Groom's Party

		Best Man - Sam Sanders I have been tremendously proud to know Sam and am honored to have him as my Best Man. I could tell Sam and Rebecca had a very good relationship growing up and that the pressure was on to get the approval of her little brother. Luckily, Sam and I hit it off well as we got to know each other better, and I consider him not just future family-in-law, but also a good friend. One of my favorite things about Sam is his idealism and desire to not just see the world as a better place but to help make it a better place. We've had several opportunities to talk deeply about 'life' (typically over a beer or two) and I sincerely appreciate the good debates that we always have. Sam reminds me that there really are people in the world who put others first, every time. He exemplifies this every day as he puts his life on the line to fight fires in the middle of the forest to help protect people that he will probably never meet. I am honored and blessed to have met Sam and look forward to calling him “brother.”
		Groomsman - Casey James I have only known Casey for about four years, but in that period of time I can honestly say he has become one of my best friends. We met when he started dating Rebecca’s roommate (and current bridesmaid), Cherise, and I realized that Casey and I both share a appreciation for the outdoors, a good steak, a great NASCAR finish, and hard work. Casey is definitely one of the kindest men that I know, but is not afraid to ‘tell it like it is’ when the situation dictates that necessity. I have been incredibly honored to have had Casey as a roommate for the past two years, and being able to see his hard work and growth, in both his career and personal life, have been an inspiration to me each day. Casey is a true ‘man’s-man’ and I appreciate that I can count on him for things like: removing 10,000 pounds of concrete from a hole in the backyard, filling said hole with 30,000 pounds of dirt from the front driveway, making fried spaghetti when our significant-others aren’t around, smoking a sixteen pound pork shoulder over a mesquite fire, taking off for a men-only trip to southern Utah, and, most-importantly, reminding me that you can do all of these things and still be a gentleman to all and a truly good person. I am privileged to have him as a Groomsman and a friend as Rebecca and I take our next steps in life.
		Groomsman - Aaron Parker Aaron and I have known each other for the majority of our adult lives, and he has been one of my best friends throughout. Aaron is an incredibly smart and driven man who strives for perfection, as evidenced by his ability to excel in rigorous undergraduate and doctorate biology programs and in his current work to obtain a law degree. We met in the dormitories as freshman when attending UCSD, and Aaron’s excellent balance of academics, fun, and introspection was something that I instantly enjoyed. Our friendship solidified when he convinced me to join the Sigma Chi Fraternity and we became roommates. We spent almost all of our time together and there is no one who knew me better throughout that portion of my life. Aaron and I both truly enjoyed a “work-hard-play-hard” philosophy, understanding that you could ace a physics test, throw a party, and go camping in the desert all in the same week, while each day discussing life and striving to be the type of gentlemen we wanted to be. Our first year of graduate school, Aaron introduced me to a beautiful and smart red-haired girl named Rebecca. I didn’t know it at the time, but Aaron had just introduced me to my future wife. Aaron knew me well enough to be confident that he had made a good match and helped to nurture Rebecca and my relationship from the very beginning. I have been truly blessed to have his insight and influence in my life, and I am proud to have him standing next to me on my wedding day. In the Sigma Chi Fraternity we all called each other “Brother,” but I can honestly say that Aaron has been, and will remain, a true brother to me.