Angela and I met in 2012 at an SCA event, and we bonded first over all things Byzantine and it progressed from there. We've come up with a ton of just downright stupid ideas together, including numerous inside jokes about Eastern Roman history, and she's been there through joy and sorrow. She is fierce in all things, and wicked smart. She has a deep love of history (she's working on her PhD), VNV Nation, and Star Wars. I am so thrilled she is going to be a part of our day.

Musa and I have known each other for over a decade, since we both started grad school in the autumn of 2013. Musa is quite a bit smarter than I am, as evidenced by the fact that he left grad school for a high-paying industry job, but we have stayed close throughout. Musa was the first to know that I was dating Rachel and has offered support and advice throughout, even as he watched my inept courtship with bemusement.

My brother from another mother, Greg and I met at - you guessed it - an SCA event where I threw markers pretty much into his face. From that point, he and I were principal heralds at the same time. He's been my D&D GM, co-conspirator in shenanigans, and my favourite person to send skunk photos to. I am delighted to have him be a part of our day.

Bharath was a fellow graduate student in the Astronomy department at UMKC until he got his PhD in the summer of 2021. Despite needing several months to determine what his name actually was, Bharath and I have been friends almost since he arrived in the Astro department. We have roomed together at conferences, played cricket together more times than I can count, and I was at Bharath's wedding in India in 2019. The hospitality he and his family showed me for the time I was in his country is something I will never forget.

Kevin and I have known each other for over a decade, and we met while doing work with heraldry. He's another brother from another mother, and a guiding force to my knowledge of heraldry. Oh, and we've been each other's co-conspirators on a lot of interesting projects. Ask him about the time we had twenty blinky light tiaras sent to Vegas for a heraldic symposium. I am so excited to have them here as a part of our wedding celebrations.

Reed is my brother. He has a PhD, having studied cognitive psychology at the University of Missouri in Columbia and graduated at the same time as I did. Literally, on the same day, 200 km away. Our mother was not happy. (You can ask her.) Reed has a cat, and whilst I can't promise he'll show you pictures if you ask, I feel like he would. Reed is also one of very few people whom I believe drinks more coffee than I do.