Wedding Party

One of the very first things Nick and I did was to choose our wedding party.  I don't believe this was easy for either of us, as we both have so many people in our lives that we love dearly.  However, we did not want to end up with 10+ attendants each, so we narrowed it down to six people each, plus our officiant who is also a dear friend.  Neither of us have a  best man/woman or person of honor in our parties, however I am asking each of my bridesmaids to take on specific jobs to help out with the wedding.  And  the truth is, we both see each person in our wedding party to be a person of honor in our lives.  So I guess we have  six maids/matrons of honor and six best men/women.

And here they are!

Officiant: 

Dalya Perez
I have known Dalya for many years now.  She has one of the biggest hearts of anybody I know and is always just brimming with love.  She has touched both of our lives, and when Nick and I were thinking about people to ask to officiate our wedding, Dalya felt like such a perfect fit.  Dalya's own wedding has been an inspiration to us when thinking about the fun and love that we want to be a part of our wedding.  Be prepared for some fun and some tears when Dalya officiates our wedding - we know that she's going to bring it.

Bridal Party (by Ingrid): 

Selena Goodwin

My sister Selena and I are very much alike.  We are both artsy and creative and we like to have our own way.  I'm so happy that she's in my wedding party and also that she's doing all the graphic design for our wedding.  Selena is incredibly talented and I'm blown away every time I look at the images and text that she's preparing for our invitations.  She's also managing this blog and I must say that it's just so much sharper than the one that I originally put together on my own. Let's just say that I'll be running any major design decisions by her.  

Amera Goodwin
Amera is my baby sister.  Need I say more?  I was thirteen when she was born and would just snatch her up for the weekend when I went to visit my dad.  I've always referred to her as my baby and don't think that's going to change anytime soon, even though she's now 18 years old.  Amera is a brillant human being. She's so loving and warm and I find her to be hilarious.  I'm so excited for her as she starts her studies to become a nurse, I really believe that it will be such a perfect fit for her.  She'll get to combine her intelligence with her loving heart and her patients will be so lucky to have her as their nurse.

Maria Beth Williams

I have known Maria since I was eleven years old.  We met in a sixth grade block class, though Maria was quite the hypochondriac at that time, so wasn't in class much.  Little did I know that we'd be beginning a life long friendship.  Maria is a wonderful mother to her daughter Ella, and I'm so glad that she's doing the whole motherhood thing before me, so I can learn from her when the time comes for me. Maria is truly family to me and I can't imagine my life without her.  

Rosalie Guard 
The summer of 2013 is going to be a busy one for both Rosalie and myself, as we are getting married mere weeks apart!  I've known Rosie since sixth grade as well, though our friendship really began to blossom in eighth and ninth grade.  One of my fondest memories with Rosie (I hope she remembers this fondly as well) is trying to make her laugh so hard she would cry on the bus home everyday in eighth grade.  I  still get tremendous joy from watching Rosie laugh to this day...she's just so good at it!

Ginger Bellerud-Corthell

Just as I get to learn from Maria in terms of motherhood, I have had the privilege of learning a ton from Ginger in terms of planning a wedding. Ginger's own wedding last year was phenomenal.  I will definitely be using Ginger's organizational skills and expertise to help our wedding day run smoothly!   My friendship with Ginger also began in sixth grade, and I look at my own sixth grade students this year wondering which of their friendships will be so deep and long lasting as mine have been.  

Anna Berenice Garner
I think that it's possible that this photo does a good job of summing up my friendship with Anna.  While my friendship with Anna is newer, a mere 7+ years, she is also family to me.  Anna and I had the opportunity to live together for several years and our friendship stayed perfectly intact during that time.  In fact, it grew stronger - which I think says quite a lot. Anna now resides in Tucson, AZ, where she is soaking up the heat and getting her MFA, but we try to schedule clandestine visits as often as possible.

 Groom's Party (by Nick): 

Suzanne Morais Epstein

Suzanne is one of my many wonderful sisters. She is also the sister who

is closest to me in age (1.5 year apart). Over the years she and I have become tight.

Suzanne is very sensible and hilarious. She has always been there for me, in many ways.

She is also one of the reasons I found my way out to the Pacific Northwest, so that

I could have the opportunity to meet Ingrid, the love of my life

Jason Pittman

I have known Jason since junior high while growing up in the Dirty South. I got to know him a whole lot better as the years went by. Although Jason and I have moved a country apart from each other, I still value my friendship with him and the things I have learned from him. Jason is a very talented comic book creator. He is now writing new issues of his series Leftovers. Jason is an enthusiastic person, who doesn't take any guff from anyone. Jason to me is like an older brother, and I am happy to have him share in this memory.

 Robbie Wilson

Robbie is the Superman to my Batman. He is the Han Solo to my Luke Skywalker. All in all Robbie is a great friend and has my back. I met Robbie a while back in college at a party. He was wearing a Miles Davis shirt and I asked him if he was a fan of Miles Davis. Robbie said he was just wearing the shirt because of the Adam Sandler movie Billy Madison (if you don't know the reference go watch the movie). A few months later we were eating lunch together, and soon became roommates at the infamous “Metal House” of Hattiesburg. He then took me into his own home. I have worked side by side with Robbie and he encouraged me, at 4^th Street Tattoo, to be myself. Robbie was there for me most of all when I lost my Father. Robbie is probably one of the most genuinely sweet people I have ever met.  

Brent Blalock

Brent is a wonderful, passionate, spiritual person. Brent was another friend that I met in Hattiesburg. Before he knew me, he referred to me as 'wig guy', because my hair was so awesome there was no way it could be real. Brent is someone you can laugh with for hours and just be ridiculous with. I would say our humor matches very well. Brent is a wonderfully kind person, who has a lot of passion for his beliefs and the music he creates. Brent in my opinion is a musical virtuoso. I am very happy that he is in my wedding, because he is just another example of the wonderful people I have had in my life over the years.

Patten Wood

Patten and I have shared so many memories together. We really became friends after going on spring break trip to the Northeast while in college. The trip was in a Volvo station wagon with three other guys. The trip ended with me and Patten becoming a lot closer. Patten is a very intelligent, hip outdoorsman. While I am not an outdoorsman, I always enjoyed canoeing, and camping with Patten, just for the pure goofyness and enjoyable nature of Patten. I am proud to have him in my wedding and to share this moment with me.

Alex Morais

Alex is my younger brother, and as a matter of fact my only brother. That reason alone makes him special to me. Growing up in a family with a strong female presence solidified our relationship. Growing up it was great to have someone be destructive with, get injured with, cause ruckus in the neighborhood with, and just someone to try out dangerous shit together with. We did have physical fisticuffs, but after he always knew how to move on from it. Alex is brilliant and I am very honored for him to be in my wedding.