Meet the Wedding Party

        Hi, Gwen here for Mel's blurb! Mel is my oldest & only sister, who I also have the pleasure of having as my Matron of Honor during this exciting time in my life! In all honesty, she has somehow graciously put up with all of my shenanigans over the last 26 years, while also managing to keep a strong sister relationship.

        From taking me out to my first bar (story for another time), to countless TV & movie nights for much needed pick-me-ups (back when Gossip Girl & One Tree Hill were still airing, and when The Proposal & Bridesmaids were new releases), Mel has been there through it all. I'm lucky to have her by my side on my big day, and will try my best to only slightly drive her crazy in the process ;)

        On top of being the best sister, Mel is also a lovely wife (cue Pascal) and dog mom (cue Sophie). Make sure you ask and congratulate her on her own relatively recent marriage (2021) and house in the Houston area (est. 2022)!

        Miss Molly! Where to begin (are you loving my intros yet)? Molly was the very first friend I met in college, and I will try to keep her as one of my best friend's for as long as she lets me. Molly helped keep me sane throughout my first, and every subsequent, year at A&M, and we spent many a night in (when we told others and tried to convince ourselves we were studying), watching Tarzan, hiding in cabinets (ask me later), and grabbing small ice cream cones at DQ, with the occasional Blue Powerade outing at Whataburger. We once said "we'll plan to live next to each other when we're older, and our guys can figure it out."

I hope that someday comes true because wow, what a life that would be.

        Ah, Jo. My sister from another miss & mister. Jo has been the most supportive and loving friend a girl could ask for. When I was considering moving to Seattle - Jo was all in. She drove all the way over to Longview for a quick before-move send off. Of course, she made sure to triple check everything and made me confirm (in the best way) that I was doing it all for the right reasons.

        I met Jo back in my early days in college, and I've been lucky to have her stay around as one of my best friends since. From axe throwing, to shopping, to road tripping, to exploring around La Jolla (yes, CA - Jo was both kind & lucky enough to meet my PawPaw & show us around when we took a family road trip up to CA).

I am beyond excited (and I smile at the thought) to have her stand by me on my big day!

        Hello! My name is Sydney, and I'm Gwen's cousin. I was able to watch Gwen and Reed's relationship start at A&M, and I'm so happy to be with them for this next milestone!

I wish them nothing but love, the best adventures, and good wine!

        I'm Anupriya, I love musicals, Food Network, exploring the country on weekend trips, reading books, learning and listening to podcasts, exploring new restaurants/coffee shops/running trails, embracing seemingly impossible challenges, and being surrounded with people like Gwen to support me and laugh with me along the way.

        I was lucky enough to meet Gwen during the first semester of college at A&M, so we got to struggle through the next four years of our chemical engineering degree together. We made tough times better with movie nights and football games and valentines, and almost 8 years later, we still get to be there for each other's big life events - and I am so excited to be part of one of her biggest ones yet!

        Paula - my second sister growing up (I have a 2nd mom as well - not by blood, but at this point she's basically blood).

        Paula has seen and been there through it all - the good, the bad, the ugly. And somehow still hasn't gotten sick of me. She was my best friend in 1st grade, and probably the very first friend I've ever made. I couldn't be more thankful for her support, love, and friendship, bringing me back down to Earth during stressful lows, and leveling me out during unexpectedly high highs.

        From dancing to "California Girls" on the beach, to snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, (attempted) reading at Starbucks, and museum perusing, Paula is a delight to be around, and again, I am beyond lucky to have her standing next to me on my big day.

        I have had the pleasure of working with my brother, Reed, on a number of occasions and will gladly vouch for his professionalism, enthusiasm and attention to detail. Our past partnerships span several decades. They have been productive and, occasionally, lucrative. In the early 2000s, Reed started an independent postal service in our neighborhood. His delivery times were markedly superior to those of regional competitors.

        A few years later, we were joint venturers in developing a citrus-based hydrating beverage that was uniquely well-suited to the hot Texas summers, which we then sold on a direct-to-consumer basis. Because we had no overhead and all supplies were provided by generous donors, our profit margins were staggering. For many years, Reed and I also worked out a subcontracting arrangement where I would beat any video game level that he found too difficult.

        Throughout our shared careers, I can only say two negative things about my sibling:

1. In 1999, he attempted to drown me
2. His behavior in the real estate market is atrocious - do not play Monopoly with Reed.

1. Name: Nick Tiner
2. Height: 5' 8"
3. Eye Color: Blue
4. Weight: 140 lbs
5. Organ Donor: [ YES ]

Likes: pina coladas, getting caught in the rain
Dislikes: yoga

        After attending Texas A&M and befriending Reed, I moved out to Denver, Colorado to begin my career as an engineer. After almost five years of enjoying the mountains, I am excited to move to California and matriculate into the MBA program at Stanford University in the Fall. From now until then, I cannot promise where I will be or what I will be doing - high confidence there will be a beach nearby though.

        Hey my name is Taylor. I currently live in Austin, but I lived in Seattle for 3 years and hung out with Reed and Gwen quite a lot! Besides saving Reed from running out into traffic once, a lot of game nights and good beers were had.

I can't wait to celebrate this amazing day with you all for this fantastic couple!

        Hi, I'm Nick LaStrapes! I attended Texas A&M with Reed and am now working as a software engineer in Dallas, TX. I've been married to my wife Lexi for 3 years. You'll often find me either player soccer or watching it.

Live, Laugh, and Breath like a dragon when it's cold out are my life mottos.

        My past times include lying on the ground, taking hikes, and trying not to shiver whilst under-dressed for the weather. If I was a dog, I'd be a cross between an Australian Shepherd and a Scottish Deerhound. If I was a worm, I'd be an Feather Duster Worm (Sabellidae). My shadow is the shape of a cat and her name is Squeaky. Finally, and most importantly, I'm compatible with allzodiac signs except those that start with a 'B'.