Wedding Party

Jill Balzano

Bride

Aubrey Rusler

Groom

Alida Romano

Best Woman

Full of pure Virgo magic, Alida's superpowers include graphic design, gift giving, and backing you up in a fight regardless of the cause. From Westtown to Alfred to Astoria, Alida will be with me to the bitter end of any night out and she will listen to every thought in my crazy Scorpio brain. She lives in Westchester with her husband, Matt, and the two tiny best friends she created for me: Max and Etta. Expect us to act like we are marrying each other for the entire wedding weekend-- never without a glass of sparkling wine in hand.

Ryan Rusler

Best Man

My younger brother and best friend. He's a legend. After stints at quarterback for Mesa CC and Colorado State, he began an illustrious construction management career in California's Bay Area. In his free time he is husband to Courtney, father to Wyatt, and mayor of whatever neighborhood he's ever lived in. During the wedding, you can look forward to some strong whiskey drinking, lots of laughs, and dancing that can only be described as "if Cotton Eyed Joe were a real person" from Ryan.

Caitlin McLarnon

Bridesmaid

Never one to turn down a whiskey cocktail, Caitlin and I have dedicated endless hours gracing NYC's fanciest bars with our presence. If you want to know the merits of Independence Day or sexy-Jurassic-Park Jeff Goldblum, she's your woman. Caitlin currently splits her time between Connecticut and Maine with her husband, Steve, her little ones, Maise and Dax, and their puppy, Maea. At the wedding, I will refuse to let her go to bed when she wants, and she will be a good sport about it.

Emilio Raffetto

Groomsman

My brother from another mother. The definition of leading by example, his work ethic and knowledge are unmatched in the boutique retail industry. A resident expert in many things, except for determining who the greatest basketball player of all time is. In his free time he is husband to Chelly, father to Isabella, and can be found yelling at the tv in various intervals. Our 25+ year friendship is not only a testament to how similarly quirky we both are but also a testament to what kind of man Emilio is. I've never met anyone more loyal or kind.

Logan Kjep

Bridesman

A forest witch in a past life, Logan can teach you anything you want to know about mushrooms and moss. He is an expert on spontaneous cocktail mixtures, making crepes from scratch, and creating whimsical garden worlds. Logan lives on Long Island with his husband, Dan, and runs his own landscape design business. At the wedding, expect enthusiastic dance moves and pure joy from Logan.

Ricky Schock

Groomsman

Cool as the other side of the pillow, Ricky has been a family friend since Florida vs Florida State was actually national news (very long ago). He spends his days managing various legal offices and free time as husband to Mage, father of Freddie. He also enjoys random outings and anything that involves running/biking. At the wedding you'll find him chatting with almost anyone and sipping on some gin.

Morgan Carattini

Bridesmaid

If you need a restaurant recommendation or advice on a spreadsheet, Morgan is the woman for the job. From grad school to roommates to unofficial-food-tour guides of Queens, Morgan has been there to indulge me with reality TV marathons and homemade birthday cakes with Drake lyrics sprawled across them. She lives in Astoria with her husband, Greg, and their pup, Pepper. You'll find her at the wedding with a gin in hand, never far from the dance floor.

Sri Gopalan

Groomsman/Officiant

If Myspace was still a thing, he'd be in my top 5. A titan of the tech industry, his job title starts with VP. The life of the party, wherever you are you'll be able to either hear a hilarious story from him or his infectious laugh. A natural talker, Sri will be marrying Jill and I. At the wedding he'll be good for a bar-side conversation about pretty much any topic, especially if it's something he thinks could have been built better or more efficiently.

Hanna Oswald

Bridesmaid

Hailing from Austin, Texas, Hanna can curse more politely than anyone I've ever met and knows how to deliver on breakfast burrito requests. I will read literally anything Hanna tells me to. Before abandoning me to go back south, we made our way through as many bottles of wine as NYC had to offer. She now drinks most of her wine at home with her husband, Zach, and her two little ones, Oscar and Wells. She will, no doubt, reluctantly indulge me wanting to take a million wedding selfies with her.

Israel Suero

Groomsman

We met while working at Uber in 2016 and our friendship has grown yearly ever since. We are so close that he followed me to Yelp. A sound investor and wise beyond his years, Israel enjoys time with his family, the New York Metropolitans, New England Patriots, and Nasir Jones. At the wedding, you'll find him checking his hair, on the dance floor, and in the general area of the "fun" crowd.

Christina Markides

Bridesmaid

Though she may live in Brooklyn, Christina turns into a golden Greek goddess the second the sun touches her skin. Her PowerPoint skills are unmatched, and she can rock any outfit you throw at her. She spends her time trying every pizza in NYC with her husband, Derek, and thinking about Harry Potter. Christina will be the first person there to help with any unexpected wedding problem that may arise and the last to leave the afterparty.

Curtis Duncan

Groomsman

He's best described as the most laid back guy you've ever met who also has a wild streak. A great friend to bounce ideas off of or to keep you in check when you're being ridiculous, Curtis is a true renaissance man. He could program a computer and install fence posts on the same day. In his free time he reads about current events or spends days on the beach in his new home of Venice, CA. At the wedding Curtis will be one of the best dressed. You can also expect to feel like you've been his friend for years within 5 minutes of meeting him.

Bill Rusler

Father of the Groom

A college quarterback, nicknamed "Six Killer" because of his gun like accuracy, my dad has become the gentler voice of reason in our family. A semi retired software engineer, he spends his free time buying and selling tech stocks, watching baseball, and hiking. At the wedding you'll find him dancing and sipping gin and tonics.

Carol Rusler

Mother of the Groom

Pure energy and hilarious, there is never a dull moment around my mom. I grew up knowing what an independent working mother was because of her. A semi-retired salesperson, she spends her free time finding any excuse to have fun with friends and family, watching baseball, and hiking. At the wedding she will be dancing everywhere there is music and probably telling some embarrassing Aubrey/Ryan/Bill stories.

Ken Balzano

Father of the Bride

If you need something fixed, Ken is your man. From the streets of Astoria to the fields of Westtown, there is no job too big. From homemade Halloween costumes to cakes from scratch to custom-built bookshelves for your college dorm desk-- and one for your roommate too-- Ken will be there. He enjoys Westerns, books about war, and being active with the American Legion. You probably won't find him at the bar at the wedding, but he'll be around.

Joanne Balzano

Mother of the Bride

This is the woman who gave me my thick hair and my attention to detail. Joanne is the sweetest woman you will meet, and she makes a mean sauce. A lot of you have been lucky to know her already, and the rest of you are in for a treat. We share a love for a good book, Dr. Quinn, and Hallmark movies. You'll most likely find her at the wedding with her sisters nearby, laughing away.