Which one is that?

Though Vader knows who my bridal party is composed of, even he is having trouble keeping track of everybody's blog names. Since most of you don't know them, I thought I would introduce them a bit and explain where their silly nicknames come from.

First: why the names? The answer is threefold:

1. I read far too much Weddingbee.
2. Our friends and family didn't sign up to be featured in a wedding blog, so silly names allow them to remain anonymous to the rest of the world.
3. Why not? 

Now, who are they and where did their names come from? Read on!

Maid (Matron) of Honor Moxie: My big sister who has looked younger than me since I turned 14, this true Mainah loves her flannel and Moxie (a disgusting soda recently branded the official soda of Maine). She hates dresses and girly things, and therefore must really love me to be willing to stand beside me and hold my stuff during the wedding! She also, conveniently enough, now has a family of her own. Her adorable children will be featured in the party as well.

Bridesmaid Comic-con: Vader's little sister by only a year, she can give me all the dirt on her brother I don't know already. She is a video game aficionado, and keeps Vader up on what games he should play when she isn't keeping me snorting with laughter inappropriately at family functions. She's a little too helpful in the Star Wars-themed wedding plans, and risks a frilly pink bubble dress should she continue to suggest Leia costumes and the like...

Bridesmaid (-matron?) Madonna: This lovely lady was my roommate in college for a year and a half, and began our relationship suspecting that I was a cheerleader based on my discussing pink room decorations. Over the years we have had a lot of adventures, the biggest of which has been her wedding this past summer. Why the name? Well, she wrote her college thesis on how Madonna queered every categorical variable you can think of, and we all listened to (with varying amounts of agency in the decision) so many Madonna facts/songs/videos that we can't take it anymore!

Bridesmaid Irish: Red-headed (well, reddish blonde), Celtic-music-singing, best-potato-roll-baker-of-all-time, this friend of college origin was the easiest to blog nickname. She's done more than her fair share of weddings lately: listening to the details and helping plan for BM Madonna's wedding and now helping me with my own, and she's done it all flawlessly! 

Bridesmaid Cupcake: Though she originally pegged me as "loud and obnoxious", this college friend and I bonded over a shared love for brass instruments, cake decorating, and falling asleep during movies late at night. When she's not solving the world's medical problems one cell at a time in New Haven, she is experimenting with new flavors and combinations of cupcakes. Hence, the name. 

And those who you'll be hearing about soon...

Bridesmaid Flamingo: Though we originally met in elementary school Sunday School, we officially became friends during a very animated pre-calculus class. We couldn't stop giggling in school or at church, and haven't stopped yet. Our most epic adventure involved filming a Sound of Music rip-off in Salzburg. During college and study abroad we got sick of signatures on e-mails and decided instead we would just write different iterations of the letters/words in Flamingo, which is where her name comes from. My favorite variation remains Flamin' Go. 

Bridesmaid Fairy (Tale): This friend and I have traveled A LOT together. We toured Europe, went to the 2010 Olympics, and road tripped to Maine more than a few times during college. Though she lives on the other side of the country now, we still see each other fairly often thanks to friends getting married and her prowess at conference presentations. While she is fairy-like in that she is very small and dances up a storm, this bridesmaid's name comes from her field of expertise. She studies all things fairy tale, and is currently after a Ph.D. in hopes of someday teaching college kids about the greatness of Beauty and the Beast. The (Tale) is in parentheses because Bridesmaid Fairy rhymes well with....

Bridesmaid Hairy!: The final female of our college clan, her body hair (thus the name) is a topic of conversation almost as much as her love for dinosaurs and wearing head to toe purple. She is currently in the Midwest finishing up her Master's degree (hooray!) in plants and stuff and secretly hoping to someday star in a Bollywood film. Thus far into our friendship she has only been comfortable in Maine when wearing three sweaters and an L.L. Bean parka, so next summer's extravaganza should be an interesting experiment. 

There's the bridal party! Plus a junior bridesmaid, who I'll have to think up a name for. She has very specific wants for her junior bridesmaid look, so maybe she'll be specific about blog name requirements. Do eight year olds know what a blog is? 

Someday Vader will think up some names for his party (trying on dresses is much more of a production than getting suits) and I'll introduce the groomsfolk. Until then you'll have to live with the teaser that was Groomsman Peanut Butter's introduction in my last entry!