I left the bank.  He's a Canadian who loves his Ottowa Senators, and he still has a little accent.

Andrew and Evan aka Thing 1 and Thing 2 aka Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum aka Red Spiderman and Black Spiderman aka Double Trouble...

Yep.  Prepare yourselves for the arrival of the two funniest red-heads you thought were twins. Really, these two are 18 months apart but you can't tell.  Kids say the darndest things!!! Andrew can rival Jenni in mimcry and Evan is our chatterbox.  Be prepared to hear him announce something in the middle of the ceremony. It will probably be a request for me (Lee) to take him to Jason's Deli or ask the minister if he knows me. And these are the only two that can get away with the tuxedo t-shirts. Sorry Allan.

I started teaching Talesia dance about three years ago.  She has the most sunny disposition I've seen in a long time and it's been a pleasure to have been her instructor.  This is the first wedding she's been in and she's very excited about her role!  She says she has a surprise for everyone, so be prepared to say "AAAAWWWWWW!!!!"