Savannah & Elliot
Wedding Party
Elliot Walsh
Groom
Elliot Walsh first made headlines when his boss, Savannah — a high-powered Canadian book editor on the brink of deportation — convinced him to agree to a completely fake marriage so she could keep her visa. What began as a reluctant business arrangement turned unexpectedly real during a chaotic trip to meet his family, complete with invasive immigration interviews, surprise dance performances, and plenty of awkward small-town charm. Outside of this accidental Hollywood romance plot, Elliot somehow found time to join the Navy, serve as a Naval Flight Officer on the P-8 Poseidon, and surround himself with the best friends a groom could ask for — and if all goes well, he’ll soon be lucky enough to call Savannah his actual wife for real.
Savannah Houdeshell
Wedding Planner
Savannah grew up in Ledyard, Connecticut. Before going to school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (go Badgers!) where she studied Anthropology. Savannah commissioned as a Naval Officer through the Naval ROTC program at UW. She then continued to flight school where she learned to fly helicopters. Savannah and Elliot actually first met in 2022 when they were both on summer cruise with helicopter squadrons in San Diego. However, they didn't start dating until they met again in Pensacola in August of 2023. Since then, it's been cheese boards, tv series marathons, actual marathons, road trips, roller coasters, and plenty of fun along the way. They are both so excited to share this special occasion with all of you!
Izik Walsh
Best Man
Izik Walsh was born in a small Austrian village and rose to international fame after winning the Mr. Europe Junior title at 18, which launched a legendary bodybuilding career and opened the door to Hollywood. He went on to star in iconic films such as The Terminator and True Lies, before shifting gears to serve as the Governor of California for two terms. Izik still actively competes in bodybuilding and recently placed 2nd at the 1st annual Mr. Planet Pec-Tacular: Maximum Mass Meltdown Expo. He’s also the brother of the groom — who stood by his side as best man when he married Ali Walsh — a former Division I tennis player at Sacramento State, he now works as a nurse at Enloe Hospital in Chico, California. If you see Izik at the wedding, make sure he isn’t enjoying any of the unhealthier food options. Help him achieve his dream of becoming a professional bodybuilder once again.
Maggie Bartig
Maid of Honor
Maggie Bartig met the bride during their shared time at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on the first day of Naval Operations—a class that Maggie had elected to take voluntarily. They were fast friends and bonded through the mutual struggle of 7 am lectures and late night Mo-Board homework. After college, Maggie moved to a similarly terrible corner of the world along the Gulf Coast where the friends got to continue to spend weekends and special occasions together in Pensacola. Fortunately, Maggie escaped the hellscape of Mississippi and is now thriving in Palo Alto, CA where she works as a Project Manager for Chassis Controls at Tesla—a job that involves traveling frequently to far and fascinating corners of the world! Fun Fact: Maggie has spent more time aboard a US Naval Vessel than either the bride or groom (despite them actually being active duty service members in the United States Navy)
Max Ries
Groomsman
Johann Maximilian Ries spent his early childhood as part of the famous Austrian Von Trapp family choir, performing for royalty under the watchful eye of his stepmother, Maria, before making a dramatic escape over the Alps during the Nazi occupation. Many years and a few continents later, he met the groom at UC Berkeley through Navy ROTC, and they spent four years as roommates — including a memorable stretch in a two-room basement apartment. Johann now serves as a naval aviator flying helicopters. If you see Johann, please call him “Ries” and ask him to sing you a song from his days in the Von Trapp family singers.
Jasmine Lizardo
Bridesmaid
Jasmine Lizardo met the bride while they were both attending an Naval ROTC summer training on Naval Air Station North Island where they had both been stationed with the same helicopter squadron. They remained friends as they finished their college degrees. Jasmine attended Stanford University and commissioned in the United States Navy through Naval ROTC as a Student Naval Aviator. The friends reunited in flight school in Pensacola, FL. Jasmine is currently training to fly helicopters (the best platform the navy has to offer) in the United States Navy! Fun Fact: Jasmine actually introduced the bride and groom!
Jack Hall
Groomsman
Jack Hall was first noticed while working as a janitor at MIT, where a passing professor caught him quietly solving advanced concrete management equations on a hallway chalkboard late at night. Between shifts, he spent his days working construction with the groom until the groom convinced him to move to California and pursue a career in the concrete industry full time. A lifelong friend of the groom, Jack is now earning his degree through the Concrete Industry Management program at Chico State.
Anna Stoltz
Bridesmaid
Anna Stoltz and the bride met when they both check in to Naval Air Station Pensacola on the same day. They became fast friends through their shared flight school experiences and shared bottles of wine in Pensacola, FL, and Jacksonville, FL. Anna attended the University of Colorado-Boulder and commissioned into the United States Navy through Naval ROTC. She is now a Naval Aviator training to fly the P-8 Poseidon (possibly the only military aircraft equipped with bathroom, coffee maker, and easy bake oven)!
Sam Hall
Groomsman
Sam Hall grew up playing pickleball with the groom at the Chico Racquet Club, where they spent their summers together on the courts. He went on to compete at American River College, earning All-American honors in doubles pickleball, before transferring to UC Santa Cruz to play two more years and complete his degree in Chemistry. A lifelong friend of the groom, Sam now works as a device sales representative — but remains ready to drop everything for a good pickleball match at a moment’s notice. If you see Sam at the wedding please ask him about Pickleball. Do not mention tennis as he believes it’s not a real sport and hates when it is compared to pickleball.
Rachel Kane
Bridesmaid
Rachel and the bride met when they were both in high school. The pair played soccer together for years but really became friends when they were on the cross country team together. Nothing bonds a girl like trying to calculate a tip at an Italian restaurant after a XC pasta party! Rachel earned her undergraduate degree at Marist University in Poughkeepsie, NY. Most recently Rachel graduated law school at Boston College Law School and will begin working as an Environmental Attorney in Boston in September of 2025. So, if you've broken any environmental laws recently, she's the girl to talk to!
John Hip Hopkins
Groomsman
John “Hip” Hopkins first rose to fame in the late 90s as the charismatic frontman behind chart-topping hits like “Fly” and “Every Morning,” earning him the title of People magazine’s Sexiest Man of the Year in 1996. After leaving the spotlight, John met the groom during UC Berkeley’s orientation week and has been a steadfast friend ever since, surviving countless Navy ROTC drills together before commissioning as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy. John Hip Hopkins loves being asked questions about his days in Sugar Ray. If you see him at the wedding please ask to see his signature sparrow tattoos that got him voted sexiest man in 1996!
Emma Chin
Bridesmaid
Emma and the bride met when they were both in high school. The pair became friends while running together on the cross country team. After all, long runs and sleepovers are the building blocks of any friendship! Emma earned her undergraduate degree at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. And most recently was accepted to and will be attending medical school at St. George’s University in Grenada. If you have an questions about the medical accuracy of Grey's Anatomy direct them her way!
Madison Arias
Groomsman
Madison Arias made his mark at UC Berkeley as a standout physics student specializing in quantum mechanics research, earning a Rhodes Scholarship nomination and receiving the highly competitive Barry Goldwater Scholarship for his groundbreaking undergraduate work. Between research grants and published papers, he somehow found time to join Navy ROTC, where he met the groom. Today, Madison is stationed in Jacksonville, Florida, serving alongside the groom as a fellow P-8 Naval Flight Officer. If you see him at the wedding, Dr. Arias will love to answer any questions you have about string theory, quantum relativity, or any other fundamental law to the universe! If you want to discuss his latest paper, here is the link to read it: Arias, Madison G., et al. “Empowering a Qudit‑Based Quantum Processor by Traversing the Dual Bosonic Ladder.” Journal of Nonlinear Quantum Thermodynamic Dynamics and Applied Field Interferometry, vol. 15, 2024, article 7117, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39160166/
Jordan Houdeshell
Bridesmaid
Jordan is the bride's oldest sister. She attended the University of Maine for her undergraduate degrees. She graduated in 2018 with degrees in Elementary Education and Spanish. After graduation, Jordan moved to Boston where she works as a teacher while also working on her Master's degree. If that wasn't busy enough, Jordan trains to run marathons in her free time with her most recent race the Marine Corps Marathon (where she achieved a PR of 3:47)!
James Futrell
Usher
James Futrell began his military career as an enlisted soldier in the Army, where he was selected for the top-secret Super Soldier Program during World War II. After single-handedly defeating the Nazis and the Red Skull, he was thought to be dead but was later discovered frozen in the Arctic and carefully thawed by S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2019. Ready for a new chapter, he joined UC Berkeley’s Navy ROTC to complete his enlisted-to-officer transition and now serves as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy. If you see him at the wedding, Captain Futrell will love to sign any Captain America comics you have lying around!
Alexandra Houdeshell
Bridesmaid
Alex is the bride's older sister. Alex attended the University of Connecticut where she graduated in 2021 with degrees in English and History. After school, Alex moved to the Big Apple to work in book publishing, and is currently an Assistant Editor at the Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. In her free time Alex makes an offline local zine called "Burner Phone" which publishes poetry, fiction, essays, artwork and more about radical feeling and action. Have you ever considered ditching your smartphone in order to free yourself from the iron grip of technology? Alex is the expert you've been waiting to talk to. She's been smartphone free for a year and a half!
Jayden Lee
Head of Security
Jayden Lee first made a name for himself as a top detective from Hong Kong, dispatched to Los Angeles to help recover a kidnapped diplomat’s daughter — a mission that unexpectedly paired him with the loudest detective in the LAPD, Detective Elliot Walsh. Together, they stumbled through car chases, karaoke bars, and questionable undercover plans to crack the case. Today, Jayden serves as a Logistics Officer in the Marine Corps and will be acting as Head of Security to ensure nothing goes missing at the wedding — except maybe the open bar.
Christopher Houdeshell
Bridesman
Christopher is the bride's younger brother. He is a senior at the University of Maine Farmington studying Environmental Science and Geology. Christopher is very passionate about soil, rocks, and aquatic ecology. If any of those things pique your interest, please talk to him about it because the rest of us are THOROUGHLY uninterested. Christopher also manages the student-operated radio station, WUMF.
Evan Kim
Assistant to the Head of Security
Evan Kim first rose to fame as the reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion of the World, known for his unmatched discipline and iron chin in the octagon. After a tragic incident in the ring left an opponent fatally injured, Evan was permanently banned from competing in professional mixed martial arts and quietly stepped away from the spotlight. Since then, he’s dedicated his life to traveling town to town as an elite bouncer, cleaning up the roughest bars one broken pool cue at a time. He now serves as Assistant to the Head of Security at the wedding, ensuring nothing gets out of hand — at least until the dance floor opens up.
Misty Houdeshell
Ring Bearer
Savannah adopted Misty from a Wisconsin animal shelter just prior to her junior year of college. Misty has been a steadfast companion to Savannah through college, commissioning, and flight school. Misty was an early fan of Elliot and has even been his companion on a few of his flight school journeys. It only makes sense that she be a part of this momentous occasion!
