Groomsmen

Best Man: Sam McDonald

I met Sam McDonald my freshman year of college at Seattle University. He was a fellow 4th Floor Campion resident in those days and we became fast friends. So much so that we decided to be roommates our Junior, Senior and our first post-graduate year (in what was the best apartment in Seattle, until they turned it into a condo). We were both business majors, so we had a lot of our classes together and spent most of college studying. That and we spent the beginning of each week crafting elaborate e-mails for our Thursday night parties and hosted two epic Quadstock parties. We still see each other regularly, and though we don't have schoolwork to discuss, or parties to plan, we still figure out exciting topics to toss around. Mostly politics and changing the world.

Sam was my ride to the Halloween party where Kate and I met for the first time (see "how we met" post). Sam was also there when I got my first call back from Kate, since she screened my original call. Sam approved. And luckily Kate approved of Sam. 

Sam and Kate approving of one another.

Groomsman: Matt Zampella


I also met Matt Zampella my freshman year of college, though I had been hearing rumors about him all through my time at Bellarmine. I was friends in high school with his best friend Alex, but that never prepared me for what to expect when I first met Matt at Seattle University.

Matt was present at many of the parties that Sam and I threw, we even hosted a birthday party for his lovely wife Naomi at our place. Where we really bonded was over such things as Steak Night at his house, as well as the action packed blockbuster Bad Boys II. There was even a short period where we worked out together, which was really a ruse to grab subway sandwiches and watch How I Met Your Mother with him and his wife.

I also have Matt to thank for my love of Manhattans. It was at his wedding that a few friends and I decide that we were old enough to start drinking real drinks, and therefore decided to try out a brown liquor cocktail. And shot his bar bill through the roof.

Matt, Naomi and chest hair.

Groomsman: Chris Crazybull

I met Chris when I was in 7th grade. He is one of my oldest friends, even though we don't see nearly enough of each other anymore. Chris was moving down to San Mateo to live across the street and I was introduced to him and his brother while we watched Point Break, which naturally made for a great introduction. 

Chris was there to help share the awkwardness of life, girls and high school, discussed over long games of billiards on his pool table. Chris became a part of our family, coming over every Friday for our spaghetti and meatball dinners and having long conversations with my mother and father. He became the Native American son that my parents never had. 

Whenever Chris and I get together these days, we easily slip into our old roles as great friends looking out for one another, though the topics vary slightly from the old days. Chris is now married with 3 beautiful kids, and spends a lot of time at sea as an office in the Navy. I am starting to embark on my marriage to Kate and now have a job and a house and all that goes along with being a respectable adult. But deep down... we are still those two kids who bonded while watching Johnny Utah learn to surf and shoot bad guys.

Chris and JW.