Chris Ashton - Best Man
Chris and I met in university while we completed our Engineering degrees. We share a quirky appreciation of life and a desire to engage in completely pointless - generally absurd conversations - about nothing in particular for the benefit of no one and to the annoyance of many. To say it simply we are curious individuals, and put together we become more curious still. Chris has stepped up for me time and again while I've been away on one adventure or another and for his efforts I can't thank him enough. I can only hope that one day I'm able to return the favour. I am honoured that he accepted the role of Best Man at my wedding. Chris is a great friend, and both Aimee and I are happy to have him and his lovely wife Keara in our lives.
Amanda George - Matron of Honor
Unlike most siblings, Mandy and I met when I was five and she was ten. As the youngest of the Sunshine-Hill children, it may seem odd that I got along so well with the eldest of the Summers kids, but we've always had a lot of similarities, both in temperament and looks. As Mandy has raised her two children over the past several years, it's been a joy to be part of their lives, and really amazing to see Mandy transform from the carefree, joyous young woman she was to the caring, responsible, joyous (some things don't change) woman she is now. I'm so lucky that we met during that PYM 21 years ago, and that we became a part of each others' lives. Because seriously, Mandy is more fun than a hedgehog coming off of general anesthesia. As long as she hasn't fallen asleep again while putting Beorn to bed.
Rachel Weinress - Maid of Honor
When my good friend Brittanie got married, Rachel and I bonded at the bachelorette party. Then we bonded at the wedding. Then we bonded at some random party shortly after the wedding. Actually, we just kept bonding. As two single women in San Diego, we became partners in crime and had lots of fun going to parties, eating fondue, and stealing parking signs. OK, that last part only happened once. When Michael and I (and Rachel and Brian) were on our first date, Rachel played the wingman role admirably. She is always supportive and an amazing friend. When we met, Rachel was exactly the person I needed in my life, and she continues to be the person I want to be around.
Katt Hryciw - Groomswoman/Bridesmaid
Katt is one of my oldest friends whom I met during those priceless adolescent years in Junior High. It was actually at a school dance in Grade 8 when I first met her as Katt was "dating" my best friend Jordan. He and I were walking down the hall when suddenly Jordan stopped and I kept going. I turned around slightly confused to see him talking awkwardly with a group of girls standing against the wall behind me. I sidled back to meet the group and from there Katt and I became fast friends. As an only child I've always considered Katt to be like a sister and our fondness for making fun of bad movies, eating Dairy Queen, playing board games, watching 24 and floating on air filled rubber tubes downriver has kept us close through the years. And, despite the fact that she adds powdered cheese to her movie popcorn I still like her.
Nick Utting - Groomsman
If Katt can be considered like a sister to me then Nick can almost certainly be considered like a brother, and like many brothers with a passing genetic resemblance Nick and I share almost nothing in common. :-) Nick can scale a mountain without breaking a sweat, whereas I can barely get out of the car without breaking wind. Nick's idea of watching sport involves terms like peloton and glide wax, while mine contain players who would prefer beating up athletes who use terms like peloton and glide wax. It is from Nick that I learned an important lesson: That when hiking, always hike with someone slightly less athletic than yourself.
Similar to Katt, Nick and I also met in Junior High, but we didn't really become close friends until University. It is with Nick that I shared many of my early bar memories and our mutual confusion as to how to approach the opposite sex still makes me smile. I will never forget The Taz Nick!
Benjamin Tyger Sunshine-Hill - Groomsman
Once upon a time, in a suburb far far away, Ben and I would bravely enter our parents' walk-in closet the space ship control center and use our dad's electric tie rack to steer the house to a new and exciting planet. Even in those early days of space exploration, my brother had a knack for coming up with bizarre and wonderful ideas and inventions (including pages and pages of baggage handling systems). That quirky creativity has now made Ben a brilliant cook, a home brewer of tasty beers, and most recently a PhD in computer science. He has also developed excellent taste in women, as evidenced by his wife Jessamyn. I always admired and enjoyed Ben's ability to mix intellect with downright silliness, which is a trait I treasure in Michael as well. Though currently residing in Ireland, we're hoping that Ben and Jessamyn will someday decide that green is overrated and move someplace close enough that we can come over for dinner.
Sarah Kurland-Hill - Ring Bear(er)
As the youngest of my siblings, Sarah is the only one I can tell baby stories about. When she was tiny, she used to "cook" endlessly by pouring water from one cup to another. She also had really adorably tiny feet and couldn't get enough of Cheerios. One time, I babysat Sarah around bedtime, and she just screamed nonstop for hours. But I still love her. Sarah has turned into a bright young person who loves everything related to theater and performing, including singing, dancing, piano, and drums. She recently moved to Lancaster, PA, where she'll hopefully be able to find some new books, since she finished reading all the ones in her old school library.
Cassidy George - Flower Child
For a good basic description of Cassidy, look at my description of Mandy, then imagine someone much tinier. I didn't have the pleasure of knowing Mandy when she was 6, but I'm pretty sure that knowing her daughter Cassidy makes up for that. Cassidy is bright, cheerful, in charge, almost unfairly cute, and a loving and protective big sister. She is kicking ass in first grade this year, and I'm sure will continue to do that in the future.
Beorn George - Flower Child
Don't let his size fool you. Beorn is a focused, occasionally feisty, and very enjoyable little person. He's excellent at building routes for his trains, and is even better at knocking them down with his rubber mallet.