Bridal Party

		Maid of Honor- Kristen Routh Kristen has been a very important part of my life since meeting Tim, and our relationship was so easy from the start! She has always been one of the most welcoming, warm, and considerate people I know, and I can’t wait to have her as my sister. She has invited me into the Routh family with open arms, and is an inspiration to have in my life. I look up to Kristen for many reasons -from her craft-oriented and fun-loving nature, to her thoughtful love for the people around her, I consider her a woman of honor. She always makes me laugh at the right moment, and she makes me think about how I approach the important relationships in my life (especially my soon to be marriage)! I have had so much fun getting to know her over the years, and am so glad Tim has such a great sister for me to steal. Our friendship has truly turned into a sisterhood, and I am so excited to share life with her and the rest of the Routh’s!
		Bridesmaid- Stephanie Bradley Steph has been a wonderful friend for many years now. I feel like I have gotten to watch Steph grow into an amazing woman. Being the only married one of the bunch, Steph has offered much guidance into the life of a married woman. She and I identify on so many levels, and have laughed and cried together about many life moments. I can’t count the numerous amazing times we’ve gotten to share, and I look forward to many more. I suppose I’m quite glad we finally decided to let her join our book club, and am thankful she waited so patiently for us to “allow her in.” Steph has taught me so much about life and love, and I hope we always have our time together to just share our thoughts, important or not. Having just participated in Steph’s wedding, I am excited that she will be there for Tim and I and look forward to making her as much of a bride’s slave as she made me!
		Bridesmaid- Cherise Lundgren Cherise and I have an interesting story. We met randomly years ago when I needed a new roommate in La Jolla. Someone mentioned that this fun, blond girl needed a roommate and that we should meet her to see if it might be a fit. Cherise met me (and my then roommates) and we all decided to take a leap of faith and move in together. It wasn’t long before I realized we would have a relationship that would go beyond just “roommates.” She met Casey (who would go on to be a groomsman in our wedding as well) shortly after moving in with me. We developed such a strong connection and have had so many fun times together. Having lived with Cherise for countless years now, I really feel like we know the ins and the outs of each other’s lives. I couldn’t have imagined developing a better friendship with some girl who I just happened to meet. I watched Cherise gracefully go through many ups and downs over the years, and I will always be so proud of her accomplishments. It has been so neat to see her turn her dreams into a reality on every front. I feel like our meeting was truly supposed to happen, as she and Casey have greatly influenced our lives for the better. I only hope that we have had the same opportunity in their lives. I could go on and on about Casey as well, but I suppose that should be left for the groomsman section.
		Bridesmaid- Heidi Schmidt Heidi is one of those people who I just clicked with from Day 1. I actually met Heidi (and Jen and Jo as it turns out) through Tim originally. They used to just be the girls who hung out with Tim after class sometimes, and now I truly consider all of them “my girls.” Meeting Heidi was interesting to say the least. She invited us all on a wine tasting trip in Temecula one weekend. Even though I had just met her that day, she asked me (or told me really) to be part of a book club she was starting and that I should join because they were really fun people. Feeling like I had no choice but to befriend these people, I jumped in. It was one of the best jumps I ever made! Heidi is someone who just understands people and who is comfortable talking to anyone. She has such interesting perspectives on life, and she and I quickly became close friends. I will always remember how much fun we have had talking during long walks on the beach, happy hours, book clubs, Pilates, yoga, spinning, and Grey’s Anatomy Nights. I was so excited when she told me she wanted to go to medical school in San Francisco, but at the same time sad because I knew I could no longer keep her in San Diego. When she moved, a little part of me moved with her and to this day life in San Diego hasn’t quite been the same. It is so much fun to follow all the remarkable things she is doing with life, and I will always truly cherish our friendship together. She is someone who I know that if I didn’t speak to for years, our relationship would pick right back up where it left off.
		Bridesmaid- Jennifer Singelyn Jen is also an incredibly inspirational woman! She has always been such a caring person, and I love her desire to always help those in need. She truly wears her heart on her sleeve (I cant even count the number of time Jen has cried in front of me!), and I love her for that. She and I have had so much fun together and I will never forget her amazing ability to host wine and cheese parties, among other things. Especially the year she and Steph (yes, both of them) ended up in the E.R. right before the start of her party. I’m sure the sight of all of us in our cocktail dresses lying on E.R. beds was a riot and although it wasn’t exactly the night I had envisioned, it was truly a memorable one! Jen is someone who I truly look up to, both personally and professionally. Although Jen has moved away from San Diego, I always carry a little bit of her with me. I miss her dearly when we have our many girls’ nights, and am so excited to have an excuse to get her back to San Diego this year! Jen’s devotion to family, friends, faith and love is something I will always aspire to incorporate into my life.
		Bridesmaid- Joanna Thomas My Jo, where do I start? Jo is probably one of the most interesting friends I have ever had (in a great way!). Jo is someone who always catches me off-guard and I never know what will come out of her next! She has been such a great friend over the years, and I feel so lucky to have her in my life. Jo will always give you a different perspective, and will always say more than she’s supposed to…which is why we love her. Having her support in our wedding means more to me than she will ever know. She is never afraid to follow her dreams, and her care-free attitude is something we should all aspire to adopt. Jo and I have agreed and disagreed over the years, and our relationship is so much stronger because of it. She is turning into such an amazing, well-rounded woman, and I can’t wait to see where her life takes her. I know Jo will always be there to offer advice, be a shoulder to cry on, and will continue to be an important part of our lives.

I am so grateful for the amazing women in my life. Thank you all for being part of my wedding and my life with Tim. I never thought I would have so many caring women to surround me on the day that I get married, and I truly feel blessed to have each one of you as I move forward in this new chapter!