Wedding Party
Ryan Lerda
Best Man
First best friend and only brother of the Groom. Ryan courageously accepted the duties of being his older brother's childhood wide receiver, catcher, and at times, punching bag. As an indispensable half to their unstoppable duo at pickup football games, Ryan got that DAWG in him. He is still known as RyDawg in the streets. Lives in Manhattan, NYC. Does something with money that nobody understands. Runs marathons really fast (2:38:10) and is a magician with Microsoft Excel.
Alex Dye
Maid of Honor
She and the bride started their current careers together, becoming fast friends over a shared fondness of the Pittsburgh Steelers of all things. Alex and Alyssa (both from the south) then took on Chicago for a fun (and freezing) chapter. Alex is funny, smart and the life of any party. For anyone wondering, she does not keep up with basketball. Which, according to her is what is played at the MLB World Series.
Mike Gardner
Groomsman
Took on adult life side by side with the groom. Initial flight training in Beaver County, football players and classmates at Geneva College, almost two years worth of Air Force Pilot training, and current co-workers. As roommates for most of Pilot training, Mike and bride-to-be have had several strategy meetings on cohabitating with the groom. Dirty dish mountain has been a focus of those meetings. Mike lives in Bridgeville, PA. Southwest Airlines 737 First Officer, and Air Force KC-135 Pilot. Known for supernatural navigation abilities during a night out on the town. He is a decent golfer and drives a Subaru.
Ashton Thornburg
Bridesmaid
She and the bride were paired together for flight attendant training and decided to live together when they both got based in Dallas/Fort Worth. Of all of the shared memories she has with the bride, the most noteworthy is the night Ashton had to dish up a whole lot of encouragement to push Alyssa out the door and go on a first date with the groom despite having nothing to wear, having a bad hair day and being nervous (unbelievable, really). She's from Fort Worth, Texas and definitely not Dallas (this matters).
Collin Tuthill
Groomsman
One of the groom's best friends through Air Force pilot training. Collin was there through it all. Classmates and simulator partners for nearly two years. The two guys could always be seen laughing and joking and became known as more of the "party type". Yet, everyone has their own style, as Collin made it all the way to become an Air Force Instructor Pilot on the KC-135 currently stationed in Japan. Speaking of style, Collin is a world class Florida beach bum from Navarre, FL. You can't miss the guy in the backwards visor and Costa sunglasses like a Backstreet Boy in 2004.
Ashton Hickey
Bridesmaid
Older sister of the bride and mother of the flower girl. She was a very thorough teacher for her sisters. For example, the consequences for borrowing her clothes are far greater than you might think. Her teaching days didn't stay in her childhood, she currently teaches 6th grade in Texas where she lives with her husband and two beautiful daughters.
Antonio Muia
Groomsman
Antonio and the groom became fast friends early in college at the CCBC aviation school. It all started on a spring break trip to South Florida. Several more South Florida trips ensued, along with a lot of Coronas, and a lot of limes. Antonio has been called the "dumbest smart kid" you'll ever meet. The bilingual airline pilot with two bachelor's degrees in Aviation and Physics, struggles to remember where he put his keys, where he parked his car, where he is and what he has to do the next day. It's a true triumph if he remembers to show up for the wedding day. Lives in Miami, FL. American Airlines 777 First Officer. Look for the guy singing Spanish rap songs with a Corona in hand.
Airiel Moon
Bridesmaid
Younger sister of the bride. She was a mischievous and determined child who was nicknamed at an early age "the boss". She and the bride took on their adult life together sharing their first apartment where she maintained her "boss" title. These days she spends her time at home in Texas raising her baby girl, fishing with her husband, and no doubt bossing their chickens around.
Andrew Nicolucci
Groomsman
Andrew and the groom met in Air Force KC-135 training in Oklahoma. They soon bonded over their shared appreciation for travel, music, Italian heritage, gin, and put plainly, manhood. As the only member of the wedding party to squat 400lbs, Andrew is a high testosterone individual. He let's you know this by being the loudest guy in the room, and yelling everything he says. Lives in the North End of Boston, MA. Former Army Black Hawk Helicopter pilot, and current Air Force KC-135 pilot and Delta 767 First Officer. If you don't get a chance to meet Andrew, it's ok. You'll hear all he has to say from across the room.
Sydney Lerda
Bridesmaid
Sister of the Groom, the third of the four of them. She moved to Boston where she now has a successful career in marketing with the Boston Beer Company. Like her brother, Ryan, Sydney is an avid runner. It might seem coincidental that they both like to run, but it seems that the groom took all the cool sports. Sydney embodies the female version of the flannel wearing "my cousin from Boston", as she enjoys beer and marketing Sam Adams and its brands.
Tanner Jackson
Groomsman
Tanner traveled the world and served as the primary Boom Operator on the KC-135 on every military deployment the groom has been a part of. Countless flying hours as a crew on Air Force operational missions, roommates in a glorified shipping container in Afghanistan, and recreational cycling teammates in Guam, Tanner and the groom have seen a lot of beautiful and not so beautiful parts of life together. An avid Pittsburgh Penguins fan, and a self-proclaimed "Foodie", Tanner can often be found arguing with people about hockey, and looking for where he can find his next high quality, romantic dinner with our without any company. From Beaver, PA. Tanner was selected to join the club and become a pilot on the KC-135 and is currently in USAF Pilot Training. It was said that he really just needed the pay raise to support his "Foodie" lifestyle.
Ally Lerda
Bridesmaid
Ally is the youngest sibling of the Lerda family. She was the first baby the groom learned to care for as a young 8 year old. Ally is undertaking the noble pursuit of becoming a nurse in college in Cincinnati, OH. She also works in the hospital as a patient care assistant while attending school. When Ally is not busy helping to save lives, she can often be found in a hooded sweatshirt on the couch with her phone, sending snapchats of corners of her face with no words to her other Gen Z friends because that's what they do.