Robin & Brian's Wedding
Wedding Party
Jordan Robbins
Maid of Honor
My Maid of Honor, my voice of reason, my lobster. J and I met at Point Loma Nazarene University, where we bonded over baseball, parties, love and loss and heartbreak, and our grand visions for the future. Sprinkled in were a love of “Friends,” “Sex and The City,” and fashion; trips to Vegas, NYC and L.A.; and a few ill-advised nights dancing in Tijuana. (Back when we could easily stay up til 5 a.m.) Then there was that embarrassing moment with Howie Mandell outside NYC’s Shubert Theatre…but that’s a moo point. J is my north star, my greatest confidant, and my Unagi.
Chris Marcoux
Best Man
The pride of Dublin, CA! Chris and I met on the rough-and-tumble lanes of a BMX track back in 2001. Initially mildly-competitive adversaries, our relationship quickly blossomed into a friendship, both on and off the bike. Whether scouting out the Bay Area’s perfect ale house or road cycling for hours through the Oakland Hills, our adventures always feel like home. The familiarity of our conversations, equally weighted in memories and what the future holds, feels like a worn-in, comfortable leather chair. Perpetually unwavering in his values, Chris is my guiding light, a calming presence, and steadfastly authentic. A devoted husband and father and one of the few people who know how to handle me when I’m fussy – he ignores me – I’m honored to call him my Best Man. And my friend.
Annie Karstens
Bridesmaid
Nothing cements a friendship like eating a warm bowl of mac-n-cheese and watching rom-coms in your pjs. That’s where it began. Bonding over our tenuous living situations – as freshmen Nease Hall neighbors at PLNU – is where it grew. Annie and I met at university and shared a love of all things ‘hygge’ (Danish: coziness, contentment) and any chance to get in costume, including a Christmas pj party for the Orpheum Theatre’s late-night showing of “Home Alone” and 80’s gear for dinner at The Max, the “Saved By the Bell” pop-up diner. A rising actor in L.A. (YouTube “CarMax Fred Durst” or “Olly Lovin’ Libido Checkout” and thank me later) with a wicked sense of humor, she is sunshine in human form.
Colin Sacks
Groomsman
The pride of Campbell, CA! Collin and I met in 1998 in the storied halls of Westmont High School. We solidified our friendship by sneaking off campus; we were stealthy, skilled, and never got caught. While classmates skipped class for more illicit activities, we used our hours of premature freedom from classes constructively – working on our culinary chops! My friends and family know I love to cook, and I formally credit the Sacks family’s kitchen with harnessing those early endeavors. In the many years since grilling steaks and cruising the streets of Silicon Valley in his 1969 Ford Gran Torino (with a meaty 351 Windsor), Collin has become a husband, father, and has changed his hairstyle exactly once. We continue to bond over our love of cooking and our disagreements about wine. And he is my culinary friend.
Bonnie Walters
Bridesmaid
Fearless and adventure-driven, Bonnie is a free spirit at its most enviable, with a bravery I one day hope to posses. Adventure for us started in her parents’ garage – looking for the treasure chest that rusty old key unlocked – and in the woods behind my parents’ home – where horses were unicorns and my pool was the ocean – and eventually led us to Woodstock, Las Vegas, Montreal and Maui, among other places. There was also our childhood trip to Walt Disney World, where faking our ‘broken’ right arms after an inspiring trip to a magic shop was perhaps our dumbest and most dedicated moment of pretending. One of my oldest friends, Bonnie is the life of the party I never want to leave.
Ian Winfield
Groomsman
The pride of Syracuse, NY! As charismatic as one can be, being around Ian will make you feel like you’ve been well-fed and have sunk into a blissfully warm hot tub, which I believe is influenced by his university experience in Toronto (you know…Canadians). Ian and I met in 2011 while working at Goodrich Aerospace; later, United Technologies), and from our first conversation I knew we were destined for a great friendship. Countless house parties and travel destinations later, I’m grateful my early premonitions came true. The king of dad jokes and unique “Winfield-isms,” Ian’s an admired friend, husband, and father. He will criticize my weak Monikers game – and he’s not wrong – but he’ll do so in the most endearing way possible. And that is why he is my friend.
Christina Ventimiglia Topacio
Bridesmaid
“Fashion should be a form of escapism and not a form of imprisonment.” – Alexander McQueen. Sartorial escape is how we found each other; graduates of FCC (Fashion Careers College), ‘Venti’ and I became fast friends our first year studying fashion, graduating together with honors. She has that rare ability to make anyone in her presence immediately comfortable and vulnerable and feel like the most important person in the room, which is why she makes friends – effortlessly – everywhere she goes. Our favorite places include the LA Fashion District, at Le Dîner en Blanc, and Rose.Rabbit.Lie. (Even during that one long night…) An immensely talented makeup artist and designer who has created Hollywood-worthy costumes and ready-to-wear collections shown at San Diego Fashion Week, Venti has the drive and passion of a CEO, the loyalty and warmth of a Golden Retriever, and the style of Anna Wintour (…or Miranda Priestly).
Mark Falcha
Groomsman
The pride of Milford, CT! Mark made his 2,857-mile journey from his peaceful coastal hometown to 10 feet from my desk at United Technologies (formerly Goodrich Aerospace; later called Collins Aerospace) in San Diego in the fall of 2013. Mark and I became friends through our love of sports, craft beer, endless Seinfeld references, and the general pleasure of living in San Diego during our early 30s. Since then, Mark’s friendship and influence have challenged me to grow into a better version of myself, which is probably why our dogs – gregarious, goofball Dixie Mae and gentle, soft-spoken Zoey – share an irrevocable bond. I like to think that Southern California gained more from Mark’s relocation than New England lost from his departure, partly because I’m selfish. But mostly because he’s my friend.
Leigh Smith
Bridesmaid
My oldest friend and first real soulmate, Leigh and I met at age 6. Gymnastics, pool parties, Barbies and scary movies were all seminal parts of our childhood. Her mom taught us to make the perfect potato boats while her dad told us (really) scary bedtime stories, ensuring that sleepovers always made for late nights. A voracious reader and lifelong runner with a disarming demeanor, Leigh uses her charm to make others feel seen and significant and to spotlight them whenever possible. My 30th birthday in Las Vegas reached its peak when, at Ghost Bar, Leigh found a few Italians to sneak up behind me and sing “Tanti Auguri a Te” (“Happy Birthday to You” in Italian). Effervescent and warm and with the greatest laugh you’ll ever hear, Leigh is everybody’s best friend…especially mine.
Ryan Bolin
Groomsman
The pride of Menomonie, WI! Though not related (he’s a “Bow-Lean,” I’m a “Bow-Len”), this Badger’s word is as dependable as the day is long. I met Ryan in the fall of 2011 after misdirected emails at our company (Goodrich Aerostructures; later named United Technologies; then Collins Aerospace; now Raytheon Advanced Structures) exposed the uncanny similarity in our names. Fortunately our names aren’t the only things we share; early on, we bonded over our shared love of adventure, the outdoors, and the hilarity of confusing bartenders with our tabs. They always thought we were messing with them – Ryan, Brian; Bolin, Bolin. Our deep conversations and trust in each other made our bond even more meaningful. Forever my voice of reason, Ryan has the heart of a lion and is as strong as one, too. And he is my friend.