Bobby & Brice
Wedding Party
Reed Dahlmeier
Brice's Best Man
Reed is my older brother by six years and has been a role model for me my whole life. Like any younger sibling I wanted to be just like my big brother. I remember going to watch his volleyball games and I just couldn’t wait to start playing on a team, so Reed would take me out on the deck and teach me how to pass, set and swing. I can also remember seeing Reed perform at piano recitals as a kid and thinking, I want to do that! Whether we were making a song together about our devious springer spaniel, Sparky, or playing volleyball on the deck, my brother has been a big part of finding my passion in life. As an adult, Reed continues to be an inspiration with how hard he works with his wife Addy, on creating a wonderful home and lifestyle for his family. Love you Reed!
Kim Castelli
Bobby's Best Maid
Kim and I met during our freshmen year at NC State. We lived on the same floor and found we had a lot in common which kicked our friendship off. The two of us were both Republicans, studying sciences, from loud cultures, both Catholic, and both new to living in North Carolina. Over the years, we've stayed in close touch and our professional paths often mirrored each other in that we were in grad school at the same time together and both ended up working in biological sciences. Kim was recently married this July over Zoom as well and so she has been guiding us in this entire process for which we are truly grateful.
Maryanna Espejo
Brice's Groomsmaid
Maryanna and I first came to be close friends in our AP economics class in high school. In one of those serendipitous moments of my life, Yesenia, Mary, Maryanna and I happened to be seated together in a group. High school was an awkward time where I was trying to figure out who I was and at the same time artfully avoid ridicule by my peers for being ‘different’. Maryanna was one of my friends where I felt I could just be myself and let my guard down. In addition to being someone I can share a laugh with she is caring, thoughtful, generous and just an overall gem of a person! She currently lives down in San Luis Obispo with her husband Kirk and dog Parker. Whenever we see each other it feels like we can just pick up where we left off.
Kat Niles
Bobby's Groomsmaid
Kat was my first friend at NC State. We met during orientation and though I initially thought Kat was a lot cooler than me and wouldn't want to hang out, she quickly became one of my first friends. We both were in Zoology classes together and we always at least 1 class together each semester. Kat and her family have always welcomed me with open arms and we have even vacationed with each others' families. We connect on many levels, including video games, and I am grateful for all the times I have been able to call her when struggling emotionally as she has always understood what I need to feel better again.
KC Fox
Brice's Groomsmaid
In my Junior year of high school, there was a rumor that the girl’s volleyball team was getting a new standout player transferring in from another school. Our similarities were striking at first glance… tall, glorious flowing blond hair, good at volleyball. It turned out there were so many other things we had in common that we became fast friends. KC is one of the smartest people I know, a go-getter and all around bad ass woman. Over the years she has been such a good friend to me. As I finished up my studies at Berkeley, KC had gotten her first engineering job in Berkeley and I still cherish those nights we would sip wine, giggle and ponder what our futures had in store. KC now lives in LA with her boyfriend Kramer and poodle Lou.
Celina Ruiz
Bobby's Groomsmaid
Celina and I go back to 5th grade at St. Thomas the Apostle. The fact she is still my friend is amazing as I have been probably more annoying to her than anyone else on this list. There was even one time I used some of her hair to make a paper "voodoo doll" with. Celina was not amused... We ended up living close to each other and through high school spent a lot of time together through our awkward teenage years. Like Kim, Celina was also in grad school at the same time as I was so we kept each other going through all the trials and tribulations grad school brings. It's safe to say I would not be who I am without her in my life and if you are looking for an Optometrist, look no further than Celina!
Mary Mayeda
Brice's Groomsmaid
Mary and I met in high school in that AP economics group we lovingly called ‘the pod’. We might’ve not learned much about economics (still passed that test though woop woop), but I’m so thankful for the lifelong friendships that came out of that classroom. Mary and I reunited in our fourth year of college when I transferred from UC Santa Cruz to Berkeley. I was so thankful for having an old friend to introduce me to a new town and school. Mary was a rock for me those two years whether we were grinding out our studies or hitting up the local Triple rock brewery for some Thursday night Monkey Head. Mary lives with her boyfriend Johnny up in Cloverdale with their dog Daphne.
Alan Sheridan
Bobby's Groomsman
Alan and I met in the fall of 2009 at NC State's Honors Village. I was a sophomore, he was a freshmen, and we were both serving as hall reps for our residence halls. I invited Alan to one of our fraternity recruiting events that Fall and the rest is history! Alan is one of the people that I have come to know so well! We lived together in the SigEp house at NC State and I always got on well with his then girlfriend, now wife Megan. Currently Alan is probably the person in my wedding party that Brice and I get to see the most often. While he lives in NC, he would come out for work nearly monthly before COVID. Every visit, he always spends a night with us and was even able to make it to my 30th birthday party last year. Alan is like the younger I never had and I love him dearly!
Lonyl Palao
Brice's Groomsman
Lonyl and I met through volleyball shortly after I graduated college and have since become good friends. We’ve been playing volleyball together for about 46 years now (at least it seems that long) with our crowning achievement being gold medals at the gay games in Cleveland in 2014. Off the volleyball court Lonyl and I share a love of the outdoors, adventures and traveling. Lonyl is one of those social butterflies that has pulled so many wonderful people into my life. He is an embryologist by day and travel/party planner by night and has organized some of my favorite trips. He organized the trip to half dome in Yosemite where Bobby found the granite to make our wedding rings. Lonyl currently lives in Los Gatos with his dog Ember.
Bryan Spund
Bobby's Groomsman
Bryan is one of my most special friends from my days at NC State and was my "big" in SigEp. While we only overlapped for one year as he was studying abroad in the Czech Republic my freshmen year we developed a strong friendship that ended up with me in his wedding a few years ago as well. When I started to come out my sophomore year of college, I struggled with living two different lives. Bryan intuitively knew something about me was off. He had the wisdom, foresight, and genuine concern for me to ask what was going on and if I was okay. During that hard time when I was struggling to connect with my family, Bryan offered me love, support, and guidance that I needed. I am forever grateful to him and honored to have him as a groomsman on my wedding day.
Ellie Wasserman
Brice's Groomsfriend
Ellie and I met freshmen year in the dorms at UC Santa Cruz. Initially we connected over Harry Potter and beautiful piano music, but our friendship really blossomed over the next several years like a vibrant hillside of Nasturtiums. We eventually found that we shared a wonderful sense of humor, laughing at the dumbest things until we couldn’t breathe. I will never forget all the hikes we took through the redwoods, looking at nature with a child-like wonder and curiosity. Ellie is the type of person who will hike 12 miles, fall flat on their face from exhaustion, and somehow find the humor in the situation. Ellie lives with their partner Marzhel in Philly with their dog Meche, and 17 cats (jk they have 2 cats, I just want to not seem like the crazy cat person for once).
Oliver Stahlmann
Bobby's Groomsman
For so much of our lives, we tend to only look at people older than us as our role models. Eventually, that changes and Oliver was probably the first person younger than me that I looked up to and admired. Oliver and I overlapped for two years at NC State and in SigEp during which I became his "Big" despite Oliver towering over me. Not only is Oliver one of the nicest and most respectful people I know, he has a fantastic sense of humor and an incredible focus on his career and the legacy he wants to leave. They say that you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Whenever I hear that, I always think to myself, dang, I need to call Oliver more. He, along with Medha and Kim, toured the Islamic Art exhibit at the Met with Tia Carmen back in 2018 and he did so smiling.
Medha Surampudy
Bobby's Groomsmaid
Medha and I lived on the same hall Freshmen year at NC State along with Kim. Interestingly, our friendship did not kindle, however, until the following year when we were in the same hall again and Medha started dating my roommate. Medha is one of my most intelligent, kind, and loving friends. Not only was she the only person to visit me while I lived in Milwaukee besides Brice, she also rearranged her trip home from a conference so that she could see me in New York before we departed on our cruise in 2018. She's somewhat of a night owl so it works well when I call her on my commute home multiple times a week and she is in DC still awake - ready and willing to chat with me about professional and personal life. Over the last few years, Medha has become one of my most treasured friends.
Meagan Viklund
Bobby's Groomsmaid
Meagan and I met in high school. She was my rebellious partner in crime as we tried to navigate getting in trouble at all the parties in Miami and our parents' high expectations for us. We never really did anything bad, but our parents certainly thought we did given how much fun we were having being silly goofballs. Meagan and I have been there for each other through it all! Meagan was even my date for prom! She and her parents were always really supportive of me, especially after I came out to my parents. In those early days, Meagan endured some interesting conversations with my mom and politely entertained her theories about why I was not into women. Though we are far apart for long periods of time, it never feels odd when we get together again which is why I am glad to still be friends.
Yesenia Curiel
Officiant
Brice first met Yesenia in 7th grade music class, but their friendship didn’t really solidify until High School in that fateful AP economics class. She ended up also being the first friend of Brice's that Bobby met. Yesenia has that magical ability to bring people together and make them feel comfortable and welcome. We always joke that one day she will be the mayor, because she seems to know everybody and everybody knows her. We all know that this is just a byproduct of her glowing personality and how she treats everyone with kindness and respect. We both love the joy and humor that Yesenia embodies and we are honored that she is willing to bring her warmth and love to our wedding ceremony and act as our officiant.