Wedding Party

Ashmita Chatterjee

Matron of Honor

Erika and Ashmita first met when they were interviewing for the Morehead scholarship during the spring of 2003. They immediately hit it off and although it was too late to be roommates their freshmen year they were roommates for their remaining three years of college. They have supported each other through graduate school (law for Erika, medicine for Ashmita), one double mastectomy (Erika), residency and a temporary long distance marriage (Ashmita), bad relationships (Erika) and motherhood (Ashmita).

Nathaniel Marshall

Best Man

José met Nate at a poetry slam. Surprise. It turned out they both loved hip hop. It turned out they both lived really far south of downtown Chicago. Hyde Park was the Northside to Nate and José. As it turns out they were both on AOL Instant Messenger. If you don’t know about AIM, please consult an encyclopedia. Don’t ask them what their screen names were. That’s how they got to know each other. Talking about life and poetry and rap music on the internet and driving together to poetry open mics on the north side. They’ve been friends since they both used to have hair which is pretty much all that needs to be said.

Eliberty ("Eli") Lopez

Bridesmaid

Erika and Eli met at an event for Black women attorneys in 2015 and immediately hit it off. They bonded over their shared experiences as Black women navigating crazy corporate environments and realized they had many things in common. They are now co-workers at the social media network that no one likes but everyone uses.

Pedro Olivarez

Groomsman

José met Pedro when he was born. Pedro was crying and just as annoying as he is now. Just kidding. Pedro is one of the most disciplined and emotionally healthy men José knows. Pedro is hilarious. If Pedro has one weakness, it’s basketball where he has never beaten José. Not once. Like the Washington Generals or the Sacramento Kings, he still tries hard though.

Aashna Chatterjee Rashid

Flower Girl

Ruben Olivarez

Groomsman

Named after the boxer, Ruben Olivarez is smart and funny. José admires that his brother never seems to panic. Ruben always works at his own pace and finds answers that are the best for him. The best thing about Ruben is that he is such a Cal City dude that he is delighted whenever he is in Chicago and finds out that he can order things like Phở on Uber Eats. José is jealous that he still has all his hair.

Aalia Chatterjee Rashid

Ring Bearer

Daniel "Danny" Olivarez

Groomsman

Danny is the undisputed best Olivarez brother. His politics are the most communist and righteous. José is grateful that Danny sends him TikToks to watch and recommends music that the youths are listening to. Danny is the one that got José to listen to Bad Bunny. Enough said. Danny is the best.