We are very excited to have our friends driving all the way to Bella Vista for our wedding.  Of course, once they arrive they will be completely free of their usual work obligations and too tired to drive back to their respective homes. Knowing this, we have already created a list of "things-to-do" for each of them and have even given them fancy little titles like "Best Man", "Bridesmaid", and "Dispenser of Punch". Read further to find out more about the people, 80% of which have names that start with a "J", who have unknowingly signed on to a weekend of catering to our every whim and desire.

 

Best Men
This trio of J's (Jeremy, John, and I) have always been the best of friends so when it came time to choose my Best Man and groomsmen  I couldn't have one over the other. Luckily, the size of the chapel prevents Leigh Anne and I from having a large wedding party . When I was told that I was restricted to only two attendants I knew exactly who I wanted up there with me, none more important than the other.
	I've known Jeremy since the first grade and we have been trading video game secrets and Simpsons references ever since. We've done everything together, from getting thrown out of movies to launching his truck over dips to double dating to the Weatherford prom (even after I moved away).  He helped me move to Arkansas when we were 16 and in the process wrecked a jet ski, an incident I love reminding him of since he never did tell his parents. I've made a point to visit him and John every Christmas and summer since I moved and we have had many more crazy adventures ever since. Last year I was honored to be the Best Man in his wedding and I am glad to have him in mine. He is finishing up his degree at Texas Christian University and a few years ago I warned him he would regret stealing my camera and taking crazy pictures.
	John came to Weatherford when we were in fifth grade and I met him during a four-square match in PE. We've been friends ever since and have shared a joint love in comics, band, and video games. Unfortunately, he was not allowed to play video games as a child so he always came over to either Jeremy or my house to play whatever was new and cool at the time. John was always the "rational" one and you can bet whenever Jeremy and I were getting into trouble John was in no way associated with it. He has prevented many accidents over the years and the fact Jeremy and I are still in one piece can be attributed to him.  He recently graduated from Texas Tech University and is about to start teaching kids how to play band instruments. Even though he didn't go to Henderson, he contributed many great articles to  Reddie Rants. I also warned him many years ago he would regret letting Jeremy steal my camera to take crazy pictures.
Ushers
	Also a Reddie Ranter, James, hails from Paris TX (which also happens to be my birthplace) and we met my sophomore year at HSU when he moved into the lovely, dilapidated, honors dorm Oaks.  He was unfortunate to have a 6 '2, 115 lb freshman roommate who only stirred during the early AM hours and had a knack for melting things to the wall.  Not surprisingly James often avoided his room and visited Bucky and I in the dorm to pass the time. James and I have many common interests (band, comics, movies, video games) and always found ways to entertain each other, especially when it came to playing pool. James was there from the very beginning when I first met Leigh Anne and helped ease the awkwardness of trying to woo her. He also lived across the hall from her, a fact which I used to my advantage often to "accidentally" meet Leigh Anne when I "visited" James. James started dating Jenn just a few weeks before Leigh Anne and I and all of our double dates have been with them ever since.  Since the beginning, our respective relationships have paralleled each other, from our proposal dates (1 week apart) to our weddings (1 month apart) and even our graduation dates (same day, sans Leigh Anne). We have shared many common wedding burdens and its been great having another couple who knows exactly what we are going through.  If not for the limited wedding space James would be standing at the front of the chapel with me (and Jenn too).
	Jeff "Bucky" Buckaloo also hails from Paris, TX and was another Reddie Ranter.  Like James, he lived in the Oaks dorm starting his freshman year and was in band with us.  He was also my suitemate for two years and a constant companion in anime watching and video game playing.  We were in Computer Science classes together (working on his major and my minor) and had a great time procrastinating on our projects and pulling all-nighters when we realized they were due the next morning. Jeff  unfortunately decided to "mature" and got a great job and his own apartment his junior year and we haven't been able to hang out as often ever since.  Recently that has changed with the joint purchase of online videogames where we can go on expansive quests together each night no matter where we are located.

Bridesmaids
	Jennifer has been my best friend since she showed up on my doorstep when we were 15. We've been through just about everything together and always managed to have a good time in the process. Get us together for our reenactment of Gilmore Girls (we're really good at it) and you'll find yourself entertained for hours. Jenni (as only I still have permission to call her) has just finished her junior year at Ouachita Baptist University, and lives with her brother in Arkadelphia.
	Jenn—What can I say? She's bold, she's beautiful, she's talented…She's so not the blue fish from Finding Nemo. Wait…where was I? (I love you Jenn!) Somehow Jenn and I always find a way to have a great time. Whether we're singing hymns from the Baptist hymnal cover to cover, or dancing off to see the wizard, we always seem to be singing when we're together. And once you get to know her a little bit better, you'll come to realize that Jenn has her own personal soundtrack (complete with classic bus music) that's just a little bit sunnier than everyone else's.
Attendants
	Jannon Shannon has to be just about the best roommate ever. For the past three years we've grown closer through our love (and frustration) of music, and I am so happy that you will get to hear her sing at the wedding. Shannon is a senior at Henderson State University where she is majoring in piano and voice, and she is from Pine Bluff, AR.
picture not available	Elisabeth Jimmerson has faithfully accepted the position of guest book attendant. She and I were suitemates in Sturgis together, although we didn’t become really close until last fall after the dorm fruit basket turnover landed us in private rooms. I have seen Elisabeth make a beautiful transformation from a fun-loving college kid to a strong and independent, beautiful woman. She has just graduated with a degree in elementary education from Henderson State University, and has accepted a job teaching for the Little Rock Public Schools.