Brooke and I met playing softball at the age of around nine to ten years old. Though one grade apart, you could always find us attached at the hip, outside of the classroom. On the softball field, Brooke was my catcher for my wild pitching. She was the only one who could handle me, especially before I got better. After softball practice? You could find us giggling in my bedroom, talking about anything and everything. We used to stay up way too late and read Wattpad stories (IYKYK) in my tiny twin sized bed. Head-to-toe sleeping arrangements (but we made it work), I remember waking up to Brooke cry-laughing at 2 in the morning to a Wattpad story, and I was so confused because I couldn't understand Brooke through her real laugh (also, IYKYK). Brooke and I have always described our friendship as "elastic." No matter how far apart or how long between chatting, we always snapped right back to normal, never skipping a beat. This has been the framework for our friendship for the past seventeen years, even before (but especially since) I moved to Utah. We have always treated each other like sisters, so imagine my excitement when I found out last year that Brooke was pregnant with my beautiful nephew, Eli! If you know me, you have probably heard me say, "I manifested this!!" Now, my childhood best friend is the mother of my first nephew. She is my brother's person. She is my sister. And she is my Maid of Honor. Sixteen and seventeen forever.

Josh and I met at the beginning of our junior year of high school, when both of our friend groups merged into one big one. At first, it was rough, we hated each other for absolutely no reason. That didn’t change until we were forced into riding in the same car...ALONE! I was driving manual truck at the time, and somehow that broke the ice. We realized we shared a ton of the same interests. From that momen on, you could bet money that I was with Josh and Ethan—tinkering with anything that had a motor or heading out to explore the Utah mountains. We never had a plan, but no matter what, we always made incredible memories. Some of my favorites are the late nights—being serenaded by Josh’s 'Nacho Libre' impression, or the time he decided to repaint his truck in his driveway. We spent an entire weekend sanding it down to bare metal… and a *lot* of sandpaper. Don’t worry, I owed him. He spent countless late nights helping me fix my first truck so I’d stop getting pulled over. Then Josh moved out, and his place became the hangout spot. We made so many memories in that loft, laughing at who knows what. But if you’ve ever hung out with me and Josh, you know you’re guaranteed to hear the laughing hyenas, we fuel each other’s laughs. I couldn’t have chosen a better best man.

Savannah and I met playing softball when we were fourteen years old. We went to different high schools, but played on the same team for a few years. During that time, we became good friends. It wasn't until after softball had stopped that Savs and I became super close. It was like one day we started hanging out and just didn't stop. If you knew where I was, you knew where she was and vice versa. What was so cool about this new close friendship with Savs was it was well after high school was over when we decided as adults (I think we were 22?), to be sisters. I realize now, over 5 years later, the enormity of that small decision. You know those friends who can make you belly laugh over the dumbest things? The friend who you can make you laugh without even trying? That's me and Savs. We are always laughing - to the point of tears and belly cramps. Savannah became a mom in 2023 to Georgia and she asked me to be her god-mother, even when I now live over 600 miles away. I have never been so honored to be trusted with such a big role. Savs was my first close friend to have a child. Witnessing the change motherhood can bring to someone you love, has been one of the coolest experiences of my life.

Ethan and I met at the beginning of junior year of high school when our friend groups merged into one big one. We clicked instantly and spent an unbelievable amount of time together. It’s easy when you find someone who’s incredibly laid back but also an elite hype man. If you ever need encouragement, look to Ethan. He’s the guy who pushes you to try that new skill or pick up a new hobby. We’ve gone down countless paths together, from him teaching me how to use a yo-yo (he’s genuinely a master), to dirt biking, to modifying our vehicles. We took on BMX riding, where he witnessed some truly embarrassing moments like me trying to drop into a bowl for the first time, and later attempting to ride a church railing…both ending in face-plants. And then there was the one that really sucked us in: golf. We’d go every day of the weekend and still want more. I’m pretty sure we played nearly every course in the valley, making some of our best memories cruising around in the golf cart. We’ve had so many adventures together, but through all of them, Ethan has always been there in the best of ways. Encouraging me, supporting me, and pushing me to be the best version of myself.

Casey is one of my first cousins, but being only six months older than me, she has always felt more like a sister. I remember sleeping over at Casey and Tara's and whispering (not so quietly) and laughing (also, not so quietly) when we were definitely supposed to be asleep, like it was yesterday. I cherished the days I was over at their house - I got to be around girls, and do girly things for once. From playing at Grandma’s house, to our world-famous Patton “dog piles,” some of my all time favorite childhood memories don'e exist without Casey. Even with me moving to Utah, and Casey heading up to Washington, we’ve always made space for each other. Casey is the person that I always ask about when it comes to parties and holidays. "Is Casey going to be there??" Because holidays aren't the same when we're not all together. No matter the distance, our bond has never changed, and she continues to be one of the most important people in my life. Having Casey by my side on my wedding day was a decision I had made as a little girl, and if 5 year old Emily and Casey could see us now, I know they would be proud. Proud of what we have accomplished in life, and proud of sticking by each others side through it all. Once a Patton girl, always a Patton girl.

Josh and I met not long after Emily and I started talking, when she invited me to meet some of her friends. It was the first of many tests I had to pass. They had to make sure I wasn't a serial killer somehow! That night, they introduced me to one of the "go-to" games, Deuces. This game has since become a staple - we played it nearly every time we came over and it definitely brought out some good competitive fun! When you play card games with a small group, it's nice to have something on in the background. Thats where Josh and I discovered a big shared interest - Stand-Up Comedy. I guess you could say, comedy is the soul of our friendship. It has brought so many memories of laughter and has put us on a quest to see as many of the of the top tier comedians as possible. In the time we have been friends, we have already managed to knock off an impressive list. During the many shows we have seen, I have gotten to know Josh well. If there were a singular word I would use to describe Josh, it would be ecstatic. Josh has an overwhelming joy for things he loves, and it is contagious. No matter the occasion, whether it's walking out of a comedy show, leaving a concert, or simply bringing him a cup of coffee, this man has an excitement level that cannot be matched. From being tested to make sure I wasn't a serial killer, to being good friends, and now roommates - Josh is someone I feel lucky to have in my corner for the wedding and in life.

Tara is my "baby" cousin. I say that only because she’s the youngest of the Patton cousins (I'm the second youngest) and I have nobody else to be an annoying "older" anything to! Growing up, my favorite memories were the days spent with her and Casey. Coming from a house full of boys, getting to play with my girl cousins was the best (probably the best for my dad to get a break of me too). Even though we were opposites growing up, me on the softball field and Tara on the stage, I’ve always admired our differences. Tara has an uncanny ability to talk to absolutely anyone, from CEOs to toddlers, with total ease. It’s a quality I’ve always looked up to. I couldn't imagine getting married without Tara standing up there with me. Once a Patton girl, always a Patton girl.

The night that Luke and I met, he wanted to cook dinner for himself, Emily, and I. He pulled out all the stops to make a delicious bruschetta and steak dinner. It was quite fancy, especially for someone he had yet to meet! I think I ultimately passed Luke's "test" that night (not if I was a serial killer, but if I was cool enough to hang), and he approved of me because I could handle his jokes. Luke has the ability to push the boundaries of any topic to get a joke in, to put a smile on your face. I think that became more and more apparent when I quickly moved myself into the Draper house, and we became roommates. We would all spend countless nights of playing Cards Against Humanity, Quiplash, or any of the many card games we had stocked in the house. There is nothing like seeing "mulch" make Luke die from laughter during a Cards Against Humanity game. As our friendship grew, Luke went on a journey and dedicated himself to working out and losing weight. As Emily and I supported him on his fitness journey, he created a funny habit of coming home from the gym and coming into our room with his shirt on, only to shortly thereafter take it off. He did some "ooing" and "awwing" at himself, and always managed to get some laughs out of us. Luke is someone I can always count on to make sure everybody in the room has laughed at least once, and is definitely the life of the party. Even through his year long deployment, the day he got back to good ol' Salt Lake City, it was like we hadn't missed a beat.

Cynthia and I met in middle school, where our first real interaction was the one and only time I did a pageant. (Yikes.) We were friends, but it wasn't until later in high school that we became a lot closer - we had 2 years of Spanish class together as each others 'familia.' After we graduated high school, we worked at Floor and Decor for a little bit before really getting into our career fields. From there, our paths could have taken us out of each others lives, but around 10 years later, here we are - closer than ever. Cynthia is the friend you can tell anything and she will absolutely match your level. Super excited over something really dumb? Cyn will be excited with you, not just for you. Need to chat about something really deep, but you're scared of how someone might react? Not with Cyn. There is no world where I get married, and she is not up there with me.

I met Mason right when Emily and I started hanging out. It was the same night that I met Josh Eddy, when they were both "testing" me, to make sure that I wasn't a serial killer. While Josh and I immediately clicked, Mase and I didn't. There was definitely learning and work that had to be put in with Mase before we had a friendship. He knew at this point that I was no serial killer, especially because I had at this point become his roommate. I ended up killing him with kindness until he warmed up. It was a cold winter day, when I was making Emily the most delicious hot chocolate, that I decided to bring Mason one too. Without asking, he was stunned from the gesture, and by that first sip - his walls were crumbling. From that point on, Mason and I realized that our feud was over nothing. He realized my intentions with Emily were pure. I realized that Mason has a lot of passion for the people in his life. Whether it's his football team (Steelers), boxed wine, or him decorating his apartment, he takes pride in the things that he enjoys in life. Mason is someone who is easy to play harmless pranks on. One of mine and Emily's favorite memories of living with Mason (literally, sharing a bedroom wall and a bathroom), were when we would bluetooth connect to his TV when he was in the middle of playing games or watching a movie - he would laugh and yell through the walls at us. He has always been down for a good laugh. Mason and I have since become pretty good friends - Emily watches his dog (Remington) during the work day, and recently, when Mason drops him off in the morning, I ask him a daily "trivia" question. So - Mason, What day did Emily and I meet?

Hailey and I have known each other for most of our lives. Because our parents ran in the same circle, we grew up camping together, getting Disney passes and going multiple times a week, attending concerts of all kinds (but mostly country), and line dancing our tails off. Hailey is the friend you can call at any hour, and she’ll answer in a heartbeat. She’s my resident “Type A” friend—the one who always knows where I need to be, what I should be wearing, and exactly how long it will take to get there. While some friendships don’t take the straightest path and come with hills, bumps, and even mountains along the way, one thing I know for certain is that my friendship with Hailey is always worth the climb. I couldn't start this next chapter of my life without her!

It wasn't too long ago that Steven and I met for the first time. Emily and Hailey made plans for amazing weekend here in Salt Lake City, and they stayed in our guest room. Yes, that's right - the first day I met Steven, we were essentially having a sleepover. Moving fast, right?! In all seriousness, when I met Steven, I had heard countless stories of how Steven was one of the kindest most fun people to be around. To this day, I have only seen him get upset over the Steelers losing. The first weekend Steven and I hung out, we discovered a quest that we have still yet to complete (it's been close to two years now, lol). While the girls were doing girl things, we started playing a game called, It Takes Two. We spent countless (but limited) hours playing and being patient with each other. We never got frustrated, only laughing with and at each other, and a desire to beat the game. In the two years that I have known Steven, I have only known him to be kind, and to be a great person, and I am so excited to have him be in the wedding. (This also gives us extra time together to finish that game!)