"When you’re 12 and like the same boys, you’ll either becomes besties or enemies. Guess which way we went..."
Kelly and I have been best friends for 25 years! From summer camp at Country Roads to marriage and children, we've been through it all. We know each other in and out since 7th grade and have helped shape each other into the people we are now.
She is hilarious, an amazing comic relief, my voice of reason, the person I can depend on for the hard truth and honesty, incredibly crafty, an event planning savant, an interior designer and fashion guru, intelligent and witty, beyond amazing at everything she does, an incredible mother, a non-stop go getter, a role model, and my best friend from childhood. I love her dearly and am so excited that she is my Matron of Honor!
Although we tend to make our lifelong friends during high school or college years, I made mine long after in the State of New Jersey.
Megan and I met at a backyard barbeque during a Meet-up event where I knew no one. I was quiet and observant, but by the end of the evening, Megan and I exchanged numbers and there was no looking back. Although different in many ways, we developed a sister-like kinship.
Megan listens without judgment and gives unwavering support through all of life’s ups-and-downs. We shared many weekends singing and dancing while taking turns on our favorite Pandora stations. Although many nights always began with a cocktail and conversation hour, we got past the tears and always ended up with Chinese food and un-watched midnight movies.
Aside from adoring my love of cleaning and organizing, I think many nights I provided Megan with much-needed comic relief as I chased her cats around the apartment trying to love them and teach them tricks. I’m sure Megan will never forget our competitive board game nights and yelling at “Alexa”.
We’ve shared so many laughs, so many tears, and so many unforgettable moments. I’m now so honored to be sharing in Megan’s special day as there is no one who deserves more happiness than life has to offer than Megan.
I am Megan and Pavel’s best friend (read: cat sitter). I met Megan at a Super Bowl party where we bonded more over the food than the actual event. I traded phone numbers with her assuming I’d never hear from her again (as most civilized grownup interactions go), but was surprised when Megan actually followed through. Since then Megan has won me over with her baked goods and her persistence in pursuing a friendship with me with that special, overwhelming kind of love that only Megan can demonstrate... mostly the baked goods... also I was underemployed then, so I had a lot of free time. I met Pavel two New Year’s Eves later. Pavel was overly helpful with carrying a bag of mine, which I did not ask him to do. He then dropped the bag and a bottle of beer that was in the bag broke, forcing me to throw out the bag. I hope to one day be able to forgive him (No, it was not an expensive bag and it held zero sentimental value). If expected to give a toast at the wedding, I will probably just reread this paragraph... Just in case I do: To the happy couple!
Meeting the family is always nerve wracking... especially an older sister! So, on one lovely Jersey City evening, with outfit input from several other key people on here, it happened- we met. We ended up having a great time and since meeting, our relationship has grown.
Anna is smart, sharp, witty, ambitious, adventurous, a bit mysterious, beautiful and all around (like her baby brother) a truly good person.
Thank you for saying YES! Looking forward to calling you my sister!
It all started on Instagram...
It still amazes me that we found each other, two people with so much in common that we were destined to meet. It all started in my second year of surgery residency in Kendall and Ashley was in Medical School. We quickly bonded over our love for penny shopping at Nordstrom Rack and Toys-R-Us/Babies-R-Us and our friendship grew deeper.
We've helped each other deal with health issues, medical school and residency woes, life changes and more. It's astonishing to me that we found each other online and have been friends for 7 years, with our life line being cellphones.
Megan and I met in college. We were both pre-med at the time and we met on day one of the dreaded OrGo (also known as Organic Chemistry, vomit). She came and sat next to me; though I had zero interest in making friends, she was absolutely hilarious so I allowed it to happen. We became study buddies and our friendship blossomed from there... or so I thought....
A few weeks later, I'm at a party and I see my good friend Megan! How exciting! I walk over to say hello and she literally just stares at me as if she has NEVER seen me before in her life. I literally have to start explaining to her who I am and how we know one another. Takes her a bit of convincing, but it finally registers that I'm her study buddy friend from class. Years later she confessed that she initially sought me out because she thought I was a super dork (partly true) (Megan's comment: She had colored pencils, colored pens AND highlighters, ALL organized in color order) and couldn't quite consolidate that image with the girl standing in front of her at this college party. Kinda made me feel like a female Clark Kent, except without the superhero powers or athleticism; (Megan: She IS a superhero!).
Some of my fondest college memories involve Megan. So excited to be a part of her special day! And of course, Go Gators!!
Kristin and I met at one of the first Meetup events I went to and the first event she went to! We ended up sitting on a couch talking the whole night and that night I met my first North Jersey adult best friend. No seriously though, that's hard for women. So after meeting her I knew, this was someone I wanted in my life and she became my first North Jersey adult bestie!
From meetups, to birthdays, to nights at each others places, to post work drinks, engagement, marriage and JJ (the most handsome little guy, with the most amazing mom)... we've been through a lot in these past 5 or so years!
I still can't believe that you would still "help me" bake... after us dropping brownies and cupcakes, forgetting sugar, getting better at "saving" baked items and you following me and cleaning everything that I touched lol. Kris, you're a trooper, and I know you'll always be there.
Thank you for saying YES! I couldn't imagine not having you by my side. <3
Hi, I’m Melissa! Megan and I met in 2002 at the University of Florida. We were freshman dorm hallmates – shout out to Broward Ground East! Megan was the only girl from out of state on our floor and therefore knew no one. Her 18th birthday was the first week of school, so her mom sent her a huge sheet cake and told her to invite all her floormates. From there we shared many fun memories over the next 4 years at UF including too many nights drinking cheap beer at Gator City and line dancing at 8 seconds with her Ag college buddies. Megan and I have been friends for almost 20 years (gasp!) and I am so excited to stand beside her and Pavel when they say I do!
Tim and I met in Ms. McMillin's 3rd grade class at Mountain Park Elementary School shortly after my family moved to New Jersey. We bonded over a love of video games (you better believe we still play N64 together regularly) and not paying attention in class. Somehow in the ensuing years we never shared another class together but our friendship only grew as we spent childhood summers essentially trading off who's house we were going to sleepover in, high school nights on games of poker and late night diner runs, and adult days sampling through the tap list of every brewery within driving distance. We've grown up together, through tougher times and all kinds of happy moments, and there are few people that know me as well him. To this day, my dad refers to Tim as his favorite son (I do my best not to raise the bar too high on that one) and he is someone I know I can turn to for anything in any situation. But mostly I keep him around for the self-esteem boost of crushing someone in Tekken, Super Smash Bros, NFL Blitz, etc.
I have met Pavel twice in my life. The first time was during the muggy fall of 2007 in Houston, TX, while attending Rice University's orientation for new students. I remember he had a full beard, beady eyes, and a twisted sense of humor. We shared the sense of humor and a hate for the organic chemistry professor that sticky fall semester. The second time was an equally muggy January of 2008 when he came back from Christmas break. Pavel had shaved his beard, and no one recognized him. So, I introduced myself to the new guy; I'm still not sure which one is the real Pavel to be honest.
Pavel became one of my closest friends during our time at Rice. The next 3 1/2 years of school we (along with several other notable gentlemen) became the "30's boys", "30's guys", "The 30's", or "The 30's hunks", depending on who was talking. We started "30's Adventure Times" on Saturday evenings where we'd pile into my car and go play the dangerous game of eating at hole in the wall restaurants around Houston; would we be satiated, or food poisoned? I drove Pavel to Cut and Shoot, TX, to do paramedic training (that's a real place, look it up), he came home with me once for Thanksgiving, and we made so many beer runs that I lost count. He even taught this south Texas boy to appreciate hockey, so much so that I beat him in Fantasy with an all-rookie team our senior year. Really. Ask him about it.
We have continued to stay in touch over the years. We have grilled with the Canadians in Hawaii, eaten too much lobster in Maine, and played board games over Zoom during the pandemic. I'm looking forward to seeing him again, in person, for this wonderful occasion.
(Editors note: John gets so many extra props for being the only guy to follow-up and write his own profile. John Cate is awesome.)
Travis and I were randomly placed in the same suite at the start of freshman year at Rice and we're both so passive and indifferent that we decided to become friends simply out of convenience. I mean he was right there. May as well. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
But honestly, that might be one of Travis's best qualities. He's always up for any activity at any time, indulging my need to try dingy, off the beaten path restaurants, playing Ponar and I in a 2 vs 1 game of foosball (and still schools us most of the time), offering up his home to all of us to trash on multiple occasions, and more. Furthermore, while I know he'll forget / not bother to buy his plane ticket until a week or two before the wedding, I also know I can count on him to be there, standing by my side and I'm thankful to have a friend that can always be relied on like that.
