Janet & Gray
Wedding Party
Else Vedula
Matron of Honor
Else has been Janet's longest and best friend since they met at daycare when Else was 4 and Janet was 5. From learning how to tie their shoes, sharing the chicken pox, and skiing afterschool on Friday nights, their friendship has lasted over 25 years. Else has her PhD from BU and currently works at Draper engineering lab-grown microfluidic devices from lab grown kidneys. Else and her husband Rahul will be bringing their family's newest addition to the wedding. Janet and Gray can't wait to meet their little one once they arrive!
Trista Dufrene
Bridesmaid
Trista and Janet met while volunteering for Camp Daybreak in highschool. They became friends quickly while dressing up like pirates, singing camp songs, and accidentally scaring small kids while they searched for treasure. Trista has an incredible talent for quilting and is on the Vermont Modern Quilt Guild Board. She also runs a small farm with her partner in crime, Chris. They raise ducks, chickens and pigs with their loving pups, Tully and Mully. This summer, Trista and Janet will be celebrating their 14th year at Camp Daybreak!
Jillian Diamond
Bridesmaid
Jill and Janet met in college while volunteering on Friday afternoons with the DREAM Mentoring Program at the University of Vermont. Jill and Janet lived together during their last year of college and have several funny stories of their adventures together while living at 9 Hickok Pl. Jill has her PhD in Psychology and loves to ski and hike as much as Janet does.
Calla Ward
Bridesmaid
Calla and Janet met while working for Telluride Academy, an outdoor adventure camp in Telluride, CO. Janet knew instantly that they would become great friends and awkwardly convinced Calla to go to a movie and they snuck tiny boxed wine into the show. That was enough to win her friendship. They also bonded over their love of skiing. Calla lives on her sail boat with her fiance and (Janet's favorite) cat named Puner. Calla just finished up grad school and really loves her new job.
Richard McNell
Best Man
Some of you may know this half of Gray’s best-man team as Richard; but, he’ll forever be “Dick” in our book! Dick and Gray met in 2003 at Northwestern prep school where they consoled each other about not getting into USAFA on the first attempt. Dick and Gray went off to the Academy in 2004 and ended up living down the hall from each other for the last 3 years of school. After graduation, Dick had 2 hardship assignments to Cocoa Beach, FL and Hermosa Beach, CA… rough life! After a few years of geographic separation, Dick and Gray reunited in Sacramento and proceeded to have a blast skiing in Tahoe and enjoying all the delicious brunch foods the city has to offer. Dick is a king pin in the California wine industry, so hit him up if you need any recommendations on what to drink!
Stuart Seitz
Best Man
The other half of Gray’s best-man team has known Gray since the 6th grade, when they had regular football games in the street and routinely swapped the letters on the elementary school’s announcement board to make much more interesting content (appropriate, of course). Now, Stu has his “adult” job and has become quite the world traveler. These guys have a rich history of wrenching on cars, drinking beer, and snowboarding all over the world! Make sure to look out for this guy on the dance floor with Gray’s mom.
Jonathan Hughes
Groomsman
Jon is kind enough to take a break from his Wing Executive job and C-130 flying gig in Germany to be with us for the wedding in Vermont! Jon and Gray went through basic training together at USAFA where it quickly became apparent that he could eat more dinner rolls than any skinny guy should be able to put away. Jon and Gray were kindred spirits in school, traveled Australia after graduation, and were roommates during pilot training, where they completely failed at keeping salt-water fish alive. And yes, they have matching tattoos; enough said.
Manuel Ochoa
Groomsman
This great American met Gray at Beale and became an instant member of the Sacramento crew, more commonly known by its Facebook name: “Ballin’ & Hangin’ Sac”. Manny is a stand-up guy who showed his true colors when he helped Janet move all of her things and get Gray’s truck out of city impound while Gray was deployed. Manny is also a pilot extraordinaire, who is actually building a RV-8 that we all can’t wait to ride in!
Averill Earls
Officiant
Averill and Janet met while she was in 5th grade and Janet was in 4th. Ave was the new girl in town and was in the same grade as Janet's brother Max. They became friends while playing sports and bonded over hundreds of sleep-overs on the farm. They were both additions to the dinner table at each other's homes. Ave has her PhD in history and has a podcast that Janet listens to on her commute to work. Ave lives with her partner, Dan and their fur-critter Curie the dog in Buffalo, NY. Ave has a way with words, which you will hear at the Ceremony.
Florence MacDonald
Flower Girl
Florence is Janet’s niece. She is already a better snowboarder than Janet. She enjoys raisins, gliding on her mountain bike trainer, and walks in the forest with her big brother Walter the dog.
Tessa O’Hara and Olivia O’Hara
Ring Bearer and Flower Girl
Tessa and Olivia are Gray’s nieces. Tessa is real pumped to have the honor of being the ring bearer and likes to drop it in conversations with new friends. She is an expert cartwheeler and enjoys the ocssaional face paint. Olivia will be walking down the isle with her new buddy Florence as a flower girl. She can be found carrying her little baby around the house and is a big big fan of cheese.