Franziska & Adam
Wedding Party
Heather Monahan
Friend of Honor
Heather? I barely know 'er! For real though - this lil' nugget is the only sister of the bride, designated Friend of Honor and probably the funniest person involved with this event to boot! Heather is a talented multi-instrumentalist (a common theme in this cohort), singer and songwriter, which means they fit in perfectly at the Berklee College of Music where they're currently studying music therapy. If that wasn't enough of a killer resume, Heather is also a mean roller skater, doting cat-auntie and can build you the most decadent cheese and charcuterie board you've ever feasted your eyes (and tastebuds) on. And did we mention they're a hoot? Anyway, that is one toast we'll all be looking forward to...no pressure, bub.
Kyle Monahan
Brother of Bride
You can tell why from his photo, Kyle's most prevalent nickname is "Smiley." Kyle is the big brother of the bride and may just be the sweetest guy you'll ever meet. He also definitely has the best hair in the whole Monahan family. Along with hanging out with his little sisters, some of Kyle's favorite activities are listening to jazz, watching Ghibli films and hanging out in the orchard with his many animal friends. That's right, in addition to managing to charm every human he meets, Kyle has an amazing way with animals. Some of his farm buddies include (but are not limited to) cats, dogs, ducks and chickens! So if you see Kyle around at the wedding, stop by and say hi! He loves making new friends more than anything.
Eric Hendey
Best Man
Adam’s older brother. Probably the smartest guy in the room, but he would never admit it. After graduating from Harvard and spending a few formative years in New York City, Eric and Lea moved together to San Francisco, where they married and have been living happily ever since. When Eric sets his mind on something, there’s no doubt that he’s going to achieve it. Adam couldn’t get a better man to be his best man. Eric was Adam’s first mentor, his first bandmate, and his first friend. Eric’s always inspired his younger brother and continues to be a pillar of encouragement and support, even from the other side of the country. When he isn’t hiking with his Instagram-famous dogs, Eric enjoys DIY projects, playing guitar, and singing Ed Sheeran songs.
Lea Hendey
Sister-in-Law of Groom
Lea Hendey is Adam's sister-in-law and she is one of the most unstoppable people you'll ever know. Lea is an avid explorer and in non-pandemic times can usually be found traveling the country (and world!) with some of the most adorable travel buddies on the planet, her dogs Calvin and Samson and Cleo the cat. (Eric is usually there too.) Aside from jetting around to far-off places, Lea is also a master crafter, an amazing swing dancer and a gifted photographer. In fact, you can find her handy work all over this website as she shot the bride and grooms' engagement photos! You wouldn't guess it, but she says it was the first time she's ever photographed humans.
Hannah Steinkopf-Frank
Friend
Hannah and the bride have been BFF's ever since their sophomore year at the University of Oregon. Their bond was forged in the computer labs of UO's Allen Hall, where they spent hours finalizing projects for their introductory journalism courses. It was further strengthened over steaming piles of jollof rice and many (many) chilled bottles of STAR Beer while studying abroad together in Accra, Ghana during the summer of 2015. That isn't Hannah's only rodeo as a globe-trotting journalist either. She has also reported from Morocco, Belgium and Paris, where she is currently wrapping up a graduate degree at Sciences Po. And if that wasn't enough, Hannah is a talented seamstress and the author of the sewing newsletter: "Sew You Have A Question?"
Justin Graff
Friend
Justin is one of the most unstoppably creative people you’ll ever meet. He and Adam met early in their first year together at the University of Oregon and the two quickly became best friends, which mostly looked like eating Greek food late at night, coming up with crazy ideas for bands, singing Phantom of the Opera songs at 3am, and generally gallivanting around the city of Eugene. For four years, they never lived more than a quarter of a mile away from each other. Now, Justin’s a Master’s student at Indiana University, and with Adam living in Boston, you could say that things are a bit different! But the two still talk almost every day. He the meanest keytar player west of the Mississippi, he creates beautiful acrylic pour paintings, and, most importantly, he’s a fantastic person.
William English III
Friend
William (AKA Billy) and the bride have been friends since before either of them can remember. Growing up together in Boulder Creek, CA, weekends were often spent shuttling between the Monahan and English households for playdates and family BBQs. Now, William saves lives daily as an EMT. But when the cape comes off, he is (also) a musician and plays bass in the Arcata-based band The California Poppies. Most notably, though, William is a gifted actor. A few of his credits include J.D. in "Heathers: The Musical," Julius Caesar in "Julius Caesar" and Ren McCormack in "Footloose." Little known fact: William does a phenomenal vocal impersonation of the creature Gollum from Lord of the Rings, a skill he picked up from the bride herself.
Samuel English
Friend
The bride has had the pleasure of knowing Samuel English since he was born. And just like his real brother William, he’s as good as family. Growing up, Sam was an intrepid explorer during joint-family camping trips and an expert trampoliner. These days, he continues to seek out the unknown and explore great heights as an astrophysics major at the University of California Santa Cruz, where he focuses specifically in the study of dark matter. When he isn’t uncovering the secrets of our universe, Sam spends his time engaging in other lofty activities (literally) such as rock climbing and working as a freelance drone cinematographer.
David Brewer
Friend
David Brewer is one of the greatest living players of the Scottish Highland bagpipes, and that’s no exaggeration. There’s no denying his technical skill, his passion, and his exuberant and kinetic virtuosity as a performer. Adam was just learning to play the tin whistle when he first met David over ten years ago at the Community Music School of Santa Cruz’s Teen Celtic Music Camp, but the two quickly realized that they shared a deep musical connection. Over the years David has been a name on an iPod, a mentor, a collaborator, and a friend. David produced Adam’s first solo album, Forward, in 2016, and they play together in The Fire with Rebecca Lomnicky. In addition to being a totally wicked shredder, David is a formidable mixologist, AND he makes a fantastic tagine!
Rebecca Lomnicky
Friend
There’s something you might not know about this fiery fiddler - though she grew up in Corvallis, OR, Rebecca Lomnicky was the youngest person ever to win the Glenfiddich Scottish Fiddle Championship in 2009! But that’s basic trivia about this bandmate of Adam’s. Did you know that Rebecca has two master’s degrees and is finishing up a PhD? Did you know that Rebecca was a competitive ballroom dancer at Cornell as an undergrad? Did you know that competitive ballroom dancing is a thing? Rebecca is a brilliant musician and a brilliant person in every sense of the word. Even in the moments when she’s the star of the show, Rebecca brings out the best in everyone around her. She’s not just a great coworker - she’s a great friend.
Esteban Bustillos
Friend
Esteban and the bride met while they were both working at GBH News. Hailing originally from Texas, Esteban is a top-notch public radio reporter, specializing in the realm of sports – a crucial area of expertise in Boston, MA! It's also a passion that carries over into his personal life. This guy seriously wakes up at 5AM to shoot hoops and if that isn't commitment, we don't know what is. Outside of the world of athletics, Esteban excels at the art of the pun and enjoys a good historical reference. And finally, Esteban has many good opinions. One of which does not include his pick for best major regional fast-food burger chain (which is and always will be In-N-Out Burger).
Katie Locke
Friend
Ms. Kaitlyn Locke of Red Hook, NY, and the bride also crossed paths for the first time within the walls of the GBH Newsroom. These days, however, you can find her covering Washington D.C. and beyond as a senior digital producer at Politico. Katie is one of the most dedicated journalists out there, but aside from that she's also a supreme conversational partner on all topics pop-culture related, a foremost expert when it comes to Taylor Swift lyrics and an overall amazing friend. Not to mention, you'd likely be strapped to find anyone who rocks purple lock(e)s better than this absolute gem of a person.
Matias Arizmendi
Friend
Like many of their oldest friends, the bride and groom met Matias at the Community Music School of Santa Cruz’s Teen Celtic Music Camp. Adam and Matias would play tunes all day and late into the night, and the three have been friends ever since. Matias is a phenomenal guitarist who graduated from the Berklee College of Music, but his creative talents extend far beyond music. In his downtime he’s been a blacksmith and a luthier, and basically a gourmet chef - ask this guy about how he makes mashed potatoes sometime!
Evan Harger
Officiant
Evan knows how to lead people - he’s the best orchestra conductor Frannie and Adam have ever met! When the couple sat down to find an officiant, Evan immediately came to mind. Evan’s a thoughtful, compassionate, and talented educator. And he still finds time to hash out the meaning of life over Facebook Messenger with Adam from time to time!