Wedding Party

Say hello to our closest confidants, fabulous family members, & best friends.

Shaunnah Van Den Berg

Shaunnah, affectionately known as Shaun, is the human embodiment of thoughtfulness in a person. So thoughtful, in fact, that she befriended a pigtailed, twelve year-old Danielle on the first day of middle school. After graduating high school, Shaun and Danielle went on to be roommates for four years at UCF. During those four years they learned valuable life lessons like how to build a resume and what time to get to the bar to avoid paying a cover charge. To know Shaun is to love her. To know Danielle is to know she loves Shaun– like a lot. Here’s to celebrating seventeen years of the sweetest friendship and a lifetime of memories to go.

Destinee Small

Attorney, business owner, fitness coach, what can’t she do?! Even though the wedding will earn her the official title of ‘sister in law’, Destinee has been a sister to Danielle for years. You can guarantee that every Small family gathering gets twice as loud (and twice as fun) when Destinee and Danielle are together. From the greatest of belly laughs to deep life conversations, Danielle can count on Destinee for anything, and she couldn’t be more grateful to have gained such a supportive and inspiring sister.

Kaelan Small

In the spirit of her favorite pastime, shopping, Kaelan can best be compared to the free gift with purchase. Danielle went to the store (Christian) with one thing in mind, and left with a gift (Kaelan) that made the purchase that much better. Wise beyond her years with a laugh like no other (seriously), Kaelan is a prime example of resilience and compassion– and she is always thinking of others before herself. She’s the only person who understands Danielle’s strange nicknames for the family dog and is the built-in bestie / sister in law Danielle never knew she needed, but is so grateful to have.

Jessie Golden

Orange you glad you get to meet Jessie?! The only thing more vibrant than Jessie’s hair is her heart of gold (literally lol). Jessie and Danielle have been best friends since the eighth grade. They have so many shared memories from their teenage years that it’s hard to think of the time they didn’t spend together. Throughout life, Jessie has been a trusted confidant, listening ear, and fellow highly sensitive person Danielle can always count on. Friends like Jessie are hard to come by, but easy to love and Danielle is so thankful to call her “sis”.

Jordan Small

Christian was lucky to be born with a built-in best friend in his younger brother, Jordan. From a young age, the two of them were joined at the hip, from catching pop flies in the backyard with Dad, to 1v1 basketball on the sweet mini basketball hoops Mom installed in our rooms. As they’ve grown older, they’ve grown closer, more understanding of one another, and more longing for one another’s company. Christian has learned so much from Jordan, and while he may not always admit it, he knows Jordan is unequivocally the smartest one in the family. He is so grateful to have him as a best man and a brother, but most importantly as his friend.

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Sasan Assary

Sasan has been a part of every milestone in Christian’s life since they met freshman year of college. They had their Step Brothers, “Did we just become best friends?” moment their first time sharing a basketball court together, when they went on to win 7 straight games of pickup, a run only cut short due to gym closing hours. The two of them would later go on to become roommates, and grow even closer after graduation, with Sasan taking visits to every home that Christian & Danielle have shared together. Sasan is one of the few people who has seen the couple grow from Day 1 onward, and is truly one of the most loyal friends and important people in Christian’s life.

David Benedetti

David is a growth-minded go-getter & one of Christian’s childhood best friends. Most of Christian’s favorite childhood memories involve some sort of Benedetti, with David at the forefront of all of them. Every summer was spent together, with hundreds of hours outdoors and the rest inside playing dodgeball or NFL Street. Inseparable as kids and now separated by distance for years, the two of them can always pick things right back up where they left off, no matter the time in between. Christian is incredibly grateful to have a friend like David, who he can always learn something from, and who he can turn to if he ever needs advice.

James Morgan

Christian and James met in college when they were rushing a fraternity at FSU – and while Christian’s venture in Greek life did not last, his friendship with James did. Near simultaneous injuries in college led them to share in joint ventures to the Wellness center, with James always willing to give Christian a ride wherever, whenever. Post-college, as North Carolina state-mates, James has been a constant in the Small-Gale household with frequent Charlotte stopovers, and as a guide in their escapes to Asheville. Christian is beyond grateful for their friendship and appreciates James for always being a reminder to stay grounded, eat more vegetables, and not take life so seriously.

Brian Wolek

Brian is Christian’s cousin, but he’s always been more like a brother to him, than anything. Being just a few months apart, Brian and Christian share a similar age but also a similar love for goofiness, video games, and the Boston Celtics. In the early years, the two could be seen peeing their pants in laughter together over oopits & rage quits, and years later, this is probably still the case. Christian is grateful for Brian’s presence and the many conversations they’ve had over the years as they’ve transitioned from adolescence into adulthood, and is looking forward to making new memories with their spouses, with Danielle & Daphne entering the family.