Wedding Party
Crystal Salazar
Bride
I’m an emo kid. That's no shocker to anyone. However, my choice to wear skinny jeans, Vans, and band t-shirts while growing out my hair, getting inked, and piercing my nose was because I was convinced I was unloveable. And the women I dated seemed to confirm it. That is until I met her. I met Crystal when I was focused on improving myself for the first time in my life. I was career-focused, in therapy, eating healthy, losing weight, fixing my teeth, and dating for the sake of dating for the first time. Then she came along. Crystal shot her shot first and we hit it off immediately. All my jaded and jagged edges fit perfectly with hers; two star-crossed puzzle pieces destined to fit together. She became the first girl I ever kissed on a first date and I’ve been kissing her ever since. She is kind, patient, empathetic, accepts/supports my dreams, holds my hand and helps me breathe through panic attacks, and encourages the absolute best version of myself to claw his way to the surface. I still wrestle with feeling unlovable. I ask her daily if she still loves me. What she may think is a cute little way to play fight is me several times a day pinching myself that this is real; that someone like her truly loves someone like me. It still takes my breath away every time she says yes, yet I doubt I’ll ever stop asking. I wake up every morning in disbelief that I get to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you, Crystal. And I’ll never stop needing to be pinched.
Alex Robert Rose
Groom
As most (if not all) of you know, Alex & I met on Hinge. I had been on a few dates and chatted with a couple people but the conversations were lackluster and it was all just very meh. So when I decided to delete the app, a friend of mine convinced me to keep it just one more day. See what happens. Lo and Behold, Alex appeared. He had long hair and quirky glasses and compared himself to Nick Miller from New Girl (which I was obsessed with at the time) and something about his profile made him mysterious enough that I was very intrigued. So I sent him a message. Something silly about swapping punk playlists (because I also had literally just started creating a punk playlist of all the songs I used to jam out to). It felt kismet. He was different. During our first date, my mother called to check on me and when I told her we were still there, she was shocked because it had been 5 hours and I still wasn't ready to leave. At some point we had to call it a night and he walked me to my car and gave me a sunflower he had been holding on to in case the date went well. I left Go Get Em Tiger with a renewed sense of hope and couldn't wait for our next date. Cue in some hard times, tough conversations that forced us both to grow, the meeting of families and my tendency to self-sabotage and here we are, ready to face what life has to throw at us. Nothing in life is easy, and this relationship is no exception, but there is absolutely no one else I would rather do life with than this man.
Beatrice Figueroa
Maid of Honor
I met Beatrice in September 2008, the week before college classes began. We quickly became friends and bonded over what seemed like everything...Twilight, (yes, the obsession was real) Paramore, and many other things I can't quite remember because I have a bad memory (no seriously, ask Beatrice how many times she needs to retell stories or remind me of things that have happened. Its pretty bad). Regardless, since that fateful afternoon in September, we have been inseparable. We braved the scary early days of adulthood together (who decided 18 makes you an adult?) and learned to navigate through the ups and downs that come with growth and maturity. I knew early on that we would be friends forever, especially when we lived together sophomore year and didn't kill each other! I walked into our college suite, not knowing I would be meeting someone I would consider family one day, and I couldn't be more grateful the college changed Beatrice's room assignment last minute. It was fate. Now we're just waiting to be old bats wreaking havoc in a nursing home together with our other college suite-mate, Eunice! Long live, Taylor Swift! Beatrice is kind-hearted and fierce! A Hufflepuff (just like me!) with a wicked sense of humor, she can be found in the wild, making people's lives better and rocking out to Taylor Swift, punk rock and 80s jams. Conversation Starter Tip: ask her about Diego, parallel parking, Taylor Swift, or college shenanigans.
James Ewing
Best Man
In the far away distant land of Kasson-Mantorville, Minnesota, there lived a pop-punk emo drummer with a passion for tricking his peers into going to Youth Group, and a visceral denial of his coming baldness. This thin faux hawk wielding wanna-be skater boy (I mean he was more of a skater boy than I was since he could ollie and not be bleeding immediately thereafter) was James. Also known as Ewey. Though I vividly remember meeting James in the 5th grade, he doesn't recall meeting me until the end of his Junior year at K-M Senior High (to his defense, he really is terrible at remembering things). "Meeting" at work at the KDV (the local dollar and video rental store, ya know, when those still existed) James quickly became the first real friend I had. As an existentially messed up 16 year old, James invited me over daily whether that was to be playing Left4Dead in his basement, go snowman hunting during the brutal winter months, or to just hang at work while one of us was on duty, Ewey and Chewie (I'm Chewie) became inseparable. He hoodwinked me into joining him at Youth Group where I met Jesus for the first time in April of 2009, then convinced me to work at a Bible camp with him the following summer (and several summers thereafter), and eventually even convinced me to transfer to his scammy bible college North Central University a few years later (I still haven't forgiven him for that to be honest). He's always been there for me, and I've no doubt he always will be.
Chelsea Rose
Bridesmaid
After a few months of dating, Alex warned me that I needed to pass the "Chelsea Test" if we were to continue seeing each other. Instilled with fear, I tried my very best to never be available during family calls because I didn't want to blow it. However, one fateful September night, Chelsea and I met and bonded over FaceTime (the first calls don't really count). We had a 3 hour long heart to heart conversation while Alex was out in the living room losing to his dad in a game of pool. It felt like we had known each other for ages! From the first moment they spoke, I knew Chelsea was a kindred spirit and was excited at the possibility of gaining a sister. Suffice it to say, while we live roughly 800 miles apart, Chelsea has become a true confidant and sister to me. Chelsea is a fiercely loving and adventurous soul with huge momma bear vibes. She loves hard and is always in your corner, if you're lucky to have her care for you. A momma of 3 beautiful children and 2 big hearted dogs, a wife to a deputy and owner of many farm animals, she is always on the go. In her downtime, she loves a good book, creating new things (check it, she has her own candle making business and they are DIVINE), and rock climbing. Conversation starter tip: Ask her about Diesel, A Court of Thorns & Roses or her goat.
Joe Henderson
Groomsman
I met Joe Henderson at a party that his cousin was throwing in LA. His cousin and I were loosely acquainted through a friend from Minneapolis, and she invited me to a housewarming party since she and her cousin had officially moved to town. The quaint West Adams home was filled to the brim with musicians and hip-folk when all of a sudden, an UGG-wielding trend-defying force of nature came out of his bedroom. Thus was Joe. Mine and Joe's relationship at first was professional. He was a Lyft cruising dreamer who's dream was to make big songs for big artists to change the world. And I was kidding myself in trying to be an executive coach (fancy word for life coach about money). Joe hired me to coach him, and it wasn't long after that he was no longer a ride-share dependent; he was producing music full-time. To be honest, I did very little. Joe just got out of his own way. I fired Joe as a client once he was doing huge things (and I was living out of my car), primarily due to the fact I needed to put my own oxygen mask on before continuing to help Joe with his. I asked Joe if we could remain friends. He's been about the best friend I could've ever hoped for. Whether it was through tough stretches of unemployment, heartbreak over women I should've never been with, or playing Call of Duty/Red Dead Redemption just to check in on each other during the pandemic, Joe's continued to be a trend-defying force of nature to me, by being an LA homie who actually loved me for me.
Stephany Green
Bridesmaid
I met Stephany in Kindergarten at the tender young age of 5 but quite honestly, there isn't a time I remember when Stephany wasn't a part of my life. Throughout the ages of 5-18, we saw each other every day, hung out on weekends, and even celebrated New Years in Vegas together. In college, with me being in Riverside and Stephany all the way in San Louis Obispo, we still remained close. We saw each other grow up, held each other's hands through the heartbreaks and exciting new times, were a shoulder to lean/cry on in difficult times and cheered each other on during the happy times. Through our childhood, adulthood and absolute all-consuming obsession with One Direction (Stephany's fault), the friendship has remained. Stephany (and her now husband, the awesome blossom, Jared Green) provided a home away from home for me during the pandemic, even so far as buying me my own blanket for their house because I was asleep on their couch so often. She is the person who has THE MOST embarrassing photos of me throughout the years and who knows pretty much every detail of my life. Stephany is a loving, kind-hearted and welcoming soul. She is protective of those she cares about and doesn't think twice about standing up for them or to them when it is needed. Any girl would be lucky to call her a best friend, and I am one of the luckiest. Conversation starter tip: ask her about literally anything or any embarrassing stories of me (she has plenty).
John Rancipher
Groomsman
When I moved to LA, I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. With two friends from college, I drove for 40 hours in the span of 2 and 1/2 days, with one goal in mind: to make it to the Beverly Wilshire for Wednesday night service at this small church plant I'd heard rumors about. Upon walking in wearing what I hoped to be the coolest possible outfit I could've mustered from my journey, I saw this dude in St Laurent boots, Fear of God jeans, a long camel peat coat, donning an LA Dodgers hat. My jaw basically dropped to the floor. In a room full of celebrities, John Rancipher was easily the best dressed. As I got more plugged in I learned about John from other people; he was a television producer, a born and raised self-made Angeleno, close friends with the pastors, and had helped the church plant from day one. Eventually, I mustered the courage to introduce myself and what ensued was one of the most surprising and valuable brotherhoods I've ever had. Whether it was advice about LA women, getting me plugged in with people in the industry, giving me tough but fair career advice, having blunt and albeit abrasive conversations about church and God, or just giving me a place to sleep in my "character-building" (aka homeless) months, he's always been there. John's just always been the guy who picks up the phone. There's not enough I can say about him. He's a provider to the needy, a present dad, and a humble husband. I keep him around to remind myself of the man I hope to become.
Lily Main Ewing
Bridesmaid
Lily's and my friendship began one punk music-filled weekend in Las Vegas over an obsession with corgis and honestly, all animals in general. I first heard of her when Alex told me stories of the infamous "James and Lily" from his time at North Central University. When she sent me a follow request on IG a few months after Alex and I started dating, we began the road to friendship, but the real good stuff didn't truly start until October 2022 when we finally met in person. And honestly, she was not what I expected! Even though she didn't know me very well, she was immediately supportive and in my corner. Unfortunately, she got sick pretty early into the Las Vegas trip so we eventually got to know each other through social media. Now we send each other heartwarming animal memes and freak out over sightings of corgis at each other. Sometimes life gets extremely busy for both of us and we don't talk for weeks, but the animal memes for little serotonin boosts never cease. Lily spoils the ones she loves and I am eternally grateful to have a friend like her in my life. Lily is a free spirit and loves traveling with her hubby almost as much as she loves her blueberry acai vitamin water. She is witty, supremely random 90% of the time, and makes the best omelettes that I'm constantly trying to recreate since she lives so far away. Conversation Starter Tip: ask her about Mer, her camp name, Chaotic, or having big horsey vibes.
Eddie Rose
Groomsman
Edward James McLaren Rose sounds like the name of a king, or some person of massive influence. And to me, as his 7 year younger brother he was both. I wanted to be just like Eddie when I was a kid. He was a skater kid who was a force of nature on a soccer pitch, listened to all this edgy punk music, was a ladies man, but was also unflinching in his convictions never doubting who he was or what he was about. In a word, he was my hero. I did just about anything I could to get Eddie's attention as a kid, which was likely why I was constantly tattling on him or verbally harassing his many romantic interests. I couldn't help myself. Eddie was like a unicorn living in Kasson Mantorville (especially after he started dying his hair all these weird colors). And I just wanted to bask in his light even if at times that meant living in his shadow. Eddie was the first to leave the nest in our family. He was the oldest of our generation and the first to uproot and move outside of Minnesota. I thought he was so brave for doing that. Leaving Minnesota at the time (and well into my adulthood) was inconceivable. Moving to Colorado with nothing to his name, Eddie has fashioned a beautiful life for himself. He is a Corporal in the Colorado State Patrol, owns a ranch in the mountainside, married to a woman who is even edgier than he is (I love you Chelsea), and has 3 beautiful children of his own. Even after all these years, I still look to Eddie and think, "I wanna be just like him."
Eunice Barrientos
Bridesmaid
I met Eunice on move-in day in college, September 2008. I had never shared a room with anyone so I was pretty terrified of the whole dorming experience. What if my roommate and I didn't get along? What if this roommate was a psycho or, God forbid... a snorer? However, needless to say, Eunice is the one of the best people I have had the privilege of knowing! We clicked instantly and there began a friendship filled with laughter, girl-power, and adventure. Eunice, Beatrice and I were 3 peas in a pod and had a blast throughout college, forever getting lost driving to places and never taking anything seriously. Without her as a roommate, I am positive I wouldn't have survived that first year in Riverside. Thinking back, all I can really remember with Eunice is laughter. My fondest memory is when everyone on the 2nd floor of our building was gone and we decided to take all the furniture from the shared living room and pile it in front of the door to the boy's suite so they couldn't get in or out. And we recorded ourselves doing it. Fire hazard, you might say, but we saw it as hilarious. The video we took was sped up and I added "El Beeper" to it as the soundtrack...it was the best piece of cinema to come out in 2008! I'm also pretty sure we got in a lot of trouble for it but it was well worth it. Eunice's laughter is contagious and so loud, that you can hear her clear across a street. She loves Taylor Swift, travelling, camping family and friends. Convo tip: fortnite
Cooper Rose
Groomsman
I loved being the baby of the family. I mean I loved it. I mean I REALLY loved it. Life was good. I could tattle on Eddie as often as it seemed enjoyable to me. I got all the love & attention from Mom & Dad whenever I wanted. I had ZERO responsibilities or examples to set. And then Mom's belly got huge. Ever see those videos of older children (still as toddlers) meeting their newborn sibling for the first time? It's emotional, & adorable, & there's this immediate connection & bond that forms between them? The kind of bond that gives you hope & helps you to believe in something larger & greater than the confines of your limited trivial existence? Yeah. That wasn't us. Cooper & I were mortal enemies as children. He followed me around simply to rat me out to our parents the moment I did something out of pocket (what goes around comes around). He was the perfect guilty conscience child who could do no wrong in the sight of Mom & Dad. The kind of child who would snitch ON HIMSELF if he stepped out of line behind closed doors. Then he ended up being popular too, better at sports than me, better with the ladies than me, went to the same college as me. He jokes he just did everything I did, but better. He was just the worst. But he didn't stay that way. It wasn't until the pandemic that Cooper and I truly got close. The kind of close that makes you believe in something bigger than yourself. And now, there isn't anything I wouldn't do to be the big brother he always deserved.
Zoe Velasquez
Bridesmaid
I met Zoe during a wild time in my life...lots of friend gatherings, drinking, and midnight swimming in our friend, Gus' pool. Life in our early 20s seemed so simple and fun and being around Zoe was always a blast. After some time apart, we came back into each other's lives and have become closer than ever. Zoe honestly played a pivotal part in the beginning of my and Alex's relationship. Not only did she hold onto the inspiration picture of the engagement ring that took my breath away (in case Alex felt strong enough about me to want to propose), but she was also a huge supporter of our relationship. While I was still working through some trauma (as you do), she bluntly talked me through and made me see past the emotion. Despite her living hours away, anytime I needed anything, all I had to do was send a text and she would call almost immediately, and vice versa. I know the friendship Zoe and I have is one that will stand the test of time, after all, every giant needs a shortie! Zoe is one with the universe and a big fan of horror movies and all things Halloween time. If there is a scary, horror-themed anything, chances are, Zoe will be there! A talented chef and a big foodie, if you ever have the privilege of having her cook for you, you'll feel like you died and went to heaven. Conversation Starter Tip: ask her about Crocs (she got Alex and me our first pairs), anything horror-related, or Disneyland, she's a fiend for Disney ears.
Aaron Dawson
Groomsman
When I was in the fourth grade I was a conflict manager (playground patrol) and was urgently dispatched to a DEFCON5-level event; a boy was throwing rocks at a girl. Armed with a firm sense of duty, I approached the third grader to find an eclectic Pokemon fanatic with the thickest glasses I'd ever seen. When writing my report (because being a conflict manager was the pinnacle of social class in elementary school and a duty to which I swore an oath) I asked the boy why he was assaulting the young girl, to which he replied, "Because she's so pretty." And that's how I met Aaron Michael Dawson. Fast forward a few years to high school: Aaron had since chosen to be homeschooled, and I was still mucking about Kasson Mantorville Senior High hanging with James and one "Ericka Dawson." You guessed it: Aaron's big sister! Yay! Frequenting their house in Rochester, Minnesota to hang with Ericka with James, I became reunited with the playground terror himself. I quickly found myself heading to Rochester almost daily on my own to go hang out with Aaron, run to Kwik Trip to buy some Dutch Crunch Demon Chips and a case of Mountain Dew so we could spend the rest of the night binging Supernatural and playing Pokemon on our Nintendo DS's. Fast forward a few more years, and though we are miles apart, we still frequently play Pokemon and get lost in our own existentialism while taking the same comfort in conversations as if we were still in his basement.