Caroline & Jared RSVP

Caroline always thought Bethany was super intense and intimidating and always tried to avoid her. But one day after class, Jared invited Bethany to join them for lunch, where Bethany discovered a secret spot at school to microwave food and spent the rest of her lunch breaks there that semester with Caroline. Jared would leave Caroline with Bethany after they ate to go to his class, in the beginning it was stressful for Caroline because she was scared of Bethany. After a few lunch breaks together, Caroline decided to ask Bethany about the meaning of community and talked about their faith together – where Caroline realized Bethany wasn’t all that intimidating and is actually secretly very gentle. From there both Bethany and Caroline opened up to each other and shared about their lives and realized that they’re “same same but different” (even in petty ways). To this day, they love reminiscing on the days where Bethany scared Caroline over 5 years ago.

Bethany and Caroline enjoy spending hours just chatting about random stuff in life, from faith to work to skincare and enjoy bubble tea. They’re the kind of friends who can hangout on a whim unplanned and just enjoy each other’s company. Yay friendship! In the last 6 months Caroline and Jared has been there to rescue Bethany from her car troubles twice – flat tire and engine breakdown.

Bethany loves playing video games, on any device – switch, mobile, computer, you name it she probably knows about it. She can be sassy, sound aggressive without knowing, thoughtful, and always there when you need her. She’s also planning this entire wedding with her sister so props to them for helping us pull off this successful wedding!

Matt is the brother that everyone wishes they had. He is someone who wants to know more, is always present and gives his whole self to you. Jared can’t quite remember where or how they met (BASS FROSH?) but our friendship really solidified after he agreed to play bass for the church worship team one summer. Weekly, Matt would carry his bass from school to Jared’s house, where Jared would make food that either he was allergic to or was “allergic to” (he didn’t like it). And even though he was “allergic” to it, he would still graciously eat some, week after week. So, after that Jared knew they could be #friends4ever (lol).

From organizing student events (him always trying to ask what’s the value and Jared wanting ice sculptures) to being a groomsman now, Matt has been there for every one of our post-highschool milestones. Beyond milestones though, Matt has been someone who was eager to share life with. He’d probably not want Jared to share their deep dark secrets but Matt is the person you’d want on your side – to talk to and have honest, candid conversations with.

If Jared had to describe Matt, it is that he’s someone full of love and although we’ve only known Matt for 6 short years (wow – longer than I actually thought), all these feelings and memories are only the beginning of our story (lol sounds like our vows).

Jessica is Jared’s older sister and is a vital part of the three musketeers (Jared, Caroline and herself). She is the one who sells Caroline on crazy ideas and things to do, and asks her to convince Jared to join in – Caroline usually goes along with what she wants to do even if Jared says no. Their friendship grew when Jessica asked -but really told- Caroline to volunteer for VBS, which then led Caroline down a rabbit hole of doing various roles for VBS every summer with her. Caroline’s favorite memories of doing VBS together was when they led Play and Sing time. In the morning there were brief introductions to what the students would be learning that day and sometimes it would require Jessica to be dressed up in a silly costume. Also, one year they decided to prepare all the arts and crafts materials which led them to frequent the dollar store at least two times a week.

Jessica and Caroline’s favourite thing to do on their down time is to lay on the sofa together with a random movie or tv show on, but there’s no intention of watching it, it’s actually background noise for nap time. Otherwise you can catch them looking for the next best places to eat and go. Caroline’s favourite memory with Jessica is going camping in Banff where they froze in their tent, carrier a thousand dishes to the sink, and helped wash each others hair in a plastic bin secretly.

Jessica is a master planner, always looking 3-6 months ahead of time, she thrives when thinking about what decorations to buy and how big to go. She is kind hearted yet straightforward, thoughtful, always ready to cheer you up if you’re feeling down and you can always count on her to be there.

Gabe. The man and the legend. If anyone has told you that you can’t meet friends from playing a children’s game outside a Tim Hortons on the concrete ground at SFU, they’d be wrong. By some twist in events, Gabe would end up kneeling beside Jared, spot a wristband from Regen on him and end up being stuck with this friendship. Gabe is often known for his classy sweatpants/ shorts and boots combo, or his ever defined chin, but Jared has had the honor of knowing him as a brother. Through season’s we’ve known each other, Gabe has been someone who could say the wisest of things and then do the silliest of things and that is his gift.

Jared owes many of the thought provoking and faith inspiring conversations to him which he was gracious enough to have with him. Beyond all this great stuff though, there definitely was a moment of Jared and Gabe breaking up (dun dun dun). But it wasn’t a bad break up – more mutual than anything. 3 years out of the 6, Gabe and Jared weaved in and out, but we ultimately grew closer and thankfully we now get a chance to be best friends together in the big city of Toronto (or torono as my cool friends say it).

There’s a lot to be said about Gabe like how he loves spike ball or third wheeled Caroline and Jared at dim sum but ultimately Gabe has a big heart, he’s extending his ever long table and has an impeccable chin (Jared said this).