Alexis & Cody
Wedding Party
Sharona Mallach
Maid of Honor
Sharona and Alexis go all the way back to Tee-ball. Although we've not lived in the same place for many years, whenever we link up we pick up from where we left off as though no time has passed. If back in SoMap you can find us frequenting Bagel Chateau or the Tratt or Roman Gourmet for a slice. We have also done numerous road trips together and haven't killed each other yet. Both of us have a love for sports even if Sharona likes the BoSox (as she calls the Boston area home)...GO YANKEES! She is the sister Alexis never had and been there for her through the good times as well as bad times. Lending a hand at anytime without question. Everyone needs MY Sharona in their life...also don't sing that song or you may not survive the weekend ;-)
Anya Boboye
Bridesmaid
Anya and Alexis have been friends since the 5th Grade. They were in the same homeroom from middle school onward plus in many classes together. Their childhood homes were walking distance from each other's. When not busy with school work Anya was teaching Alexis her dance moves so they could boogie down in Florida. One of their memorable trips was Spring Break together during college in Panama City, Florida with Alexis' Hokie Framily. They road tripped the whole way down and only one armadillo was harmed. Anya still considers New Jersey home, but now lives closer to Alexis as she now lives in Houston.
Michelle Braunstein
Bridesmaid
Michelle and Alexis are college besties having been friends for 20+ years and proud Hokies. We've traveled to bowl games together, shared bday celebrations, spring break in Panama City, trips to Chicago, visited Blacksburg to see Metallica play, graduations, and more. She was there for the proposal and one of the first people Cody told before he popped the question in front of 20+ friends during our shared bday BBQ in San Diego. When not traveling together we enjoy singing karaoke at local watering holes near and far or checking out wineries. Although we reconnected in San Diego where Michelle still lives, Alexis looks forward to visits from Michelle and other gal pals of theirs in New Orleans.
Lindsay Dofelmier
Bridesmaid
Lindsay has lived many places much like Alexis, but they met in Denver. They traveled to Austin together for Lindsay's bday as that is where she went to Law School, Go Longhorns! Avid travelers there have been random airport layover visits at DEN over good food/wine including the time Lindsay finally got to meet Cody. Also, both gals love rescuing dogs/cats and besides animals they share a bond with nature having gone on many hikes together during their time in Colorado. Lindsay was with Alexis when she heard the news of her Mother's passing as the girls were on a hike in the beautiful town of Conifer with no cell service. When they finished hiking and got the call they immediately pulled over, there was a sun shower with a rainbow afterwards as they toasted to Mom. Lindsay is the friend you can call or text anytime of the day and she will more than likely respond as she views her friends as family.
Valentina Sasieta
Bridesmaid
Valentina is the epitome of a friend, a longtime school classmate, and an icon. She and I both hail from Anchorage, Alaska, as we both met each other as freshmen at A.J. Dimond High in the Fall of 1998. I was an extremely unjust and unhealthy social outcast for the majority of my grammar school and secondary school years until the Spring of 1999, when I started to improve my mental and physical health after a dire health warning from my pediatrician in October of 1998; at the time, I weighed 308 lbs. at the age of 14. Though I lost some 80-plus pounds from that time until the Fall of 1999, Valentina could not have cared less, she savored my persona for who I was, and was always an open conduit when it came to talking about current events, pop culture, personal life struggles, and just trying to figure out the existenial question, "Does it really all matter?" After our high school graduation in 2002, we failed to keep in touch. But, as much of a Pandora's Box as social media is, we were able to reconnect in the late 2000s, thanks to MySpace (and subsequently, Facebook) coming onto the public sphere. And, like that, we organically picked off where we left off in 2002. In 2012, she graduated from NYU and became an accomplished dentist, in her own right, at North Brooklyn Dental Care. Given my longtime history with the Tri-State and Alexis hailing from there, my day of matrimony would have been a wide void without Valentina present.
Haylie Logan
Bridesmaid
Haylie is, unequivocally, my "ride or die" friend in all the years I've lived in Southern California. Our story of how we met is for the ages! But, don't let her Generation Z exterior -- nor her penchant for "You only live once..." behavior (for better or worse) fool you: she is whip smart beyond her years, and her expert knowledge of economics -- along with having started her own media consulting company years after working with major names in the media in Los Angeles for several years (pre/post college) after graduating from San Diego State University in 2020. No small feat, considering that the media industry is still recovering from the pandemic and the labor strikes of the early 2020s. Despite our generational divide, we are "peas in a pod": we have nearly the same taste in music (both diehard Depeche Mode fans!), television, standup comedy (I took her to her first-ever comedy shows; ask me those stories later -- they are stupendous!), film, fashion pop culture; you name it, we match! But beyond her welcoming demeanor & talent, her care and concern for those downtrodden, military veterans, and the marginalization of the LGTBQIA+ community is beyond compare. She has been proudly out since her teen years and will always give you an open ear and the time of day to make sure you are heard. Her family has long become my surrogate family. It would be improper, had she not been, in the official wedding party of one of the biggest days of Alexis' & my life.
Kennedy Garcia
Bridesmaid
Like Haylie, Kennedy is another late-era Millennial/Gen X'er well beyond her years. Kennedy & I became very close friends through my other bridesmaid, Haylie -- as they were sorority sisters from their time at San Diego State University (SDSU), from 2016 to 2020. Given that Haylie moved back to Los Angeles County after graduation from SDSU, she spoke highly of me every time he and Kennedy connected once-a-week to speak, as we both resided in San Diego County. We both are, literally, carbon copies of one another when it comes to taste in films & music, pop culture, lived-in experiences, views on current affairs, and how we care for other people in the fabric of our society. When I had the biggest outing of my life, at the time, with Alexis in celebration of my 40th birthday at the renowned Raised by Wolves speakeasy in La Jolla, California, Kennedy was the VERY FIRST person to show up one hour before start time -- as Alexis & I got there early to oversee the logistics. She was so three-dimensional in the first-ever conversation she ever had with Alexis that later in the night, Alexis pulled me to the side and said, "She's a good egg and I totally dig her vibe." Kennedy has been to multiple relationship-centric events with Alexis & me over the course of our two-year relationship. It was a forgone conclusion that Kennedy would be part of the biggest date of our lives.
Ben Myers
Groomsman
Ben and Alexis have been friends since the 1st Grade, they met when Ben was pulling on her pigtails at which point Alexis turned around and bopped him on the nose. They then continued their meeting at the principals office. One bloody nose later and their Moms meeting (Ben's Mom said he deserved it for picking on her and Alexis' Mom said well she has three older brothers what do you expect?) their friendship begrudgingly continued as requested by the parentals. The principal let them go and following this incident Ben eventually had to attend Solomon Schechter Day School for many years until they were reunited in high school. It was Freshman year at Columbia where they bonded over late nights at stage crew trips to the diner, working Carmen for his Dad, wondering if Jeremy B. broke the NJDMV on 911 as he and others broke way too many chairs at the Ritz Deli. Last but not least lets not forget all the Table Talk Pies that mysteriously disappeared from A&P and consumed by Stage Crew and breaking Borek out of the locker. So many shenanigans in high school to recall and many that did not happen due to all the bomb scares ;-) Ben is such a committed friend he is getting married one week before in NJ and then coming down to NOLA the following week to be part of Alexis' special day. Who knew a punch to the nose would result in so many memories and a lifetime of friendship.
Eric Watkins
Groomsman
Eric is the brother Alexis never knew she needed, he is always ready to engage in hijinks and down for anything including going on a teambuilding trip for work in Canada. We met through our run club the Hash House Harriers at St. Louis Green Dress many moons ago. Not only have we traveled together (including camping in Missouri in June every couple years with 200+ of our closest friends) we've also gone on long bike rides with our friends on the Katy Trail (almost 70 miles roundtrip) with camping and bluegrass music. We're also well-known matchmakers having introduced my friend Laura and his longtime friend Pat to each other (now married). At their wedding Eric joked he thought he would never be in a wedding party at his age, little did he know he was going to get asked about a year later to be in our wedding. Eric hails from Illinois, but still many years after graduating college calls CoMo his home.
Gregg Pearlman
Groomsman
Gregg was one of Alexis' first friends she made in Colorado. He's her Jewish brother from another mother and designated show/festival buddy. We've road tripped to Montana to visit close friends in Missoula, seen Billy Strings and Phish many times, camped/hiked together, and had many doggo dates with Mando and Teddy. Before relocating to Colorado 21 years ago, he called San Diego home (Ocean Beach) and offered brotherly advice to Alexis when she moved there. Although she only lived there for three years, Gregg made sure to introduce her to long time friends of his and got out for visits (for shows) as well. When not making visits to SoCal Gregg enjoys his time in Colorado exploring the beautiful scenery of Colorado via snowboard or paddleboard and even took Alexis out for her first paddleboarding experience.
Lee Rader
Groomsman
A fellow Sailor, who is still serving in the Armed Forces, like Cody -- Lee is one of the few people that Alexis has gotten to know well from his inner realm within the Navy. Over the course of their first year as a couple, Lee was instrumental in helping both relocate from their tiny condo in the North Park subdivision of San Diego to the City Heights subdivision. More pointedly, Lee happens to be one of the most, "cool under pressure", people that both Alexis and Cody know. And, to add value: he was an encouraging factor in Cody proposing to Alexis -- one full year ahead of it happening in August 2025. Both are proud to have Lee be a part of their special day of matrimony.