A Long-expected party
Wedding Party
Jamila Dawson
Officiant: Mutuality and Pleasure
I (jenn) met Jamila in 2017. We hit it off quickly with witty banter, connecting over social justice and our comical yet fundamental desire to fuck shit up in the non-profit sector. It didn't take long before I knew that Jamila was special and that it was a high honor to be someone who earned Jamila's trust and friendship. Spending time with Jamila epitomized mutuality. We spent countless nights at our favorite spots to eat and drink, roaring with laughter, and beaming with ideas and insight. We'd learn everything we could about one another and relish the profoundness of how we found our spark in a workplace that didn't align with our values. Because Jamila takes pleasure in everything she does, it is contagious, and I never left our time together with feelings of incompleteness. She'd move me to order whatever I wanted, drink whatever I wanted, wear whatever I wanted, and be myself. She'd encourage deep inquiry around intimacy with self and within relationship. Also knowing Michael, she'd unearth insights about our relationship that I had never considered. Jamila gave me permission to explore parts of myself I had long hid away, and without Jamila, I would not have had the safety to explore my gender identity head-on. This deepening of mutuality and pleasure catapulted my relationship with Michael into a more genuine and playful space. She is officiating because of her profound impact on jenn and Michael and because we want a marriage that centers mutuality and pleasure.
Abraham Epperson
Mike's Party Lead: Creativity and Kindness
Abe and I have been best friends and creative partners ever since we worked together at UCSD's finest satire publication, the MQ. Since then, we've founded a sketch troupe, a video department, and a podcasting network together, flown to Illinois to stay up all night sneaking doobies in the woods and making a horror movie, and shared every major career milestone. Nevertheless, it isn't Abe's unparalleled mind for story or intense drive to make quality art that means the most to me, but rather his constant love and support over the years. Abe is one of the few to see me at my worst, and he's never flinched or offered anything but sage advice, an ear, and a hug. We share the same calling in life, and that's made us partners. But beneath that, we share the same core values - kindness, curiosity, tolerance, hard work - and that's made us brothers. There's no one I'd rather talk to about the things that interest and confound me most, or who I trust more with my ideas. Whether our film dreams go the distance or not, getting to collaborate with Abe will certainly be one of the greatest privileges of my life.
Lauren "Chooch" Moore
jenn's Party Lead: Resilience and Hope
Chooch is my (jenn's) sister and fellow offspring of momma moore and our dearly departed mustache man. Chooch has been in my corner since I even knew what corners were, despite the fact that we used to torment one another as children. We've survived remarkable things together, and Chooch is the only person who truly understands the cause of my oddities, idiosyncrasies, neuroses, etc. It's a gift to be known in such a way and to still be cherished. Despite everything we've been through, she braves the world with grit and perseverance. She's never lost sight of hope, even when I would. Siblings are oftentimes pitted against one another or in competition with one another, both dynamics we've navigated and attempt to resist to this day. Through this, she teaches me with each growing interaction, and helps me see deeper into myself, even when she doesn't know it. Chooch was there when our abusers cemented the belief that I only exist as a tool for others and not as a person. She was there when I broke free. She was there when old thought patterns re-emerged, when I felt unknowable. She was there for every disappointment that pre-dated Mike, and she'd always remind who the fuck I was and that something beautiful would come my way. She was there for the beginnings of me and Mike, and I remember the healing and rivalry I felt when she smirked at me from across the room after realizing what was happening and that she had been right all along. Thank you, Chooch, for carrying me here.
Erika Barbosa
Accountability and Protection
Fate had it in mind for Erika and me (jenn) to cross paths. When I didn't listen to fate the first time, it continued to show up until I was like, "chill, fate, I get it," and flash-forward a couple months to us living with one another. We ended up cohabitating on and off for a decade, through what seemed like multiple lifetimes. No matter the cycle, our interests, beliefs, and experiences seem to align with their own unique presentation. Through all the years I've cherished knowing her, I've experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows with Erika, the kind of laughter and tears I didn't know possible...the kind of stuff that makes the term "best friend" feel shallow. Simply put, I would not be the person I am today without her, and I would not be the partner I am to Mike without her, and that is because being in relationship with Erika has always been a lighthouse and reference point for me. Erika inspires me, protects me, shows me what I deserve, makes space for me, and most importantly, holds me accountable. Erika has seen nearly every piece of fabric in the quilt that is me & Mike - the good, the bad, and the ugly. She even facilitated an intervention between us at one point. No matter the challenge, she was there, providing emotional and relational labor freely and wholly. Erika is family and has also carried me to this day in more ways than one. It took me 10 years to get to the point of saying, "I do" to Mike, and a massive part of that is in thanks to her.
Soren Bowie
Curiosity and Spark
Of all my friends, Soren's the one whose inner child remains the most intact. When I was ten years old, I remember jumping and running and climbing all over the fountain and benches at Balboa Park, looking at the staid adults around me and thinking, "if I ever stop engaging with the world in a delightful way, kill me." My views on that have softened somewhat with age, but that doesn't stop me from marveling at people like Soren who so embody humanity's most noble trait - curiosity. He just loves fun, and it's infectious. In spite of a comedic persona that often depicts him as a vain, out-of-touch culturati skating by on pure privilege, I'm happy to say that in real life only one of those things is true. CAN YOU GUESS WHICH? Soren is in fact kind, empathetic, bright, faithful, gentle and stunningly handy, as WELL as being a culturati, which is a word I just googled and will be using a lot from now on. I'm someone who often second-guesses people's intentions and wonders if they really like me or are just being polite. I've never once wondered that about Soren. That's some kind of magic, and I'm grateful to have it in my life.
Noah Byrne
Understanding and Insight
Noah is my emotional soul twin. That means that of everyone on this page, he's likely the only one that actually "gets me" way down in his bones. All of my friends and family are nothing but supportive when I struggle with depression, as I often do, but Noah's the first friend that made me feel like I wasn't in it alone. He's also probably the only person on this page that values pure unadulterated weirdness as much as I do. We've cried together, created together, and once tried to make sense of this whole mess by writing a sketch together backwards on a cold rooftop in Brooklyn. He writes the jokes that make the comedy writers in the room go "how'd you think of that?" His talents won't be sufficiently appreciated in his lifetime - whose are? Noah graciously spent six long months helping me dig myself out of a hole, and lighting the way back to sanity as only a fellow spelunker can. If I ever get a film career off the ground, he's going to be my go-to comedy assassin, like Tim Blake Nelson is for the Coens. Talking with Noah about what hurts always makes me feel better, and that's a rare thing.
Andrea "Dre" Catalano
Loyalty and Gratitude
When I (jenn) first met Dre, it was awe at first sight. In the beginning, I was always so nervous around Dre, because she is nothing short of a boss-ass-bitch (in fact, she was my boss when we first met). After an embarrassing display on my part, our first night of hanging out, and then ongoing slacking off at work, I thought Dre would quickly realize she was too together to be my friend. She must have seen something in me because she stuck with me, and that fact will always be a "happy thought" that can pull me out of any sadness. Dre is a cup filler. We can sit in the depths of yuck while at the same time counting our blessings, and when I need perspective, Dre is there to help me zoom in and out, all the while belly-ache and face-cramp laughing. Our differences create grounds for one of the most beautiful connections I've ever known, and I will never get over the gravity of such a gift. Dre's fierce loyalty, reserved only to those she loves, taught me the importance of quality over quantity, at a time in my life where I gave my friendship away easily. I struggle both with relinquishing control and believing the world is on my shoulders, and in those moments, Dre is always right there with me, reminding me to breathe and release. I am more able to face the unknowns because of her. She gives me courage, she gives me space to let go, and she's played a major part in my acceptance of the compartmentalization skills a healthy marriage requires. I'll forever be stunned by her.
Adam Ganser
Ferocity and Glee
Adam is my favorite person to argue with, and probably my favorite person to talk through matters of faith, philosophy, and metaphysics with as well. As a sensitive soul, it's rare to find someone with a different history and differing tastes that I can talk to at length without feeling personally slighted. Adam's ability to tackle a topic with gusto but from a completely open-hearted place is rare, and it's yielded me a tremendous amount of wisdom and insight over the years, on topics as diverse as Sonic 2 and what makes life worth living (ie, Sonic 2). He's always got a kind word to say and raucous laughter to add to the mix, and I don't think I've ever once seen him bring a room down. He's quite frankly a delight, and I cherish the childish sparkle in his mischievous eyes whenever we chance upon a topic he has strong opinions on, which is most of them. I can't imagine a more supportive friend or more generous soul, and yet Adam brings an energy and enthusiasm to each day that I deeply admire. His love of life and his friends is palpable, infectious, appreciated and reciprocated.
Cody Johnston
Courage and Silliness
Cody was one of the first people we recommended Cracked hire and relocate to LA to make videos and be friends with us, and I don't think we could have made a savvier call. He's a talented writer and skilled performer, but more importantly than that, he's a super cool dude. Like, for casual hangouts and just chillin'? The best. He's helped me craft standup, played the Wolfman to my Dracula, worked late nights to make objectively stupid stuff like Three Dead Friends, and made me laugh harder and more often than anyone else I'm writing these little blurbs about. His ability to be fearless both onstage and online, and to bring the silly factor with earnest glee, has inspired me to stay more in touch with my inner child than I otherwise would have - quite a gift. He's worn horrible prosthetic eyeballs for days on end just to say jokes I wrote. He's also a gentle spirit, a true midwest transplant who brought the kindness and flannel button-downs with him, yet somehow still comes off cool as hell. I wish I had his simple comfort in his own skin, but I'll settle for his friendship and hilarity.
Lisa Kovacevic
Playfulness and Joy
Being around Lisa is pure magic. She has a way of making every moment you are in with her incredibly special. She reminds everyone around her of the importance of playfulness in relationships. I (jenn) grew up with an incredibly playful father, so silliness was never far with him around. After he passed, I didn't know how much I missed that part of myself until I met Lisa. We met in San Diego 15 years ago when she was just starting her own love story. Little did she know that another person was also falling in love with her (me)! We became fast friends and have never stopped laughing with one another since. No matter where we are, we are two kiddos in a sandbox. Lisa is married to another one of my closest friends, Brandon, about whom I could write an equally loving tribute. They recently brought a child into this world that stole my heart, and I am so grateful to continue to be a part of their family journey. I never imagined this day without Lisa by my side, and I am honored she said yes to being beside me. I've always looked to my friendship with Lisa with glee, as she continues to show me the importance of delighting and mystifying one another. Because of the wholeness and acceptance of my silly self that I experience around Lisa, I knew I needed to find someone who could spark this kind of joy and wonder in me. Seeing Lisa and Mike hit it off was a tell-tale sign for me that I had made a good choice, because if you can keep up with Lisa, you've gotta be pretty special.
Evan Martin
Generosity and Calm
Evan is a fairly recent addition to my team, having come to me by way of jenn, but I immediately fell for him hard. Honestly, Nicole and Evan could both be on either side of the bridal party, bonded as we are by shared adventures, a mutual love of Star Trek, and their endless supply of support and understanding. Evan is a trickster god, responsible for some of my more mind-opening experiences - he genuinely loves showing others a good time, a trait I resonate with deeply. He makes magic in his garage surrounded by neighborhood strays, which I find thrillingly romantic. Nevertheless, he's no stranger to dark times and wears his heart on his sleeve in a way that immediately welcomes you to let down your own guard, a privilege he never takes lightly. We went from zero to vulnerable very quickly, through shared jokes but also shared sadness. While my sadness tends to be vibrant and dramatic, Evan seems to be able to let it swirl around him and pass, which is nice work if you can get it. I'll always be there for him, and hope we never stop sharing laughs, music, adventure, and the smell of sawdust.
Nicole Martin
Sincerity and Empathy
I (jenn) met Nicole after my dear friend Evan began to date her. I remember when Evan told me he planned to marry Nicole and how he lit up just with the thought of it. It was easy to understand why, as Nicole is the type of person you know you can share anything with and without judgement. Our relationship began to deepen in the subsequent years, and with every interaction I discovered a new level of lovely to her. Nicole embodies a level of empathy and support that leaves you with a feeling of warmth and safety. When you are with her, you do not feel alone. I know that when I am sharing anything with Nicole, that she is actually actively listening - she doesn't listen just so that she can reply, she listens to understand. To truly be listened to is a rare experience and because of her stillness, I've been able to identify various parts of myself, allowing room for those parts to speak their truth. Once I've figured out my truth in any particular moment, she is there to offer whatever support is needed. The best part is, she does this with sincerity, as she believes helping you is also helping her. For that reason, Nicole is what I imagine when I think of true community and collective wellbeing. On top of all of that, Nicole is insightful and silly, and we've spent countless nights awake at god-forsaken hours, speaking life's truths and nonsense. Her judge of character is exacting, and she loves Michael. She's been a rock for both of us, and I'm so glad to have her with me.
Daniel O'Brien
Alacrity and Charm
I think Daniel would agree that it's not the most important aspect of a person, but it's worth saying that he's the sharpest, most talented writer I've ever had the pleasure of collaborating with. Just to get that out of the way - he's an absolute comedy shark. He was always the one to beat in the writers' room, but what's nice about Daniel is he'd be so generous with your material that it made you feel like maybe you really could make a career out of this writing thing. After all, if you could match wits with this kid, you were probably onto something. We were creative partners and co-stars for around a decade, and that decade will stand as one of the most delightful and fulfilling of my life, probably forever. We toured freezing college campuses, we anguished over single words, we gave one another the encouragement we needed to keep hacking away at an intimidating industry. He was my first kiss in a hot air balloon. Daniel made me a better storyteller, and I hope I served him as well. I wish we were in each others' lives more, because he attacks each day with a cheer and wit that continually inspires me, and he's among the most loyal and helpful people I've ever met.
Griffin Rowell
Cameraderie and Drive
Griffin has been my best friend and de facto brother since we were both five. In fact, I'm lucky this is my second wedding because otherwise Griffin and Abe would have had to knife-fight for the Best Man slot. Griffin shared my entire childhood, and knows me more intimately than most of my own family members. There's no triumph, heartache, or secret shame I wouldn't share with him, and we both know we can count on each other without question or hesitation. His drive to succeed and try new things reflects what I love about him most - his genuine appreciation for life and boundless willingness to reach out and engage with the universe in a brand new way. Brilliant, thoughtful, strong, complicated, curious. I've gotten to see Griffin grow from a kindergartener through puberty all the way to being a father, husband, and literal rocket scientist. Life takes us many places, and we gain and shed friends as it does, but there are a few key people you know will be with you for the duration. If I live to be a hundred, I fully expect to be celebrating 95 years of friendship with this beautiful human being.
Becky Gershon Silva
Intentionality and Consistency
I (jenn) met Becky in my 2nd year of undergrad. Our respective besties started dating, so it was inevitable that we'd meet at the "no pants house" weekly party. Needless to say, it's hard not to get along when you're in your underwear and you're amidst surfers and frisbee queens. Becky has been a constant in my life since that moment. If I had a nickel for every time or every place we've danced our asses off together, I'd be the wealthiest person on Earth. Though we've grown up and now consistently wear pants at other peoples' houses, we still grow closer and experience new things together. This last year we completed a sprint triathlon, and I never would have done something like that if it weren't for her. That's because Becky makes me believe in myself. She juices me up. She has always taken care of me, too. When we lived together she taught me how to cook, when other friends were being shitty to me she stuck up for me, and when meanies at the triathlon were making fun of my bike she reminded me to hold my head high. Becky approaches everything she does with deep intentionality and because of this, she's given me some of the best advice I've ever received, in general and about being in long-term relationships. A casual conversation with her has oftentimes prompted deep reflection for me, and it was one of those conversations that moved me to a point of confidence in getting married. She has a unique way of making me actually believe that everything is going to be ok.
David Swaim
Humor and Peace
My brother David has always seemed to have life figured out. With quiet confidence, he developed and explored a wholly unique palette of interests, so complementary to my own. While I was an early talker who thought in words, he was a spatial thinker without the same need for constant attention. While I've grown into a highly emotional adult, he seems to carry a stoic peaceableness with him wherever he goes. I'm not sure if that happened by chance or we were both looking for our own ways to shine, but what's resulted is someone so brilliant and unassuming that you'd never know how funny he can be, or how shockingly insightful, unless you take the time to really get to know him. I spend a lot of my time dressing up my talents and presenting them to the world; David's talents only deepen because he spends less time on presentation and more time investigating with an open heart. It's always humbling to get his take on the philosophical underpinnings of a film and remember that he's actually smarter than I am, or read one of his scrawled comics and suspect that he might be funnier, too. I love you, my brother.
Lynne Swerhone
Balance and Restoration
I (jenn) met Lynne at our UCLA MSW orientation. She was the only person talking to the only professor I wanted to speak with. As I approached, I could hear her going for this professor's jugular, asking questions about the fallacies inherent in social welfare practice. I could tell she wasn't there to make friends, so naturally I was ready to be her friend. I have never ceased to be captivated by Lynne. The feeling was fortunately mutual. Lynne is the most self-sufficient and versatile person I know. She can fix up a house in Detroit, buy a farm, steward land, raise over 25 animals all at once, tend a beautiful garden and harvest, make a soufflé, create beautiful pottery, and change a kiddos' life without batting an eye. Though Lynne has more talents than I can list, her ability to maintain balance and poise in times of crisis strikes me the most. When I am stuck in black and white thinking patterns, she reminds me of the gray areas and the importance of keeping a balanced perspective. When I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired, she reminds me of the opportunities for restoration, repair, and revitalization. Lynne never wants to stop learning or advancing her understanding of anything that is of great importance. It is inspiring and contagious. Because of her friendship, I've been able to weed out the thoughts that are only there to make clutter, and thusly I've been able to discover what's really important. I feel safer knowing that people like her exist in the world.