Alex & Ray
The Wedding Party
Alanna Nardone
Matron of Honor
Alanna is Alex's lovely half-sister! Alex has so many special memories with Alanna since she was a little girl, like singing "Ghetto Superstar" in her car when Alex was 7 (that's right!), and family trips together in Key West! Kind-hearted and always thinking of others, Alanna lives in MA with her wonderful husband Chris, and their amazing kids Jocelyn, Tyler and Lila. Alex and Ray so look forward to making delightful new memories together with Alanna and her family!
Lindsey Hunneman
Maid of Honor
Lindsey is Alex's oldest friend, they met all the way back in kindergarten! They have a lifetime of memories together already, from the beginnings of the Pokémon craze straight through their obligatory "emo phase" in middle school, which Lindsey, Alex and Ray got to revisit together at a Taking Back Sunday / Coheed & Cambria concert last summer! : ) Lindsey is an unwaveringly dedicated friend, and one of the hardest working people we know. Lindsey lives in the Boston area where she works as a substance abuse counselor.
Mel Haydu
Bridesmaid
Mel is one of Alex's very best friends, but really Mel would be the first to clarify that she knew Ray first! A dear friend of the band and as-needed backup singer, Mel and Alex got to know each other singing with Des and the Swagmatics, bonding quickly over their not-at-all-a-secret 90's pop obsessions. Alex and Mel love singing and dancing like nobody's watching, finding great food together in Asbury Park and sending Ray unbelievably goofy selfies of their girls night adventures. Mel is a get-you-through-your-day kind of friend. She's also sarcastic as hell, stay on your toes people! Mel is a hospital residency program director and devoted cat mom living in Eastern Pennsylvania.
Andra Johnson
Bridesmaid
Andra was the life-saving first friend Alex made in New York City. They met working together at a barbecue joint in Lower Manhattan; after a little conversation on a slow day, Andra straight up asked, to Alex's joy and relief, "Hey, can we, like...be friends?" They soon grew to be very close, exploring all over the city together, and making a now legendary trip to Key West. Andra eventually invited Alex to move in with her in Harlem. This is where Alex lived when she met Ray, so Andra also was the ever-important first friend whose approval Ray was able to win over...the mini Christmas tree he surprised them with that December sure didn't hurt! Andra is a makeup artist and lives in NYC with her amazing husband Alam.
Jessi Baroody-Saada
Bridesmaid
Jessi is Ray’s brother Steve’s wife! She has been like a sister to Ray since the day Steve first brought her to Jersey, bonding over Middle Eastern food, good books, and a shared sense of duty to community. It’s been a friendship that has deeply strengthened Ray's bond with his twin into their adulthood. When Ray and Alex got engaged and Steve and Jessi came to visit, Jessi’s reaction to getting to have a sister meant more to Alex than she can truly express. Jessi is an event manager at the Maryland Film Festival, and lives in Baltimore with Steve and their handsome dog Bodhi!
Des Spinks
Bridesmaid
Des is the "Des" in Des and the Swagmatics with Ray on keys! She met Ray in the cast of a storied 2008 "off-off-off-off-Broadway" production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Years later, she happened to be teaching voice and piano in the next room at Ray's then-new job at School of Rock in 2012. Des invited Ray to help reform her band for a 2014 Prince tribute show on Halloween at Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, and the rest is history! Des was also one of Alex's first friends in New Jersey, and has honored Alex with regular invitations to sing backup with the band at their bigger shows. She's as much a powerhouse personality as a performer, with a work ethic and creative drive to match her wicked humor and trademark incredible laugh! Des lives in Eatontown, NJ with her beloved boyfriend, George.
Jocelyn Nardone
Junior Bridesmaid
Jocelyn is Alex's niece, daughter of Matron of Honor Alanna! She's an awesome student, and an impressively tough lacrosse player! Accordingly, she'll also be working security at the wedding reception... ; )
Tara-Ashleigh Brennan Dorfman
Bridesmaid
Tara is one of Ray’s closest friends from high school—despite never actually being classmates! They met when she auditioned for a play at his all-boys high school in 2004. As sweet and strong as a proper cup of tea, Tara, now a dear friend to Alex too, has always been at the heart of their group of high school friends, and when you meet her you’ll immediately understand why! Bonus points if you make her start snorting mid-laugh! She works in risk assessment/management, and lives in the Bronx with her gentleman-saint of a husband, Ben.
Lyndsey Cooke
Bridesmaid
Lyndsey is one of the first friends Alex made when she moved to Red Bank with Ray. Lyndsey was already a good friend of Ray's band Des and the Swagmatics. She and Alex hit it off quickly at a Swagmatics show, and upon discovering Lyndsey lived two blocks away, they started regularly meeting up after work nearby in Red Bank, always having a much needed wonderful time together. She's a tremendously thoughtful and generously caring friend, as sweet as they come. Lyndsey is a talented artist and graphic designer living in Union Beach, NJ with her boyfriend Bryan.
Steve Saada
Best Man
Steve is Ray’s fraternal twin brother, or as Ray calls him, “my ex-wombmate”. They learned together from their mom Gerry to always cook with love, from their dad Farid to work hard and play harder, and from LEGOs how to build IKEA furniture without the instructions. He’s a film/tv audio engineer/boom operator, as well as a talented carpenter. Last year Ray was delighted and honored to be Best Man when Steve married his most loving wife Jessi, who is also a bridesmaid! They live in Baltimore, MD, with their magnificent pup Bodhi!
Peter Lee Phillips
Groomsman
Peter is Ray’s oldest friend (aside from Steve, that is). They go back to first grade, but ironically only got really close once they went to different high schools, bonding over music, theater, and gut-busting laughter. The Saadas’ house was Peter’s second home throughout their teen years, often arriving after school before Ray and Steve even did! Peter has long been the unofficial “triplet” to the Saada twins. Peter lives in Toms River, NJ, and has a career in high end cosmetics and fashion.
Evan O’Donovan
Groomsman
Evan is Ray’s college roommate and friend. They were each other’s musical sidemen [and emotional caretakers] during their storied time at the Fordham Lincoln Center dorm and in their instrument-crowded Spanish Harlem apartment, especially playing in their old cover band Vinyl Tap! [Yep.] They were and remain truly the Simons to each other's Garfunkels. They even stood side by side singing at Carnegie Hall with the Fordham choir! Evan, along with fellow groomsman Tony, was there for every record spun, song sung and adventure had in college, and many more since! Evan is a medical researcher, gigging musician and truly terrible skateboarder living in Brooklyn.
Tony McGowan
Groomsman
Brooklyn’s finest himself! Tony is Ray’s friend from his years at Fordham Lincoln Center. They met in the back row of a theater tech class, and the laughs came quickly. In college, Ray, Tony and groomsman Evan could nearly always be found together, whether in the corner booth at their favorite college bar, pushing to the front of a concert crowd, exploring the mystic depths of Central Park, throwing legendary parties, or listening to jazz LPs and talking til sunrise. Their companionship was massively formative for Ray, and Tony was undoubtedly the force that kept the adventures coming. To this day, Tony is always up to something... Be sure to share a laugh with this guy at the wedding!
Craig Lawlor
Groomsman
Craig is Ray's friend and bandmate in Des and the Swagmatics. They've been jamming, backyard grilling, and wincing through each other's jokes since 2014, when they were recruited together to join the band to perform a Prince tribute show for Halloween at Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ. Craig is an absolute monster drummer and powerful singer, but a quick search on Google or YouTube will also reveal his storied past life as series regular on As The World Turns! (Yes, seriously, and yes it's amazing!) A family man and fiercely loyal friend, Craig is undoubtedly the goofiest human being living in Keansburg, NJ.
Kevin Stryker
Groomsman
Kev is Ray's friend and bandmate in Des and the Swagmatics. Before Kev brought his formidable prowess and instinct as a bassist to the band, he and Ray met in 2016 loading tour trucks late into a rainy night outside the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ, talking music all the while. Kev is a funky evangelist of harmony and positivity, with a beautifully strange sense of humor...it should be evident why Ray and Alex love him! Kev is a proud papa to his gorgeous baby boy Koda, and lives in Brick, NJ, with Koda and his fabulous babymama Kiannah.
Jimmy Farkas
Groomsman
Jimmy is Ray's friend and bandmate in Des and the Swagmatics. They've shared musical fellowship and god awful jokes since Ray joined in 2014 as they tackled a Prince tribute show for Halloween at Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ. Like Ray, Jimmy is strange. (Speaking of which, if anyone, musician or not, wants to play in a Tom Waits tribute band, Ray and Jimmy are actively recruiting!). Jimmy is about as jarringly talented and versatile a guitarist as you are likely to meet. He has two awesome kids, Chaela and Ethan, and lives in Asbury Park.
Rusty Zimmerman
Officiant
Ray and Rusty met in 2012 working a booth at weekly farmers markets across Brooklyn and Manhattan, spending the wee small hours of the morning through sunset in Union Square or Grand Army Plaza, laughing together over exotic foods Rusty would somehow materialize from his bike messenger bag. They've been sneaking decadent meals into concert venues together ever since. Rusty has an ability to make friends anywhere, and consequently he seems to have friends literally everywhere. Along with being a licensed minister, Rusty is an acclaimed painter/portrait artist, talented chef, and respected community activist in Brooklyn. He's sure to bring charisma, sincerity, humor, and his most soothing New Orleans drawl to Alex and Ray's ceremony!