My Bridesmaid: Amanda

Amanda

Out of all of my bridal party, Amanda Wagoner and I have known each other the longest. We first met at the age of 4 at Capitol View Baptist Church. We were in kindergarten together with Ms. Phiffer.

She is the person I have gone to school together with the longest.

We started in kindergarten, went through elementary at Caughman Road, moved on to Hopkins Middle and finished up graduating in the class of 2003 at Lower Richland High School. We were so close, Amanda actually graduated 9th in the class, with me right behind her in 10th.

We did a lot together growing up. We lived about 3 miles apart and spent time at each others house. We also rode to school every day together during our middle school years. She was involved in drama, me of course in dance. And the two departments did everything together so we were in numerous musicals and plays together over the years. She was also one of my dates for senior prom!

We may have had some ups and downs along the way, but it's a friendship in the making over the last 20 years! (Wow I'm old!) We went our separate ways in college... Amanda went to Lander for Pre-Vet. Ever since the day I met her she was obsessed with wild animals...especially elephants. Her dream was to always be a vet. She's currently attending Mississippi State for Grad School and will have her doctorate a few weeks before the wedding.

I'm so glad that she as a childhood friend of mine has agreed to take part in the greatest day of my life.

My Bridesmaid: Tracy

One of the first friends I asked to be a bridesmaid was my first college roommate -- Tracy Borczyk.

Tracy

I'll never forget the day I got the letter from the College of Charleston stating who I was living with and where. I couldn't figure out how to pronounce her last name nor did I know where in the world Palos Hill, Illinois was. I remember talking to Tracy's mom first because when I called, Tracy was at work. (I think she was a lifeguard).

Move in day came and Tracy and her parents were already there when my family and I arrived. We pretty much hit it off and became pretty close. We didn't have any classes together.. and we had completely different majors.. but we hung out with some girls in our dorm as well as some in another.

I think Tracy thought I was crazy as I only spent the my very first weekend in the Holy City there. Every weekend for the rest of the year I would go home to Columbia. I did drag her up with me once and we had a pretty good time.

Tracy joined Phi Mu during our freshman year and I remember her trying to get me to join but I kept telling her "Sororities aren't my thing. Why pay for friends?" (Shame on me since I joined Gamma Phi Beta a year later.) But I completely supported her chapter and went to some of their events and the house for dinner sometimes.

My favorite Tracy moment was the last night we lived in the dorms together. She knows this story, so I won't tell it to save embarrassment. But taking her to the airport the next day to fly home was truly hard as I was saying good bye to one of my closest friends.

I ended up transferring from CofC to USC after my freshman year, but Tracy and I did keep in contact and I got the chance to visit before Christmas during our sophomore year.

Even though we didn't see each other again until last summer, we have a bond that no one could ever replace. We started our "grown up" lives together, starting college and living on our own. Our late night trips to Sonic or jamming to music in the room, we had a blast.

I'm so thankful Tracy will be part of our special day. And even though we are both living in the same city (once again), we still don't get to see each other as often as we like, it doesn't matter. That's because our bond is strong and we'll be friends for life.

My Maid Of Honor

Chaunte' & Christie

My Maid of Honor is my childhood best friend, Christie King!

We first met back in 1992 when we both started taking clogging classes at Caughman Road Park. We along with some other girls formed the "Sassy Stomper Cloggers" and started competing within a few years around the southeast.

High School Pageant ( Winter 2003)

It wasn't until middle school when we actually went to school together because of district zoning, we went to different elementary schools. We both took dance classes at school along with clogging, until 1997 when our clogging instructor moved out of state. I joined another team and continued clogging while Christie turned to softball. Even though we went separate directions, we both still supported each other.

In high school, we both got involved in a lot of the same clubs as well as competed in the Miss LR Pageant together. My senior year, we got to share a special moment. I was crowned MISS LR and Christie was crowned MISS JUNIOR.

We both ended up attending USC together in 2004.. until she moved to Charleston to attend MUSC. I have to say I'm so proud of my best friend to see her achieve her dreams. For the longest time, I've always remembered her saying she wanted to be a pharmacist. Well one year from now, she will reach that goal. On May 20, 2011 (just one day before the wedding), Christie will graduate from MUSC with her doctorate in pharmacy. =)

Joe, Dave, Chaunte' & Christie

Now one of my favorite memories of Christie is when we got our nicknames for each other. We used to curl our hair with socks (clean, washed socks) so it was comfortable to sleep in. One day on our way to a competition, Christie said I looked like Medusa. And for some reason, my stepdad started picking on Christie, and started calling her Kristi Yamaguchi (I think it was a Winter Olympics year). So ever since then, we still call each other our nicknames.

I'm so proud to have Christie as my friend and was so honored when she agreed to be my Maid of Honor. I called her on the boat before we got off in Tampa but she didn't answer. She called me back a little bit later and I was so happy to share the news with her.

To a lifelong friendship!