Sami & Ryan
wedding party
Kenny Kasper
Best Man
Oakland, CA Kenny is Ryan's best friend and college roommate from Penn. Kenny actually convinced Ryan to move to Boston — and without him, Sami and Ryan may have never met! They inspire each other to be ambitious, compassionate, and open-minded. If you were to tune into one of their phone conversations, you might learn more than you thought you could ever know about wine, Socrates, or Charli XCX.
Rachel Cohen
Maid of Honor
Boston, MA Sami is lucky to have a sister and best friend all in one. She calls Rachel her "little big sister" — while she's younger in years, Sami looks up to her both physically and metaphorically (Rachel is much taller). Rachel is truly one of the funniest and most compassionate people Sami knows. Though the distance can be tough, they still find time to travel, swap skincare routines, and analyze TV shows and movies.
Saurabh Mahajan
Friend of Honor, Groomsmen
New York, NY Saurabh is one of Ryan's dearest friends — they met in Boston and lived together before Ryan started medical school. These two know how to have fun. But it's not all about scotch, fast cars, and good food — Saurabh has been such an integral part of Ryan’s life and Sami and Ryan’s relationship, supporting them through some of the most challenging seasons of their relationship.
Steph Foster
Friend of Honor, Bridesmaid
Denver, CO Steph is one of Sami's oldest childhood friends, and she's the one who introduced Sami and Ryan! Steph is a wonderful human that has been there for Sami and Ryan in more ways than they can count. Steph and Sami have been getting up to shenanigans since 1997, from trying to sneak out of the house at night (Parent Trap style), to treehouse sleepovers, and attempting to convince people they are twins.
Kevin Durand
Groomsman
Farmington Hills, MI Kevin and Ryan are like peas and carrots. Kevin is Ryan's oldest and closest childhood friend. Joined at the hip throughout grade school, they could be found playing endless rounds of ping-pong, watching tennis Grand Slams, and playing video games. Though geographically distant since college, Kevin and Ryan have continued to bond over medicine and shared values.
Monika Horava
Bridesmaid
Wakefield, MA Monika is the best thing that ever happened to Sami at UMass. A strange series of unfortunate events brought them together as roommates, but after a few months they were inseparable. Monika has helped shape so much of who Sami is today — from introducing her to the world of feminism, to teaching her how to lift weights, and drastically improving her music taste.
Andrew Biaesch
Groomsman
Philadelphia, PA Andrew is Ryan’s college roommate and close Philly friend. Being far from Michigan in college was an adjustment for Ryan, and Andrew made Philly feel like home — inviting him to spend time with his family down the Jersey shore. Fun fact: Ryan even lived with the Biaesch family for a summer! A highlight of returning to Philly for med school has been spending more time with Andrew. Together, they enjoy watching sports and exploring new bars.
Rebecca Cohen
Bridesmaid
New York, NY Sami fell in love with Becky on a warm summer day in Jerusalem. They share blue eyes, a last name, and a love for film. Wait… who’s Sami marrying again? Since that summer, Becky and Sami have continued to grow their friendship, spending fun weekends in Manhattan and Philly, and supporting each other through the good and the bad, finding humor every step of the way.
Daniela Bucay
Groomslady
Brooklyn, NY Daniela is a bright light — another close friend of Ryan’s from his time in undergrad. Daniela is a perfect companion to take to a museum, she impresses with her knowledge of the classics, art, and history. But don’t let that intimidate you, Daniela is one of the warmest and most down to earth people Ryan knows. Daniela and Ryan may even indulge in a bottomless mimosa brunch before going to said museum...
Katie Boe
Bridesmaid
Shelby Township Who’s got creative talents and the coolest nails we know? That’s right, it’s Katie Boe! Katie is Ryan’s sister and Sami’s soon to be sister. Katie knows Ryan better than anyone else — always there to help him make difficult decisions and make sure his head doesn’t get too big. And now that Sami’s in the picture, the 3 of them have fun cooking meals, snuggling cats, and exploring Southeast Michigan together.
Heidi Hirvonen
Bridesmaid
Oakland, CA Heidi is a close friend (and previous COVID pod member!) to both Ryan and Sami. She brings authenticity, curiosity, and endless creativity to her friendships with Sami and Ryan. Highlights from our time together include a 7 course homemade menu structured around different types of mushrooms, New Year's Day movie marathon, pandemic outdoor HIIT workouts, and cocktail strolls.