Wedding Party
Emily Newlands
Matron of Honor
Alison and Emily met through Emily's husband, Kelan (the wedding officiant). After lots of hangs with the three of us, we decided to have their own girls night when Kelan was out of town and the rest is history. We became close friends, real quick. She is my soul sister, she knows what I want before I do, and can talk me out of my head anytime. Somehow every year that I have known her, we become closer and closer. Emily is the one who had the important job of corresponding with Tony to get my engagement ring details in order and she had an excellent poker face the whole time, keeping it all a secret from me. She's a Jazzercise Instructor (and a pretty big deal there) and is the first friend I told I was thinking I wanted to be a Barre3 instructor. She encourage me to go for it and knew I would be great at it. I'm so grateful for our friendship and long chit chats. From Saturday brunch marathons, Barre3 and Jazzercise classes, dates at the cellar, dirty martinis, aperol spritzes, trips to Chicago, Cabo, Arizona and more - she's my number one sister schoon! (IYKYK).
Alyson Cockerham
Bridesmaid
Alison met Alyson (I like to call her Atown and now many of you do too) after college working at the same elementary school, bonding over having the same name and going to school to become a teacher. We decided to go out one night together in Laguna and I felt like we were best friends in an instant. After that night our bond quickly grew. We lived together for 5 years in San Clemente, the dynamic duo, the Ali(y)son's. We have experienced so much life together and has been my ride or die since I met her. Both of us share a similar story of finding our person later in life and that’s something that bonds us. While many of our close friends were getting married and having babies, we bonded over what it was like to use dating apps. She got married in November 2024 and now has the sweetest little baby girl, Sienna. Over the years we have taken some epic girls trips together - Hawaii, Colorado, Mexico, and so much more. I love this girl so much!
Emily Hansen
Bridesmaid
Emily and Alison met at Cal Poly SLO, we were both Nutrition majors and had a few classes together our freshman and unfortunately that's not where our friendship began. Emily (and their other good friend, Nikki) thought I was giving off mean girl vibes and I thought the same about them. Which couldn't be further from the truth about any of us! I studied abroad in London my third year at Cal Poly and that's where I met Nikki who introduced me to Emily when we came back to SLO. We bonded over our shared taste in music, pizza, and contagious laughter. We all lived together our last year at SLO, having the best time; honestly more perfecting our beer pong skills and going to the bars, more than studying. Since our college days, we remained the best of friends - visiting each other wherever we lived as often as we could, traveling together (NYC, London, Amsterdam, and more), and going to so many concerts together. Thanks to Emily, since college, I need to sleep with a white noise machine and an eye mask ( IYKYK). Emily has been there for me in so many ways, I love this girl and our friendship so much!!
Kayla Sharrer
Bridesmaid
Alison met Kayla when she started dating her college friend, Kyle. Very quickly, Kayla stole Alison as her own friend. The fact that Kayla works for Nordstrom and is a barre3 instructor, she already was winning in my book. She immediately fit in with our crew of people and it was so easy to be her friend. I knew Kyle picked someone special, and was so excited when he proposed to her and they got married in February 2023. I stood by their sides as they got married and now Kayla gets to stand by my side. Kayla will go out of her way to celebrate anyone, she is a true hype girl, and is extra in the best way possible. Kayla is the friend who will have a dirty martini with you even though she doesn't like olives, just so she can have one with you. We unfortunately have a long distance friendship, she lives in Seattle, but we still manage to see each other a few times a year; whether its a girls trip or a Seattle visit or a SoCal visit, we make it a priority to see each other!
Zoe Stampfel
Bridesmaid
Zoe is Alison's cousin who lives in NYC, but we aren't just cousins, we have always been close friends. As little girls, we always had such a close and special bond and that has extended through adulthood. We used to (and actually still do) look at each other and just laugh; constantly getting the giggles and honestly, annoying my dad because we were always loud and laughing. Zoe is someone I can count on to be there for me when I need it. She someone that anytime we see each other, no matter how long in between, it is like no time has passed and we pick up right where we left off, and can still act like kids. Zoe is truly a kid at heart and I admire that about her. Zoe is a new mama, to the sweetest little boy, Asher (hint, he'll be the one kid you'll see at the wedding, the cute blondie with the blue eyes). I've always wished Zoe and I lived closer, but having an epic place to visit in NYC, will have to do!
Todd Larson
Best Man
Todd and Tony met in high school at Irvine High through their love of skateboarding. Todd grew up in the Northwood Community of Irvine and went to a different middle school than Tony and Teppei. Once they got to high school they all became close friends. Todd also wrote in letters to Tony after his move to North Carolina. In 1998 when Tony moved back to California he got a job at Hot Skates skateboard shop in Orange. A lot of their friends went away for college but Todd and Tony stayed in Irvine and attended Saddleback together. Todd got Tony into surfing and their friendship became stronger and the Larson family became a second home to Tony. Todd started a non-profit organization, now called Skate Wild, with their friend Mike helping the youth become successful adults through the avenues of skateboarding, nature and environmental awareness. Tony volunteered a lot towards their organization and got to travel the country quite a bit helping them with events. Todd still runs Skate Wild to this day and the boys skate and surf together whenever they can.
Mike Kershnar
Groomsman
Tony met Mike the same day he met Todd skateboarding in Irvine. Mike ripped at skateboarding, had tons of style and always rallied the homies together. Mike, Teppei, Todd and Tony would skate a lot together before Tony's move to North Carolina. That move for Tony was especially hard but what made things easier for him was the constant letters, postcards, videos, skate gear, etc that Mike would send through the mail. This was a time before everyone had internet and long distance phone calls were expensive. Once Tony moved back to Irvine the summer of '98 it was right back where the two had left off with skating, surfing, road trips and endless fun. In the Fall of '98 Mike went to UC Santa Cruz. Todd and Tony would make road trips to visit Mike multiple times a year and would explore the Santa Cruz and San Francisco areas. Tony and Mike both live in Irvine now and still skate and hang out regularly and Tony couldn't be more grateful to have Mike as a good friend.
Teppei Teranishi
Groomsman
Teppei is one of Tony's oldest friends and they grew up skateboarding together in the early to mid 90s in Irvine. Both of them went to Venado Middle School during the same time that Alison's dad, Perry, taught there! They spent a lot of time together as teens and became really close friends. Teppei was always a talented individual and was not only good at skateboarding but was very musically talented. Skate days would be cut short so Teppei could be home by 5pm for guitar practice. Tony and his family moved across the country in early '96 to North Carolina but stayed connected with Teppei through letters, postcards and skate videos of each other showing spots and tricks they've learned. Teppei and a few other friends started a band, Thrice, in 1998 which Alison was a fan of during her college years. Small world! Teppei and Tony still skate together regularly on Sundays.
Esteban Gonzales
Groomsman
Tony met Esteban in 2003 when living in Aliso Viejo. Esteban was a few years older and was already an established car racer and builder. Over the years the two would build cars together and race them at the track. Esteban was always like an older brother to Tony and someone he looked up to. Through all the years of moving, life changes, cars bought, cars sold, they've always remained friends. Esteban is a total bad ass and gives 100% into anything he does including an Iron Man Competition he entered in his 40s.
Steve Rodriguez
Groomsman
Tony met Steve through their love of cars around 2002. Steve also skateboarded which bonded the two even more. In 2003, Tony and Steve moved in together to a house in Huntington Beach and would host poker nights for their mutual friends. After Tony moved out of the HB house and was working at Eibach, he would see Steve every year at the SEMA trade show in Las Vegas and their friendship never skipped a beat. Tony and Steve are still very much into cars and still attend car shows and meets together.
Kelan Murphy
Officiant
Alison met Kelan in SLO, they had some mutual friends, including Kyle (Kayla's husband). We stayed in touch after college and started to hang out more when Kelan moved to Encinitas and even more when he started dating Emily. Kelan and Emily started becoming some of my closets friends; they are now like family to me. A long time ago, way before meeting Tony, I remember telling Kelan and Emily, "when I get married, I want Kelan to officiate my wedding." And here we are! When Tony and I started dating, Kelan and Emily were the first of my friends to meet him, and he and Tony became fast friends. I love that I have known Kelan for over 20 years, his wife is now my bestie, and now he and Tony have their own friendship; it's all so special to me and he is the perfect pick to officiate our wedding. Kelan is one of the most genuine people I know. He is so easy to get along with and always guaranteed to make you laugh.