Stacey & Shawn
Wedding Party
Isabel Kaplan
Matron of Honor
Isabel and Stacey met in preschool at age four. Their friendship was obvious when their chatty reputation traveled with them from school to dance classes. Many epic play dates took place, and they discovered that they also liked to wear clothing in each other’s favorite colors. They established they were best friends, and since their birthdays are only two days apart, they must also be twins. Many matching outfits followed. When Stacey moved from Baltimore to Long Island, their chats became long distance phone calls and evolved with texting and eventually Skype in college. With frequent communication, they grew to being each other’s life confidants and consultants. Isabel was blessed to have Stacey as the maid of honor for her wedding and is “honored” to return the favor!
Andrew Ritiau
Best Man
As his youth pastor, mentor, and now ministry partner, Andrew has known Shawn since Shawn was in 6th grade. From nudging Shawn into leading worship, to gigging together, to being on staff together, and now being so proud of all the amazing accomplishments God has led Shawn into, Andrew counts himself privileged to have been part of the journey all along the way. And to make that journey even sweeter, Andrew is incredibly honored to stand with Shawn on his big day with Stacey!
Amy Houck
Bridesmaid
Amy and Stacey met their freshman year at the Eastman School of Music. For four years, they lived no more than 50 feet from each other, from living down the hall in the dorm, to being off-campus roomies senior year. Both were very involved in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and attended church together. They quickly bonded on a shared love of God and not taking life too seriously. They are very silly when they’re together and frequently laugh (or silent laugh when they can’t control it; it might sound odd, but that’s them) at old videos, pictures, and memories from their college days. They remain the best of friends and even sisters in arms (Stacey is in the Air National Guard, and Amy is in the Army). Amy can’t wait to see what plans God has in store for Stacey and Shawn’s marriage!
Brian Chung
Groomsman
Brian met Shawn through InterVarsity at USC. During Shawn’s time at USC, Brian was Shawn’s spiritual mentor, while Shawn was Brian’s fashion and style mentor. Today, Shawn continues to create beautiful music for Brian’s company, Alabaster Co. To further solidify Shawn's presence in Brian's life, Brian’s dog Levi also has great fondness for Shawn.
Debra Liu
Bridesmaid
Debra is Stacey’s kindred spirit! They’ve been friends for over 8 years and connect over a love of Disney, worship music, and Harry Potter. During one hangout in 2015, they even made a “secret handshake”. Over the years, even on different coasts, they’ve maintained their sisterhood through phone calls and visits whenever they were both in Boston or LA. Debra got to meet Shawn when they celebrated Debra’s 30th birthday at Disneyland. In addition to being excited that Stacey had met someone who knew Disneyland inside and out, Debra could tell Shawn was a fun soul who loved Jesus - the type of person who would be a great partner for Stacey. Debra was overjoyed when Shawn told her he was going to propose, and she can't wait to stand by Stacey’s side as Stacey marries Shawn!
Bryan Ye-Chung
Groomsman
Bryan met Shawn hanging out and rooming together and "fighting on" at USC. The pair spent a lot of time listening to loud, rambunctious music whilst preparing for the latest InterVarsity retreat or playing games on the Rift. Bryan feels it is always an incredible joy being around this super-fun-hilarious-laughing-major-deep-music-genius-celebrity. He is excited for Shawn and Stacey's marriage and can't wait to celebrate their future together!
Eden Sung
Bridesmaid
Eden and Stacey have known each other since they were tweens at Covenant Church. They were easily the best of friends and a team like no other from teaching kids about Jesus, to creating elaborate hand motions in leading worship, to attending Urbana together (twice!) where one day Stacey would eventually play and meet Shawn. Eden will always be thankful for the sister in Christ Stacey's been and her continual encouragement in her spiritual growth and prayers that led them both here to this point in all of this! They've walked through life together, spent hours on the phone, traveled the world, and now will stand side by side as Stacey marries Shawn, passing on the torch to Shawn for the very best friend and partner in life he could have.
Clay Song
Groomsman
Clay was a boy Shawn was a boy Can I make it any more obvious? Clay was a punk Shawn did guitar What more can I say? Clay wanted Shawn Shawn’d never tell Secretly he wanted him as well But Shawn met Stacey Now they’re engaged But Clay's happy to settle for Groomsman
Elyssa Ngai
Bridesmaid
Elyssa became close friends with Stacey at their childhood church. Their friendship now spans 18 years! Although both pride themselves on being New Yorkers, the two ventured to Boston during early adulthood. During this time, Elyssa was Stacey’s unofficial roommate, and, to this day, is still the friend Stacey has graciously hosted the most. Elyssa intends on breaking this record after the wedding. Jk, Shawn! Church, jam sessions, eateries, breweries, live sport games, Longy recitals, Wegmans grocery runs, and Origins visits are experiences that capture their time together in Boston! The two were also able to travel internationally to Belgium, Germany, Morocco, and locally to CA. A fun fact is that they bond over discussing MBTI & Enneagram, and they also share some personality similarities!
Colin Althaus
Groomsman
Within 12 hours of meeting in 2018, Shawn and Colin shared a bed in a San Diego hotel room. So their friendship was off to a great start. Throughout 2018 they traveled together as part of the Urbana 18 Worship Team, bonding as friends and musicians (Colin on guitar, Shawn on keys). Colin also became friends with Stacey during this time and began to suspect something was up with the two of them by the time Urbana was over. In 2019, Colin moved to California, opening up more opportunities for All-You-Can-Eat sushi with Shawn. Even during the pandemic, Colin grew closer to Shawn during online Among Us game nights, and eventually exploited Shawn's high school friends to be his friends too. Colin is looking forward to 2022 for more musical opportunities with Shawn, and of course, the wedding!
Jenn Louie
Bridesmaid
Jenn and Stacey met in 2018 because they were both on the Urbana 18 worship team. In fact, after spending that year with both Stacey and Shawn and watching their relationship take form, Jenn knew it was only a matter of time until Stacey and Shawn DTR’d (defined the relationship). In the years since, Jenn and Stacey have shared many laughs and memories together, and Jenn can’t believe they now get to add a wedding to the list!
David Eng
Groomsman
David has known Shawn since high school and prides himself in being one day older than him. While less musically talented than Shawn, David has helped Shawn up his video and photography game significantly over the years. They’ve spent many hours together bowling, gaming, going on shoots, discussing campus ministry, and bonding over long-distance relationship struggles. Shawn was also in David’s wedding party, so something must’ve gone right.
Letitia Jap
Bridesmaid
Letitia has been friends with Stacey for 8 years. They first met at a music festival in Indiana during their senior year in college, only to realize that they would also be attending their graduate programs in Boston together. Little did they know that this newfound friendship would continue for a long time. During their time in Boston, the two ladies hung out and explored the new city together along with other friends. Stacey is a friend that Letitia feels extremely comfortable with, no matter the setting or adventure. The friendship they have cultivated has been meaningful, intimate, and satisfying. Letitia is so proud to see Stacey be wedded to a wonderful and musical man, and is honored to be her bridesmaid.
Josh Jang
Groomsman
After picking up Shawn at a bar in the streets of Madison, Wisconsin, Josh and Shawn's friendship was off to a beautiful start. Over the next couple of years Shawn would recruit Josh to play drums on worship teams, play roughly 25,376 games of Among Us, and take over Disneyland twice. It's only natural that after sharing the highs and lows of life together, that Shawn would be the one to convince Josh to move from the middle of Texas to sunny Southern California; effectively reducing the number of long-distance relationships in Shawn's life by one. Together they like to make muscles, eat way too much sushi in one sitting, and create various forms of art. In all sincerity, Josh has been a recipient of Shawn's generosity of friendship, allowing him to thrive in his new life in California!