Wedding Party
Nick Avanzato
Groom
Hailing from Western Mass, Nick’s dream was always to work in baseball. Though the dream shifted from playing to management, his ambition and hard work landed him his dream job with the Yankees. He’s always wanted someone to share that dream with and finally found that person in Alli. Nick also loves exploring the Tampa Bay area (with Alli, of course), Bucs football, and has fully embraced Cat Dad life. One of Alli’s favorite things about Nick is his instinct to protect and support those he loves, his giving spirit, and his ability to authentically connect with absolutely anyone. That was three things, but you can’t have expected her to give just one.
Allison Hensch
Bride
Alli is a Boston-born, Oklahoma-raised girl with a deep love of stormy days, empty lap pools, manatees, and Nick, which is why we’re all here. A former single cat mom, Alli is thrilled Millie and Matilda now have a dad and she has someone to clean the litter box. One of Nick’s favorite things about Alli is how much she cares for the people in her life. She’s always thinking about other people, how to uplift and support them, and how to make the world a better place. She puts a smile on Nick’s face everyday and brings him such joy and happiness.
Dan Joslyn
Best Man
Dan and Nick met when they played Little League together at 9 years old and they became best friends through youth baseball and basketball. Though they attended different high schools, they spent countless hours together playing sports, making lip sync videos, and just having fun and laughing. Dan has always been there for Nick through the good and the bad and is a great friend. Nick considers Dan a brother and he’s spent so many memorable days and nights with the whole Avanzato Family.
Sarah Gilbert
Maid of Honor
Sarah has been with Alli through some of the toughest times of her life, always with immeasurable support and love. They are true bosom friends (read “Anne of Green Gables” for reference) and family through and through. Their friendship is stronger than Sarah’s love for elephants and cozy mysteries (which is saying something). Sarah never stops inspiring Alli to be a better person and has taught her heaps on patience, composure, and kindness simply by being herself.
Dan Lajoie
Groomsman
Dan and Nick met prior to freshman year at UMass and both attended the Sport Management program together, often debating many sports topics. They later became roommates and co-workers with UMass Student Catering where Nick was offered the prestigious position of student catering manager…prior to him leaving to work in baseball. Dan works in sports television programming and will no doubt oversee his own sports trivia TV show someday.
Rory Gilbert
Mate of Honor
Rory is Alli’s official unofficial godchild, spirit animal, and source of joy. Their infectious confidence and compassion is beyond compare. Whether it’s taking an evening stroll around the neighborhood, belting out the Mean Girls: The Musical soundtrack on a drive to nowhere, or tricking Alli into near-death experiences on rollercoasters (okay, maybe a smidge dramatic), Rory and Alli never don’t have fun together, to the point where a double negative is needed.
Hadi Raad
Groomsman
Hadi was Nick’s boss with the Yankees and remains a great mentor and friend to this day. Hadi would often fire up the smoker and have Nick over for BBQ and Family Dinner with the Guardians of Kensington. Hadi and his best friend Brody also hosted some amazing tailgates at Raymond James Stadium before Tampa Bay Buccaneers Football games. Hadi has always believed in Nick and was key to helping him get where he is today, something Nick will always be grateful for.
Megan Wertz
Bridesmaid
Megan and Alli go way back to the early 2000’s and questionable dance routines in middle school gym class. They only grew closer in high school, and despite Alli moving to Florida for college, remained tight and continue to be there for each other through all life throws at them. The distance between Oklahoma and Florida can be rough, but they will always have the Haunted House/Monster Asylum/Dinosaur Museum in Branson, Missouri.
Victor Roldan
Groomsman
Victor was one of Nick’s first bosses with the Yankees and helped Nick become a season-ticket holder with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Victor and Nick have enjoyed many NFL Sundays together at Raymond James Stadium watching the Bucs and Tom Brady competing for championships. Victor and Nick also enjoy a good round of golf and dinner at Paladart.
Jessica Petrello
Bridesmaid
Without Jessica, Nick and Alli would not have met (maybe). Jess turned Alli onto an online dating advice Instagram account that ended up providing the tools and confidence for her to lean into the process. Turns out, Nick followed the same page and took the same advice. That’s just the type of person Jess is - supportive, encouraging, always helping others - even when she doesn’t realize her impact or it goes unacknowledged.
Ethan Sander
Groomsman
Ethan and Nick worked as Video Managers with the Yankees and both attended Major League Baseball Scout School together. They are also longtime fantasy football friends and have a yearly tradition of completing at least one fantasy football trade. There’s no doubt that 2025 is Keaton Mitchell’s breakout year!
Marissa Avanzato
Bridesmaid
Despite frequent assumptions, Marissa and Nick are NOT twins. They are, however, incredibly close and a brother/sister rockstar duo. One of the things Nick admires most about Marissa is her strong will and confidence. Like her brother, she also has a love of baseball and a mission to visit all MLB stadiums in the US. She was immediately welcoming of Alli when she and Nick started dating, and the more time they spend together, the more excited they are to be sisters.
Justin Schwartz
Groomsman
Justin and Nick became good friends when they worked together in Player Development with the New York Mets and lived together in Port St. Lucie, FL in 2013, their first year working in professional baseball. They spent long hours together at the Mets Complex and talked baseball back at their apartment. Justin & Nick also lived together in Astoria, Queens during the 2014 baseball season. Justin is a huge In-N-Out fan and believes they have the best burgers out there.
Lisa Allen
Bridesmaid
Family by blood and friends by choice, Lisa and Alli have only grown closer over the years once Alli stopped being the annoying little cousin wanting to hang out with the big kids. Lisa has such a calming presence, incredible generosity, and radiates warmth. She’s always been a safe space for Alli and is super welcoming, sweeter than the cake we’ll have at the wedding, and incredibly funny and relatable. Spending time with Lisa and her family usually means sore cheeks from laughing so hard.
Chris Whiting
Groomsman
Chris and Nick are both UMass Sport Management alums but grew closer once they started working as Video Managers together with the Yankees and later became longtime roommates. Chris and Nick especially enjoy an NFL Sunday filled with multiple screens and RedZone. Longtime fantasy football competitors, Commissioner Whiting does an excellent job. Nick and Alli are very grateful to Chris for forgetting to cancel his Wall Street Journal wine club subscription.
Kasey Feijo
Bridesmaid
Freshman year college roommates to lifelong friends, Kasey and Alli were so grateful to Rollins Residential Life for pairing them together, they even delivered cookies to them at the end of senior year. Kasey’s ability to make everyone feel special and her tendency to break out in song when prompted by a word or phrase are just a few of the things Alli loves dearly about her. Fun fact - Kasey flew all the way to Sydney, Australia for 4 days right before the semester started to see Alli and Becca. Talk about a good friend.
Becca Wilson
Bridesmaid
Becca is sunshine in human form. She and Alli have been around the world and back together. Friends from orientation weekend at Rollins College, they went on be roommates for a semester abroad in Australia, travel buddies in New Zealand, and bunkies at surf camp. While training for her 48052139th marathon, she still finds time to hop a plane to Japan twice in 6 months. Research is currently ongoing to determine how to bottle her energy as a sustainable fuel source.
Joe Avanzato
Father of the Groom/Officiant
Joe supported Nick’s love of baseball by becoming President of Pittsfield South Little League from 2000-2003, and the whole Avanzato Family spent countless nights at Deming Park during those summers. Joe and Nick enjoy golfing together and traveling to see Joe’s beloved Las Vegas Raiders. Joe is one of the best handymen there is…something that he clearly did not pass on to Nick. What he did pass on was his relatability and ability to connect with anyone, making them feel like the most important person in the world. Nick and Alli can’t think of anyone else they’d rather have marry them (except Elvis, but he’s unavailable).
Marianne Avanzato
Mother of the Groom
Marianne has always been there for Nick and is one of his biggest supporters. She always gave him the freedom to explore his passions and once he fell in love with sports, she did everything she could to help him enjoy life and chase his dreams. This included hitting him endless flyballs and groundballs at local baseball fields, taking him to every playground in the city and shooting hoops with him in the backyard. She’s definitely the athlete in the family and Nick enjoyed so many fun competitions with her over the years.
Victoria Hensch
Mother of the Bride
Victoria gave birth to Alli many moons ago, something I think that they are both quite grateful for. Growing up, Victoria and Alli had a lot of adventures camping, hiking, road tripping, traveling, and sometimes raising a little hell. Alli is the person Nick fell in love with because of Victoria, DNA aside. Her compassion, convictions, goofiness, and love of travel and cats are just the tiniest fraction of all the wonderful things Alli picked up from her mom. Without her endless love and unconditional support, none of us would be here.
Tony DeAngelis
Father of the Bride
Many of the experiences Alli was fortunate enough to have had would not have been possible without Tony. Some of her favorite memories with him are from their bi-annual road trips from Oklahoma to Florida and back during college with their trusty atlas that Tony originally thought was dumb to buy and later couldn’t be parted from. He’s a mean cook and has never eaten a steak that he couldn’t have made better himself (self-proclaimed). Their primary expression of love may be to poke fun at each other, but the amount of teasing only represents the strength of that love.
Eli Wertz
Ring Bearer
Eli is Alli and Nick’s favorite little dude, even when he tells Alli he loves her mom more than her (Victoria bribes him with books). A connoisseur of trains and bubbles, Alli and Nick can’t think of anyone better to secure expensive jewelry than this spirited 2-year old.
Millie
Meow of Honor
Matilda
Best Meow