April has been my best friend for 30 years, and that kind of history becomes part of who you are. We have walked through so much life together — different seasons, different versions of ourselves, countless memories, hard days, beautiful days, and all the ordinary moments that somehow became just as meaningful. She has been there through the thick and thin, the good and the bad, the laughter and the tears, and everything in between. We have taken turns being strong for one another, holding each other up when life felt heavy, celebrating the wins, surviving the losses, and reminding each other who we are when one of us forgot. There is no one I could imagine more deserving of the place beside me as my Matron of Honor. April is far more than a friend to me — she is family, history, comfort, strength, and love all wrapped into one extraordinary person. I adore her generous spirit, her kindness, her warm heart, her loyalty, and simply the beautiful soul she is. After 30 years of memories and a lifetime of friendship, having her beside me on this day feels incredibly special. I love her beyond words, and I will forever be grateful that GOD has blessed me with April as my lifelong best friend.

Edward is Alan’s son and the oldest of our boys, and from the very beginning he welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like I truly belonged. I cherish our long conversations, our check-ins just to see how the other is doing, and the genuine love and kindness he has always shown me. He has never made me feel like anything less than family, and that means more to me than he probably realizes. There is something incredibly special about a father having his son stand beside him as his Best Man, and we could not imagine this day without Edward there. We love him fiercely and are so proud of the man he is. We are deeply grateful for everything he brings into our lives and into our family, and having him stand beside Alan as we celebrate our marriage is a moment we will always cherish.

A SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT CORTNEY With recent events, Cortney, our Maid of Honor, will unfortunately be unable to take part in the wedding in the way we originally planned. While we will absolutely miss having her standing beside us, we are incredibly grateful and thankful that she will still be there with us to share in the day. Her presence means more to us than we can put into words. We feel very blessed to have her there, surrounded by the people who love her, and to still be able to celebrate this special moment together. Cortney is deeply loved, and no change in plans could ever change the place she holds in our hearts or in our wedding day.

A Special Note About Trenton Due to the timing of his deployment and return home, Trenton will unfortunately be unable to attend the wedding or stand beside Alan as originally planned. While his absence will certainly be felt, we could not be more proud of him and the commitment he has made through his service to our country. We continue to pray daily for his safety and for his safe return home. Even though he will not be with us physically on our wedding day, Trenton will absolutely be there with us in spirit, love, and support. He is deeply loved, will be greatly missed, and remains an incredibly important part of this day and of our family. We are beyond proud of Airman Ainsworth and grateful for the sacrifice he continues to make in service to our country.

Ale is Alan’s youngest daughter, and from the very beginning she has always been open, warm, and loving toward me. I truly enjoy the time we spend together, and it has been such a joy getting to know her more as our family has grown together. There is something especially sweet about watching the youngest of our girls step into her own, and Alan and I are incredibly proud of the beautiful young woman Ale is becoming. She is deeply loved and cherished, and we feel so honored that she has chosen to be part of this special day. Having her there to celebrate alongside us makes the day even more meaningful, and we are so grateful to share this memory with her.

Beki is Alan’s younger sister, but she is so much more than that to us. She is one of those beautiful souls who is genuine, kind, loving, and so easy to adore. From the very beginning, she has welcomed me with an open heart and has been incredibly supportive, loving, and accepting of both me and the life Alan and I have built together. It means more than I can put into words to have her stand beside her brother as his groomsmaid on such a special day. We are truly honored and blessed to have her love, her support, and her beautiful spirit surrounding us as we celebrate this next chapter together.

Marucita, Alan’s middle daughter and the mother of our precious grandbaby, Carter, is deeply loved and cherished. I am so honored that she has chosen to stand by my side on such an important day in our lives. Her presence means more to me than I can fully put into words. As our family continues to grow and our relationships continue to deepen, I am especially grateful that she stands beside us in love and support as Alan and I celebrate this next chapter together. Having Marucita there is a beautiful reminder that this day is not only about two people joining their lives, but also about the family we are continuing to build, love, and cherish together. We are truly blessed to have her sharing this moment with us.

Our sweet Bo, son of my cousin Shelby, has been waiting patiently for nearly two years to play his very important part as our ring bearer — and to say he is excited would be an understatement! We are so grateful and honored to have him sharing in our wedding day. Knowing how much he has looked forward to this moment fills our hearts with so much joy. We love him big and cannot wait to watch our handsome little ring bearer proudly make his way down the aisle. 💛

Our sweet little Willow, daughter of my cousin Shelby, is such a special part of our family, and we are so honored to have her as our flower girl. We love her big and know her sweet presence will bring even more joy to our wedding day. Having her walk down the aisle as part of this beautiful moment is something we will cherish forever.

We are truly blessed to have Melissa standing with us as we begin this next chapter together. Melissa became family through my Aunt Debbie, and over the years that connection has made her presence on our wedding day feel even more meaningful. Her generous gift of officiating our ceremony is something Alan and I will always treasure. There is something incredibly special about having someone connected to our family help us speak the promises that will carry us into marriage. We are honored, grateful, and so thankful that Melissa will be the one to guide us through this sacred and joyful moment. Melissa, thank you for sharing your heart, your time, and this beautiful gift with us. We are blessed to have you as part of our story.

A Special Note About special Uncle Tim has been the closest thing to a father I have ever known, and the impact he has had on my life is immeasurable. His love, guidance, and steady presence have helped shape so much of who I am, and I love him more deeply than words can express. I am also incredibly proud and grateful for the bond that he and Alan have built over the years. It makes this day even more meaningful knowing that Uncle Tim will play such a special double role in our ceremony — walking me down the aisle and then standing beside Alan as we say our vows. Having him there for both of us is an honor we will never forget, and I cannot imagine this moment without him.