Clinton is one of my favorite people in the world.
That’s it. That’s the bio.
Seriously though, Clinton isn’t just a friend – he’s like family. What started out as a twitter friendship evolved into drink friends, then dinner friends, then co-producers & co-hosts, and now it’s safe to say lifelong friends (you’re stuck with me, ha!) He’d never tell you this but his talent knows no bounds. From style, to design, to writing, to cooking – he does it all with panache! He gives one hell of a sideeye too.
Clinton is kind, selfless, and ridiculously funny. Throughout our friendship he has been consistent in the wisdom and encouragement he's provided. I'm forever grateful to him for believing in me before others in the TV industry finally did. I’m a better person for knowing Clinton and am beyond grateful to have him standing with us on such an important day.
This Texas native has worn many hats over the course of our 14 year friendship. She’s been my travel buddy, my dog (Brooklyn)’s godmother, my almost TV cast-mate, and my roommate in NYC. She has a knack for connecting people and is the most thoughtful friend you could ever ask for. Bri and I met during my first stint on MTV when I was hired to do an appearance at a nightclub in Houston where she worked. We became fast friends. In the early days of our friendship we lived in different cities and would only see each other on occasion when one of us would randomly call with last-minute tickets and an invite to some event like Armin van Buuren, The MTV Awards, or The Super Bowl, and the other would immediately book a flight and be there just a few hours later.
Over the years we’ve shared countless laughs and have had wonderful (pre-planned) adventures in places like Paris, New Dehli, and Dubai.
Of all the special moments we’ve shared and will share in the future, I’m especially delighted to have her standing beside me for my greatest adventure.
“You can cry about it now but then you’ve got to put your big girl panties on and make a choice” - Joi Pearson
That’s real advice that Joi once gave me. It may sound sharp-tongued but it was exactly what I needed in that moment. If there’s a moment when I can’t seem to find the answer, she’s generally one of the first people I call. That’s the thing about Joi, she always seems to know exactly what those around her need.
As a successful veterinarian she’s dedicated her whole life to caring for others. It was because of Cousin Joi and my love of animals that as a little girl I used to dream of following in her footsteps and becoming a vet. It is also because of Cousin Joi (and that time she let me assist her in doing routine bloodwork for our family dogs) that I changed my mind and decided to be a successful entertainer who donated resources to animal welfare instead. Still working it.
Joi is equal parts funny, kind, and even after all of these years - she’s still one of my role models. I’m inspired by the woman she is and so grateful to have her standing with us on our wedding day.
Kelli is the person you can just sit and talk to for hours. Her warmth and kindness are palpable. When I first moved to New York as a cast member of The Real World 14 years ago, Kelli (who had already been living in NY for some time) welcomed me with open arms.
To celebrate my arrival to NYC she generously brought alcohol and mixers to the Real World Brooklyn house to make caipirinhas for my cast-mates and me. Her visit and the cocktails were a hit with everyone – except for the producers. You see my cast members were all of drinking age at the time but Kelli forgot that I was not. It was only after Kelli left that the producers (who had also forgotten my age) realized they had just filmed a minor consuming alcohol on what would be national television. #MajorLiability Let’s just say that after Kelli’s visit to the house, the official rules for all guests and what they were allowed to bring were immediately changed. That change remained in effect for the remainder of our season and for every other season of The Real World that filmed after that. I like to call it “Kelli’s Rule”. She has that kind of impact.
While we’ve shared some wonderful (legal) drinks since then, I’m most excited to toast Kelli as my bridesmaid and honor the incredible impact she’s had on me as a person.
Legend has it that when Angela and I were little our grandmother (shout out to Grandma Sims) once walked in on us angrily throwing Barbies at one another from across the room. I’m not sure what was going on in that moment but whatever it was – Angela started it.
Our fathers were brothers, our mothers were close friends, and with the two of us having been born just one year apart it’s hard to imagine a world where we wouldn’t grow up close. Together we’ve celebrated dual moves to NYC and cheered for each other crossing milestone finish lines (literally in Ang’s case as she’s successfully completed the famed NYC marathon).
Angela is a loving friend, a trusted confidant, and a wonderful new mom. She’s also one of the funniest people I know. I love the way in which our relationship has grown. The icing on the cake has been watching Ashton (her husband) and Adam’s growing friendship thanks to their shared love of (read full-blown dedication to) basketball.
I had the honor of standing beside Angela as she said “I do” just a few years ago. I’m excited to celebrate yet another milestone with her when she stands beside me.
Ester is a party starter, selfless friend, and a joy to be around. She’s the kind of person who can walk into a room full of people she doesn’t know and walk out with a handful of new friends. That’s precisely what happened to us when many years ago I booked a hair appointment at DryBar.
Ester was the stylist assigned to me and between the time Ester started washing my hair and the time she curled the last curl – a new friendship had formed. From hairstylist, to pajama parties, to trips with family – our bond has gotten stronger than the Keratin she regularly puts in my hair (Ester is still my hairstylist – thank goodness – because I’m terrible at doing it myself).
Ester is like a ray of sunshine wherever she goes and I couldn’t imagine celebrating this special day without her or the love and light she brings.
Simmo or Simpkins is my long time friend, my pal… he's my homeboy, my rotten soldier, my sweet cheese, my good time boy. Simmo and I met working a high school job popping popcorn and tearing movie tickets at a local cinema. Together we’ve road tripped up and down the east coast of Australia, shut down piano bars in New Orleans and even two-man-tented our way across Africa. There’s no better man I would want standing (or passed out) by my side on my wedding day.
Fun Fact:
Simmo can balance a full glass of red wine while passed out on a couch and never spill a drop.
Ben, Benny or if you’re feeling frisky - Benjinton, grew up only a few doors down the street from me in Sydney. In our late twenties Benny and I were both lured by the bright lights and endless breadsticks of Times Square’s Olive Garden and to this day we’re both still over here (except Benny now prefers the soft pillowy west coast buns of In-and-Out Burger). As my Fantasy Football commissioner Benny could be better, but as a caring and reliable friend he has nothing to improve on.
Fun Fact:
Ben is the uncredited inventor of “The Sherbert” cocktail. While many of the ingredients are now lost to time, historians do know that both Bailey’s and Fanta were involved.
Mike is an East Village playboy with mid-western morales. Mike and I first met as creative partners at a small social agency in NYC where we primarily worked on the Burger King account. Whether the problem was Whopper, Chicken Fries or life related, Mike was always there with a good idea. From ‘friendsgivings’ when family was too far away to quick drinks that lasted all night, Mike is the Pittsburgh steel of friends - solid, unwavering and cheaper than most.
Fun Fact:
Mike moonlights as an influencer on TikTok… a tennis influencer to be exact. So if you like tennis you can - “like” and “follow” at mlatshaw24.
Hey, hey, hey… it’s Harry, or Harrison Barnes as he’s known on LinkedIn. Harry and I met as creative partners at VaynerMedia and it worked mostly because Harry’s a genius at translating and improving my half-baked, half-cocked indecipherable ideas. From working late nights in the hope of getting an invite to Cannes, to mid-afternoons still recovering from celebrating wins at Cannes - Harry and I have ridden the advertising rollercoaster together and neither of us have fallen off… yet.
Fun Fact:
Harry co-creating the award winning #Pit4Busch campaign for Busch Beer.
Let’s get the ugly part out of the way first… Todd (or Toddley… or Toddles) is a Patriot’s fan. But thankfully he’s actually nothing like a Patriot’s fan. You see Todd’s humble, has decent hygiene and has managed to find ways to win without Tom Brady. Todd and I met working at VaynerMedia and in that time have shared many beers, balconies and a few “sneaky” bronzes, none of which would have been as sweet (or possible) without him there.
Fun Fact:
Todd co-creating the award winning #Pit4Busch campaign for Busch Beer.