Wedding Party
Vertika Srivastava
Maid of Honor
Vertika, Twinkle to her friends and family, is Akshita's dear cousin. Since the 1990s, Akshita and her family would visit India every two years for at least six weeks. For months before each visit, Akshita would impatiently anticipate seeing Twinkle. They would spend their time braiding each other's hair with beads and accessories, reading Harry Potter, and joining forces against their mass of male cousins intent on bullying them and stealing their toys. Now, Twinkle lives in California, but they still find time to stay in touch and visit each other.
Rachel Fagan
Bridesmaid
Akshita and Rachel met in 2019 while working on a political campaign together and have since become best friends. They bonded over political discussions, attending protests, and spending time Up North climbing sand dunes and skiing. Now you'll find Rachel and Akshita attending hot yoga and Soul Cycle classes multiple times a week, and stuffing their faces with hand-pulled noodles afterwards.
Emma Fagan
Bridesmaid
Emma and Akshita met in 2019 while working on a political campaign. Since then, the two have spent time watching horror movies Up North in Rachel and Emma's cabin, skiing, and exploring Lake Michigan beaches. Emma is Akshita's go-to person to learn about indigenous sovereignty and its relationship to preserving the environment, and Akshita will never forget that Emma promised Akshita that she would teach her how to forage for different plants and mushrooms. Akshita is still waiting on that promise to be fulfilled.
Cole Larance
Bridesman
Akshita and Cole met in 2019 while working on a political campaign. Since then, they have traveled to Ohio to canvass for Nina Turner and meet Cornel West, spent time in Rachel and Emma's cabin Up North, and recently went to New Orleans for Akshita's bachelorette party. Cole currently lives in Brazil, and Akshita is super grateful that he will make the trip back up to Michigan to attend her wedding. Cole is hoping that Rachel, Emma, and Akshita will start taking regular boxing and martial arts classes, and Akshita is hoping Cole will stop sending them links to the Ann Arbor martial arts gym.
Syfith Jeet Singh Bhatia
Bridesman
Akshita and Syfith met at a party on the University of Michigan's campus in 2016. Since then, Syfith has become a part of Akshita's family and often comes over to make chai and hang out with her, Preeti, Dan, and Khush. Syfith and Akshita have traveled to DC and Traverse City many times together. Syfith and Akshita love talking about Taylor Swift and Lana del Rey, hanging out with their dogs Khush and Blu, cooking yummy dinners and desserts, and growing fruits and vegetables in their gardens.
Ritika Walia Srivastava
Bridesmaid
Ritika is Akshita's cousin and is flying in from India for the wedding. She helped Akshita with all of her wedding shopping and is bringing all of the wedding favors straight from India, so make sure to say thank you!
Jonathan Naski
Best Man
Dan and Jonathan have been best friends since 2000 when the two met in Mrs. Elskin’s kindergarten class. From playing Monopoly or Battleship or Super Smash Bros at Jonathan’s house to listening to the Beach Boys in Dan’s basement to visiting each other in college and afterwards, they have always found time to hang out despite living in different parts of the country. Dan can always count on Jonathan to have his back and is so thankful to call him his best friend!
John Maxey
Groomsman
Dan and John have known each other since 1995, when they were born a few months apart from each other. Probably Dan’s oldest friend, John and Dan grew up together, spending most days together in the summer going to their grandparent’s house to swim in the pool. They played baseball together as well. But long before that, John Maxey and Dan Paglia participated as ring bearers in another wedding, Dan parents’!
Tommy Paglia
Groomsman
Dan has always looked up to his older Tom (or Tommy as he’s known around the family). Tom has always led by example and always has kept family close. Akshita and Tom have also bonded over their shared interest in law. Tom and his wife Ewa are expecting their first child later this year.
Kory Christoffersen
Groomsman
Dan and Kory were classmates at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine. They bonded over their mutual love of osteopathic philosophy and always pushed each other to learn as much as they could about medicine. Even after they moved away from Hattiesburg, MS to different corners of Mississippi for clinical rotations, they partnered together as pathology tutors and have continued to communicate regularly about all things “medicine” and “not medicine”!
Akarsh Verma
Groomsman
Dan and Akarsh hit it off quickly when Dan and Akshita started dating! Akarsh is Akshita’s younger brother and he currently lives in New York. When Dan individually asked Preeti Verma and Akarsh Verma for their blessing to propose to Akshita, Dan specifically recalls Akarsh laughing and quickly saying, “Of course!”. Dan is so thankful to have Akarsh as a future brother-in-law!
Joe Reinhard
Groomsman
Dan and Joe became friends in high school at U of D Jesuit, playing board games with Jonathan Naski and the rest of the fellas. Dan and Joe went on to be roommates together during their freshman year at University of Michigan and continued to hang out together afterwards! Dan is thankful to have a great friend like Joe!