Wedding Party
Rebecca Altschul
Matron of Honor
The wordly sister who is flying in all the way from Copenhagen, Denmark as a mother of now TWO! Her tolerance of Erica was slim during childhood - though the loud singing and annoying morning wake ups didn't help. Luckily, adulthood brought them closer together (even to the point of roommates). They bonded over dating, a career in medicine, and fantastic restaurants. Not just sisters, but truly great friends. Erica has (and will always continue to) admire and look up to her big sister.
Aysu Saliba
Bridesmaid
Does anyone light up the room the way Aysu does? Never have you met a more thoughtful and warm person. While it's been 20 years of friendship, nothing has changed between Erica and Aysu (despite SO MUCH having changed in life). Erica still forces Aysu to sing at any possible minute and Aysu encourages Erica to make a fool of herself on the dance floor- they remain each other's biggest fans. You can bet both the dancing and singing will be happening all weekend long.
Annie Atia
Bridesmaid
Annie came into Erica's life in a whirlwind story (seriously, just ask about their meet cute), but it quickly became one of her deepest and most important friendships. While daily city row classes together have morphed into a long distance relationship, their mutual obsession remains strong. Life looks a bit different, as Annie is now the mother of beautiful twins born this June, but it just adds to the celebration of this year. While she cannot join us in Mexico (I hear having newborn twins is hard...) she is here in spirit and was an integral part of the engagement story <3
Vina Nguyen
Bridesmaid
Vina is unforgettable, and it is guaranteed she'll make an impression on you. She made a huge one on Erica's day one of internal medicine residency, and they have been bonded ever since. She is fierce and passionate yet warm and loving in the moments you need it most. Erica and Vina may be on opposite coasts, but traveling together is what they excel at, so distance has no impact. Be sure to look out for Vina's mini me, Valentina, her adorable daughter that will surely steal your heart in Mexico.
Kara Kweder
Bridesmaid
As Erica's oldest friend, Kara has seen it all and knows all the deep, dark secrets. Despite knowing everything, she has never wavered in her friendship with Erica. Kara has put up with a lot - Erica's terrible makeovers, endless dance choreography, and snoring during slumber parties, to name a few. However, Kara remains the most loyal of friends, and they will always be part of the Talon Way crew. Please do yourself a favor and make Kara laugh this weekend because she has the most infectious laugh you've ever heard.
Abbey Wirtz
Bridesmaid
Don't ask Abbey about how she met Erica... it may have been a sarcastic joke gone wrong during college orientation. Luckily, Abbey could look past Erica's lousy sense of humor. No one has made Erica laugh as hard as Abbey, and there are tears (of joy) whenever they are together. Erica is ecstatic that Abbey is a soon-to-be mom with a baby on the way - due right around Erica's birthday! Unfortunately, this means Abbey will not physically be present, but her love is felt all the same.
Adam Hull
Best Man
Ian's older (and wiser) brother who has helped shape Ian's love of board games, weightlifting, and hiking through as many national parks as possible. Don't let his quiet nature fool you - he will get you with witty remarks and sharp humor when you least expect it. And never challenge him to a game of Trivia as you'll surely walk away disappointed. Be sure to cheers him at the wedding - but never with water... ;)
Brandon Rook
Groomsman
Brandon and Ian met at a high school party and their shenanigans have never stopped. Brandon took Ian under his wing as the mature Junior when Ian was a Freshman and he has been guiding Ian through life ever since. He is fiercely loyal, moderately stubborn, but always a good time. We look forward to playing his favorite drinking game - "shut up and drink".
Alan Lynch
Groomsman
Alan is hard to miss, but not because of his size - he has the biggest personality in the room and the loudest laugh you've ever heard. He thrives in group activities (take that as you will). While boisterous and joyful, he's also thoughtful and surprisingly introspective. We thank him for inspiring our destination wedding choice, but be sure to tell him the start time is 2 hours earlier as that's the only hope in him showing up on time.
McKenzie Hull
Officiant
The official ambassador for Fireball... That part's a lie, but she may as well be. There is never a dull moment when McKenzie is around. She may be Ian's sister, but she's become one of Erica's favorite people. You'll understand as soon as you meet her. She's hysterical, perhaps one of the strongest women in all of Ohio, and will beat you at any word game you've ever played. It was clear to Erica and Ian that the person who perhaps knew them the best was McKenzie, so it only made sense to ask her to marry them.
Natascha Altschul
Flower Child
Natascha has been preparing for this role since the day she was born. She may have been the one to put the most pressure on Ian to propose so she could fulfill her role as the most beautiful flower girl. But don't let her beauty fool you - she will win out on any obstacle course there is. There will have to be at least one Taylor Swift song at the wedding to appease this Swiftie!
Aksel (+ Leo, Sam, and Ethan)
Ring Bearer
Aksel, the youngest of the boys, will be escorted by his older cousins - Leo, Sam, and Ethan. What Aksel lacks in age he makes up for in tons of giggles and immense dinosaur knowledge. Already bilingual and an expert at construction tools, he's bound to be a highlight of the wedding. Leo, the oldest and wisest of the crew, helps to keep everyone in line with his even-keeled temperament, but he will destroy you in ultimate frisbee so beware. Sammy, close in line, is the baseball star and overall sports aficionado, whose quiet humor will take you by surprise. Ethan may be small, but he is mighty with his incredible intelligence and creativity, creating new worlds and new games every day. Just try to keep up with the rules. You'll find these three thick as thieves and most likely capturing Pokemon.