December 2022: “If life were like the movies…”

It was an honor serving as the Best Man in Justin & Jessica’s wedding last month in Brentwood, Ca.

Here’s an inside look at my toast to Mr. and Mrs. Orton:

“…I’ve been best friends with Justin since 7th grade.

And I’m confident the same qualities that make him a great friend are the same qualities that will make this a great marriage.

Because for as long as I’ve known him, Ort has gone “All in” for his teams. If you’ve ever played any sport with JO25, or watched a football game with Captain Cowboy, or nowadays, if you’ve seen Coach Justin at a Nitro Renegades Softball Tournament- you know exactly what I mean.

He’s loyal, passionate, and willing to do whatever it takes for his people and his squad.

And he does it with so much love in his soul. And a swagger in his step. And a smile on his face.

The guy I saw singing Blink 182 at the top of his lungs in Dewey Beach – sweating through his Tommy Bahamas – is the same guy who was always there for me growing up… picking me up in his Red Kia, often not knowing what the plans were- just knowing we’d have fun no matter what was ahead of us.

What I’m trying to say is: Justin Orton is ALL IN, ALL LOVE, and ALWAYS UP FOR A GOOD TIME.

You probably know this from your own stories and experiences with him. You likely felt this in the bear hug that he gave you when you greeted him tonight. I promise you- We’ll see this on the dance floor in a little bit. And we all know we saw this in the look on his face when Jess walked down the aisle. We’re all lucky to know this about Ort.

But nobody knows these qualities better than Jess, Aubrey, and Mason.

Shortly after he met them, they quickly became the top priority in his life. They became “his team.” He committed 100% to his role as a boyfriend and a father figure since Day 1. Whenever I’d see this couple together – or anytime I’d ask Justin about Jess – there was that spark that told me this is the real deal. And I was damn sure he would bring those qualities, that love, and that commitment into their future together.

But you know what I’ve also noticed seeing them over the past 5 years… not many people are more all in, all love, and always up for a good time than Jessica Orton! She’s JO 2.0.

As a mom, girlfriend, a professional- Jess brings that same passion, that same care, and that same zest for life that I admire in her husband. And if you’ve seen the way she is with Mason and Aubrey, and now Justin, you know how special her heart is. Jess, the same qualities that have made you a great friend to me and everyone else here, have made you “the one” for my best friend.

I’ll close by saying, standing up here tonight makes me think about something Justin wished for when we were growing up.

Ort, whose always been a sucker for “Chick flicks” and “Rom coms,” used to tell me while wearing his varsity jacket in our high school parking lot, “Man, I wish life were like the movies, ya know, where the beautiful girl falls in love with the star athlete.”

It didn’t quite work out that way for him back then, but my man-

That love story you’ve always wanted is coming true today!

And I promise you both:

if you go all in on the vows that you made today.

And pursue each other with joy and excitement the way you did in the Summer of 2017.

And continue to live your motto by “Relaxing your body, focusing your mind, and enjoying the ride”…

your marriage will be the best movie that you’ve ever seen. And you will get to press play every day for the rest of your life.”

So please raise a glass to these newlyweds. And as we make our own movies this Holiday Season, may we vow to be all in, all love, and always up for a good time…just like the Ortons.