Wedding Party
Kaitlyn James
Matron of Honor
Kaitlyn and I have been best friends since before we were born! Our moms were teachers together at the same elementary school and gave birth two weeks apart. We grew up together and spent countless sleepovers choreographing dance and twirling shows for our parents and anyone else who would watch! We have been forever friends and are never more than a phone call away.
Matthew Hite
Best Man
As all good college stories go, we met on the first week of school in chemistry lab. From there, we learned a lot. He taught me how to drive a manual, I taught him purple titration. We game planned for Library Girl (see "How We Met") and also gamed. Maybe gamed a little too much that one semester. He's shown me about how to a better person, from the way he excels in his faith, career, and relationship with Lori and I've become a lot better by just emulating him.
Thanh Tsan
Bridesmaid
Thanh and I brushed elbows back in high school, but it wasn’t until Lamar that I realized who she really was. She has always been the first person to ask about my parents and ask if she can do anything while I live in DC - it shows that Thanh not only cares about you, but those closest to you too. Thanh is also a great judge of character and a sharp soundboard for any plans you’re considering. If you’re friends with her, she will go above and beyond for you - count yourself lucky if you know Thanh. Fun fact: One of our first dates, Thanh graciously helped Edward bring Chick-Fil-A on one of our first dates because he had a packed schedule.
Anthony Banh
Groomsman
Me and Ant's trademark way of hanging out is with him bringing a new board game we've both never seen, us spend an hour learning the rules, another hour playing it, and never touching it again. From as long as I remember, Ant's always been pushing me to think outside the box and thinking ahead through Advance Wars, Catan, and the like. Our shared love of strategy games have made us sharper (as iron sharpens iron) and I can always count on him for help in life's next puzzle (after Madison). If you're looking for a life-puzzle partner, he is single ;)
Rida Ashrafi
Bridesmaid
Rida has a killer sense of style paired with a heart of gold. I met her at a sorority recruitment event and overheard her speaking to other potential sisters and immediately knew I wanted to know her better. She stays in tune with everyone around and goes out her way to make everyone feel supported and included. Rida is always the one to pay attention to the small details that make something go from ordinary to truly special. This carries over to her other pursuits - A multi-talented craftswoman, Rida runs her own candle company, organizes some of the most outstanding events, and can build anything she thinks of. An absolute powerhouse I am proud to call a friend.
Jordan Curl
Groomsman
Jordan is probably the first non-parent I met that actively planned beyond the upcoming weekend. I attribute a lot of my early successes and personal growth to the habits I've emulated from this guy - most importantly the power of planning ahead, even if we don't know exactly how what will happen. It's no wonder then that we've connected on personal finance and poker. Since then, we've gone from preparing class schedules in increments of semesters to business plans in increments of decades.
Vy Nguyen
Bridesmaid
Vy and I met my freshman year of college, rushing the same year and being part of the same pledge class for ADPi. We were always friends, but our relationship reached new heights when we served in the Pan-Hellenic Council. There, I witnessed a display to do her very best; we share similar career ambition and values in that sense. Vy is someone you can call at a moment's notice and talk about anything - I admire her loyalty and friendship to those lucky enough to be in her circle. She's driven all the way from Austin to Beaumont to celebrate all sorts of events with friends and family, no distance is too far for those she loves.
Luke Nguyen
Groomsman
Our shared love of fried rice and cơm gà nướng from Queen of Vietnam is probably what brought us together initially. Since we went from up learning Vietnamese and Catholic catechism on Sundays to studying engineering at Lamar, we'd call each other rivals, but it's more like Batman and Joker where we don't actually want to defeat each other. There's only a handful of people where you can silently glance and have a mutual understanding of each other and I'm honored to have found that with Luke.
Merari Castillo
Bridesmaid
Merari and I met through ADPi when she joined after me. We became close after being officers in the sorority - she was never afraid to have the hard conversations while tactfully navigating everyone's feelings and perspectives. No matter how difficult the situtation, Merari will remain level-headed. Lastly, and arguably most importantly, she keeps the rest of the girls in the loop with latest memes, always finding a way to make us laugh while we all live miles apart.
Brody McBee
Groomsman
Brody has always been a model of giving - I still remember how he would stay in the cafeteria to help clean the tables after the school made a mess. As the guy who hosted the pre-cal study sessions for me and Jordan, Brody exemplifies what it means to find ways to help those in need. Through high school and college, I've seen him go out of his way to help others over and over again. I hope to give to others a fraction of what our friendship has given to me.
Iqra Masood
Bridesmaid
Iqra and I actually met through Rida. She stands out as always being a sharp decision-maker; Iqra acts quickly and will not be afraid to be the first person to speak up, but will always have something well-thought out to share. I value Iqra's judgement, as she thinks through every angle and can have a discussion about it, even with those she disagrees with. Her ability to see through the fog and caring heart makes her both a wonderful friend and confidant.
Tyler McCorvy
Groomsman
If we met in kindergarten (I don't quite remember), we spent 9 years at St. Mary doing anything from playing every sport the school had to running through the packets of Kumon. Through this, we've found that we share a no nonsense approach and love of the simple things in life, which results in a sense of steadfastness, where I know I can reach out any time. I suppose the young ones call it "vibes". Here's to another 20 years of vibes.
Michaela Todd
Bridesmaid
Michaela has always shined in how selfless and sweet she is. She is always finding a way to help others, from moving me in as a roommate to babysitting on Friday and Saturday nights after long weeks on the Hill. If I come home and she is missing, I know she is probably volunteering with church, work, or friends. Michaela stays up late and wakes up early serving others; I try follow her example every day and could not have asked for a better roommate in a new city.
Braian Silva
Groomsman
My first impression of Braian was when I started at P&G and was going to start a group chat for the new hires, only to find that he'd beaten me to the punch. Braian is the type of person who is always looking to meet and truly understand everyone around him. Oddly enough, we grew up on the Gulf Coast but had to go to West Virginia to meet. Our memories at the Alderman house is a testament to what people are missing out on when they separate work and friends.
Sakurah Fisher
Bridesmaid
Sak and I met our freshman year and her genuine commitment to bettering her community stood out to me. We experienced just about everything Lamar had to offer together, from Rotaract, ADPi, Ambassadors, and the like. That being said, I couldn't have done it without Sak (and her roommate Thanh, see above) for always pushing each other to try harder and go for our biggest dreams. I am most proud of her living out our values from college - joining the Peace Corps and making a difference to the people in Ecuador.
Jongseong Lee
Groomsman
As a fellow member of Alderman house, I always appreciated JS's ability to ask great questions. Whether we're discussing cooking practices, current events, or corporate politics, I always learn something new (which is to be expected if he grew up in Canada and crushes US trivia). JS holds me to high standards, especially as he is better than me at literally all of my hobbies: cooking, lifting, and running. Thanks for keeping me sharp and showing that one can "just be better" at all fronts of life. Anyone looking for a hunky, witty cook, he is single ;)