Hannah & David
Wedding Party
Jenny Cousar
Maid of Honor
Jenny asked to sit next to me on the bus in 6th grade, and from there on we were pretty inseparable. We share a love of musicals, bad/wonderful tv, and have shared countless memories over our almost two decades of friendship. She is the kind of friend anyone would be lucky to have, and is endlessly thoughtful and creative. Jenny is also the talented graphic designer behind our save the dates and wedding invitations!
Rachael Baartmans
Bridesmaid
Rachael is married to my brother, Jackson, and is the only girl I’ve ever seen call him out successfully. We love her for it. When we met, I knew pretty immediately that she was Jackson’s person, but I had no idea what it would be like to have a sister. Turns out, it’s pretty great. She’s an official outlaw and has been showing David the ropes of our crazy family. She's also possibly the only person who will accept any and all of my reading recommendations and I adore her for it.
Jen Hicks
Bridesmaid
Jen and I worked (or survived working?) together in my first job right after graduate school. Jen lured me in with chocolate on a bad day and then told me she decided we would be friends, much to the chagrin of everyone else on our team. Jen has been my biggest cheerleader, my favorite coffee date, and non-profit commiserator since that day.
Brieanna Ritacco
Bridesmaid
Brieanna wasn't looking to make friends at our graduate school internship, but after many hours painting questionable wall art and providing social skills group therapy together, I convinced her. Brieanna and I lived together after graduate school, when I adopted Tucker, and later when David moved into our very small Roslindale apartment. We've now worked together twice, lived together, and encouraged each other's bad shopping habits frequently. She would absolutely hate if I added anything mushy here, so I'll spare her.
Ann Vanderperre
Bridesmaid
Ann and I connected years before I moved to Boston through tumblr, back when that was cool. We met for the first time at the Women's March in Boston and she quickly became one of my best friends over many brunches and dating recaps downtown. There is no one more thoughtful and generous than Ann, and I'm so grateful the internet and Boston brought us together.
Phillip Alexeev
Best Man
Phil and I have known each other since way before our brains were capable of storing long term memories. Our mothers worked together in the Leningrad Music Hall in the Mother Country so we got introduced shortly after I was born. The rest, as they say, is history. We have remained best friends since, despite never really living closer than an hour drive apart. Whether we are vacationing together, celebrating a milestone or just hanging out on a random weeknight, our shared history and sense of humor usually mean that we are laughing to the point of involuntary tearing and shortness of breath. Best man is an understatement.
Graham Baartmans
Groomsman
Graham is Hannah's youngest brother and he has always been very welcoming to me since we first met. We have shared some great laughs over inappropriate Tweets, prison TV, and American Horseshoes (the greatest arcade game of all). I am bummed that Hannah and I never got to visit while Graham was in Nashville, but we did host him in the "great" city of New Haven and I look forward to continuing to get together over a beer, wherever that may be.
Jackson Baartmans
Groomsman
Jackson is Hannah's brother, the middle child of the Baartmans house. His turnaround jumper is filthy. I admire his dedication to projects from smoking a whole hog every year to building a custom racing simulator setup, and we are both project-cooks who dive headfirst into things like cooking sous vide, making the perfect Beef Wellington, or making sausages from scratch. I am excited to be part of the family and have Jack on speed-dial every time I want to discuss some absurd trade in the NBA or compare notes on our favorite hip hop albums.
Seth Elder
Groomsman
Seth and I met on the debate team during our freshman year of college. We debated together several times and had a blast, but the memory that sticks out to me is spooning together on the floor of a Wesleyan College dorm, drunk on Evan Williams, bellies full of grilled cheese. We have lived in the same apartment and we have lived 400 miles apart but we have always been close and been able to lean on each other. I consider myself so lucky to have this man by my side at my wedding.
Philip Kopel
Groomsman
Philip is my brother and we grew up doing everything together, from playing hockey in the driveway to playing Zelda on the N64. He taught me how to lose (mostly) gracefully and I credit his curiosity and interest in the things he was learning in school and the books he was reading at home for sparking my own passions. There is a Russian story about a chick that wants to emulate everything her duckling friend can do and that is how I felt about Philip. I grew up looking up to him, but these days I am just excited when we get to see each other and laugh about some ridiculous people on Russian TV or about our shared memories of Duke Nukem or a particular 4th grade math teacher.