Bridesmaids final!

I want to introduce you to the rest of the bridesmaids! I'm so excited to have everyone "in the books" so to speak. I am doing things a little differently and am having some male maids along with my ladies...should I call them "bridesmen"? Hmmmmm.
In alphabetical order:

Laura Baumgardner:

Laura B. has been one of my most special friends since we were...14?! WOW. I was 14 and she was 15 when we met...and now we're totally talking about 30th birthday parties. The years sneak up! Laura is the person that all throughout high school I would say, "when you're in my wedding, you will wear THIS", or, "when we get married, it will be like THIS" - she has endured many a frantic phone call from yours truly and has been the contributor of some of the best times in my life. She can always make things calm and better - and she's a fantastic cook to boot! When I go home to SSI, I always figure out a way to make her cook for me...I'm crafty like that:). She actually has some family in IL so her travels are not so out of the blue come next July - it will be a nice excuse for a Bummy family reunion - especially since her family will be invited!

George Ducker:

Oh George...let me count the ways...uno, dos, tres...
George Ducker is awesome.
Plain and simple.
He is my "hip and fancy" friend.
The thing about George is that you expect him to be intimidating, but he's not. He has a kind of "Rick Schroeder on a cool mission" thing going on, but he is the sweetest and...I could just gush all day. George was a big reason for me moving to Chicago, so Bernhardt should probably thank him for that at our wedding. George was already here going to Columbia College when I decided to get an internship at Steppenwolf. "It can't be all that bad if George lives in the city", I thought...and it was true. We have gotten each other through a lot of stuff - and wherever he goes in life, I'm always going to give him a visit. There will always be strange Christmas cards for George...and he will probably even be in my will (but don't get excited George...you are only inheriting my "Wings" cd collection). I can't wait to see him all dressed up with a hip and fancy little tie on.


James Heslop:

(his first moment in Chicago, 2002)
He-of-slop.
Sloppy.
James and I have had lots of adventures together. We have also shared living spaces by many random occurrences - he lived with me for a spell when I was 21...then he gave me his apartment when we were 22 (summer free sublet - what a guy!) - then I made him move to Chicago when we were 23 and he lived across the hall...and then when I would fight with boyfriends [before Bernhardt] I would sleep on his futon. Consider up siblings. When I met James, I was 18 and I had a crush on him because he was tall, blond, and goofy. We ended up becoming friends through college theatre projects and we soon found out that we were quite a team. We made lots of videos/films/ whatever you want to call it together - we went through all of the Second City's conservatory together...and I can think of no other person that I would rather have by my side on a cool, breezy day in NYC. He is the best person to grab a slice of pizza with...and the best to go do something new and exciting with...I am so glad he will be a part of my wedding.

Jade Yoho:

Jade Yoho is my go-to gabber. She lives 2 blocks away from me and if anything happens that is funny or crazy, I run right to her house with a bottle of wine and we laugh for hours. Jade knows how to make clothing look good...she's the kind of person who could make a paper bag look like a cool dress with the right belt. She's a zoologist, which ultimately makes her the coolest person in the room. I originally met Jade through a friend of Bernhardt's - we ended up hanging out a lot and suddenly became great friends. She was the first really awesome girlfriend I had in Chicago - she was the light at the end of the tunnel when I felt like things here couldn't be more lonely...all of the sudden, I became friends with the coolest girl in the room and now she is in my wedding.

*I want to than everyone for being a part of this. Amy, Claire, George, Jade, James, Laura, and Malissa...you guys rock.

AND YES - 7 is a lot of bridesmaids. BUT it's my wedding and I can do whatever I want:). At least, that's how Bernhardt puts it with a good-natured grin.