Emily Reilly
As soon as Emily landed one
of the two coveted Bridal Attendant roles, people started whispering
that the decision wasn't based on talent alone and that Emily had
web-designed her way to the top. "There's a lot of women out there
who would've loved this role," opined an industry insider who didn't
want to be named, "and Emily's nice, but frankly she's got no
experience as a BA. Everyone knows she only beat out those other
women because there was some backroom website-designing going on—it's
not fair, but that's how it works in this town."Although
she has no experience as an Attendant, Emily was a bride herself in
2003, and her champions point to this as proof that she belongs in
this wedding. As rumors swirled, Joanna put out a statement saying,
"I look forward to working with Emily, and I assume the Producers
knew what they were doing when they cast her."
Emily is Joanna's older (and wiser) sister and the mother of flower girl Meredith
Reilly.
Molly Cloud
The Producers
knew Molly was the right woman for the second Bridal Attendant role
after seeing her in several local weddings. "She's always done an amazing
job," said Dana. "And I've noticed that she's never once tripped
or scratched herself inappropriately. We've just been waiting for
the right project to use her in."
Molly and Joanna will collaborate this summer in the
highly anticipated Cloud-Ferrara wedding, although Molly beat out Joanna for the leading
role in that project. "I'm not at all bitter about that," said
Joanna, "because I really couldn't do justice to being a Bride in
two weddings. I'm glad I get to focus on this wedding, and I think
Molly will be a great Bride, too."
Molly is Joanna's best friend from high school and they've
known each other since they were eight.
Byron Miller
As an untested wedding participant,
Byron—one of the two Groom's Attendants—is being called the
wedding's wild card. Producers have touted his novice status as a
plus, though, and People Magazine recently put him on its "50
Sexiest Untested Wedding Participants" list. "Byron's a fresh new
face, and we think he'll bring a great energy and vitality to this
wedding," said Producer John Miller. "He may not have the experience
of the other participants, but he has an exciting perspective and we
think he'll shake things up."
Byron has collaborated with John in the past on landscaping
projects, but this is the first time the two have come together on a
wedding. "I've always said that there are a lot of parallels between
landscaping and weddings," said John, "so I have no doubt that Byron
will be just fine up there at the altar."
Byron is Nate's younger (and wiser) brother.
Adam Perry
At one time, Adam was rumored to be the
leading candidate for the Groom role, but after he got married in
2007 the producers decided to go in another direction. "On one hand,
we wanted someone with experience," said Producer Patty Miller, "but
it turned out that Adam had a lot of commitments related to his 2007
role and wouldn't have been able to do justice to our project. We wanted to
work with him, though, so we offered him a Groom's Attendant role."
Industry watchers applauded the choice to put Adam in an
Attendant role and say that his presence has spurred Nate to bring
his A-game to the Groom role. "Nate knows that Adam's done this
before, and Adam's '07 turn at the altar is definitely in the back
of Nate's mind," said a source close to the wedding.
Adam was one of Nate's roommates in college.
Lilly Grossman
After
Lilly was named the Senior Flower Girl, the Producers cited her previous
experience as a participant in the '07 Grossman-Davis wedding as one
of the deciding factors in handing her the role. "We saw what she
could do, and we were convinced that she was ready to take on a
production of this magnitude," said Dana Grossman. Inside sources
also speculated that with Lilly in the SFG role, the Producers would
have more latitude in choosing the Junior Flower Girl. "They knew
that they were going to get a young kid as JFG," said an unnamed
source, "and with Lilly in the senior spot, there will be someone to
show the JFG the ropes."
As a veteran of several years of ballet class, the Producers were
also intrigued by Lilly's potential to "tear up" the dance floor.
Although Lilly refused to commit to tearing up anything, dance
floors or otherwise, many in the industry believe that she could be
the break-out participant in this wedding.
Lilly is Joanna's 11-year-old cousin.
Meredith Reilly
After an exhaustive search for a
Junior Flower
Girl, Meredith was chosen for the role. "We need someone who can
sing the alphabet, count to 11, sing multiple verses of Old
McDonald Had a Farm, and perform I'm a Little Teapot with
panache," said Producer Patty Miller. "We can't have a kid up there who skips N when
she sings the alphabet or fails to tip over when the teapot is
poured out." Meredith has already started
preparing for her role by eating massive quantities of Goldfish
crackers, making her stuffed bug dance to The Wheels on the Bus, and religiously
attending the weekly story time at her local library.
"With Lilly and Meredith on board, we have what we refer to in the industry as
a TPFGS, or total package flower girl situation," added Producer
Dana Grossman. "We feel confident that they'll take this seriously
and will bring dignity and gravity to the proceedings."
Meredith is Joanna's two-and-a-half-year-old niece.

Crew
Tom Reilly
Tom was rumored to have lobbied heavily
for an Attendant role, and after those roles went to Adam and Byron,
he reportedly fired his agent, although neither Tom nor his
(erstwhile?) agent would return our phone calls asking for
confirmation. However, his lobbying was not for naught and the Producers
decided to make Tom the Guestbook Attendant. "We're glad Tom's
decided to join us on this project," said Producer Dan Grossman,
"and we really can't overstate the importance of the Guestbook
Attendant. I mean, you can't just have the guestbook floating around
with no one to attend to it. As [Producer] Dana [Grossman]'s
grandfather used to say, 'An honest Guestbook Attendant is the
noblest work of God...and the rarest!'"
Tom is Joanna's brother-in-law. He will attend no guestbook
before its time.
Amanda Guyre
After the Producers studied the scope of the
Guestbook Attendant's role, they decided Tom would need an assistant
to properly fulfill his attending duties. Amanda was named Assistant
to the Guestbook Attendant, although she has been overheard at
industry events styling herself as the Assistant Guestbook
Attendant. When asked for clarification of Amanda's role, Producer
Dana Grossman said, "I can state unequivocally that Amanda is
Assistant to the Guestbook Attendant. She is most certainly
not next in line to the Guestbook Attendant's throne, and if Tom is,
for whatever reason, unable to fulfill his Guestbook Attendant
duties, Amanda will become the Assistant to the new Guestbook
Attendant."
Amanda Who? Oh, yes, Amanda is a friend of Emily's who
weaseled her way into a third-tier role in the wedding.

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