Mac & Amanda 9.9.23
Rehearsal Dinner Annapolis Yacht Club 38.9784° N, 76.4922° W
Will Maher emceed the Rehearsal Dinner with finesse and charm...
...and the crowd obviously loved it.
Every evening at the Annapolis Yacht Club a cannon goes off to remember those who have served in the Navy for our country. Mac & Amanda had the honor of firing the cannon during the rehearsal dinner.
Will Hatcher gave a heartwarming and comical speech that encapsulated Will & Mac’s 25 years of friendship. “I learned the only reason Mac wanted to play with me was because of my Nike Air Max sneaks. So I’d be remiss if I didn't take this moment to thank the 90’s product team at Nike for developing one hell of a shoe and bringing me a lifelong friend”
Speeches were given by the stunning Mother of the Groom, sweet Caroline, the infamous Chris Winters, quickwitted McDugald, big-hearted Row, and warm cousin Landon.
“The mime I hired unfortunately went to Indianapolis instead of Annapolis so we’re going to have to make do without. “ - Will McDugald
“As Mac’s mother, I can honestly say he was born with a twinkle in his eye. When Amanda caught his “twinkly” eye on that fateful day at Finnerty’s Bar in New York a few years ago, his smile, as well as ours, continued to grow at an ever-increasing rate.” - Susan Selverian
Wedding Day Gibson Island Club 39.0755° N, 76.4361° W
Mac and Amanda wrote letters to their bridesmaids and groomsmen to let them know how important they were to them.
Amanda shared a special moment with her dad as she pinned his National Championship Ring onto her bouquet to represent something blue.
As Susan walked Mac down the aisle she told him “I had a blast raising you”.
Amanda walked down the aisle with both her Dad and Step-Dad on each side of her.
The Father of the Groom officiated the ceremony. He joked “I am honored to officiate this interfaith ceremony. I am obviously not a Rabbi, although I could use the coverage up top.”
It’s special for me to be serving in this role today, sharing this moment with Amanda and Mac. As Mac’s father I can say that I have known him for a long time- and watched him grow to become very independent and self-reliant, with strong self-awareness and a clear sense of his values. I have also come to observe the essence of Amanda. She is clearly strong-willed and goaldriven. But she is also a Giver of Herself- dependable and loyal, kind by nature to her family, friends and everyone with whom she interacts.
I asked Amanda and Mac what qualities attracted them to each other and I’d like to share some of their responses with you. It’s the first time each of them is hearing what the other said… I quote Mac: “By sequence, but not importance, her physical beauty immediately caught my attention when I saw her for the first time on the day we met at a bar in New York City during an Eagles playoff game. I remember admiring her from afar not just due to her cute looks and awesome Size Medium Youth, 15-year vintage, Jerimiah Trotter jersey- She had a bubbliness about her. As I got to know her, I admired her fun-loving attitude, the way she treats everyone with respect, and that she has an inherent drive to do things 100%. During our time together I became certain that we have the critical components of what a successful marriage requires: love, trust, and mutual respect-- and because of those things, communication is actually quite easy, even when the topic itself is not. We have fun together, and we hold each other accountable in times when one of us needs that. I am very lucky to be marrying her.” I now quote Amanda: “Mac makes me smile every day. One constant in our relationship is happiness, laughter, and finding the bright side on harder days. He brings more happiness into my life than I have ever known. Mac is a man of integrity, honesty, and substance. I know that he will always be honest with me...even if it is about something I don’t necessarily want to hear. And he is also emotionally mature and optimistic, having a strong EQ/IQ balance. Mac is always respectful and treats everyone the right way. Mac is a cutie!!! ---but these personal traits are why I can’t wait to marry him!” So, it is no surprise that we are here today to celebrate the marriage of Amanda and Mac. They share core values and similar traits. And through their mutual respect and deep connection they make each other a better version of themselves and grow as a couple. In my role as officiant, I’m going to take the liberty of adding one piece of unsolicited advice. Hey, it is what parents do. I learned it during my own successful 34-year marriage to my wife Susan. Communication is Key and Mutual Respect lays at the foundation of your relationship. Sometimes you’ll have disagreements. The issue might seem important in the moment, but most of the time those disagreements will be over things much smaller than what brought you together-- those magnetic traits you already identified in each other. Your emotional security and sense of permanence will rest on that mutual respect. With that, a disagreement will seem smaller and soon melt away. This deep respect is the soul of your marriage. Susan gives this to me every day of my life. And I hope I give it to her. So, my advice to you is to communicate openly and honestly and always remember what brought you together- including the Jermiah Trotter jersey. I love you both very much and wish you much happiness in your marriage.
Mac, As I stand here today, I am amazed by the journey our love has taken over the past five years. It’s a journey that has shown me how our love can continue to grow every single day. You have taught me that our love can still be silly, romantic and beautiful with an abundance of different layers and complexities. It’s a love that gives me the same feeling as the first day I met you, and today, September 9th, simply marks the moment I get to love you for the rest of my life. I have been imagining myself here in this moment for the last year contemplating how to express my love for you in these vows. I am also riddled with the fact that I don’t even enjoy reading birthday cards or letters in front of others, let alone a group of 170 people. I am relieved knowing you have extraordinary ability to make me feel at ease in any situation. Whenever I am worried or upset…. you hold me, look me straight in the eyes and you say “Mands, it’s just you and me.” And suddenly, a few simple words…makes the rest of the chaos going on around me disappear. So here we are, and although we are surrounded by our most loved people in this entire world…in this moment, it’s you and me. Michael asked me a few months ago to share how I knew I loved you and wanted to marry you. The answer in my mind felt simple to define, but when I tried putting pen to paper, I realized the profound depth of my love for you goes beyond a few simple words. I have finally distilled it down to a single memory that began four years ago, during our first trip to St. Michael’s I was so excited to show you a place that means so much to me and my family, but I was a bit hesitant about how you would react to spending a weekend on a boat with five other people. In typical Mac-fashion, you meshed in right away, putting me and my entire family at ease. On the final night, we had a great dinner with my family, and then you and I went out dancing in town. On the walk home, we found ourselves sitting at the edge of a dock, feet dangling above the water. We sat there laughing and reminiscing on moments from that evening. It’s a moment I will never forget because I knew it then that I loved you, Mac. And I knew you loved me. The best part was that neither of us said it, and we didn’t need to. What I learned in that moment was when you really love someone, you don’t need anything back. I didn’t need to hear those words; I didn’t need the affirmation. What I know is that just being in your presence gives me more happiness than I have ever known. All I needed was for it to be you and me. Mac, you have an ability to light up any room you walk in, and I knew from the instant I met you that you were going to be someone who made my life brighter. You never seem to run out of bits, although sometimes I wish you would. Your gift for bringing happiness to people’s lives is a quality I treasure daily and it’s an integral part of who you are. You continue to captivate me with your work ethic, boundless love, kindness to everyone you meet, and the ease you bring me every single day. While it may have been difficult for me to describe my love for you, it’s not always the words that need to be said, whether it was that moment on the dock or here with you right now, I am going to be there for you for anything that comes our way in this life. Today, we take our next steps as husband and wife, and I step into this future with unshakable certainty. Mac, as your wife, I vow to continue to make every day anything but boring, to honor you and accept you for who you are, I vow to laugh at your bits even if I’ve heard them 30 times…that day, I vow to be the best version of myself for you, to be there for you always, to grow old with you and continue to love you for the rest of my life. It’s you and me, forever. I love you.
Amanda, I don’t know if I’m more nervous to read these, or if you’re more nervous that I am speaking at a wedding where you didn’t have the chance to proofread my bits ahead of time... I was on my own here so bear with me. The truth is, I had so much fun writing this because I got to think back on the entirety of our relationship and remember specific inflection points in our evolution from when I liked you, to when I loved you, to when I knew I was going to marry you. I liked you from the moment I saw you on a cold January day in 2019 in a crowded bar in the East Village. I will never forget your effortless beauty and the lightness with which you carried yourself that day. You were kind, curious, engaging and fun to be around. You still are. As we got to know each other better, I got to understand your constitution and your character. You are selfless, funny, and one of the most caring and empathetic people I’ve ever met. Even more-so, after you met Chris Winters on our second date and thought he was just as funny as I do, I knew there would be something there for us... I fell in love with you because of how aligned we are on the big things. You balance your busy life in a way that I admire and understand. Time and time again, you have put me first without ever compromising on your deeply valued relationships with your friends and family. You commit to everything you do – personally and professionally – with your full self and have an amazing work ethic. It has always been easy for me to be 100% myself around you. I’ll never take that for granted. Whether we are traveling on a fun new adventure together, or we are just making dinner on a Tuesday night, you make me a happy person and bring so much joy into my life. I knew I wanted to marry you after watching you handle the inevitable “Curve Balls Of Life”. Your strength, resilience, and mental toughness gave me such confidence in you and in our relationship. I knew I wanted you in my corner forever and that you were my person to share all of the highs and figure out all of the lows. My life is better with you in it, and I can’t tell you how excited I am to build our future together in marriage. As your husband, I want to make you a few promises: - I promise to continue repeating your bits louder when no one hears them, and taking the credit - I promise to love you with all my heart for the rest of our time - I promise to respect you always with my actions and my words - I promise to make you proud to be my wife. I love you.
Mac and Amanda were so happy to be pronounced husband and wife that they ran down the aisle before Michael could remind them that they still needed to break the glass to symbolize their first steps as husband and wife. They quickly ran back to break the glass and take their second steps as husband and wife.
Welcome! For those of you who don’t know who I am , I am Karen, the proud Mother of the bride. December 27th 1994 happens to be the best day of my life That is the day I became a mom to my sweet beautiful daughter Amanda Leigh Benninghoff; aka Mandy, Lee Lee, Benny, AB, and now I am so proud to say Amanda Leigh Selverian . Amanda is my only child and If you’re going to have only one how lucky am I to have won the lottery. She is the whole package I literally could have never dreamed of being blessed with such a great daughter She is the best thing that ever happened to me and I love her dearly. For a short period of time it was just Amanda and I. Some people would say oh it must have been so hard on you. I say it was a privilege. I got to spend all my free time with her. We would eat at our little red kids table, play on the playground , read books, enjoy our favorite tv shows and snack on Teddy Grahams Still to this day there is always a box in either one of our homes. At age 2 Steve came into the picture. When I first met Steve I brought him upstairs-no, it’s not what you’re thinking.-it was to introduce him to my pride and joy Anyway I made it clear we were a two for one. In time, Steve and I got married. All 3 of us. Amanda was given a ring and was under the chuppa holding our hands As a young girl Amanda decided to take advantage of having 2 households. On her computer I found a letter written to Santa. It went like this: Dear Santa, My name is Amanda Benninghoff. I have been a very good girl and would like a new bicycle.I live with my Mom and Steve who are Jewish so please deliver it to my Dad’s house because they celebrate Christmas. Milk and cookies will be waiting for you! Very clever As Amanda got older it’s amazing how time flew by so. fast. Between soccer, gymnastics, cheer and of course pole vaulting we were always on the go never stopping. It is interesting to note that when Amanda first started a new sport she was very average.It was with her passion, self motivation, and competitiveness that made Amanda succeed. Her high school coach , Ken Worthen, told me there are many pole vaulters in high school but it is only a few that can actually listen and change . Amanda is one of them. Mark my words Amanda will be a division 1 athlete. I honestly think Amanda’s work ethic, passion, and determination are what made her successful at sports , her career and now will now make for a wonderful marriage After college and while living in NYC Mac and Amanda started dating.The first time Steve and I met Mac we were so impressed. Talk about doing your homework- I think Mac know more about Steve and I than we knew about ourselves I had a feeling he was the one. Handsome, charming, smart and such a good sense of humor I could see how Mac cared for her and Amanda cared for him. The look in their eyes told the whole story. It’s just interesting that it took so long for Amanda and Mac to meet. After all they both resided in PA but about 45 minutes from each other. They both attended college in the Carolina’s but Amanda went to UNC and Mac to Wake Forest. They both graduated and head to NYC but Amanda lived on the east side and Mac on the west. Finally their parallel paths converged at an Eagles game in a NYC bar and the rest is history. I couldn’t be happier for the two of them. Amanda and Mac are the best of each other I have no doubt in my mind that they are soulmates and will live a wonderful life together. Thanks to each and everyone of you for taking the time to come to Gibson Island and celebrate this amazing couple. I welcome Mac, Kendall, Travis, Teddy, Susan and Michael to the Benninghoff, Dotzman, and Harris family. I thank Susan and Michael for raising such a wonderful son and playing such a big part in the wedding. Please raise your glass to the happy couple Amanda and Mac.
Hi everyone, my name is Sophie McCoy and I have the privilege to be Amanda’s maid of honor. To the Bride, Amanda, my best friend, you look absolutely stunning tonight. Amanda and I first met our sophomore year in college. While we shared the same minor and from time to time saw each other in the weight room or in passing from classes, it wasn’t until I joined ADPi, our sorority my junior year, did our relationship truly take off. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Amanda had the final say “the closer she calls herself” for my acceptance into the sorority. And in true Amanda fashion she went all out to have a friend’s back, to highlight their assets, and celebrate their positives. As much as I would like to think I was just that special, for those of you that know Amanda you know this is just who she is. Amanda is one of the most heartfelt, honest, and loyal people I know. She will go out of her way to be there for a friend in need or make others feel included. I am lucky to call her my best friend. When she says she a friends back you know she has your back for life. Also residing at the top of Amanda’s pyramid of priorities is her family. I have never seen a girl cover more ground in the Pennsylvania area than when Amanda visits home. Grandparents, mom, dads, sister, she does it all. Always making sure to balance her schedule to see everyone and be there for each family member when they need her most. Over the years Amanda has been my touchstone, my wise go-to-sister and partner in crime while we both navigated this thing we call life. Following a summer internship and graduation from UNC, Amanda and I both accepted a job offer at Morgan Stanley. Foolishly on their part, they only placed the two of us a floor apart from each other. Conveniently we managed to find breaks in our day to meet up for coffee or 10 min shoulder massages at the closest nail salon to debrief whatever dramatic work event had occurred. Eventually others took notice of Amanda’s talents, and she accepted an opportunity at Blackrock where she worked for a couple years before landing in her current position at Artisan Partners. While crushing her job, Amanda still finds time to not only be there for her friends and family but to also give back to the community. She is actively engaged in the community service program at Artisan and periodically volunteers at events around NYC in her breaks from traveling across the country for work. Yes, Mac you are marrying a Rockstar.
I can say from a firsthand experience, Amanda’s growth as a friend, a co-worker, and as a person is unparalleled to others due to her ability and tenacity to take on life and embrace new challenges. Whether it’s transitioning from a gymnast to a pole vaulter (which I will note she competed in college at a division 1 level) or tackling a new mandate at work or strapping on a pair of skis to picking up a golf club for the first time, Amanda does so with 100% intent and effort. This attitude only became apparent and elevated when Amanda met Mac. It was 2019, our second year living in NYC, when Amanda met Mac. I had the fortunate seat of watching this relationship from the budding start at Finnerty’s while watching the Eagles. GO BIRDS! Amanda was her usual bubbly and social self and immediately captivated Mac. Their first date started with drinks at Due West and their meet ups quickly turned into fun Italian dinners out and trips to St Michaels Maryland. I had never seen Amanda happier. 4 years later, we are all gathered here today to celebrate this extraordinary couple. Mac, you are everything I could have hoped for my best friend to find. You are kind, you are thoughtful, you are funny and you make Amanda the happiest I have ever seen her. For those of you that know Amanda and Mac, you know they have an affinity for their record player and an enjoyment in finding new records to add to their collection. As I thought about what I could say to express my love for this incredible duo, it occurred to me that their relationship is a lot like a record. Now, what makes the best record? It’s a combination of many elements, just like the perfect love story. Let me take you through the parallels. First, the best records are built on a strong foundation. They start with a solid groove, just like Amanda and Mac’s friendship that started that Sunday night at Finnerty’s and has since flourished into the deep and unbreakable bond it is today. They know each other's quirks, aspirations, and fears. Their friendship has provided the groundwork for a love that is genuine and lasting. Next is rhythm and everyone knows we need a good rhythm. The best records have a rhythm that keeps you moving, and this couple's love has a rhythm that is steady and unwavering. Through the ups and downs, successes or defeats they remain in sync, supporting each other through thick and thin. Now a record isn't complete without meaningful lyrics. And Amanda and Mac’s love story is filled with words that express their love and commitment for one another. Whether it’s long-distance calls while they are both flying around the country for work or heartfelt letters they leave behind for each other, they communicate openly, listen attentively, and lift each other up with kind and encouraging words. Their lyrics are a testament to the depth of their connection and the love they share. Finally, the best records leave an everlasting impact, and I know from the number of people that are gathered here today that this couple will undoubtedly leave a mark on all of us. Their love is not only an inspiration to us all, but it's a reminder that true love exists. It shows us that when you find the right person, you create a melody that transcends time and touches the hearts of everyone around you. So, let us raise our glasses to this extraordinary couple, as they continue to write their love story. To Amanda and Mac, may your life together be filled with countless melodies, everlasting love, and a soundtrack that never stops playing. Cheers to the record of the year!
Teddy Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and…Chris Winters, We stand before you today not just as the best man and woman, but as the brave souls who've survived a lifetime of growing up with this character we affectionately call our brother. I’m Teddy – Mac’s younger and more HANDSOME brother. Kendall And I’m Kendall – Mac’s older and WISER sister. Many of you see a very put together and in-love young man before you. We are here to shed some light on many life events that got him to this moment. Growing up Mac was quite the ham. The center of every school play, the class clown, best impersonator, and winner of our annual talent show 4 years in a row…still bitter about that. Mac loves to have fun and somehow always got away with pulling pranks with that unsuspecting devious little smile. Like the time he pushed classmate Paul Somboonsong’s head into the fire alarm so the whole school had to evacuate to the playground just so he could have more recess time. Teddy Mac was no D1 athlete but that didn’t stop him from trying every sport under the sun. Baseball, Basketball, Skiing, you name it – this kid even landed a waltz jump in a competitive figure skating competition. He may not have gotten the gold in any of these sports, but his accolades do include something beyond athleticism that speaks to his integrity - the trophies he did win were for sportsmanship, character, and leadership. This has always been true of Mac – he is a stand-up guy who always does the right thing whether it’s in sports or in life.
Kendall Mac is also a great friend and has always been there for those around him – including bailing Charlie out of jail in Punta Cana for throwing a shoe at a bird – hope you’re almost finished your community service hours, Charlie. Teddy Or the time he joined Tyler Sweeny in crashing a 300-person black-tie wedding and supported him as he gave a toast on stage – We got in touch with the Goldsteins and we are thrilled to report they are still happily married thanks to that speech. Kendall He’s not only by your side in moments of jest, but he’s also there for his friends in the quieter moments, lending genuine support, kindness, and advice that I’m sure everyone in this room can attest to. Maybe we don’t always admit it, but he’s also an incredible brother. Teddy My whole life my goal was to beat my brother. Whether it was in backyard football, or basement floor hockey, the games would not end until I started crying. It wasn’t until Mac gained the freshman 15 that I finally could beat him. Mac, I have always looked up to you as a role model in all aspects of life. The first day of school was always tough for a lot of Haverford younger brothers but for me it was always the best day of the year. When teachers would call attendance for the first time and see “Selverian” on the roster - they’d look up with a smile in search of the young lad who looked like you. They were smiling because they remembered how you treated them and your classmates with respect and charm the previous years. This day always made me proud to be your younger brother. And now I look up to you in your relationship and I feel lucky that I got to see first hand how to be a good partner by watching the love & respect you have for each other when the 3 of us got to leave with each other for those few months.
Kendall Since I am your older sister, I tried to lead the way by showing you what to do – and often what not to do. * Ahem like lying to mom - never a good idea * At times you did follow in my footsteps – like joining me at Wake Forest, moving to NYC, living in the very same Greenwich Village apartment building, and pretty sure you’re using my exact honeymoon itinerary… Mac, I’m honored you follow in my footsteps but what makes you remarkable is that when you do what I do – you do it so much better. I was so proud that you came to Wake Forest so we could share in the fun and friendships. But what you accomplished there is what makes me even prouder – you didn’t just join greek life and scrape by with an ol’ communications major like me. You did much more than that. You graduated with honors from the business school, you started a scholarship fund, and you were recognized for doing selfless acts of kindness for the Wake community. As we’ve gotten older, the tables have turned and I now look up to you. You offer me heartfelt advice, insightful career guidance, and although you denied me when I asked you to be my financial advisor – I still appreciate your perspective on FIN-ANACE.
Teddy All of these aspects shape who Mac is – but he wasn’t complete until he found Amanda. As the story goes, they met at an Eagles bar in January of 2019 - GO BIRDS. Mac was smitten with this 5’5 pole vaulter but we knew it was more than her cute looks that kept him enthralled. Kendall Amanda's kindness knows no bounds. She effortlessly forges connections with people, regardless of who they are. Whether it's her most valued client or the 96-year-old she dedicates time to through volunteer work, she makes a genuine effort to establish a personal rapport with each and every individual she encounters. Amanda, we’re so happy that Mac found you. You’re loving, caring, kind, and support our brother in life from his career goals, to his crazy shenanigans with friends. Plus you put up with his Armenian shedding which is truly admirable. You’ve seamlessly integrated into our family life and we couldn’t be happier that today we officially have a sister. Teddy You know, someone once told us that “True love is your soul’s recognition of its counterpoint in another” and we are so happy that Mac and Amanda found that in each other.
We invite everyone to raise a glass - to Mac & Amanda - We love you! Mazel Tov!
With love, The Selverians
Down by the Bay Mac & Amanda 9.9.23 Gibson Island, MD