Wedding Party
Amy Lubeck
Maid of Honor
Amy — also known as Amiko and an honorary member of SABAGEL— is the best friend everyone needs but only a lucky few get. We became friends through forced academic labor—our teacher made us study together, and somewhere between cramming for AP classes, a lifelong friendship was born. We bonded over the trauma of being eldest daughters and our love for Hot Cheetos (which Drake has now banned me from eating—RIP). From the moment we became best friends, I knew she’d be my maid of honor one day—she never really had a choice. Some of my favorite memories include deep talks about boy problems while power-walking like suburban moms, boba runs with her life-changing advice, and the time she played therapist to fix my relationship with my sister. She’s always been fiercely protective of me, but that motherly instinct hit an all-time high when she found out I was meeting Drake in person for the first time in San Diego. Let just say she didn't think it was the best idea for me to visit him all the way in SoCal by myself. But despite thinking I was insane, she still drove me to the airport at 6 AM so my parents wouldn’t have to—because that’s just the kind of friend she is. I couldn’t ask for a better maid of honor because if anyone can keep me from tripping down the aisle, ugly crying through my vows, or making other questionable life choices, it’s her.
Aiden White
Best Man
Aiden — also known as “Um…I don’t know” — and I didn’t meet until my last year of college, but I feel as though I’ve known him for most of my life. I vividly remember the first time we hung out outside of campus, which you could say was the start to our “bromance”. Our cross country team was supposed to go bowling together one night, but those plans ended up being cancelled. So, Aiden and I ended up driving in his car for a few hours and talking about all kinds of things, ultimately realizing we had a whole lot in common. In return, you could say that I was showing him around the city of Orange, but then again, it was at night and dark outside. From that point on, we would often have longer-than-anticipated conversations consisting of a variety of topics including running, school subjects, the stock market and the dating market (keep in mind this was before I met Jiwon), as well as people watching and of course, several awkward pauses (each of us being introverts). Getting to know Aiden, I have learned that he can be a bit indecisive. In fact, during one semester, he took Japanese, Arabic, and sign language because he couldn’t decide what language to learn. In spite of this, he is definitely one of the most patient and understanding people whom I know. He even has a hidden talent for taking pictures, as he graciously took magnificent photos when Jiwon and I got engaged. All in all, I am really glad to have met Aiden and am forever grateful for our friendship.
Jiho Kim
Bridesmaid
Jiho — also known as Jihobo — and I have had a rollercoaster of a relationship. We used to hate each other so much that pulling each other’s hair when we were young became our form of bonding. It got so out of hand that our parents had to separate us for a whole month. That separation was the wake-up call I didn’t know I needed because it made me realize how much I truly love her as my sister. Looking back, I was really hard on Jiho growing up, and even though she didn’t always understand why, she never really snapped back at me. Instead, she somehow turned out to be the wiser one—she even reminds me to be nice to Drake and always treat him with respect since, according to her, “men like him are rare to find.” Now, Jiho is my go-to person for literally everything—from fashion and cosmetics advice to sometimes even medical tips (don’t ask why). She’s also the family’s designated dishwasher, not because she's a germaphobe, but because her cooking skills… well, let’s just say washing dishes is her specialty. Jokes aside, she is honestly the best sister I could ever ask for, and despite our wild beginnings, I wouldn't trade her for the world.
Chris Tellez
Groomsman
Chris — also known as “Kip”— is my older brother and is technically both the oldest and the youngest of the groomsmen, being born on Leap Year. Although he was not exactly an A+ student in high school, Chris paved the way for me and Sterling (my younger brother) in a powerful way in terms of setting himself up for success coming out of college. Having studied graphic design in college, it was very challenging to find a job in that field. However, not only did he manage to land a job quickly after college, but he has made amazing progressions in his field, now working at Lyft and being part of a team that received a patent related to the Lyft app. Aside from this, Chris is one of the most cultured people I know, as he enjoys exploring the world and has traveled to several countries. If you need any travel recommendations, he would be a great reference.
Aryan D'Rozario
Bridesman
Aryan—also known as the Argumentative Indian and an honorary member of SABAGEL—is the kind of best friend everyone needs but only a few are lucky (or patient) enough to have. We met in high school because I thought his accent was cool, he was ethnically ambiguous, and I needed an APUSH study buddy. My mom only let me hang out with him at first because he looked like a responsible chaperone—little did she know, he was just as chaotic as the rest of us. One day in the library, I yelled “ArYANNN,” embarrassing him in front of a group of students spending their lunch break there—seriously, why? That moment defined our friendship: I annoy him, he pretends to hate it. From then on, we built a bond filled with laughter, debates, free APUSH answers (thanks, Aryan), and legendary chaos. You cannot win an argument against him—trust me, I’ve tried—because he’s basically a human encyclopedia with Oxford credentials. But beyond his sharp wit and love for India (which he mentions a lot), he’s been one of the most loyal friends I could ask for. Whether we were fake-studying, roasting each other, or butchering songs in Gabi’s car, every moment with him has been unforgettable. Aryan isn’t just a great friend—he’s family. And while I’ll never admit this to his face, I’m lucky to have him in my corner.
Chase Shanafelt
Groomsman
Chase also known as the People’s Champion. Chase holds a special place in my heart, as we realized early on that we have very similar physical attributes, such as height, body type, and body hair (especially chest hair). As a result, he quickly became known as my son on our cross country team. I would describe Chase as being easy to misunderstand. When I first met him, there were some things that just seemed off. For example, he said that he was from North Carolina, but he would split time between there and Michigan. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it just seemed like an odd situation. Although the longer running distances were not Chase’s forte, I remember the day when he won the hearts of each of the guys on the team. It was an unusually dry, windy morning at practice, and we had a hard workout that day. Contrary to other cross country workouts, Chase was running towards the front of the pack. Initially, we were all confused and were even cautioning Chase to not run too hard. He couldn’t really explain it himself, but suddenly, he said, “I can just breathe!” It was one of the funniest things I had ever heard, and from then on, our team unanimously regarded him as the “People’s Champion” of our team. Something that I find quite fascinating about Chase is that he is one of the few people whom I’ve met who becomes more normal to me the more I get to know him. I remember being very unsurprised when he told me his favorite show was “Curb Your Enthusiasm”.
Bryan Kim
Bridesman
Bryan — also known as BTS wannabe — is honestly the nicest and most caring brother I could’ve asked for. He’s always been mom’s favorite because, let’s be real, he’s the most mature, kind, and smartest out of all the Kim siblings. And let’s not forget about his singing— This guy can harmonize to anything, making him the only one in the family who could actually pull off a K-pop star vibe. I mean, have you seen his Insta pics? He’s also the type of person who would replace my windshield wipers without me even asking, just because he noticed they needed to be changed. And despite the fact that we now live only 30 minutes away from them, he still goes out of his way to deliver Mama Yang’s homemade goodies to the home of Drawon like it’s a long-distance care package. I still remember when we were little in Korea—mom scolded us, and Bryan, in his innocent little way, said something so funny that I laughed so hard, I got in even more trouble (thanks, bro). He’s always been my precious little brother, and I’ve defended him in every argument with my sister. No matter the topic, I was always Team Bryan—sorry not sorry sis
Sterling Butler
Groomsman
Sterling — also known as “Bobo” — is my younger brother, even though he is taller than me (man, I miss the days when I was taller). Of all the people I grew up with, Sterling is one of the best examples of a natural-born leader, demonstrating this through his role as captain on the soccer pitch, organizing road trips and adventures with his friends, and even delegating tasks around the house to me. Being a natural-born leader, he also has always had a clear vision for how things were, or perhaps how things ought to be, spanning from his passion for engineering efficient building systems, his insistence on eating homemade ribs (or as he called them, "chicken and bones") four times a week through high school, and his sneaky way of putting things that he no longer wanted in my room (I always loved how he would do that). In all seriousness, Sterling has excelled in everything that he has done, all the while gracefully balancing hard work with fun. In the relatively short time that he has been at his current engineering job at Arup, he has made significant contributions to his company. I have a hard time comprehending how he does it all, but you know what the best part of him being my younger brother is? I can always take a little bit of credit for everything that he accomplishes.
Gabriella Schuhe
Bridesmaid
Gabi — also known as GABO and an honorary member of SABGEL — is that rare breed of person who is unapologetically herself and doesn’t give a single F about what anyone thinks. We met in high school in English 3 Honors and orchestra, and I had no idea she played the violin until she finally admitted she chose orchestra as her elective because she owned a violin... and didn’t know how to play it. She literally faked it until she made it, and honestly, we all bought it. Gabi doesn’t follow trends; she creates them in the most hilarious ways. Like that time she sang at an amusement park, absolutely belting her heart out to Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off like she was on tour. And then there was the time she dressed up as a red carpet while everyone else dressed as celebrities for spirit day—because why be the star when you can be the stage? Gabi is hardworking, absurdly smart, and has a knack for making us laugh until we cry. She’s the kind of friend who teaches you that life’s too short to take seriously—and if you’re not making everyone laugh in the process, you’re doing it wrong. I'm lucky I get to call her my best friend, even if she occasionally gets us into trouble just for the laughs.
Daus Carmichael
Groomsman
Daus - formerly known as Davis” - was an interesting person to meet. He is the only person I know who goes by a name that he received at a bowling alley. He is also the only person I know from the town of Issaquah, Washington, so I thank him for that piece of geography knowledge. Daus could be described as having "doglike" energy. If there is a soccer ball or a basketball lying around, he will be the first to kick or throw it. At the same time, I find him to be a very loyal friend, and I have always enjoyed hanging out with him when we and the old cross country gang got together in college and post-college. I always admired the passion and enthusiasm that Daus displayed on the cross country/track teams, and he is one of the few people whom I know that managed to stick it out for all 8 semesters of cross country/track (I cannot say that I was able to do this myself, as I missed a semester of track). He has a great spirit and is always up for a challenge, even ones that involve a boxing match with another teammate. Also, if you are looking to discuss theoretical science topics in an informal setting, Daus will be the first one to join you.
Chloe Heo
Bridesmaid
Chloe— also known as Clo Clo — is the athlete of the family, and honestly, she’s a force to be reckoned with. Whether it's dominating on the soccer field or whipping up kimchi dumplings, she’s got talents that are hard to match. She’s also got a pretty specific diet—sweets, ramen, and, of course, kimchi. This girl can’t survive without her kimchi! Even with all the chaos of competitive sports, extracurriculars, and schoolwork, she somehow manages to crush it in everything she does. On top of all that, Chloe’s competitive spirit extends to literally anything, especially games, where she’s a natural talent. If there’s a game involved, you can bet she’ll be the one to win and will keep playing until she wins... But despite all her skills, Chloe can be pretty indecisive, and her favorite phrase is "I don’t know." It's like her signature answer to life, and honestly, we’ve all learned to live with it!
Jose Guerrero
Groomsman
Jose — also known as Don Chepe — in a word could be described as weird. This might sound like an insult, but in fact, this was a big reason why I am happy to call Jose a friend. He is unapologetically himself, and I admire his ability to entertain himself, whether it be from playing Yu-Gi-Yo! with his nephew, molding Play-Doh into questionable shapes, or wearing animal costumes at public running events (as you can see above). You could say that graduating from Chapman University as one of the only three history majors from his graduating class was an impressive feat. However, what stood out more to me was why he was interested in studying history, which was because there is no shortage of strange people/events to learn about. Although it may be easy to be fooled by his quirks, Jose is one of the most understated people whom I know, especially in terms of his intelligence, running ability, and ability to show up for other people.
Alexander Moore
Bridesman
Alex — also known as Mr. Volvo and an honorary member of SABAGEL — is the kind of person who manages to be both effortlessly good-looking and ridiculously smart—basically, he’s what happens when good genes meet a brainiac. I became friends with him by forcing him to eat lunch with me, Amy, and Aryan, saving him from the soul-crushing horror of eating lunch with boring underclassmen. From that moment, a lifelong friendship blossomed and my grades went up! But Alex is more than just a pretty face—he’s a walking car encyclopedia, knows everything about vehicles (he probably has a degree in it by now), and is always down for an adventure. He’s been our designated driver in his trusty Volvo since high school, and somehow, that car has survived more chaotic road trips and questionable decisions than any car should. What makes Alex truly special, though, is that he’s always there when you need him—whether it’s for an impromptu road trip, car repair advice, or just to tell you that your life choices are questionable (but in the nicest way possible). He’s the kind of best friend who makes life 100% more entertaining, and honestly, I’m just lucky he hasn’t ditched me for someone with a better car by now.
David Anderson
Groomsman
David — also known as "The Sandlot" — and I met on the cross country team at Chapman University. As random as it sounds, my first impression when meeting David was that he had the look of a childhood actor from the movie “The Sandlot”, or some similar sports movie from the 1990’s - early 2000’s. As I got to know him, I came to think of David as a modern example of a Renaissance man. To this day, he is very athletic and skillful in a variety of sports, including Spikeball, surfing, soccer, and Frisbee Golf (not to mention running). In addition, he studied music in college and continues to play the violin. I am happy that we have this in common because not many people are that passionate about both playing sports and musical instruments, let alone post-college. Aside from his athletic and musical talents, David is one of the most wholesome and friendly people I have gotten to know. That being said, not to throw him under the bus too much, but I have fond memories of joking with David in college and talking trash about other people in the music school.