Wedding Party
Katherine Odom
Maid of Honor
As Elizabeth's favorite and only sister, Katherine had long been promised the role of MOH and excitedly accepted the role (after questioning why it was taking Elizabeth so long to ask her only days post-proposal). Although Elizabeth may have once told her she was adopted, they are truly sisters. While Katherine is new to the world of wedding planning, other bridesmaids best beware. As an expert Excel user, she can be found planning multiple pre-wedding events at any given time.
Jonathan Kim
Best Man
In some ways the polar opposite of his younger brother, Jonathan has decided that LA, west coast vibes and suburban Texas living are somehow preferable to closet-sized apartments in NYC. As children, their parents thought high praise to James was "I thought that was Jonathan playing piano, that was good!" Jon is a role model and perpetual inspiration to James, and James could not be more thrilled to have his older brother by his side as his Best Man.
Abbe Smul
Bridesmaid
Abbe and Elizabeth first met in elementary school, and, although Abbe didn't initially want to be friends (and may have actively disliked Elizabeth for stealing her previous BFF), Elizabeth won her over and they've been friends ever since. They moved in as roommates in the East Village after college, during which time they discovered wonderful places like Artichoke pizza and Big Gay Ice Cream. The still fondly look back on their "cool" post-college walk-up studio apartment, without real bedrooms or doors... although they are very happy to live in real homes now.
Ethan Mackay
Groomsman
Colloquially the "Gruesome Twosome", a nod to their bond over It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Ethan and James were roommates for years (eventually Elizabeth replaced Ethan as James's roomie, an E for an E) and Columbia Law beer pong champions. In a historic first, James acknowledges that Ethan introduced himself to James (not the other way around) on the cramped second floor of Dodge Gym during their first few weeks of law school.
Christina Hu
Bridesmaid
Christina came to Dalton in 9th grade and she and Elizabeth quickly became friends through many nerdy math and science classes, through which Christina rose to power as Queen of the Nerds. Fortunately they blossomed from their nerdy beginnings and spent much of their 20s taking NYC by storm (pics not included), until Christina abandoned Elizabeth and NYC for business school in Boston.
Matt Kim
Groomsman
Like all meaningful friendships, this one started at Trader Joe's. Matt and James met during their sophomore year at Columbia and have been stuck with each other ever since. A self-proclaimed Super Smash Bros Melee expert and software engineer (importantly not just a "coder" as James has been chastised), Matt has been a constant part of James's life in NYC since the pair graduated college.
Jen Betts
Bridesmaid
Jen and Elizabeth met in 9th grade when she started at Dalton and quickly bonded over their love of (questionably bad) TV. Although Jen has refused to live in the same city as Elizabeth since they left high school, she is still forced to visit her at times and receive constant text debriefs about the new reality or teen show they're jointing watching from afar. We're hoping Jen will accidentally get trapped in NYC when she comes for the wedding and never leave.
Nikhil Vasudeva
Groomsman
Nikhil was an enigma to James at the start of law school; dressed in an Indiana bro tank and sunglasses, James did not expect to learn that Nikhil was a triple major (or maybe more? James is unsure to this day) and an African Art enthusiast. They bonded over their love of food and travel and, after numerous trips together, Nikhil converted James into the Delta Airlines loyalist he is today. As Ethan and James's roommate after law school, Nikhil suffered losses in FIFA on a consistent, daily basis.
Emily Weiss
Bridesmaid
Emily and Elizabeth have known each other since elementary school and spent many of the free periods in high school eating Mac n' Cheese, so Emily first met James when he and Elizabeth started dating. However, Emily got to know James much better when the small world brought them together and they ended up working on the same team at the same law firm. Luckily for Elizabeth, neither one killed the other while working together and Emily and Elizabeth were allowed to remain friends.
Tim Chen
Groomsman
One of James's most cultured friends, it's surprising that James and Tim are fraternity brothers (mind you, at Columbia, so you know not really). Tim and James weathered 7 years at Columbia through college and law school and have spent that time going on various trips together and coordinating Halloween costumes. James was more gentle helping Tim learn to ski than Nikhil was, Nikhil's preferred approach being "see you at the bottom."
Steph von Csiky-Sessoms
Bridesmaid
Steph and Elizabeth met during medical school orientation and immediately became friends when they both regretted agreeing to go on a very long and unnecessary orientation hike. They would go on to be roommates for years (until James came along) and spent too many nights cramming for exams so they could then go clubbing after. Together, they survived everything from med school classes to the very memorable/trauma-inducing bed bug and cockroach infestations.
Joshua Kameel
Groomsman
James met Josh at a poker table in law school, chowing down on a HamDel sandwich. Realizing that Josh, was in fact, legit, they quickly bonded over their various mutual interests: tennis, being competitive about literally anything and going to the same law firm (back in James's legal eagle days). During their summer at that law firm, after a day-trip to the Hamptons, they were a small but integral cog in the creation of a firm policy to ensure that buses do not take detours to Wendy's at 1 AM.
Karen Arane
Bridesmaid
Karen and Elizabeth are co-residents and therefore spend most of their waking hours together at work, so it only makes sense that Elizabeth would force her to spend her rare free time being a bridesmaid. Over the past few years, Karen has taught Elizabeth many Canadian pronunciations (as well as very "unique" Karen pronunciations). As Karen moonlights as professional baker, we're excited to see what baked goods she inevitably will bring to the wedding!
Will Odom
Groomsman
Despite their 12-year age gap, surprisingly (or unsurprisingly) Will and James share many of the same interests: video games, Rick and Morty, other typical teenage boy fare. James met Will while helping chaperone a Halloween Party (read: eat the party food) that is an Odom Family tradition. Will is quite the chef and James is excited to have another brother who will perhaps cook more dinners for James and Elizabeth.