Gianna & Nidhish
Wedding Party
Joey Campain
Groomsman
Given the amount of time Joey has spent in his underwear around Nid, you can bet G has marked him as the biggest threat to their relationship since the start. Joey and Nid lived together for 6 years, going from college to med school together. Joey liked to make fun of Nid for all of the trends he follows (getting joggers, buying a standing desk, etc.) before copying all of the said trends a few weeks later. Whether it's backpacking through Argentina together, getting a long run or climbing session in, or playing some PS5 to unwind, these two are the same people in different bodies. Joey will be in Boston this year pursuing a Cardiology research fellowship before returning to Dallas to finish out med school with Nid and Umer. (Surprise surprise: one of them wanted to take a gap year, so all 3 roomies decided to take a gap year. Coincidence or co-dependence? You decide.)
Ariel DeZeeuw
Bridesmaid
Ariel and G first met in Gen Chem lab the first semester of college and have been best friends ever since. They have traveled across the country together, introducing Ariel to the wonderful world beyond Texas (hello, New Mexico and green chile!) and the great outdoors. In turn, Ariel has introduced G to the benefits of having one's life together (yay for budgeting apps) and how to properly do dishes (but she will always still redo them). Ariel has been there through thick and thin, whether it be with ice cream or stuffed teddy bears or frolicking through Costco. G is so lucky to have such a selfless and thoughtful stegosaurus in her life, and is honored that the second-most superior DeZeeuw will be by her side for many years to come. Ariel is currently a star high school math teacher, earning multiple awards and contributing to her school having the highest math scores in the Dallas Independent School district! We are so proud of her!!
Pravachan Lokesh
Groomsman
Prav and Nid were inseparable growing up. They did everything together, from reading at Barnes n Noble to building legos, to biking and playing sports at the park. Nid was even the one who picked Prav's name out. They've also played a ridiculous number of hours of video games together growing up as one of their main ways to hang out. He's also Nid's go-to guy on all things interesting movies/TV shows, philosophy, and random cool facts. Since getting older, they finally got separate friends and became their own people, but Prav always has Nid's back and always will. Whenever their parents needed a little push when it came to Nid's relationship, Prav was always ready with logical arguments to make the case. Prav is finishing up his psych degree at UNT and has a world of possibilities ahead of him as he figures out his next move post-grad.
Marina Motina
Bridesmaid
Marina was the first person to show G the wonderful world of research and how to work in a lab when they met at UTD. Throughout their first summer working together they became fast friends, whether it was working out together or hanging around and eating ice cream. Fast forward to the present day, and they can still be found sitting on the couch eating popcorn for dinner and watching whatever cheesy Netflix Christmas romance has just been released. Marina has earned both her Masters and her medical degree, and she is now a brilliant neurologist-in-training!! She can always be counted on to have the latest gymnastics news and update with all the latest trends. G continues to be inspired by Marina's compassion and advocacy, and is blessed to have her as not just a role model but as a best friend.
Umer Nadir
Groomsman
The first week Umer, Nid, and Neel hung out on a pre-college trip, they got in trouble 3 times for laughing too much and too loudly in their tent at night on a rafting trip. Since then, Umer and Nid's friendship has been one of many more laughs. Umer has been like a big brother to Nid, being there for him without question anytime he's needed. More than that, he adopted G as his own sister in how well him and his family have treated her. He's one of Nid's current roommates/med school classmates alongside Joey, and he and Nid like to hoop together and clown Neel whenever they get the chance. Anytime Nid has needed advice on clothing stores to shop at, restaurants to try, etc, Umer has had the recommendations on lock. One of Nid's goals in life is to drag Umer on an outdoorsy camping trip, which he denies will ever happen. Umer will be in Chicago this year for a Dermatology research fellowship, before returning to Dallas to finish med school with Nid and Joey.
Chaco Bean
Bridesman
When G first announced her plans to get a dog, her dad was worried that this would doom her relationship with Nid because she would devote all her time and attention to the dog. Turns out, Nid found this new situation to be ideal. And in the two years she's had him, Nid has grown to love Chaco Bean despite not being a dog person (so proud of him!!). Chac has shredded many a sock and never fails to make people smile as he trots down the street with his daily stick on his morning walk. In fact, G knew Nid was the man for her when he got Chaco a bandana to wear for the proposal (no, really, her face when she saw the bandana was more excited than when she saw the ring). The day wouldn't be complete without this zoomie, mouth-breathing, nubbin-wiggling scritchophile!
Rohit Shenoy
Groomsman
Rohit joined Neel, Joey, and Nid in apt 5835 for their final year at UTD. While he's 2 years younger than them, he got along with them fantastically from the start. It's easy to forget that he's younger sometimes because of the smart, mature, fantastic person he is. Rohit is one of the hardest working people Nid knows, whether that's at work, at the gym, or on some other random pursuit he's devoting himself to. He's also the first person Nid met who is later than he is to things and who may love sleep more than him. Trying to wake Rohit up in the mornings after his alarm clock has been going off for the past 3 hours is actually written in Greek mythology as Hercules's 12th labor. Rohit has always made an effort to be good friends with G as well, which has meant a lot to Nid, and they're thrilled that he's sticking around in Dallas for the foreseeable future working at Bain and Co and on his start-up.
Martha Willis
Bridesmaid
Martha and G met in OChem lab and spent many a late night doing problem sets and studying together. What started out as study buddies quickly became a full friendship, and G can always count on Martha for fashion and life advice. Martha is always the life of the party and there whether G needs outfit help, someone to do her makeup or a shoulder to cry on. She does all of this while being a fantastic mom to her two boys, and has shown G what it takes and means to build a family and home that you're proud of. While she moved back to Oklahoma earlier this year, she won't get rid of G that easily and is stuck with her for life!
Matt Salm
Groomsman
Matt, along with Neel and Joey, rounded out the initial college room 5835. The four friends lived together for a few years and their antics caused G to diagnose them with unhealthy levels of co-dependence. It reached its peak when the 3 roomies decided that because Matt was vegan, they'd all go vegan, because "why not". (That only lasted about 6 months though). Matt is a couple of years older than Nid, and while being a great and loyal friend, he's also been an amazing role model through his unflinching pursuit of his passions and his many accomplishments. Whether it's climbing 14ers and mountain biking in Colorado, playing ultimate frisbee together, or killing zombies in Call of Duty arcade mode, Matt is always down for a good time, and Nid is very lucky to have him in his life. Matt is currently training full-time to be an Olympic speedskater for Team USA.
Gabby Quinn
Bridesmaid
Gabby is a real soul sister, one of those people you can't help but form a friendship with. In addition to being an MD/PhD trainee, she is quite hip and runs a popular Instagram account for the dogs she fosters (give @dallas.foster.fam a follow!!). 12pm lunchtime with Gabby has become a safe haven for G during the long research-filled days, in large part thanks to her humor, and Gabby strikes the perfect balance of sympathy when science doesn't work and encouragement to try it again (with suggestions on how to fix it, of course). She is always down for a good time, whether that be hanging out in the lab, getting the car oil changed, or tying flies for fly fishing (not that she or G fishes, but it's the vibes that count). The only thing that will last longer than getting their PhDs will be G and Gabby's friendship.
Ankit Hammandlu
Groomsman
4-year-old Ankit missed his bus home from school one day. Nid's mother approached his anxious mother to help, and long story short, a lifelong friendship was born. To this day, Ankit is still the type of person to miss his bus and Nid yells at him for it. Except with relationships, it's reversed. Ankit's maturity and advice have always helped Nid be a better person for G, and it's partly thanks to him Nid has made it here today. The two of them grew up like brothers, hanging out almost every day when they were kids. They played a lot of Halo and basketball together, during which Ankit kept getting dunked on by Nid. Weird how that always happened. Ankit is in his last year of medical school down in Houston and also recently got married (Ankit and his wife Nadia have been clutch with wedding planning recs).
Eli Riciputi
Bridesmaid
Eli and G first met in high school where they bonded over obnoxiously singing Glee songs, attempting to dance to Rasputin in Just Dance, and playing Mario Kart. Their relationship then expanded into Broadway shows and Bridgerton, and Eli can always be counted on to have the latest in show business news. Eli lives and works in Colorado and is an extensive worldwide traveller, in addition to knowing all the best skin and hair care tips and tricks. She never fails to crack a joke or lighten situations with her goofy sense of humor, and G is so lucky to have her as her bonus sister.
Peter Mungiguerra
Groomsman
Peter has been one of Nidhish's closest friends since they met back in choir at Flower Mound High School. Peter and Nidhish, along with their whole choir gang, all get together around the holidays every year still whenever people are back in town. Peter and his wife Bailey (another good friend of Nidhish's since high school) have always been relationship goals in Nidhish's mind. They always give him genuine, thoughtful advice whenever he calls, and Nidhish and Gianna love visiting them and their puppy Hank down in Waco. Here's to more books, drinks, and time with the dogs! Peter is finishing up law school at Baylor University and plans to work and live in Waco while also getting involved in various local political campaigns and working hard to improve the lives of those around him.
Valerie Perez
Bridesmaid
When G first started working in a research lab at UT Southwestern she was intimidated and overwhelmed. Meeting Valerie changed all of that. Not only did Val serve as a mentor to G and teach her all sorts of spiffy science, but she also invited her to lunch and to Starbucks for coffee in the mornings before work, and helped G become more comfortable in the lab. Soon the two of them were plant shopping and going to Old Navy together in addition to occasionally doing some lab work. In the time that they're known each other Valerie has become a homeowner, acquired multiple birds and a doggo, and will soon get her PhD in biophysics (talk about brilliant!). She never fails to show up to whatever crisis is occurring in G's life and is always there with a coffee or cute plant in hand. G is thankful to have her for all the adventures to come!
Neel Reddy
Groomsman
Seeing as people are always mixing Nid and Neel up, we wouldn't be surprised if someone tried getting him to stand at the altar on accident. Not because they look alike, but because they love spending time together and have so many shared interests, whether that's multiple sports, making fun of Rohit, or pushing life's boundaries to find 80% fun and 20% trouble. Nid and Neel roomed together all 4 years of college, adding in Joey, Matt, and Rohit for various parts of that. Neel is also a foodie and takes pride in never missing on a food rec that he gives Nid, and he's been Mr. worldwide the past few years with all the traveling and adventuring he's done. Neel has been an incredibly loyal and supportive friend to Nid, always willing to hop on the phone about anything that's on Nid's mind. Neel will unfortunately be missing the wedding while he's off doing an amazing grad school year in China for the Schwarzman Scholars Program and we'll miss him!
Anna Davis
Bridesmaid
G first met Anna through one of her medical school classmates and boy did they hit it off. One of the highlights of the pandemic was that Anna moved to Dallas sooner than expected, eventually moving into the same building as G. Anna is one of those friends that's always down to go dog walk or run errands, or in the case of the half marathon they ran together last year, actually go on runs. Watching Anna get married and become such a wonderful wife serves as an inspiration to G, and she can't imagine her big day without Anna by her side. Anna is also an incredible counselor working with teenagers in recovery, and is expecting her first child later this year (just before the wedding in fact!).