Elaine & Moustafa
Wedding Party
Victoria Baker
Maid of Honor
Lainey met Tori at the bus stop in middle school. They grew up on the same block, roomed together Lainey's final semester at UNT, and continue to grow together and appreciate one another's dark humor today.
Waleed Bekheet
Best Man
Waleed, the Donatello to Moustafa's Michelangelo, is the oldest of the Bekheet brothers. He is also the first one to make them uncles with his daughters, Eliyah and Rayan. Moustafa wants to say thank you to Waleed for always having some sort of meat on the grill or in the smoker when we go over to for dinner. As far as Moustafa is concerned he owes Waleed his life, or else he'd wither away only eating vegan food at home*. *Lainey would like the record to show that Moustafa is in no way neglected nor starved. 🙄
Alexandra Hulsey
Maid of Honor
Lainey met Ally as teens through Tori, thus completing "The E Street Divas" (coined by Ally's mom). She continues, to this day, to remind Lainey that The Cure > The Smiths (she's not wrong but still...) and is also the mother of Lainey's God-Cat, Cleo Léon.
Sameh Bekheet
Best Man
Sameh assumes the role of Leonardo in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle analogy. While Waleed made Moustafa an uncle first with his nieces Sameh did it all over, this time being sure we all knew what it was like to have nephews (Aiden and Adham). Moustafa would like to thank Sameh for navigating the cultural barriers and social dynamics of moving from Egypt to Texas at a weird time of adolescents and adulthood and leading by example.
Zailey Blakeslee
Matron of Honor
Lainey also met Zailey through Tori when Tori asked if her close friend from high school could join them on their lease. Zailey was Lainey's gym-buddy and plasma-donating-buddy back then. Today she is Lainey's designated-concert-buddy, no matter the show.
Ahmed Bekheet
Best Man
Ahmed, or "Almond" as affectionally referred to by our nieces, is Raphael therefore completing the TMNT. Ahmed and Moustafa are not only closest in age, but also have the closest experience as far as assimilating to the U.S. goes, as well as lived together for the longest. Moustafa would like to thank Almond for being there to beat up kids when it mattered the most. And showing him how to do a proper deadlift.
Vivian La Bruyère
Bridesmaid
As Vivian is Lainey's little sister, Lainey has known her for her entire life. Lainey would like to take this opportunity to say she is really sorry she used her dance baton to smack Vivian on her new-born head (her bad, Lainey was three...don't worry Vivian is fine). Lainey is grateful Vivian said yes to being by Lainey's side on her wedding day.
Elliot Booth
Groomsman
Moustafa, Lainey, and Elliot are all 2011 alumni of South Garland High School. Over a decade later whenever the two find themselves at a billiard hall, Moustafa makes it a goal to win at least one game against Elliot, often with no luck. Thanks Elliot, for always being up for Sunday football and wings, being a reliable friend, and being a part of our wedding party.
Patrick La Bruyère
Bridesman
Lainey has also known Patrick for his entire life, and he's proven to be a pretty fantastic younger brother. She would like to say thank you for liking The Front Bottoms with her, and hanging out when she unexpectedly stops by the house.
Ben Sabio
Groomsman
Moustafa and Ben met at the University of Texas at Dallas while working through the university's grueling mechanical engineering program. They have seen each other at their worst: spending literal days studying only breaking to eat, not sleeping until their goals were met. They have continued to encourage and applaud each other's achievements post-graduation. Moustafa graciously accepted when Ben asked him to be a groomsman at his wedding, and he's grateful Ben agreed to do the same for him now.
Jacob Silva
Officiant
Zailey and Jacob invited all their friends and family to stay at an Airbnb for their wedding weekend. It was an beautiful event filled with love and laughter, and the best breakfast scramble anyone has ever had thanks to Moustafa. Yes, after a quick Costco run the couple asked Moustafa if he could be in charge of making breakfast for the guests staying at the rental the morning of the wedding. He accepted this duty, whipping up the best eggs anyone had ever had. Jacob now owes the newly-weds-to-be a favor.