Wedding Party
Sherry Lai
Maid of Honor
Outta the same glorious womb came this fine creature who I call my sister. Sherry is my best friend and greatest confidant. She has stood by me through all the highs and lows of life: supporting me through illness and heartbreak, sending me off to both college and grad school, and now, standing with me as I get married to Ethan! I often forget about our 5-year age difference because Sherry is wise beyond her years. I can be completely honest with her about my emotions (which can be difficult for a people-pleaser!) and can always trust her to listen without judgement. We bond over our mutual love for fashion, introspection, and classical music. I challenge her to leave her comfort zone, while she teaches me how to be content in the ordinary. Most importantly, we encourage each other in faith and our walks with God. Sherry taught me that Love celebrates differences and always cheers each other on. When she's not busy serving in campus ministry or making a new YouTube vlog, Sherry is finishing up her degrees in psychology and informatics at UT Austin (and graduating this May!).
Andrew Lake
Best Man
I've known Andrew since the 3rd grade, and time has proven that he is my "friend who sticks closer than a brother." Growing up in the same Portland neighborhood, we did everything together - from studying, running, to sleeping over in each other's twin beds. Once we got our driver's licenses, we'd often go on late night drives through dark PNW forests talking about the state of our souls...and why girls wouldn't like us back. We're both homebodies and adventurers at heart, as happy to binge-watch Psych together as to backpack through the Andes and Amazon jungle. Throughout my life, Andrew has somehow always been there for me to listen to my thoughts & emotions, knowing when to laugh me off or kneel with me in prayer. Everywhere life has taken me, Andrew has come to visit - Houston, Boston, Chicago...don't jinx it but I think he's already planning his trip to my next Navy deployment. In all of our shared moments, Andrew has become my life's most loyal friend, and has shown me that true love somehow never gets tired of you. When Andrew is not visiting me, he is a physical therapist in Portland, OR.
Joy Zhou
Bridesmaid
Joy is my soul sister! We met in a neuroimaging class at Baylor College of Medicine where we were both doing research. We quickly fell in love with each other on our first study date when we found out just how much we shared in common: from our health issues to boyfriends who played viola to being cog sci majors who were not pre-med! I have truly never met someone as resilient, compassionate, and kind as Joy. Her incredible life story tells of God's goodness and provision in the face of adversity, and she inspires me as a living example of what it looks like to choose ~joy~ in all of life's trials. Whether it's cooking for me when I was sick or encouraging me to step out in faith and give Ethan a chance, Joy has truly been there for me in every high and low. I miss our sleepovers and weekly dinners, but I am instantly comforted knowing that Joy will always answers my texts in a fraction of a millisecond. Joy taught me that Love is deeply empathetic and lifts you up when you cannot stand on your own. When she's not baking beautiful cakes or taking care of her two adorable guinea pigs or performing Chinese dance for the Houston Rockets (what can't Joy do??), Joy is dreaming up new adventures as a newly-minted Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Baylor College of Medicine.
Maxwell Lee
Groomsman
Maxwell taught me what intentional friendship looks like. Although he initially felt out of my league, being twice my height and the popular basketball player at Rice, Maxwell quickly built a foundation of trust between us by consistently being available whenever I needed him, carving out protected weekly bro nights, and bringing me along whenever he was chowing down on H-town eats. Whether it was initiating a spontaneous trip to Boston, pulling all-nighters together, cooking me chicken noodle soup when I got sick, or surprising me in Oregon after my dental school entrance exam, Maxwell has always intentionally found new ways to love on me. But what makes Maxwell most special to me is his compassionate wisdom - he has a way of deeply processing whatever situation I present to him and giving me a reassuring, intensely thought out answer true to his convictions and discernment. It is this trait that made Maxwell my greatest confidant in the drawn out process of winning Lucy over, and even more so in the ups and downs of dating and engagement. When he's not breaking ankles on the court, Maxwell is an anesthesiology resident in Los Angeles, CA.
Suzanne Wen
Bridesmaid
When I first met Suz in our college christian fellowship, I was intimidated yet drawn to her intensity and resolve. We ended up living together in my junior year of college, where we laid the foundation of our friendship on deep conversations about love, convictions, and Jesus. Suz asks the best questions and is so incredibly thoughtful. She grounds me by pointing me back to my Christ-led convictions and reminding me to fear God more than man. Once I exclaimed to Suz: "OMG SUZANNE I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU" and she famously said "omggg either you got into Harvard or you're dating Ethan...the first is more likely but the second would make me happier." Even though it took a couple more years to make her "happier," I owe it to Suz for being the biggest fan of our relationship. She has been such a close friend to both Ethan and I (independently!) that I had to snatch her up first before Ethan made her a groomswoman. Suzanne taught me that Love is truthful, intentional, and believes in the best of others. When she's not hiking or backpacking the Pacific Northwest, Suzanne is a software engineer in Seattle, WA.
Chukwudi Nnali
Groomsman
Some people just make you wonder how they have it all - Chuk is that person for me. Brains, brawn, and beauty, he's got it all. Chuk somehow just gets more and more good looking with age, is astoundingly athletic as a former triple jumper at Rice, even more talented as a freelance musician, and rounded out with exceptional intelligence as an engineer. Yet, somehow Chuk is one of the friendliest and most humble guys you'll ever meet. I met him on my very first day of college, and had the privilege of growing alongside each other through organic chemistry, finding free food on campus, serving in ministry, and living together in a grungy apartment for $400 rent - evidence of our shared college frugality mindset. He introduced me to jollof, I introduced him to dim sum. He brought me to my first African party, I taught him how to swim. Chuk's greatness is grounded in a strong conviction to live out his God-given passions and abilities to love and serve Him, and his presence in my life has definitely inspired me to do the same. When he is not playing keys at the local bar, Chuk is a chemical engineer in Houston, TX.
Videre Tan
Bridesmaid
Thanks to Ethan, I gained another sister! Even though Videre and I first met at Rice graduation in 2018, we really only got to know each other in April 2021 when she visited Boston for an extended, months-long stay. Together we planned a trip down the East Coast, where we bopped from Boston to NYC to Washington, DC. Videre shared with me her love for US history and Friends, and I shared with her my navigation skills and introspective questions. Videre has a tender heart for those she loves, and easily lets her tears flow when she gets emotional about a friendship (which is how I knew she fell in love with me, hehe)! Videre’s soft-spoken courage and faith led her to move all the way across the country to Boston this past Fall, and it's been so encouraging to watch her integrate into a new community and bless her friends with kindness and laughable sarcasm. Videre taught me that Love is always available and supportive. When she's not providing commentary about the current state of US politics, Videre is an accountant in Boston, MA.
Luke Wittman
Groomsman
In all my bromances, Luke is the only friend who was once actually mistaken to be my boyfriend. We laugh about it now, but Luke is legitimately the lover of my soul. Throughout our two years of living together in an intentional Christian community in Boston, we went through so much shared trauma that, though difficult to experience in the moment, intensely bonded us in a deep understanding of each other's resilience and God's unfailing providence. At times when it felt like our house was falling apart, Luke became home to me, a safe haven where I could unravel my shame and struggles. And when God gave us happier seasons, Luke and I took advantage and shared so many adventures & road trips, painted with soulful laughter and a joy fueled by gratitude and loyalty. When Lucy and Grace entered our lives respectively, we had the privilege of advising and praying for each other's love journeys - I will forever be grateful for how Luke cried and rejoiced with me. When Luke is not being mistaken as my boyfriend, he is a psychiatry resident in Boston, MA.
Janice Jhang
Bridesmaid
I first approached Janice when she visited my church's small group, because I was drawn to her calm and collected aura. On top of being beautiful, Janice is incredibly sharp, nerdy, and ambitious. We quickly discovered our mutual conviction for study-as-worship and our shared marveling at the beauty of God's design in mathematics, science, and society. Janice grounds me while I encourage her to be more wild and carefree. Whether it's having deep theological conversations in her car or celebrating our successes on the town, I am safe to fully express my versatile, chameleon life with my fellow Enneagram 3. Janice and I have gotten to know each other intimately through our weekly lunch dates, where we cut the curtains of image and get vulnerable. As accountability partners, we regularly challenge each other to submit our desires and ambitions to God. She has seen firsthand the ups and downs of me and Ethan's relationship, and has supported us in encouragement, prayer, and spiritual wisdom. Janice taught me that Love listens and goes to war in prayer. When she's not nerding out with me about equations, Janice is an MPH student at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health.
Wan Fung Chui
Groomsman
When I first met Wan Fung at Harvard, we were pretty much complete opposites in personality. I experienced daily rituals of emotional highs and lows, while Wan Fung valued rationality and seemed to feel nothing. I wanted him to ~feel~ the love of God in worship while Wan Fung wanted me to ~know~ God by giving money to the poor. My favorite book was Romans; his favorite book was James. Yet, God used our contrast to grow each other, and we became incredibly close when we began to see the strengths of our differences. Because of his rationality and action orientedness, Wan Fung became the steward of my soul and cultivated discipline and spiritual habits in my life. And I guess you could say I’ve helped him get more in touch with his soul and appreciate the sometimes unquantifiable value of Love. Wan Fung is now not only my friend for life, but my treasured consultant for every major life decision because of his unparalleled consistency and God-given reasoning. When Wan Fung is not playing soccer or teaching me about effective altruism, he is a fourth year medical student at Harvard.
Joanne Hong
Bridesmaid
Time literally stops when I'm talking to Joanne. Throughout college and even now, we can easily go four hours talking on a couch, with our favorite conversation topic being love and relationships ;) Through these spicy conversations, we grew a sweet friendship and came to understand ourselves and each other better. Joanne and I met at Rice, where she became a Christian and joined our campus fellowship. It was clear to me from the start how earnest and pure her faith was, despite not growing up in the church. We spent our senior year living together and supporting each other in prayer through many highs and lows. There were many nights that I filled with tears and Joanne filled with compassion. She helped heal my soul by listening with intensity and asking the most stimulating questions. I admire how much she loves Jesus and seeks His voice every day. Joanne taught me that Love is tangible and often takes the form of homemade food. When she's not cooking for her friends or hiking 14,000ft mountains, Joanne is a pediatric dental resident in Denver, CO.
Shirin Kazimov
Groomsman
Shirin taught me how to truly listen. If you have the chance to ask him about his crazy life story, you definitely need to, but you will more likely find yourself sharing your own life story to him because of what an amazing listener he is. An anesthesiologist turned psychoanalyst, Shirin’s career passion to empower the healing of others naturally blends into his personal life and our friendship. Throughout our year living together in Boston, Shirin would curate the most gentle space for conversation that wouldn’t rush it or force the need to prove or explain anything, but simply let us be together and understand our inner selves. In this space, I grew so much in relational and self awareness, and owe it to Shirin for so many of my current relational habits with Lucy. A native of Azerbaijan, I also owe it to him for teaching me the amazing Russian method of drinking vodka -- with tasty sides of pickled herring and raw onion. Despite our age gap, I feel so close to him on our shared intimate, sometimes moody wavelength. When he is not helping his friends grow in self love, Shirin is a resident psychoanalyst in Stockbridge, MA.
Evi Liu
Bridesmaid
Evi is the funniest girl you'll ever meet. I can't stop laughing when I'm with her, because together we're a special mix of silly and weird. Evi and I apparently met the first week of college (sadly I don't remember this encounter) but really got to know each through weekly dinners during our senior year. We helped each other navigate the beginning of our relationships with Josh and Ethan respectively, and encouraged each other through our own interpersonal struggles. Somehow, our friendship grew even more after college despite living on opposite sides of the country -- a testament to Evi's loyalty, intentionality, and approachability. I know I can always be 100% my weird self with her, and that she will immediately match my antics. Evi reminds me to not take life too seriously, and inspires me to be generous with my time and money. She's also really good at speaking blunt truths in love, pointing me to trust in God when I despair. Evi taught me that Love is straight up and head on. When she's not stanning over Olivia Rodrigo, Evi is a product manager in Seattle, WA.
Michael Cevallos
Groomsman
Let’s just say my dental school experience would’ve been a lot less life-giving and WILD without Michael as a classmate. Michael embodies that friend who is always down. With a charming smile and a dash of Latino flare, Michael brought fun and adventure to my four years in Boston. Between the studying and patient care, Michael and I would always be laughing at each other, running or biking to a new spot in Boston, and hiking throughout the Northeast. Because of our shared desire for a healthy life balance, our study sessions usually turned into discussions of plants and fruits, sustainability, and C.S. Lewis. I’ve learned that Michael’s enthusiasm comes from a deep value of gratitude for the gift of life, and so he lives life to the fullest with his friends and family. This value comes across not only in his friendships, but in the clinic through the impartial compassion he shows to his patients - something I have sought to emulate in my own practice. When he is not charming you or biking across town, Michael is a general dental resident in Newark, NJ.
Maya Jay
Bridesmaid
Maya is my iron sharpening iron. On top of being incredibly smart and ambitious, she's also a passionate, caring, and fiercely loyal friend. Maya and I met in the summer of 2017 at Janelia Research Campus in Ashburn, Virginia. We were both doing neuroscience research as part of a summer program, and quickly hit it off as two bubbly extroverts seeking new friends. That summer turned into 3 years of living together in Cambridge, where we spent many nights toiling our minds over life plans and dreams, grad school struggles, and boys. I love that Maya doesn't shy away from speaking truths and is always down for a good time. We've supported each other through breakups, existential crises, and a global pandemic. Maya is one of the biggest reasons why leaving Boston will be so difficult: she's really helped make it my second home. From holiday dinners to weekend trips, I cannot be more thankful for the hospitality and warmth that Maya and her family have shown me over the years. Maya taught me that Love stands by your side through every season. When she's not hanging out with our awesome cohort or watching Ali Wong comedy shows with me, Maya is busy finishing her PhD in Neuroscience at Harvard.
Jon Hochstein
Groomsman
Jon came into my life as an unexpected necessity at Harvard. Although we didn't get along at first (I first had to figure out that his slaps to my face were actually an endearing habit from his own brother), conversations through our initial misunderstandings surprisingly paved the way to a most edifying friendship. Very often, our different life experiences seemed to provide the exact words that the other needed to hear. Such was the case when I started dating Lucy, and Jon consistently gifted me with deeper understandings of love from his own experiences and well-read mind. One of Jon's greatest influences on me was helping me grow into my role of empowering Lucy to know and believe in her own belovedness. When we weren't toiling our minds over love, Jon and I would enjoy playing countless games of Spike ball, working on our bench one-rep max (guess whose is 300lbs), and tandem-scootering across Boston. Jon has one of the greatest work hard, play hard mentalities, and I have come to love and adore his unashamed pursuit of life and love. When he is not trying to convert me to Catholicism, Jon is currently a pediatric resident in Boston, MA.