Wedding Party

Our tale begins in grad school. I was just starting my 2nd year in the UIUC costume Masters program when Laura joined us. It wasn't far into the year when I asked my classmates if they wanted to join me for a Zumba class. The last person I expected to accept my offer was Laura, but I followed my instinct and went with it. And I'm really glad I did. We continued to go to zumba and water aerobics classes together for the next two years. And often had a beer and burger after because, you know, grad school. So by the time I graduated I felt like I had a best friend or the sister I never had. Even though we lived far apart for most of our friendship, all of our shared experiences and struggles brought us closer together. And I'm proud to be an honorary Molander! I met David through Laura and heard a lot about him before we ever met face to face. He almost seemed too good to be true. As soon as we met I immediately knew he was a keeper. Which is a big accomplishment since I historically did not approve of her previous choices. He has become one of my "safe" people and like a younger brother to me. I love Laura and David more than I could possibly express and I wish them a healthy and happy life together!

I met Laura in high school where we became fast friends. We have now been friends for over half of our lives! We have bonded through a love for new experiences, exploring, and nights out dancing. We have grown up together, providing a shoulder to cry on for breakups, helped each other on moving days, celebrated each others victories, and now I am thrilled to be a maid of honor at her wedding.

I first met Laura in high school but we didn't become close friends until we reconnected several years later. In the time between, we had become successful in our selected professions and we both were in dire need of a little change of scenery. We wanted to go places we had never been before. Our planning styles, although very different, complimented each other well. Shortly afterwards, we were scarf dancing in Fort Lauderdale under a full moon, volunteering in Bali in a kindergarten classroom teaching English, and digging our toes into black lava sand beaches. We saw some of the most beautiful temples, traveled to remote islands without cars, and swam with sea turtles just off the shore. She was there when I got my international drivers license then realized there is no way in hell I'd drive in Indonesia on a scooter. (Laura can't ride a bike so count on walking a lot if there are no cars). We'd both die. Ever since then she has been my #1 traveling buddy and partner in crime. We have been on so many adventures together and I couldn't be more thankful to have her as one of my best friends. We stayed up all night in a Taiwan airport because we didn't understand time zones, visited a monkey sanctuary in Bali and kayaked through waterfalls in the jungle. We have ziplined into Cenotes in Mexico, and dined at the highest point in Athens, jumped off cliffs together-somewhat, and hiked to the top of St Georges volcano. There isn't another person I would have wanted to share these experiences with. I am more than happy that she has found someone that values her and all she has to offer to the world. David is a person that encourages her to grow and is there alongside her every step of the way, including the steps back as well as the leaps forward. I want to thank David for taking care of Laura and I want to express how happy I am that these two humans found each other and that we are all here to celebrate their union.

I met Laura through our good friend, Myka, and we became friends during the crazy covid times. During that time, I lived in a group home and didn't have much. Laura would come pick me up and we'd have our special friend time, and it helped keep me sane. Three summers ago, I was taking care of my mother (knee replacement) and it wasn't exactly fun, but Laura rallied our friends together and raised money so that I could go on a camping trip with Rachel, her daughter Lily, and her to Virginia. That trip meant a lot to me. Laura could tell I was struggling, and she came in to rescue me and helped me feel loved. Laura has been a very important part of my support system. I can call her anytime and I know she'll be there for me. I am so happy that Laura and David have found each other. I love talking about music with David, and he's such a great friend. Laura and David have been very supportive throughout my journey to converting to Judaism, and we've vowed to celebrate holidays together. Laura and David are true mensches and I am so lucky to have them in my life.

Though growing up, we were often mistaken for twins, I am Laura’s big sister. We both share a love for travel and adventure that brought Laura to visit me more than once while I lived in Guatemala. Since moving back to Cincinnati I have enjoyed having Laura as a student in my yoga classes, going for brunch, exploring new hiking trails together, and getting to know David as he has become a regular at our family dinner table. I am so happy to be a part of their special day and wish them all the happiness in the world as they embark on their lives together.

I met David somewhere between 2007 -2008. I had just graduated high school and got accepted into Kent State University. David reached out to me on Facebook inviting me to play some flag football or catch. We never actually played either but that was our start to a friendship. I agreed to hangout with this stranger because he told me about this fraternity called AEPI. It was the Jewish frat that has been around for sometime and he wanted me to meet some other like-minded Jewish people that I could be friends with and not start the year with no friends. Little did I know, our friendship would go beyond AEPI. I am glad I gave David a chance, and we found out we both went to the same kindergarten. Later we both graduated from college and have a tradition to get together at least once every two months to eat at Panera and have some hookah. He was one of my chosen groomsman for my wedding and has become one of my best friends/ brothers.

David and I met in 1999 while writing video game reviews for our junior high school newspaper and instantly bonded over it. David would get a bus pass and ride home with me frequently on Friday nights, and we would hang out and game together over the weekend. This set the precedent for a strong friendship that would last through the ages. We've been there for each other through all the highs and lows in our lives over the last 25 years. I wish David and Laura the best in their marriage. A little about me: I'm a software developer living in downtown Cincinnati who loves to draw.

Dave and I have been close friends since college. We met hanging out in the dormitories our sophomore year of college where we connected on video games and Dave's passion for metal music. Through that experience we developed a close friendship that continues to this day and I consider him family at this point and look forward to the time that we spend every time we hang out. Dave enriches my life everyday and makes me a better person through his presence.

Dave and I met through an Intro to Astronomy class. We were in the same Dungeons and Dragons Facebook group and he recognized the doodles in the margins of my notes when he happened to sit next to me in class. Through hanging out and bonding over mutual nerdiness, he brought out the true metal head in me and I am forever grateful. We went on to be roommates after graduation and brothers in Steampunk.