Letty & Stephen
Wedding Party
Letty Cooper
Bride
Hi new fam and old friends, I'm Letty! I was born in Arlington, VA but grew up with a very close family in Columbus, OH. Growing up, I was a passionate learner, had an early interest in travel and language, and played the harp from ages 6-20. I went to college at Elon University because (1) it has a great library and (2) I detest cold weather. Needless to say, I've been in NC ever since. Though my background is in neuroscience, I’ve now found a home for myself as a marketing professional in the health and wellness space. I wrote a few words about some of the most important women in my life below, I know you'll enjoy getting to know them.
Stephen DeLallo
Groom
Hello! I’m Stephen, full name Stephen Gennaro DeLallo. I grew up an only child in a Connecticut suburb outside of New York City. Unlike Letty, I was *not* a model student. In fact, probably the exact opposite. I was more interested in playing videos games and socializing with friends. As a result, my selection of colleges was rather small. Having an interest in going to a large school with good athletics programs shortened that list even more. After reviewing just two options, I made my choice: East Carolina University, situated in the heart of Greenville, NC. For those unfamiliar, the town I grew up in and the town I went to school in could not be more different. But that’s one of the biggest factors in choosing ECU – I was able to start a new life with new friends and experiences. Many of those friendships, of which you’ll read about below, have stood the test of time, and will remain so for many years to come. Today I am sales professional in the technology sector dealing with companies utilizing Artificial Intelligence. From self-driving cars to remote drone inspection of equipment, AI is everywhere. I love what I do. Outside of work, I’m just as nerdy as I was growing up. I still love playing video games, learning new technologies, and yes, collecting Pokémon cards (hit me up if you have any to sell/trade). Thank you for taking time to read the bios below and celebrate our marriage!
Chloe Cooper
Maid of Honor
If you know Chloe, you know she couldn't possibly be fit into a paragraph. She is the whole book. For the sake of brevity, Chloe is my older sister, best friend, occasional enemy, recent roommate, partner in crime, and though we're very different in ways, we know each other better than anyone else ever could. She played (and continues to play) an instrumental role in shaping the person I am today. If you totaled all the time we've spent together the last 8 years, 80% of it would be time spent laughing. I love how much we laugh together. She helps me see that life doesn't have to be so serious. Chloe also sees the light in everyone she meets and genuinely cares deeper than anyone I know. While Chloe and I grew up in Columbus, OH, she spent the last 5 few years in Arkansas and Iowa until her move to Raleigh in July of 2022. Growing up, Chloe and I always said we'd live in the Carolinas one day and we're glad to say, we're finally both here. She has been the biggest fan and supporter of Stephen and my relationship from day one; She helped keep me grounded until Stephen and I built a foundation of our own. For that, we are both so thankful.
Celina Annis
Bridesmaid
If people saw Celina, Chloe and I together, that they would assume that I have two sisters instead of one. Celina is marrying my cousin Tyler, and even if she weren't legally marrying into the family, our entire family would still consider her one of our own. Celina is one of the most beautiful, free-spirited, and creative people I know. Don't just take my word for it, her Etsy shop is fire. She and Tyler recently moved from Ohio to Utah, and it has been amazing witnessing their dream of a cross-country move come true. Celina has a natural gift with children and will get along with everyone from the wall-flower to *that* girl at the party. She and Tyler share a tradition where they shotgun a beer every Thanksgiving morning. I'm pretty sure they beer bong a beer on Christmas, too. And yet when they come to our (large and loud) family holidays, they're the most calming presence there. I love their love, and I'm so excited to have Celina by my side.
Shannon Miller
Bridesmaid
If there’s anyone I owe my sanity to (life to) in Raleigh, it’s Shannon. Wow, we have been through so much together in just 5 short years. We met at the tail-end of me releasing 4 years of debilitating chronic pain. What quite literally was a new awakening, a new life, for me, brought me to her. Though she was born in Raleigh, Shannon spent 7 years in DC (one of my personal home bases) and 2 years in Boston, so she speaks my northern city-isms fluently. She returned to Raleigh to be what she was born to be: a boss leader in the health and wellness arena. More recently, she discovered another thing that fate had in store for her here: her current fiancé, Ryan. Seeing their love blossom has been nothing short of magical. Shannon inspires me to be my best version of myself just by her pursuing the same for herself. There’s so many things I could say about her, but the thing that I keep coming back to is just the incredible amount of support she’s provided me through the biggest growth-spurt I’ve had since, you know, the physical one in childhood. We are both deeply committed to our spiritual path, our financial freedom, our partners, all things luxury, and, I couldn’t end without mentioning, our fur babies.
Richelle Stewart
Bridesmaid
Have you ever met someone who instantly feels like home? That’s Richelle, for me. Richelle is actually from Ohio as well and went to Capitol when I was at CSG (meaning we lived within a mile of each other), but funnily enough, we didn’t meet until we both lived in Raleigh. Richelle is, to this day, the only best friend that I’ve ever made via… LinkedIn. Richelle and I share a love of yoga, coffee, indoor plants, and organized email inboxes. You could call us type-A creatives. We both have entrepreneurial spirits and endeavors, but also enjoy working with teams towards something bigger. Some things I deeply respect are how non-judgmental, compassionate, and open Richelle is to new ideas. Though her upbringing was a little different than mine, she has endured all of my lectures about astrology with grace. (More recently has become quite the astrology aficionado herself! I am very proud of this.) With all we share in common, friendship with her is easy. Though Richelle and her husband, Jon, recently moved to San Francisco, Richelle and I carve out time to talk every week or two. She’s not afraid to put in effort for her friends, and that’s just another thing I love about her.
Gary DeLallo
Best Man
My dad has been my biggest supporter throughout my entire life. A man who made great sacrifices to provide for his son. I think back to childhood memories with him with so much fondness and nostalgia – going to a local park where we had had an acorn fight, or going to drive go-karts for hours on end. Or the time we adopted a dog on a whim in Pennsylvania while visiting my grandfather and had to drive 4 hours back home to Connecticut that night. The dog was *NOT* potty-trained at the time. A goofy, understanding & caring individual, my dad has become a close part of our Raleigh family. My friends even refer to him as “Julio” – his childhood nickname, which I ended up inheriting as “Little Julio”. Long story short, I would not be the man I am today without his guidance and love. Asking him to be my best man was the easiest decision I’ve made through the wedding planning process!
Jonathan Cook
Groomsman
For as long as I can remember Cook has simultaneously been the tallest and funniest person in the room. From his humble beginnings in Fletcher Hall, living a few doors down from one another, to the hard-working professional he is today, watching Jon’s growth over the years has been impressive and inspiring. Even more beautiful is his relationship with his wife, Caroline, who had a once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity to move to New York City a few years ago. Jon, with little hesitation, made the decision to leave behind his friends and family to support the woman he loved. And while I selfishly wished he could have stayed, I admired his loyalty and commitment to his relationship. Jon’s quick wit, sense of humor, and thoughtfulness are just a few characteristics I appreciate most about him. It’s also *very* easy to be friends with someone who enjoys bourbon as much as I do.
Evan Hawley
Groomsman
Evan and I spent a lot of time together in college, but didn’t become great friends until I moved back to North Carolina in 2016. I got to really know Evan and his girlfriend/fiancée at the time, Katie, over time. Both Evan and Katie are incredibly considerate and always down for a good time. When I think of “the life of the party”, I think of Evan. He can dance better than anyone I know. And his music selection is top notch. Evan has been, and still is, instrumental in keeping our friend group accountable in making plans to see each other. He has always put in effort and made time to show up – the sign of a great friend. No matter the situation, Evan can make anybody feel included and part of the group. I had the privilege of standing by his side at his wedding - the perfect place for him at mine.
Luke Scarlett
Groomsman
Luke is another example of a friendship that grew stronger after college. Luke, more frequently called by his middle name, “Reldue,” and I worked together at Tesla for a number of years. And while I have some great memories with Luke from college, my fondest memories are from that period we worked together. Maybe not the most productive duo in the office, we certainly found ways to enjoy ourselves and pass the time. More recently, Luke made a move to Washington DC in 2021, leaving behind a void in our friend group. Luke was always known for coordinating weekly outings to My Way Tavern, where we’d watch Chelsea FC play. I’m pretty sure he converted at least half of our friend group to Chelsea fans. Lucky for us, Luke moved back to Raleigh 8 months after his departure. The local Chelsea community was thrilled, as were we.
Bobby Malcom
Groomsman
Bobby sits in the top 3 funniest people I know. His dry sense of humor and sarcastic wit are right up my alley. Despite being a grade lower in college and not being close friends until later on in life, Bobby and I decided to live together for three years. We were both new to Raleigh, and were starting our lives as young professionals, trying to find our way. Much of my personal development from a college teenager to a young adult happened in the presence of Bobby, and much of it because of him. You don’t think about these things as they’re happening, but when looking back, so much of my time spent between college and meeting Letty was with Bobby. It’s a period of my life I will always cherish.
Stefan Dosa
Groomsman
Where many of my groomsman and I bond over social experiences, Stefan represents the other side of my personality. I grew up an only child, and categorize myself as an “extroverted introvert,” meaning I like to be social and have a good time out, but my social battery quickly depletes. Stefan is like me. We both enjoy being around people, but only for a limited amount of time, before we’re ready to get back home. We also share a passion for the online world – A.K.A. playing video games. It’s what we love to do in our free time. And unless involved in that world, it can be hard to understand the brotherhood we share because of it. When you factor in Ellie, Stefan’s counterbalance in life and wonderful wife, and his two cat-children, it is easy to see why we are great friends.
Chris Cianciola
Groomsman
My first interaction with Chris was this: “Yo what’s good man just picked my room and you’re in it. Looks like we’re roommates haha.” A simple message on Facebook a few months before college began turned into a lifelong brotherhood. Chris and my friendship is the longest-standing of my groomsman, and naturally, one of the deepest. We spent a lot of time together our freshman year, and experienced what it was like to be on our own for the first time. Where Chris was strong physically – he would drag me to the gym, I was strong academically – I would drag him to the library. We had a great synergy as friends and roommates. When I think of a lifelong friend, I think of someone who has been with me through many highs and many lows, and someone who will have my back through it all. When I think of a lifelong friend, I think of Chris.
Danny Casale
Groomsman
Danny and I go all the way back to freshman year of college. Our friend circles overlapped some, and funny enough, during that first Parent Weekend, our parents seemed to bond more than we did. Over the years we would end up roommates, visit each other’s childhood homes, rendezvous in various cities like Boston, and now we live just 30 minutes apart. Danny enlisted in ROTC our sophomore year at ECU. This was a big deal for him. At the time, I didn’t understand the gravity of a decision like this. He sacrificed a lot to serve our country – friendships, relationships, family – all of which took a backseat while he was overseas. Now that he’s returned and retired from the Army, I’ve been able to better understand what that experience may have been like. I feel a deep sense of respect for him. It could not have been easy seeing his friends living their lives 2,000 miles away. But that’s the thing about a strong friendship – you pick up where you left off. And with Danny, despite the lapse in time while serving, our bond remains stronger than ever.
Devyn Hudgens
Junior Bridesmaid
Devyn is a special young woman who will steal your heart within seconds. She is kind, compassionate, and cares deeply about nature and animals. She is the first of the great-grandchildren and holds a very special place in the hearts of each member of the family. I think it’s rare, in such a bright and sensitive person, to also find someone so genuinely funny. She cracks up the room each time she enters without trying. It's clear that the is a Hudgens, and I’m proud she is my cousin.
Michael Groeber
Wedding Director
"Michael G" is one of the most kindhearted young men out there, and the oldest of the Groeber kids. I greatly admire how talented he is at any and all sports, but my favorite thing about him is how he makes others feel so special. Every time Chloe and I are home in Columbus, Michael is the first to give us a big long hug, look us in the eye, and tell us he missed us. When it's time to leave, he's also the last to let go.
Mara Groeber
Flower Girl
Mara is sandwiched between two rambunctious boys which is probably one of the reasons she has such a big personality and can get away with all her strong opinions. If you had to wrap Mara up in three words it's determination, spunk, and sass. You will see how big her spotlight is when you see her walk down the aisle.
Jonathan Groeber
Ring Bearer
Jonny is an original. Though one of the most energetic little humans I’ve ever known, he’s also one of the most hospitable: He will make sure to hang up your jacket before tearing through the whole house. Jonny keeps the whole room constantly laughing, and I’m so excited to feel his fun-loving energy on our special day.