Wedding Party
Christina Horn
Maid of Honor
Christina is Dania’s lifelong best friend. Their fathers were close friends before the girls were born, and most of Dania’s earliest memories involve fun times with Christina, whether it’s riding horses or playing mermaids in the pool together. Christina even visited Europe while Dania was living in Germany, and they were able to travel to the Netherlands and Portugal together.
Dan McComas
Best Man
Dan has been RJ’s best friend since freshman year of high school. They met in U.S government class during a group project meant to raise awareness of a local community issue. They placed a single flier the night before the project was due about the dangers of coyotes and have been friends ever since. They both ran cross country, were in all of the same classes and both went into NROTC. Though their paths diverged after high school, they remained in touch through countless late night gaming sessions and their paths recrossed in San Diego where they were both stationed. While in San Diego they both met their future wives.
Avery Royer
Bridesmaid
Avery has been one of Dania’s best friends since they met in 6th grade. Throughout middle school and high school they were in the National Charity League together with their moms, who also became best friends. Avery and Dania have countless wonderful memories growing up together, including times spent on vacation in Hawaii and going to various concerts. Dania was one of Avery’s bridesmaids in her wedding and is so excited for Avery to now be one of hers.
Loren Chiles
Groomsman
RJ and Loren met while in college at Vanderbilt where they were both part of NROTC and became extremely close friends. They later became brothers of the same fraternity. They share similar mindsets, goals, and niche interests. Once they start discussing a tangent or inside joke it is difficult to get them to focus on or discuss anything else. After college Loren and RJ travelled separate paths through their initial time in the Navy. Their paths recrossed in San Diego where they were both stationed.
Michaela Duncan
Bridesmaid
Michaela and Dania have been best friends since pairing up as doubles partners on the tennis team in their freshman year of High School, however they first met many years earlier in pre-school. An inseparable duo throughout high school, Michaela and Dania remained close friends in college living nearby in Northern California together. They even managed to both find wonderful military servicemen to marry.
Tyler Dale
Groomsman
RJ and Tyler met in Charleston during Navy Nuclear power school. Of their friend group they were the only two to start the training process early and their shared pain, suffering, and shenanigans brought close friendship. Post Charleston, the Navy had other plans and decided that Tyler and RJ being in the same home port would be too much for the world, and they went to Hawaii and Washington respectively. They stayed in touch during their time on board their submarines and then independently chose similar jobs for follow on Navy jobs in San Diego.
Mikaela McComas
Bridesmaid
Mikaela and Dania met while working together at the San Diego Zoo in 2018 as wildlife conservation ambassadors. They quickly became best friends and enjoyed many fun beach days with their dogs and girls nights watching the Bachelor. After Dania started dating RJ, she told Mikaela she wanted to introduce her to one of RJ’s really wonderful friends, Mikaela’s now husband and RJ’s Best Man Dan McComas. Dania and Mikaela love now being best friends who are also married to best friends.
Mike Kappaz
Groomsman
RJ and Mike met in Charleston during Navy Nuclear power school. They bonded over both being “drafted” into the submarine force and having their fighter pilot dreams crushed. They became fast friends through similar senses of humor, interests and outside the navy goals. Their friendship is defined by repeated inside jokes much to the annoyance of everyone around them. During a Santa themed bar crawl Mike worked the Santa beard into a handle bar mustache. RJ and Mike also started a mosh pit in Savannah during St. Patrick’s day when it was not 100% appropriate causing the musical performance to end early.
Amber Symens
Bridesmaid
Amber and Dania met in college at UC Davis as sorority sisters in Tridelta. They quickly became best friends as they navigated the ups and downs of college life together. From late nights studying in the library to pasta dinner girls nights and even dressing up as giant pancakes to promote sorority events, Amber and Dania did nearly everything side by side.
Jonathan Vest
Groomsman
Jonathan is RJ’s best friend from middle school from his time living in Tennessee. Although that was nearly 20 years ago for them they remained close friends through gaming sessions. Even before the days of smart phones they would stay connected and RJ would have multiple dead home phones in his room from talking to Jonathan during these sessions. Both of their parents got use to calls that started with “Hi is RJ/Jonathan there?” They share many interests, life goals, and memories.
Emily Bader
Bridesmaid
Emily and Dania met in college at UC Davis when Emily became Dania’s Big sister in the Tridelta sorority. As Dania’s Big, Emily became her mentor, her fellow dance floor diva, and her first college best friend. Dania attributes much of her ability to make it through college to Emily’s friendship and guidance. They’ve enjoyed many dinner dates and a trip to Stagecoach festival together in post grad life, and Dania is so grateful to still have her Big sis by her side.
Jake Barrett
Groomsman
Jake the oldest of RJ’s younger brothers. They grew up playing all sorts of sports together but enjoy ice hockey the most. They enjoy playing in tournaments together with their Dad and Tyler back in Indiana. They share many inside jokes, too many to name them all. RJ loves Jake, even though when they were small children Jake would ruin RJ’s train sets.
Isa Leone
Bridesmaid
Dania met Isa while living in Stuttgart, Germany. They met while both working as childcare professionals for the Patch Barracks School Age care center. Isa and Dania became fast friends bonding over a shared sense of humor and interests, enjoying many brunch dates, nail salon trips and shopping outings together. Isa is traveling all the way from Germany to support Dania on her special day, and Dania is so grateful to have made such a dear friend that made the transition to living the European life so enjoyable.
Max Barrett
Groomsman
Max is RJ’s next youngest brother. They share similar values and many fond memories of growing up playing GameCube, Xbox, ice hockey, and all sorts of made-up games around the house. Max decided to follow RJ’s footsteps and work on a boat, just one that doesn’t go under water. RJ is still trying to convince Max to get back on the ice to play in tournaments with the rest of the family.
Kyra Baltas
Bridesmaid
Kyra and Dania met during a graduate school field course in Baja California, Mexico. They quickly became best friends during their two weeks in the desert while sleeping under the stars and snorkeling with whale sharks together. Their shared love of travel and nature led them to several more fun trips together as they ventured to visit one another. Dania loves visiting Kyra in her hometown of Chicago, and Kyra came to visit Dania in Europe where they traveled between Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland together.
Tyler Barrett
Groomsman
Tyler is RJ’s youngest brother. He played ice hockey the least growing up but has recently made up for lost time getting back into it to play with RJ, Jake and their Dad. He has a habit of breaking the expensive sticks he buys right after the warranty period ends. Like Jake and Max, RJ and Tyler share countless inside jokes.