Carli has been with me through every season of life—through growing up, growing pains, heartbreaks, triumphs, and everything in between. She’s my oldest friend, and truly more like a sister than anything else. Her steady presence, loyalty, and love have carried me through more moments than I can count. She’s the person I can count on for absolutely anything—someone who shows up without needing to be asked, always with honesty, warmth, and the perfect one-liner to make me belly laugh when I need it most. Carli is kind, fiercely dependable, and never afraid to tell it like it is. Life wouldn’t be the same without her, and there’s no way I could imagine this day—or any day—without her by my side.

Riley and I’s friendship started at a very young age as young hockey players and future straight A students attending Walnut Park Elementary School. Our friendship always remained strong throughout the years and our passion for hockey led us to move to Prince George together in 2014 to play for the Cariboo Cougars, where we were roommates. I don’t think I could have made it through that year without Riley there with me. We made so many memories that I will never forget. A lot of people don’t know this… but we also won the Macs Midget International Tournament that year, not a big deal. I was fortunate enough to be standing beside Riley on the day that he got married, and it means the world to me to have him up there with me for my big day.

Kara and I basically share a brain—she just gets me. She’s the one who keeps me grounded and sane, always there to listen, offer honest advice, or gently steer me in the right direction when I need it most. What I admire most about Kara is how real she is. She lives with integrity, leads with kindness, and has a strong sense of what matters in life. She’s my voice of reason—but also the first one to pour a glass of wine and turn any moment into something fun. Life is lighter, better, and more meaningful with her in it, and I’m so lucky to have her by my side for this day and every day.

Adam was one of my very first friends in life, most of my time between the ages of 5-14 were spent at the Veenstra household watching dumb & dumber, making plays on the outdoor rink, or trading our beloved hockey cards. In a way, we were kinda like Harry Dunn and Lloyd Christmas, the two of us were inseparable. In our teenage years Adam moved away to pursue a career and education through his talent in golf. Though we didn’t see each other very much for a few years, the friendship was always there, and whenever we got together it was like nothing had ever changed. A friendship like this is a really special one, and it wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t have my friend Adam standing up there beside me for this special moment in my life.

Kendra has the biggest heart and the most genuine soul of anyone I know. Her love and support for the people in her life is unmatched—she shows up fully, and she shows up with love. Whether I’m laughing until my stomach hurts or crying through the hard stuff, Kendra is always right there beside me. She has this beautiful way of making everyone feel seen and cared for—and when the music starts, you can count on her to be the first one on the dance floor, showing us how it’s done. Kendra has been by my side for so many of life’s biggest moments, and I’m beyond grateful to have her here for this one, too.

Mitch has been a friend of mine since as long as i can remember, in my opinion he is also the guy that our friend group has the most funny stories and memories about. Mitch is someone who always has time for a quick joke and to put a smile on your face, but is also there when you need him in life’s very serious moments as well. He is a true friend, through and through. If you asked anyone in our friend group where we spent the most time growing up, they would say on the outdoor rink at the Turko’s house. I believe this was the place that our friendships grew into what they are today, and Mitch was right there at the heart of it all. I am very grateful to have my friend Mitch standing up there with me on my wedding day

Shawna has been in my life for as long as I can remember, and through all the seasons of growing up, one thing that’s never changed is the strength and authenticity of our friendship. She is the kind of friend who stays steady through everything—completely genuine, real, and consistent in a way that’s rare to find. I’ve always admired how she unapologetically shows up as herself, embracing all of her true colours with confidence and grace. That honesty and authenticity make her not only an incredible friend, but also someone people naturally gravitate toward. She has this incredible energy that fills every room—always bright, always uplifting. Whether we’re laughing until we cry or having those quiet, grounding conversations, Shawna has a way of making everything feel lighter. She’s sound and steady, with just the right amount of wild fun that turns the ordinary into something unforgettable. She’s always down for anything, always supportive, and always, always makes me laugh.

Rylan and I were introduced at a young age through hockey and my parents house being directly across the road from his grandparents. This provided quick access for playing cap guns in my basement, or taking my grandparents golf cart out and pretending it was a mud bogger (sorry grandpa). It’s rare that we get together and don’t talk about some of these old memories, and it’s easy for anyone to tell just how much we cherish them. Rylan is someone I know I could count on for anything, he has always wanted the best for me and been there to support me in anything life throws my way, good or bad. Rylan asked me to stand beside him on the day he got married, and it will be an honour to have him up there with me for mine.