WEDDING
details
When
Friday, October 28, 2016
Arrival time: 4:30 p.m.
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Where
Both the ceremony and reception will be held outdoors at Mixon Fruit Farms, located at
2525 27th St E,
Bradenton, FL, 34208
Bridesmaids
Wedding party
Cameron Gagne
Met the bride: 1995
Met the groom: 2009
Michelle and Cammie go way back. Like, 20-plus years back. They bonded in elementary school over a strange love for hippie culture, and have been finish-each-other-sentences close ever since. In between, there were thoroughly embarrassing talent show performances, countless sleepovers, and years of long-distance friendship. When she's not traveling the States working for Ford Motor Company, Cameron lives in Germany with her husband Geoffrey.
Katie Leahy
Met the bride: 1998
Met the groom: 2009
Katie and Michelle grew up in the same neighborhood, met in the same fifth grade class, but grew closest as friends in high school and then in college. They both went to the University of South Florida, where they shared many late-night dining hall breakfasts, hair-dyeing parties and nights dancing in Ybor City. Katie, who works in public relations, lives in Brandon with her 1-year-old daughter, Adalyn. Addy is also in the wedding as the flower girl.
Colleen Shea
Met the bride: 1995
Met the groom: 2009
Colleen's first memories of Michelle are in elementary school, when she swears Michelle had the coolest shoes in school, ones with laces that didn't need to be tied. (Michelle insists she was never that cool.) In high school and college, they shared a similar interest in journalism and a curiosity for the world, dreaming one day they would start their own magazine. After living in places like Ireland and Taiwan, Colleen moved to Washington, D.C., where she is currently teaching Pre-K in a charter school and going to school for Public Relations at Georgetown University.
Lauren Kiebzak
Met the bride: 1997
Met the groom: 2009
Lauren and Michelle formed a sisterly bond during elementary school summer breaks, when Michelle would walk to Lauren's house and watch hours of television and play Super Mario Bros. on the Super Nintendo. They have spent many hours in front of the same mirror putting on makeup and doing their hair. Lauren works as a hair stylist in Orlando, where she lives with her boyfriend, Ryan.
Groomsmen
Austin Luta
Met the groom: 2006
Met the bride: 2008
Phil and Austin were roommates in college, living together in an off-campus apartment for two years while they went to USF in Tampa. They bonded over their mutual appreciation of science, video games and that classic college sport beer pong. Fun fact: Austin worked in the same college bookstore as Michelle. So when Phil paid a visit to the bookstore, and later texted Austin that he thought Michelle was cute, Austin helped the two oficially meet. Austin currently lives in Fort Myers, Fla.
Mervin Schultz
Met the groom: 2006
Met the bride: 2008
Phil met Mervin when he moved into that same USF apartment. Since then, the two have shared many antics over the years, including football game tailgates, the infamous Spring Break 2008, and traveling to Minnesota. Mervin has come to accept that Phil shares a special connection with his dog, Cooper, who pees out of excitement every time Phil visits. Mervin lives in Riverview, Fla., with his wife Erin and their baby daughter Tenley.
John Phillips
Met the groom: 2011
Met the bride: 2015
Phil met John at the USF Pharmacy School, where they were both inducted into the first graduating class. They became friends through their time in Learning Group 3, "Cyclops RX," and quickly realized they had more in common besides their names (which professors mixed up for years). When they're not in school, they bond over craft beer and cars. John lives in Tampa, where he works as a pharmacist.
Bryan Stark
Met the groom: 2009
Met the bride: 1989
Bryan is Michelle's younger brother. He met Phil in 2009 during a family get-together to which Phil brought a key lime pie, one of Bryan's favorite desserts. When they're together, they usually chat about their common interest in sci-fi movies and technology. They have bonded over their love for the literary works of J.R.R. Tolkein; one time, they played a Lord of the Rings board game for hours. Bryan lives in Altamonte Springs, Fla., with his girlfriend Kandace.