Emily & Sam
Wedding Party
Victoria Picha
Matron of Honor
Victoria Picha is Emily's twin sister who is a new mom (to baby Joseph) and social worker with a big heart. Victoria grew up as a dual bookworm and athlete and went on to study English and play division 1 field hockey. She continued to follow her passions for sports and helping people by coaching field hockey and completing a master's degree in counseling, which she has been working in ever since!
Ben Heck
Best Man
Ben is Sam's younger brother, child #2 in the Heck clan. Sam and Ben were attached at the hip for the first 15 years of their lives and could always be found dressing up as their favorite football players, trading baseball cards, playing wiffleball in the front yard, or turning beanie baby collections into living room dodgeball. Ben has been a sport writer since he could talk and is one of the most dedicated, and passionate people you could meet. He has carried that passion and dedication into his adult years with his career as a sports writer and paint sales manager, and with his wife Kristen.
Catherine Lavell
Maid of Honor
Catherine Lavell is Emily's younger sister. Catherine has always brought light, energy, and fun into every room she enters, bringing the best out of everyone around her! Catherine is a full time free spirit who works in service while working on an album in her home studio. She is a world traveling, constantly giggling, cat lover who will certainly spend the night on the dance floor!
Jess Barger
Best Man
Jess and Sam met freshman year of college when Sam accidentally crashed a date at the movie theater between Jess and one of Sam's friends from high school. By the end of the movie, Jess's date had become the third wheel and their long friendship had begun. Sam and Jess were roommates for the next 7 years during college and post-graduation in Baltimore city. Jess is a loyal, fun-loving person that brings energy into everything he does, ensuring that every event big or small is a memory never forgotten. Jess is now a project manager and lives in Frederick, MD with his wife Kelsea, dog Cleo, and cat Boh.
Rachel Heck
Bridesmaid
Rachel is Sam's younger sister, the middle child with two older and two younger brothers! In a family full of guys, Rachel has always been Emily's partner in all things men just don't understand, including the importance of having face masks and skin products in the annual white elephant (to take for ourselves). Rachel works for a digital marketing company in Baltimore and is one of the most generous, thoughtful, and creative people you will meet. She is also the executive director of all Heck family mood boards, and if you need creative input, there's no one better than Rachel!
Michael Heck
Groomsman
Michael is Sam's younger brother, child #4 in the Heck clan. Michael has always been one to move fast and leave skid marks. This has been true since he was a kid running around to keep up with his older brothers and as an adult who is always hunting, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, snowboarding, skeet shooting, or exploring new parks and trails all over the country. Michael has always been curious, especially with fire. From the time he could walk he would scare the heck out of our mom every time we had a bonfire, so naturally he became a Fire Protection Engineer. He now lives in Gaithersburg, MD with his very sweet dog Bruce.
Dr. Dana Stone
Bridesmaid
Dana and Emily have been friends since high school, went to college in Baltimore together, and even continued on to attend the same medical school at Temple University. From Crusaders to Blue Jays to Temple Owls, they have never been more than a phone call apart and been together through it all! Dana is now an emergency medicine pediatrician in NYC, and one of the most thoughtful, reliable, and fun friends you could ever want.
Peter Heck
Groomsman
Peter is Sam's youngest brother, child #5 in the Heck clan. Growing up as the youngest in a large family, he has mastered the balance of simultaneously demonstrating wisdom and maturity beyond his years with also his lighthearted (often immature) humor. When Peter is not working as a Construction Project Manager, you can usually find him hunting, fishing, dreaming about what firearms he will buy next, or trying to convince Michael to go on another cross country hunting trip.
Laura Bartos
Bridesmaid
Laura and Emily became friends before college started via facebook messenger when they connected over joining the track team together. From the very first week of preseason, Laura and Emily were together for the good & the bad, the long weekends at track meets, and the birthdays celebrated in the library. Laura is dependable, passionate, and community-oriented, and puts that passion in action as a real estate investor in DC!
Patrick Lavell
Groomsman
Patrick is Emily's younger and only brother, the middle child in a family of sisters! He is one of the most kind, patient and empathetic people we know and we're so lucky to have him be part of our big day. If he takes a break from dancing long enough, you might be able to enjoy his great sense of humor.
Kimberly Ellis
Bridesmaid
Kim and Emily met in college and stayed close ever since, visiting each other while Emily lived in Baltimore and Philadelphia and Kim in Boston. Kim is one of the most down-to-earth, funny friends you could ever want and a joy to talk to about anything under the sun. From scaling walls at bota borg, to talking trash about football, to discussing the intricacies of her pharmaceutical research in Boston, Kim is a genuine and one of a kind friend.
Steve Carroll
Groomsman
Sam and Steve were roommates in college for 3 years and close friends ever since. Steve is one of the nicest, thoughtful, and easy going people around. Just after college, Steve drove from New Hampshire down to Maryland to meet Sam to go on a cross country road trip. Sam ended up having to delay the start of the trip for a few days for a job interview and ultimately had to cancel the trip on Steve (got the job!). Steve is so easy going that he only occasionally holds it against him. Steve lives in Arlington, VA with his fiancee Marin.
Dr. Alexa Tzaferos
Bridesmaid
Emily and Alexa met in college where they ran track, volunteered, and even worked in a research lab together. Over the years they've stayed close, and now Emily is lucky to live in the same city as her where they can spend a lot of time on each others couches wearing groutfits. Alexa is the kind of friend who can find fun, joy, and humor in just about everything, including long days in the hospital where she works as a general surgeon!
Andrew Foote
Groomsman
Sam and Andrew met in college where they were suite-mates for 1 year and close friends for many more. Referred to as just "Foote", he is one of the goofiest, funniest people you'll ever meet. He is always looking for the next laugh, the next prank to pull on his friends, or spreading rumors like wild fire. Foote lives in Arlington, VA with his wife Mariah and dog Moose.
Dr. Jessica Miciak
Bridesmaid
Jess and Emily met while both working in the Cancer Research Building #2 and immediately bonded over a mutual love of science, coffee, and a shared sense of humor. They went on to live together for several years filled with endless cooking experiments, game nights, and Baltimore adventures. Jess is an extremely loyal, curious, and creative friend who we are always learning from and laughing with!
Rich Gibbons
Groomsman
Rich and Sam met in college, where they were roommates for 1 year and friends for many more. Rich is loyal, laid back, and fun loving. Rich taught Sam the value of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, how to play NBA 2K, and the "take one, stock one" approach to a mini fridge. Rich is also known for his quotes like "don't be sad it's over, be happy it happened" and "buy high, sell higher". Rich lives in Frederick, MD with his fiancee Lindsay
Danielle McAuliffe
Bridesmaid
Dani and Emily met as students at Temple University and immediately bonded over their histories of living in New Jersey and Baltimore -- they even worked at the same place in Baltimore in neuroscience at the same time, frequenting the same coffee shops and yoga studios. Dani and Sam even went to UMD together and have dozens of mutual friends. Luckily the universe finally connected them all for good in Philadelphia and they've been inseparable friends ever since!
Chris Bogdanowicz
Groomsman
Chris and Sam met in college, where they were suite-mates for 1 year and friends for many more. Chris is one of the nicest, most helpful human beings out there. One night, Chris and Sam took the metro from College Park into DC to enjoy a night on the town and then brought it back again to College Park. Sam had left his phone on the seat in the metro, so the next morning using Find My IPhone, we noticed it was way in Virginia at someone's apartment. Chris led the charge, told me to get in the car and that he was driving me there to get it, even skipping coffee and breakfast. He went out of his way to help Sam that day and that is the kind of guy that Chris is. Chris is an aerospace engineer and lives in Washington DC.
Grace Amadio
Bridesmaid
Grace and Emily became friends when they met as students Temple University and bonded over a shared love of science, research, and frequent lessons on cheese at Di Bruno's Italian market. Grace is a funny, selfless, and loyal friend who is the kind of person who would drop anything in her busy schedule to be there for you.
Joseph Picha
Ring Bearer
The Lavell/Picha families were blessed with the arrival of Joe Joe in 2020- the sweetest happiest puppy loving little man you could possibly meet. Joseph is the son of Victoria and Donny Picha, making him Sam and Emily’s first (and favorite) nephew!
Finley
Usher
Finley joined Emily and Sam's growing family in April 2020 and has been the perfect companion ever since, bringing endless joy to the couple and everyone he meets. If you haven't met him yet, trust us - he's the definition of perfect.