Maid of Honor-
Lauren Winstead
Lauren and I became friends during our sophomore year of high school during Miss Tekotte's honors English Class. Luckily, our endless "note passing" did not get us into too much trouble, but it did allow us to form a friendship that has grown into a sisterhood over the last six years. From first dates to "Miss America", Lauren has been there for me through the good and the bad times. We have dreamed about our wedding days for years, and I am so blessed to have her right beside me on this special day.
Bridesmaids-
Kathryn Stell
How neat it is to have a friend that you have known all of your life!! Thanks to our moms' friendship we started out as friends from the womb! Although our lives have taken us to different schools and surrounded us with different friends, our relationship has not wavered. We have shared so many special memories together, and I am lucky to call her "friend"!
Cathy Freeman
Cathy and I become close friends because of Nick and Keith's friendship!...it worked out well for both of us! Cathy knew me long before I was dating Nick, however, which makes it all the more special. It seems like yesterday that she was sitting at the melting pot for my birthday party, with Keith, watching as Nick tried to win me over and buy my dinner after I was "stood up" from another guy on my birthday!!...thank goodness for that =) Cathy is one of the most creative people that I know, and I look forward to watching as her career takes off!
Maggie Unger
Well...I would love to tell you a fairy tale story about how maggie and I met, but I'll be honest....there isn't one! This fairy tale was actually a nightmare called Music 252 =) Who would have guessed that the difficulties in this class would bring us together not only as "study buddies" but as friends as well. Maggie and I share many things in common, including our passion for music. If only I could count the number of times that we have sat in the backseat of my car studying while Nick drove us to some destination (most commonly cook-out). I greatly value our friendship and the many special memories that we have shared together. I look forward to many more to come!
Emily Packard
Years ago I was introduced to Emily....a girl who seemed to be somewhat reserved and shy! Wow, was my perception wrong! This girl loves life and makes everyone around her love it also. As a friend and roommate, Emily has been truly delightful. Although she hated doing the dishes, I forgave her if she promised to cook me one of her "gourmet" meals. It has been so much fun watching Emily and Randall grow together as a couple and eventually tie the knot. I remember vividly our conversation after their wedding..."Amanda, my mom just loved you and nick together and she just has 'that feeling' that he will propose". Well, I guess her mom was right! Nick and I are so blessed to have she and Randall as a part of our special day!
Elizabeth Anne Winters
Elizabeth Anne and I became friends during our experience in the Junior Miss Program. We shared a week together in Greensboro and hit it off immediately. She just has a that type of personality that makes you want to be her friend! In the dictionary beside the word elegant you will be able to find a picture of Elizabeth Anne. Thanks to her family cotillion business, she is my "go to " girl for all of my etiquette needs! Together, we have shared some amazing times together...everything from Carolina football games to "get away" weekends to the mountains! Nick and I look forward to many more double dates in the future!
Jessica Szewcyck
Jessica was one of the first people that I met at college. She was my suite mate my freshman year, but ended up becoming a life long friend. Megan and I shared many sleepless nights piled on to her twin bed when the dorm noise was just too much for us to sleep! She has been a wonderful roommate as well! Even through our busy lives, we always make time to enjoy double date movie nights! Though her pharmacy school schedule is demanding, she took the time to fly, with Lauren, all the way to Las Vegas to watch me compete for Miss America! I was so glad to see them!
Junior Bridesmaid-
Charli Rosenburg
I had always hoped to have a little sister...thanks to Charli I didn't have to hope anymore. I was blessed to share my year as Miss North Carolina with Charli, my Carolina Princess. We did everything together...from looking beautiful and smiling for pictures to holding random farm animals at farmers' day festivals! Charli is, and always will be, my princess!
Flower Girls-
Mallory & Avery Adams
I have had the wonderful opportunity to babysit Mallory and Avery since they were babies. They have grown up so fast, but I am excited that they are at just the perfect age to be part of our big day! They are going to be so beautiful!!
Ring Bearer- Dale Watson
(the most handsome boy I know...under the age of 5 that is! =)
Best Man-
Chuck Bailey
I have known this man as long as I can remember. He is truly the reason that I am here today. My father has supported me my whole life and I can't think of anyone that I could trust more on the most important day of my life. We may not always see eye to eye on everything but I know he is there to help me out and have me learn from his mistakes. It is my honor to have him beside me as I try to start my own family, using many of the things he taught me.
Groomsmen-
Luke Huffman
Luke and I first got to know each other the summer before college started, at drum camp for UNC. After our freshman year on the drumline together, I was able to convince him to room with me for our sophomore year and we ended up rooming together for the rest of our undergraduate years. We have been through so much together over the past years, each starting with a bad roommate our freshman year and ended with a bad roommate our senior year but trying to make the best of it all, helping each other out whenever possible. It seems like fate that both he and Amanda are in my life, especially since they both share the same birthday.
Keith Gordon
Keith manages to pull out the little kid in me. We met when he ended up across the hall from me my sophomore, his freshman, year at UNC. Him being in my wedding is his way of paying me back for introducing him to his other half Cathy. Even though we use to give him a hard time as a freshman, Keith is always a good sport and may prove to be the smartest of all that gave him a hard time as he aspires to be a lawyer and is already a great friend.
Joey Purgason
Even though we only live a few miles apart, Joey and I didn't go to the same school until middle school and still didn't start hanging out until high school, where we ruled the band. I don't think either of us saw me meeting Miss North Carolina in my future, much less marrying her. Even though we don't get to see each other much nowadays, I know Joey will always be there for me if I need him.
Randall Packard
I first met Randall at his, then girlfriend, now wife's, 21st birthday party. Because he went to NC State, I got to know Emily a lot better than Randall while she was still here at Carolina. We have managed to get caught up though very quickly. As a Durham Police Officer, if you ever want an interesting story, this is the man you want to speak to. He may not seem like it when you first meet him, but the man can tell a tale! Both of us love college baseball, which has brought us out to see UNC games on multiple occasions were together, we can heckle the best player in to a mistake. The four of us will be looking forward to the years to come of being two married couples hanging out, instead of the married couple and dating couple.
Michael Hewett
Michael is another person that I met on 8th floor South of Granville Towers. Ladies, if you are looking for a true southern gentleman, then Michael is your guy. I guess that's what happens when you come from Mount Tabor. The town may not have much compared to a big city, but it does have a great location for day trips to Myrtle Beach, which we have done. Michael said that this is the first wedding that he has been in. I hope that he is as excited about being in it as I am to have him in it.
Stewart Young
I would have never guessed that a pot-luck roommate the year after I graduated from undergrad would be a groomsman in my wedding, but that just proves the foresight of me, and the omniscience of God. I was paired with Stewart as a roommate just weeks before I was to move in to my new apartment and it has ended up being a near perfect match. Being an undergraduate student at Samford, who was on a baseball scholarship, anyone who knows how much I love sports, specifically baseball, would know that this relationship would work out. Somehow I doubt a year ago he would have imagined he would be a part of Miss North Carolina's wedding, but here we are now, and I know the wedding will be better for it.
