As cousins just one year apart in age, Caileigh and Samantha have spent most of their lives side by side. Growing up, they were often together, sometimes willingly, sometimes because their families made sure of it. While there may have been occasional (wink wink) disagreements along the way, those childhood years laid the foundation for a friendship that only grew stronger with time.
These days, they choose each other. Whether it's Caileigh driving hours to celebrate Samantha's birthday, Samantha making a trip to Connecticut, or simply picking up the phone to talk through life's latest adventure, their relationship has evolved into something that feels much more like sisters than cousins.
From summers spent in Medford Lakes to navigating adulthood together, Caileigh has been a constant source of support, perspective, and encouragement. Samantha is endlessly grateful for her love, guidance, and friendship, and couldn't imagine this day without her standing by her side.
matron of honor
Nicole and Samantha have been best friends since they were six years old, which means they've spent the majority of their lives together. Their friendship was built on softball fields, small-town adventures, and countless hours spent talking about all of life's happenings.
Nicole shares Samantha's love of Broadway, reality television, and making any day more fun. Whether they're road-tripping to Canada, reliving childhood memories, or eating their favorite snacks while catching up in bed, Nicole is the kind of friend who always feels like home. Through every season of life, she has remained fiercely loyal, and endlessly supportive.
maid of honor
Sarah and Samantha met while playing college softball, and it didn't take long for Samantha to realize she had found a forever friend. Sarah was always the one checking in, extending invitations, and making sure everyone felt included.
While they made plenty of memories in college, some of their best stories came later. In fact, Sarah is directly or indirectly responsible for many of Samantha's favorite adventures, including the chain of events that somehow led to Samantha being crowned Miss Firecracker 2021.
Sarah has an unmatched ability to make Samantha laugh until she cries while also being one of the most dependable people she knows. Her loyalty, generosity, and willingness to show up for the people she loves make her truly one of a kind.
maid of honor
Caileigh Carei
Nicole Sheppard
Sarah Pittman
Jessica and Samantha's friendship started on the softball field and has only grown stronger over the years. Jessica has always been one of Samantha's biggest cheerleaders and fiercest protectors.
Over the years, that protection has taken many forms, whether it was covering for whoever was inevitably late to class, helping decode mysterious medical complaints, or stepping in whenever the other needed backup. They've always had a way of looking out for one another, often without needing to ask.
What Samantha values most about their friendship is how easy it has always been. There is no need to pretend, impress, or filter. They can simply be themselves. Jessica's honesty, loyalty, and unwavering support have been constants throughout Samantha's life, and she feels incredibly lucky to have a friend who has always shown up exactly when she was needed.
bridesmaid
Nadine and Samantha became friends while nannying in Charlotte, where they quickly bonded over spending long summer days wrangling children and finding ways to make the workday more fun.
Anyone who knows Nadine knows that her kindness and warmth are impossible to miss. Years later, when Samantha was looking for a roommate during graduate school, she reached out to Nadine and discovered they were both looking for the same thing. Sharing a home, and more importantly, sharing a bathroom, led to countless late-night conversations, laughter, and the kind of friendship that only grows stronger with time.
Nadine is one of the most thoughtful, compassionate, and genuine people Samantha knows. No matter how much time passes between visits, their friendship never skips a beat. She is always one of Samantha's first calls when she needs advice, encouragement, a reality check, or simply someone to listen. Samantha is incredibly grateful for a friendship that has been there through so many important chapters of life and knows she is better because of it.
bridesmaid
jessica dixon
Nadine Sharp
Leyla and Samantha's friendship began in elementary school, back when Samantha could simply hop on her bike and ride to Leyla's house for a playdate. Many of those adventures happened under the watchful eye of Leyla's older sister, though it's fair to say they still managed to find plenty of ways to keep things interesting.
Over the years, not much has changed. Leyla remains the friend who is always ready for a good time, a spontaneous adventure, or a phone call about absolutely anything. Through graduations, milestones, celebrations, and life's challenges, Leyla has shown up time and time again. Leyla has a way of making people feel seen, supported, and understood. Samantha is incredibly grateful for a friendship built on honesty and showing up for one another through every season of life.
bridesmaid
leyla wirtz
Jessica and Samantha became fast friends in graduate school thanks to their shared ability to be completely themselves around one another. Together, they navigated graduate school, searched for Columbia's best coffee shops, and found plenty of reasons to laugh through even the most stressful moments.
What Samantha values most about Jessica is her unwavering support. Graduate school can be a place where comparison and competition easily creep in, but with Jessica, there was never any of that. She has always been the first person to celebrate a success, offer encouragement during a challenge, and remind Samantha of her strengths when she needed it most.
Even though they no longer live in the same city, their friendship remains constant. No matter what is going on in life, they find time to connect every week. Sometimes it's a quick voice note sent between busy schedules, and other times it's a two-hour conversation that somehow still doesn't feel long enough. Whether they're talking about Jessica's latest BTS obsession, work, life, or absolutely nothing at all, their friendship has never been defined by distance, only by how much they value one another.
bridesmaid
When Samantha first met Lauren, she immediately understood why Sean spoke so highly of his sister.
Funny, smart, welcoming, and fiercely supportive, Lauren made Samantha feel like family from the very beginning. Spending time together in Salt Lake City with Lauren and her wife gave Samantha an even deeper appreciation for the close bond between Lauren and Sean. As an older sister herself, Samantha especially admired the way Lauren has always supported, encouraged, and looked out for her younger brother.
As a big sister, you never really know how much of who someone becomes is shaped by the person who came before them. But after getting to know Lauren, Samantha quickly realized that Sean is Sean because of Lauren. Her kindness, humor, loyalty, and ability to make people feel loved are qualities evident throughout her family, especially in her brother.
From adventures in Patagonia to visits in Charlotte and countless family memories in between, Lauren has welcomed Samantha with open arms. Samantha feels incredibly lucky to have Lauren standing beside her on this day and knows that Sean would not be the man he is today without the love, support, and influence of his wonderful sister.
sister of the groom
Jessica Luedke
lauren kett
Sean's best friends since Kindergarten. Daniel is the perfect combination of smart, social, successful, caring and the one person Sean doesn't want his mom to follow on social media because then she will know whats possible. I feel like I need to mention Daniel has been 1.5 inches shorter than Sean since the very beginning and Sean definitely doesn't need that to feel good about himself.
the childhood phenom
They met in high school, same height, same weight, same inability to socialize... a match made in friendship heaven. As Ed grew so did the friendship. Their connection was wide ranging, Whether it was late nights playing FIFA and eating mandarin oranges or late nights playing NCAA Football eating some other snack... one thing was for sure, Ed's laugh was going to wake up Ms. Kett and all hell would break loose.
the coach
Daniel Barcia
Edward Flynn
This sharp shooter came into Seans life freshman year of high school and never left. He got Sean to get out of his comfort zone of the Kett Family living room and into the great unknown of the Birns family living room. Sean has always admired Ben's lack of fear. There isn't a shot he wouldn't take or a celebrity Ben is afraid to ask for a photo with.
the 3 point specialist
Ben Birns
In middle school these guys became inseparable. Whether it was playing basketball at suniland park or at Mannys house, one thing was for sure... game on the line Manny was going to knock it down. A unfortunate injury led Manny to crutches derailing his promising career... so instead he had to settle for being an incredible person with the biggest triceps of any middle schooler ever.
the shooting guard
JV basketball is where these two met, Sean trying to show Marc how to shoot a left hand floater and Marc trying to show Sean the art of taking his shirt off at any opportunity. Marc was a fearless driver and by that I mean I think he drove the Honda Odyssey until it was no longer safe to drive. Another person who I don't want my mom following on instagram because she will think thats possible.
the high riser
Manny Coll
Marc Perre
I don't actually know if Nick has ever touched a basketball but I know that since we met at that open mic I've always wanted him on my team. He's hysterical, the funniest guy in the room and the first person Sean calls if he wants someone to answer. There are few teammates like Nick who can go from crazy laughter to contemplating the world and there is no one you would rather sit next to on the team bus.
the 6th man
Nick saenz
Sean met Mansoor at an open mic and immediate friendship pursued. The man is good at everything. He does music, comedy, software engineering, social media, can cook and will just decide to get fit and run 10 miles. Always down for an adventure, he will lock down the opposing teams best player or at least lock them out of their account.
the glue guy
Samantha brother brings some much needed youth to this weathered squad. Don't let the hair or the age fool you, Liam is wise beyond his years. Never a dull moment with Liam on the team, we can trust him to run the point on any conversation.
the young buck
Mansoor Siddiqui
Liam Martinez
