Kathlena & Bradley
Wedding Party
Sophia Neang
Matron of Honor
Sophia and Kathlena first met in 4th grade in Cambodia and were pretty much inseparable throughout middle school and high school. They moved apart but wrote pages and pages of letters to each other (who knew two kids had so much to discuss?). They even managed to become duplex neighbors for a year, sharing a door that might as well have had a revolving sign saying, “Open 24/7 for bestie access.” This constant traffic let them make lots of memories. Even though Sophia, with her extroverted love of dancing and RnB, and Kathlena, the shy bookworm who vibed to pop punk, were total opposites, they bonded over their shared adventures, travel, and their half Cambodian “gon-gat” culture. High school pulled them in different directions, but they reunited as roommates at CBU for a year, proving that true friendship can survive any challenge. Today, despite Sophia's Texas adventures and Kathlena's California life, their bond remains unbreakable. They’ve perfected the art of long-distance friendship, managing to see each other every year and continue their tradition of making new memories. It’s a good thing they each love exploring the state the other is in, as jamming to country music in the car has become a new shared bond as well as visiting beaches as much as possible.
Jacob Vangore
Best Man
Coming all the way from Des Plaines, Illinois, Jacob met Bradley during their junior year of college. Jacob was his next-door neighbor in the campus apartments. Drawn in by the smell of Jacob's mother's homemade curry, Bradley had to see if he could have some. They quickly connected over their shared sense of humor, often doing bits together (in college, it was It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), and soon became friends, then roommates during senior year. Over time, Jacob became Bradley's best friend to confide in—whether it was about faith (he even got to baptize Jacob!), relationships, or life, Jacob has always been there. They still make an effort to see each other, and their Chicago trips together have been some of Bradley's favorite times. Many of his best memories have Jacob in them, and it’s hard for him not to bring Jacob up every chance he gets. Jacob has made such an impact on his life.
Sophie Segger
Bridesmaid
Sophie and Bradley first became friends while working together at Saddleback Church. When Sophie returned back to California from Germany earlier last year, she was introduced to Kathlena, and the three of them quickly became close after a coffee meet-up. From that moment on, Kathlena and Sophie bonded over their shared love for Pilates, the beach, travel, their German roots, and, of course, discovering new coffee shops. But beyond these common interests, their conversations always seem to flow effortlessly, offering deep encouragement and support in their faith.
Thomas Dinkleman
Groomsman
Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Thomas was the very first person Bradley met at Olivet Nazarene University's student orientation. They connected right away over music—Thomas was obsessed with Savant and Daft Punk, but slowly started listening to artists Bradley really liked at the time, like Above & Beyond, Seven Lions, and Skrillex. They love talking about music production and trends in the industry. Over the years, they've both seen so much change in each other's lives personally. Thomas comes out nearly every year to visit, and Bradley loves bringing him into any friend group setting—it instantly becomes 150 percent more fun with him around. Thomas enjoys new experiences in life like a child experiencing candy for the first time. Bradley loves his enthusiasm and ability to connect with others.
Theresa Dacio
Bridesmaid
Theresa and Kathlena first crossed paths in college at CBU, where their mutual MK + TCK backgrounds sparked an instant connection. Their first meeting was a classic “Hey, you look familiar. Do we have mutual friends?” which quickly blossomed into a deep and lasting friendship. They bonded over their shared experiences, creative passions, and aspiring business endeavors. Although life initially took them to different corners, they were both brought to Orange County, where they now get to enjoy being city “neighbors.” Kathlena loves how Theresa constantly nudges her out of her comfort zone—whether it’s trying out a new style, picking up a new hobby, or enduring a grueling workout class like hot yoga, Pilates, or HIIT! Exhibit A- the closest that Kathlena ever got to getting a dog was when Theresa almost convinced her to get her new puppy’s sister! Some of their favorite past times are deep convos over Mendocino Farms and making arts and crafts to hang around their homes.
Byron Goulard
Groomsman
Bradley met Byron two years ago at a young adults connect night. They hit it off instantly and started hanging out not too long after. They keep each other growing—checking in on relationship stuff, working out, jobs, or faith. Byron is such a genuinely kind and compassionate guy who loves people. He’s the friend everyone needs in their life, and he’s always down to try something new. Half of the things Bradley has tried out for the first time—like off-roading in a Jeep, playing pickleball, and camping/backpacking—have been because of Byron.
Emma Kim
Bridesmaid
Emma, or as Kathlena knows her as, MC, was one of Kathlena’s first friends during her freshman year at Biola. They initially connected through their college Facebook group and met up in person as soon as the semester kicked off. Their bond was instant, fueled by a shared love of froyo, boba, and binge-watching YouTube singing covers. They even went to see their favorite YouTuber and ultimate fan-girled. Their favorite pastime? Laughing together, of course. There has been so many holidays that MC invited Kathlena over to family holiday functions while Kathlena’s family lived in other places. A few of her favorite holidays together included getting hot boba on Christmas (who knew that was a thing?) and frying up hundos of lumpia at thanksgiving. From their viral “You’re a Jerk” dance videos they filmed around campus to their makeup tutorials, they’ve managed to become a dynamic duo of fun and creativity. You will most likely find them snapping pics at the latest trendy coffee shop. Speaking of coffee, MC always encourages Kathlena to pursue her passions and that dream of one day opening a coffee cart/shop someday soon.
Matt Guest
Groomsman
Bradley met Matt Guest five years ago when he stepped out in faith to lead a high school ministry life group at Saddleback Church. Bradley knew zero people and wasn’t too excited about his huddle of guy leaders in the group, but the only one he clicked with happened to be Matt. Over this time, they’ve seen a lot of change in each other's lives, as well as in the lives of the students. Matt is such a caring guy and one of the funniest people Bradley knows. Their humor is niche, but it connects over things like the show I Think You Should Leave. Bradley isn’t sure what Matt’s golf handicap is, but he’s been told it’s impressive. Matt got him into plane watching and pretending to be a fan of golf. Fun fact: Bradley is also going to be in Matt’s wedding soon.
Lyna Thoeun
Bridesmaid
You know how sisters are often built-in besties? Well, Kathlena and Lyna, the two L*na’s of the family, are like that but with the added bonus of being cousins. They bond over their love for coffee shops, foodie adventures, and travel. Lyna has been a part of Kathlena’s life from day one, and Kathlena has always loved having Lyna’s adventurous spirit and joyful personality in her life. One of the reasons Kathlena refuses to go on a trip without an itinerary is thanks to Lyna, which has also inspired several birthday “coffee crawls” through LA mapping out all the coffee shops around the city to visit in a day. A few favorite past times together are eating Lyna’s amazing homemade creme brulee and staying up till the wee hours of dawn chatting. Even though their adventures have slowed down a bit since Lyna moved to Austin, they still manage to squeeze in as many caffeine-fueled foodie escapades as they can.
Chris Sommers
Groomsman
Meet Chris Sommers, one of my awesome groomsmen. We met about 3 years ago when I was gearing up for my second year of leading a life group for sophomore high school boys at Saddleback Church with Matt Guest. I noticed an extra name tag on the table and a random guy sitting there, and I thought, "Did they think Matt and I were doing such a bad job that they had to throw in a third leader?" It was awkward at first, but we quickly hit it off. Chris has been the chill, go-to guy in our group ever since. Whether it's hosting fight night parties or debating the latest in the English Premier League soccer, Chris is always there. I can count on him for anything. Friends can come from the most unexpected places—especially when they’re dropped in your lap!
Joanna Gonzalez
Bridesmaid
Joanna and Kathlena first met at CBU as transfer students in the orientation line, and their friendship took off from there. They spent countless hours together in the library, deep in study, and later bonded over coffee when the books ran out. One of their standout moments was Joanna's epic gesture: writing Kathlena a graduation song. Seriously, how do you top that? Kathlena's low-key hoping for a wedding song next! One of Kathlena’s favorite things about Joanna is her kind and huge heart for others and those around her. With both of them getting engaged just two months apart, this wedding planning phase has been a special adventure for them together entering this new chapter of life.
German Perez
Groomsman
I first met German when he joined the small groups team at Saddleback, and we instantly vibed over our love for movies. However, despite majoring in film, German somehow missed out on seeing classics like The Goonies—a fact that still baffles me! But that’s not all—German is the guy who introduced me to the wild world of WWE, and I’ve been hooked ever since. German and his wife Janet are that couple everyone wants to hang out with. Their infectious love for Disney and food has somehow made me care about those things way more than I ever thought possible. It's rare to find a friend who’s as genuine and real as German, especially as you get older. He’s that guy who always keeps it fun and down-to-earth. What a dude!