Alexis & Paul
Wedding Party
Melissa Redden
Matron of Honor
Alex is proud to call Melissa a best friend. Melissa is a quick-thinking, creative, hardworking mastermind, and one of the most fun people we have ever met. Melissa has always encouraged the best in Alex and has shown through her actions just how wonderful and reliable people can be. We call Melissa and her husband, Will's apartment our home away from home, but the truth is, they are. We both love Melissa so much and are excited to share this day with her.
Briana Afren
Bridesmaid
Bri is a friend who is fun, loyal, incredibly loving, and the loudest person we know! We have so many fun memories with Bri, and we know that she is someone who will always be there to make up silly songs or bother our friends with pranks when times are good. Bri also has been a wonderful source of strength in our lives when they are hard, coming to visit us when we were camping out at the hospital during Alex's mother's illness, and always being there to listen. Bri is such a special person to us and we are so proud to have her among our best friends.
Lilly Calloway
Bridesmaid
Lilly is a sweet, fun, beautiful person who enriches our lives so much. We love spending time with her, her fiance, Brent, and her precious dog, Lulu. Alex and Lilly did not grow up together but they've grown as people since they've known each other, and it is so important to surround yourself with friends who encourage growth, honesty, and understanding, as well as who know how to have the most fun ever! Alex could not imagine getting ready for a fancy party of any kind without Lilly's advice, let alone her vow renewal!
Bennett Krosse
Bridesmaid
Bennett is one of the most special people in Alex's life. Alex and Rafael looked after and took care of her and her brother, Kentaro, when they were teenagers. Bennett and Ken gave their lives purpose and direction, and they forged a family bond that can never be broken. Kentaro is no longer with us, but Bennett personifies his best characteristics every day. Since she was a teen, Bennett has always been compassionate, loving, creative, and willing to share a precious sense of vulnerability. As an adult, Bennett is the mother of two fantastic children and she makes us so proud as she teaches them to be strong and loving little people. It was Bennett who first lit the fire of animal rescue in Alex, taking in Keidis, the cat that now belongs to Rafi and Jamie, when Bennett found her as a tiny, sick, kitten many years ago. Bennett is always looking out for all creatures and lives life with an open heart. There is no one Alex is more proud of.
Whitney Moret
Bridesmaid
Whitney has been Alex's friend since they met at Simon's Rock, where both girls attended Early College as teenagers. A tight bond was formed through the hijinx and drama that came along with living on a mountain with a bunch of other teenagers and reading Foucault. Whitney quickly became more than just a friend that Alex could have fun with: she became one of her most trusted confidants. The two have supported each other through all sorts of life events and have learned what it takes to keep a friendship going for more than half a lifetime. Whitney is a brave, honest, accepting person who has always pushed Alex in the right direction. She is one of the smartest people we have ever met, and there's no such thing as spending too much time with her. Whitney is under arrest for being the best.
Mish Rogers
Bridesmaid
There is no one in the world like Mish, which is sad for everyone who doesn't know her because everyone needs a friend like this! We adore this fun, quirky, far-too-honest girl who pushes Alex to take care of herself and dive into her creativity. Mish makes everyone feel at ease and safe wherever she goes. She pushes Alex to try new things and meet new people, but she's also the kind of person that we love to spend the day on the sofa with, just chatting and enjoying each other's company. Mish has been a huge advocate for Alex getting the diagnosis and care that she needs for her medical conditions and she always makes her feel like she is okay no matter what shape she's in. Most of all, she's got a huge heart that she wears on her sleeve, and we adore her for it!
Naomi Smith
Bridesmaid
Naomi is another friend who Alex has really grown with, even though they didn't technically grow up together. The two have shared a lot of tough times together, with some kind of magic putting them in the same space on their darkest days. It's a blessing in disguise: there is no friend that Alex trusts more with her most raw emotions. Naomi tells Alex the truth without sugar-coating it, but she also stubbornly sticks around when Alex is making choices Naomi doesn't agree with. Alex loves having a friend who is as spontaneous as she is and might just drive to LA one night to visit, and will always pick Alex up from the airport at short (or no!) notice. Naomi has a beautiful soul and a sense of humor like no other. She's also the first friend that we spent time with as a couple when she came up to visit us at the cabin we stayed at in Colorado, taking the first photographs of us as a couple. Being a part of Naomi's children's life has also been hugely important to Alex, and she is especially excited to share her day with Naomi's youngest daughter, Harriet, who will be one of our flower girls!
Alex Thomas
Bridesmaid
Last but not least we have Alex's Best Best: the other Alex. These two share more than just a name-- they've shared road trips, late-night adventures, last-minute brunches, shopping sprees, and lots of secrets. Alex is an extremely sensitive and compassionate soul who always makes the other Alex feel seen, heard, and cared about. She makes us laugh so hard that it hurts whenever we hang out and she tells the best stories. She has answered countless "Can I vent?" texts and always provides the best shoulder to cry on. Alex is the kind of friend that you never doubt and who you know will always follow the compass of her heart. We are so proud to have her as a friend and a bridesmaid.
Jamie Gamboa
Best Person
Jamie is Alex's partner, but Paul immediately wanted to ask her to be his Best Person when we started planning this event! Jamie is such a huge and wonderful part of our life and family. We can't imagine life without her. She makes us feel safe, gives the best possible advice, and makes our all-time favorite food. Jamie is someone we both can be fully honest with, even in situations that are difficult. She's someone who you know will always take care of you, no matter what you need. She listens, loves, and brings so much joy and laughter to our lives. Jamie is so smart and intuitive, and she's so generous with her talents, having chosen roles in life that allow her to give back to people in need in a way that few do. Both of us love Jamie with our whole hearts. Her strength holds the people around her together and her love protects them. There is no one better to have by your side.
Rafael Gamboa
Groomsman
Rafael is Alex's partner and one of Paul's very best friends. He's one of the most talented people that we have ever met, and he keeps us engaging with the passions that we love by encouraging us to think deeply and remember that creativity is a gift. Rafi is a person who loves deeply and unabashedly, using his own strength and stability to prop up those he loves who need it. Alex has always felt supported by Rafi in this way since they first met at Sarah Lawrence over 15 years ago. Rafi's sense of humor is infectious, and his sense of justice is undeniable. He's willing to be a doofus, is the best Cat Dad besides Paul, and never hides it when he is happy or delighted, laughing and exclaiming in a way that makes everyone else in the room smile. Rafi holds us all close with his love and courage and keeps us forever unwavering. We are so honored to have this man in our lives and we know that he will be there with us for all of our days.
Roman Kalinovski
Groomsman
Alex's brother Roman is one of our other favorite people! A truly creative man who marches to the beat of his own drum, Roman has been making Alex laugh since she can remember. As children, they encouraged each other's imaginations with long-stretching pretends that included complex canons and lexicons. As adults, they still push each other mentally, working together on articles about film and art, or having long, in-depth discussions about Twin Peaks. Alex and Roman are often caught thinking about the same thing at the same time, including truly random stuff: a phenomenon that they call "Meatbox" after an obscure music album that they both randomly thought of on the same day. Roman is a talented artist and has a beautiful mind, explaining complex concepts as if they were simple. His insight is so valuable and unique. He is extraordinarily well-read and is the person most likely to want to go lie down to look at his art books. More importantly, Roman has stuck by Alex throughout all sorts of ups and downs in her life and has always accepted Paul as part of his family. We are so honored to have him as a groomsman.
Will Redden
Groomsman
Alex and Paul met Will shortly after he started dating Melissa and quickly became good friends with him. Will is kind, compassionate, and funny, and both of us love to spend time with him. Will is always incredibly supportive and is willing to step outside of his comfort zone in order to do so. He and Paul share a lot of obscure interests and have long conversations about them-- likewise, no trip to New York is complete without Alex cornering Will for an hour-plus conversation about film style. Will and Paul are kindred spirits in a lot of ways: gentle souls who look at the world with an inspiring sense of curiosity and with deep and undeniable affection for the people that they hold dear. Will and Melissa opened their home to us for months on end when Alex's mother was in the hospital, with Will often making us homemade meals to help us to decompress. His kindness and support during that time means the world to us. We both feel that he's the kind of person we can always be ourselves to, no matter the situation. He's smart and creative and good in a crisis. We are so glad that Melissa met this wonderful guy and brought him into our lives!