Welcome Groomsmen
Where to start?
If you are reading this you have either been invited to my wedding as a Groomsman or you are very confused and you should just email me at consulting@bradengilbert.com. If you are a groomsman then congrats, you put up with me long enough to get some free stuff and an awesome party in Mexico. You might have some questions so I am here to answer them and get you up to speed on everything you need to know.
In my life I have done many things, traveled many places and met a great multitude of people. From my work in non-profits, to my life as a Twitch Partner and Esports players I have done alot.... When it comes to great moments in life it is not what you do, but who you do it with that makes those moments great. I would like to invite you to join me next November in Mexico, to join Stefani Alvarez and Braden Gilbert, join us in this Great Moment.
In the beginning
Me and Stefani met on a Cruise, you could say we were married at first sight, thanks to a drunk fellow passanger who was playing Sherlock. Needless to say either he was is a fortune teller, or Magic happens on Carnival cruises.
We Started Dating
On the Eve of my sisters wedding (Katie), I finally asked stefani to be my girlfriend. Supprisingly enough I didn't have to pay her..... that much at least.... From the start it is clear to see that we were a goofy duo that enjoyed life, loved God, and always had each other's back.
We are OLD FOLKS who make time for EACH OTHER
Neither of us was into the IDEA of dating for fun, so we decided we would go all the way. 0-100 MPH... so we planned out date nights and rotating dinner nights with each others parents. The whole thing is crazy to think about but in all reality we worked together and never really had any issues. Here are some of our date night ideas.
Furniture shopping at IKEA (was not the best date night idea....)
Hot Coco and lights at MOZART's Coffee
28" pizza at Jersey Giant Pizza
Birthday Icecream at Buca Di Beppo Italian Restruant
Katies Wedding
One to many Margs
Apple Pie in the country
Exploring Modern Art
Art Exhibit
The Oasis
Texas Longhorn Football game.
Waiting for Pizza
PAX South 2020
Painting with wine
Home Made Margaritta night
Road Trip into the Hill Country
The Day of our Lord and Savior... Tom Brady
To be honest, I made a joke in November asking Stefani what day she would like me to propose to her on. For extra context we were watching Tom Brady and the Bucs play football. She laughed and said she wouldn't pick the day. So I started asking random questions and we jokingly decided on the 12th because thats the number of Tom Brady...
I proposed on the 12th of December...
The Letters of L.O.V.E
When we first started dating, I wrote Stefani a letter and labled it "L". Then when we had our first major fight, I gave her the Letter "O", and most recenbtly I gave her the Letter "V". Each letter stands for a milestone and each milestone takes us one step closer to marrage.
L Stands for Love
A Delcaration to commit ones self to another.
O Stands for Onward
Moving on with a relationship even during stormy weather.
V Stands for Validation
Validation that what we have done as two individuals is soon ending.
E will be given at the alter
The moment
After a long hard scavenger hunt, we returned to the Four Seasons. She had recieved 4 letters from the concierge, each letter started with a word starting with "V".
The first season was the seasons of Validation.
The second season was the season of Valiant.
The third season was the season of Veneration,
The fourth season was the season of Valediction.
Our Scavenger hunt ended when she read the end of the fourth letter and it read " With this ends the fourth season, start your new season".
We returned to the lobby of the Four Seasons residence upon entering the concierge gave her the final letter. She opened it and it read simply " A season of Validation". Then I proposed.
Now to the fun
There will be a box sent out to you in the mail, inside it will be a gift from me, a gift from stefani, a suit up card, and some other things. You will need to follow the next instructions so we can get this going smoothly...
To be clear no one has been with me through my entire life, many of you have come in certain parts and been abscent for others. I reflected long and hard and decided that regardless of abscense you all played important roles in my life and I could not be here without you.
Ethan Poynot- Best Man
He is unfortunatly a pagan sinner and refuses to worship our lord and savior Tom Brady, as such he is a die hard Saint fan and 2020 has been a horrible rough patch in our friendship... #whodat
Through the years, we have played much golf, had several conversations about wild business ideas, and even filmed a starwars film. He is a great man and now works for Walmart Corporate. I make sure to complain to him when they are out of paper towls in any walmart bathroom.
Ethan will be the point of contact if I can not be reached.
Ryan Shuttlesworth
Justin Begnoche
Carter Van Meter
Jaden Van Meter
Joshua Poynot
Grahm Van Meter
Matthew Poynot
Logan Cormier
Harrison Wilms
Seth Miller
Zeke Paige
John Mark Morales
Carlos Alvarez
Brother of the Bride
When
November 24th -November 27th
Groomsmen may be asked to show up prior to this date, but we will communicate this months prior.
Where
Mexico
Tequila for all!!!
State of Veracruz
In the Meowtains of Mexico
City of Huatusco
They Grow Coffee, Sugar Cane, and Fruit
Getting to Mexico
Get your passport NOW!
With Covid19 and all the other crap going on getting a passport can take several months. If you do not have a passport you need to get one now.
Where will we be staying?
Check out their website
Hotel Mision Los Cocuyos
Groomsmen will be together in a villa, if you bring your spouse you will have a room in the main hotel.
We will be near the tallest mountain in Mexico, Pico de Orizaba. It is the third heighest mountain in the North America at 18,491 ft only behind Denali and Mount Logan . You will have the option to attempt an aclimation climb of one of the smaller surrounding mountains if interested. Reports say it is not a difficult climb but due to altitude it will require you get get aclimated... This is a potential trip we can make prior to the wedding if there is interest.
Buckle up, because we be going to MEXICO
...now if only I could find a Golden AK....
