Wedding Party

Jennifer H -- Matron of Honor

Jenn has been a good friend since the song "Because of You" by 98 Degrees brought us together in a high school English class. With Jenn, I jabbered and giggled with all day at school, barely passed chemistry with because we were busy passing notes, recited lines of "Night at the Roxbury" with, then came home and called. Jenn attended the University of Portland, which was only an hour or so drive from Oregon State University so I spent many weekends at UP. We've shared so many fun times-- silly inside jokes, double dates, long-distance correspondences when Jenn studied abroad in Austria, college graduations, Jenn's infamous Vegas bachelorette party and marriage to Brendan in 2005, girls' weekends, the surprisingly timed birth of Jenn's first son Chase during Mandy's bachelorette party in 2007, baptisms, family events... Jenn is like a sister to me and her family has welcomed me into their festivities as if I was their own. Through all our trials and challenges, Jenn has always been there to listen to my whining and crying and joyful boasting on the phone, and in person. She continues to amaze me with her strength, ambition, deep love for her family, generosity for her friends, and intelligence. Not only is she raising two beautiful sons (Chase and Ryan) with her husband Brendan while she pursues a law degree, she is also now expecting their third boy in late July.

Jessecca -- Bridesmaid

My first memories of Jesse were of this bubbly, friendly, adorable middle school girl in drama with me. While I was shy and a bit dorky, I admired how fearlessly outgoing she was. Over ten years later, I'd just moved back to our hometown of Bend, OR, and had no friends still in town. I reached out to many old classmates via Facebook, particularly those who didn't yet have kids since I was still single. Jesse, though not having seen me in a decade, invited me to her bridal shower and our friendship resumed from there. Over the last year and a half, I've shared some amazing experiences and changes with Jesse-- her wedding with Adam in 2009, the three times they've lived with me and all the talks we've had over coffee or Mexican food, their move to Hawaii and the growth and changes they experienced there, their recent move to California and our long-distance correspondence. Jesse amazes me with her resilience, deep love of others and ability to share that so sincerely, generosity, spontaneity and incredible optimism. With Jesse's support and encouragement, I've grown a lot in the last year in sticking up for myself, speaking my truth and heart, having faith and trust in miracles to come in the future, praying and envisioning and holding to what I truly want. She is truly a soul sister and I am so thankful that she reached out to me with her open, loving arms when I needed a friend the most.

Jennifer L -- Bridesmaid

Jen used to have a sticker in her high school locker that read "Not All Who Wander Are Lost," and I have always admired her adventurous, seemingly-fearless and independent, and fun-loving spirit. And Jen is also one of the most intelligent and determined people I've ever met. We used to ride around our hometown of Bend, OR in her little red car that hummed like a small airplane, and now she flies helicopters. While attending the Naval Academy, Jen and I maintained a close correspondence and since her parents had moved, when she wanted to come "home," she came home with me. Jen is quite the world traveler, from the trips her parents took when she was young, to her study abroad in Kenya, her deployment while in the Navy, and our infamous trip to Egypt in September 2010. What strikes me most about Jen is the carefree, fearless attitude with which she seems to approach the world. Despite our Egypt trip being one of my only trips abroad, I felt safe, confident, and relaxed with Jen at my side. She has a deep love for those close to her and for adventure, and she has always been one of my heros ;)

Mandy -- Bridesmaid

My first memories of Mandy were of a cheerful and confident high schooler in her cheerleader outfit. She had an infectious laugh and wit. Mandy and I have been friends since high school and shared some fun and silly times, from sleepovers to swim practice. Mandy attended the University of Portland as did Jenn and there we may have gotten into some trouble but I loved visiting for the weekends. I always loved Mandy's sense of humor, caring and sincerity and have so enjoyed watching her develop in her nursing career, meet and marry in 2007 an amazing guy Josh, and become a glowing mother of Collin in 2010. In addition to all the laughs and inside jokes and girls' weekends we've shared, I also appreciated the support and encouragement Mandy has given me.

Michelle -- Honorary Bridesmaid

I had the fortune of being roommates with "Meeshie" during our training institute in Houston during the miserable summer of 2008 when we joined Teach For America. Though sleep-deprived and under incredible stress, Meeshie helped me keep focus, remember my good intentions for teaching, and feel optimistic about our teaching future in the Rio Grande Valley. When I was stuck jobless and homeless, Meeshie gave me a place to stay and together we weathered Hurricane Dolly. Despite living and working in different cities, she was one of my best friends in the RGV and while I decided to leave early in teaching, we maintained a close friendship. Against incredible odds (in her difficult personal life at the time and professionally with the challenged pre-teens she taught special education), Meeshie had huge gains with her students that year and was an exemplary teacher and TFA member. Back in her homestate of Ohio, she works as a case manager and continues to be a dear friend to me.

Martin -- Best Man #1

Martin is President/Owner of the Blue Oyster Bar and The Pink Flamingo in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Haha just kidding bro! I think he is a professional fisherman. He is my younger brother.

Michael -- Best Man #2

Michael is my youngest brother. He is a UH-60/AH-64 Crewchief for the U.S. Army in Boise, ID. He and his wife Lindsey currently have two "kids"-- their dachshunds Bender and Fry.

Joseph -- Groomsman

Joe is Gretchen's younger brother and only sibling. He earned a Film Studies degree from Oregon State University and is currently pursuing a law degree from Arizona State University.

Dave -- Groomsman

I have been friends with Dave since we met in Salem when he was a law student at Willamette. Dave and I also went to the same church. He has a love for sports and is an overall awesome guy!

Mike -- Honorary Groomsman

Mike and I have been friends since being roommates in the Marine Corps. I remember the day I first met Mike. I was working in the company office for 1/7 Weapons Company. Mike had been in a different unit. His unit was being deployed overseas and for some reason Mike could not deploy with them. So, Mike joined our unit. As I entered the office, Mike was sitting on the office couch waiting to be entered into the company database and officially be in our unit. He stood up and extended his hand and said "hi I'm PFC Burchette!" I looked at his hand and then at his face and said hi and walked away. I was not interested in being friends and or anything else like that. Mike joined the office and worked for me there. Over time we became friends and have kept in touch ever since. We have many good and funny memories from the Marine Corps.

Manual -- Honorary Groomsman

I first met Manual when I was attending High Tech Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. That was way back in 2002! We were in the same class and I remember he used to wear the same blue collard shirt every day. It had a little Albertsons logo on the front. For several weeks I felt bad and wondered if he didnt have any other clothes to wear. I almost brought some of my shirts from home to give to him so he had something else to wear. Anyway, I soon learned that he held a job at Albertsons and worked mornings before school. After work, he drove directly to class, which explains why he still had his Albertsons uniform still on. He will call me an idiot for thinking this and for many other things, Haha! Manual has been one of my best friends ever since. To this day I still think he had his wife Yolanda do his homework for him when we were attending High Tech Institute.

Chase & Ryan -- Ring Guards

Matron-of-Honor Jenn's two adorable sons, I've known them since birth :) They have been given the challenging task of walking our dogs down the aisle!

Maiya -- Flowergirl

Maiya is my only niece, Martin's daughter. Her favorite subject is math.