Wedding Party

India Kushner

Bride

Samuel LeGrys

Groom

Lauren Nelson

Maid of Honor

Lauren and India have been best friends since high school. Their friendship is 50% food, 25% dogs, and 25% Parks and Recreation. Although Lauren attended college in Ohio and India in Maryland, they studied abroad together in Copenhagen, where they continued to bond over food and travel. Since becoming neighbors in Baltimore, they have become even closer. Lauren is the Ann Perkins to India's Leslie Knope. Having Lauren (and Jordy and Boh) nearby makes India feel like she has a little bit of home right here in Baltimore.

Kristi Visser

Companion of Honor

Kristi was India's first friend from day one of high school. They quickly became best friends as they shared books, cheesy teen movies, manga, techno music, and knitting. Though they live on opposite coasts, they've continued to stay best friends through phone calls, video chats, and yearly visits. Kristi accepts India for her weirdness and although they don't see each other often, every time they get together, it feels like nothing has changed. For that, India is entirely grateful.

Laura Griffin

Bridesmaid

India and Laura's friendship was foretold before India ever moved to Baltimore. Sam would often regale Laura with tales of why they would be friends. The prophecy became true as their friendship grew into a healthy diet of amazing food, cheese, Harry Potter, poetry, feminism, The Good Place, and also food. From helping Laura and Zenobia with their anniversary event for preZerve, cooking many meals together (complete with Laura's notorious food noises), regrettably purchasing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at midnight, and performing spontaneous poetry readings, Laura and India's friendship has blossomed into a friendmance.

Zenobia Taylor-Weiss

Bridesmaid

Zenobia was one of India's first friends in Baltimore and she instantly made India feel at home with her warmth, friendship, and delicious jam. Sometime between cooking many wonderful meals together, nights spent dancing to bad 90s music in Rockwell, reading many books, and having late-night talks, India found herself lucky enough to be considered part of Zenobia's fellowship. Zenobia lives in the far, far land of Grand Rapids, Michigan, but they still manage to visit and stay in touch.

Allie Busching

Bridesmaid

Allie, aka The Queen of Snakes, graced India with her presence when they met through friends. Over many dinner parties, beach trips, and hiking adventures, they bonded over a mutual love of cute animals, food, and feminism. India counts herself so lucky to have such a kind, gracious, smart, crafty friend like Allie in her life.

Sarah Hamang

Bridesmaid

India is constantly in awe of Sarah, whether she's teaching dance classes on top of working a full-time job or hiking the ENTIRE Appalachian Trail. She's so happy they became better friends (thanks to Sam and Jacob) and is looking forward to continuing to visit each other more in Baltimore and DC (but mostly Baltimore *wink*).

Max March-Steinman

Best Man

The smartest brain in the room doesn't always belong to a bumblebee-voiced scholar that drones others to sleep. Sometimes, its owner is a circus performer, poet, and improv chef that ravenously consumes books...and scientific journals...and cooking videos. Being that person's college roommate means smelling pumpkin bread rising in the closet and pairing workout routines with documentaries. There was no question who would be Sam's Best Man. Despite their friendship stretching long-distance, Sam and Max have surprised each other at birthdays, rated hot sauces, and drained New York's tea supply.

Grant Knud-Hansen

Groomsman

Two words are guaranteed to illicit a groan from Sam’s friends: “camera gear.” But Grant is similarly obsessed with making images. Their shared passion has taken them kayak-camping on remote barrier islands and exploring Slovenia’s caves. The real question is who is the bad luck charm? The misadventures – from sprinting through the Warsaw airport to stubbornly peaking a mountain under buckets of rain – have rivaled their successes. Thankfully, those make equally good stories.

Chloe Mathers

Groomswoman

Don Quixote and Sancho had the promise of glory. Merry and Pippin had the Green Dragon. Chloe and Sam have...food. When separate, the two friends vainly attempt to hide the extreme extent of their food nerdom (though it's up for debate whether either succeeds). Together, Chloe and Sam let their unhinged love for all well-prepared, edible delights fly free in the wind. To them, a conversation about pastries is as deep and worthwhile as any of Plato's treatises. Side note: never trust either alone in the bakery section of Wegmans.

Jake Kolhas

Groomsman

Jake and Sam became friends when they lived together senior year at Goucher College. They have continued to be on/off neighbors ever since in Baltimore. Many know Jake as a skilled jazz and funk guitarist, but he is also a thoughtful friend - and fearless fashion icon (especially when tiny cowboy hats are concerned). Sam admires Jake's amazing ability to push discipline, creativity, and goofiness to their limits.

Marina Mamangakis

Groomswoman

Sam considers himself lucky to have a friend as fiercely smart and willing to be silly as Marina. She was the first person he talked to at Goucher College. The two Creative Writing majors shared in the best - and worst - classes together, from otherwise-exciting seminars plagued by stories about "wishbubbles" to the same, tired Fred White joke for the fourth year in a row. Sam was ecstatic to hear that Marina was moving back to Baltimore from New York, and he's loved every minute of backpacking and potlucking together. More, please!

Mikey Freedman

Groomsman

Late night quests for cake, vodka-infused Russian dance performances, and a hunt for the sleepiest place in New York City (hint: it’s City Island)... Mikey and Sam have stuffed their long-running friendship with top shelf experiences. The two met while attending rival high schools- and their writing careers peaked shortly thereafter when they penned an unpublished sketch about having a 260-pound mako shark as a roommate. One day, Mikey will finally make Sam watch The Wire.

Josh Fensterbush

Groomsman

Was the catalyst for friendship a New Zealand beer or the international section of the Washington Post? Either way, Josh and Sam can best be described as hobbits that travel. They want to get lost on purpose, lend an ear to coyote-like singers, and appreciate the transcendental qualities of pho. Although Sam will never have Josh's beard, he has seen more buffalo.

Jacob Fisk

Groomsman

Jacob and Sam met "underneath the stars," in the celestial-themed lobby of National Geographic. They interned together in early 2012, just days after Sam and India went on their first date in New York. Although Jacob and Sam never got a chance to work on the same project, they were thick as thieves. Along with fellow intern, Skye De Moya, they formed a wolf pack of young professionals, equally hungry for documentary opportunities, backpacking trips, and happy hour nacho specials. Not much has changed.

Sharon Neely

Officiant

Though their Fellowship had humble beginnings as apartment building mates, Sharon, Sam, and India quickly became close. Sharon is their warmest, most exuberant friend, who fills their lives with delicious bread, cheeses (like Ski Queen), laughter, folk music, and epic dance moves. Hobbit friends 'til the end, India and Sam immediately thought of Sharon when they considered their officiant.

Ben Spangler

Usher

Sam imagines Ben's west coast life to be like that of a mad scientist's: furiously at work, trusty lab pup at his side, developing new weapons for the fight against cancer. The reality might be a little more grounded (though no less amazing). The two remained good friends after college, thanks to a shared love for peaty scotch and Casey and His Brother (Ben's favorite musicians).

Jackson Kushner

Ring Bearer

Jackson is India's favorite cousin! From spending time together at Harry Potter World in LA to family Thanksgivings, no matter the time or distance, they always manage to have a good time. India is so happy that Jackson will be there to witness the next big adventure.