Wedding Party
Ryan Reyes
Best Man
Ryan is the younger brother of Chris and one of his closest friends. From growing up playing games to going to the gym together, they have always been close. The brothers are 5 years apart and while Chris is the older one, Ryan makes sure to remind him to have fun and not take everything so seriously. Ryan is extremely athletic and is an avid volleyball player. He was a phenomenal lifeguard and is currently working on becoming a physical therapist. Forever calling Chris "Kuya", (Chris actually doesn't respond to Ryan if he calls him by name) the brothers are about as close as they have ever been and look forward to seeing what's to come.
Chardé Kahanic
Bridesmaid
Chardé and Jodi met in grad school in 2015 and bonded over group study sessions and friend gatherings. Over the years, they have shared many fun memories together, including hotpot dates and trips to Philly, Chicago, and Miami. Chardé is always down for a great time and is a wonderful host. Even though it usually takes her 1-2 days to reply to a text, she has always been a pillar of support for Jodi during both good and bad times. Chardé has shown time and again that she'll always have her back. Chardé loves anime and video games and is now a warrior mommy to a beautiful baby girl.
Sarah Yam
Bridesmaid
Sarah met Jodi during graduate school in 2015. They developed a friendship while struggling through the program together. Sarah moved to California with her husband shortly after graduating but still maintained a strong friendship with Jodi over the years with frequent check in texts, endless snapshots of their fresh manicures, and long Facetime calls. Sarah is extremely active and has conquered multiple marathons, traveled all over the world, and even started her own business showcasing her Disney-inspired designs. Sarah is happiest when she is at the beach, roaming Disney parks, and playing with her two adorable dogs, Derby and Mocha.
James Francis Bello
Groomsman
James and Chris met in college and while Chris still can't seem to ever get James' birthday right they manage to stay friends. From late nights in college playing a card game that shall not be named to now meeting up on Saturdays to play ball, the two have remained close. The two have grown together over the years through a shared interest in music genres, anime, and sports. James is currently a senior procurement agent which basically means he gets to tell healthcare organizations what they can and can't do.
Neil Enriquez
Groomsman
If you were ever to judge how close friends are by how much they roast each other, that's Neil. It is actually weird when Neil is nice because then you know something is wrong. Neil actually tried to poach Chris as a freshman in college to join the Filipino club at Stony Brook; I guess the rest is history. Neil has never been afraid to call Chris out on anything, good or bad. That's probably why they've remained so close. Currently Neil works in RevOps at Orum as a senior accountant and decides whether or not you get paid, so be nice to him.
Andonia Shyta
Bridesmaid
Andonia and Jodi met in 2018 and started off as just coworkers. Over a short period of time, through carpooling and voluntarily spending every second of the workday together, they became great friends. Even though they have completely different personalities, they complement each other very well. Andonia and Jodi love to try out different yoga studios, take hour long walks, check out book stores, and have girl dates at parks, cafes and restaurants. Andonia is currently living her best life by traveling, hustling with her multiple side jobs, and smashing her fitness goals.
Brian Yoo
Groomsman
Brian and Chris met while working at Northwell Health and although Brian went onto bigger and better things, he and Chris managed to stay close. Through a shared joy of EDM and spontaneous trips to Vegas and Miami, Brian is the guy you call whether it's time to party or just need a friend to listen. While some of the party has been outgrown because SOMEONE had to go and have a kid (Greyson is cute, go check the insta @greysonyoo), Brian and Chris always make time to grab a drink. Brian is currently an Associate Director, Early Clinical Development at Schrodinger. The biotechnology company, not the cat.
Cookie Javier
Mother of the Groom
This is Mom. No seriously, if you're one of Chris' friends you just call her Mom. Anything else is weird. If you're family you call her Cookie or Tita Cooks. Chris likes to think he got his name because it meant something to her or something, but really it's just because he was born on Columbus day weekend. She is proud as can be of her sons and values family above all else. When she's not working she's looking for ways to spend time with her loved ones and making memories. Whether it be traveling to a distant place or just having a game night at home, she just loves the time spent together. Imagine what she'll think of the wedding.
Candy Lee
Mother of the Bride
Candy met Jodi in 1993 in the delivery room of Beth Israel Hospital. She fell in love with her newborn daughter right away and has been a dedicated and loving mother to her ever since. Candy is a proud mother of two. She is an incredible chef and loves to cook hearty meals for her family. Candy loves to shop, get massages, and spend time with her grand niece and nephews. She travels several times a year and has been to more countries than one can count. She owns a hair salon in the city but ironically doesn't actually know how to cut hair. Candy is very excited to see her daughter walk down the aisle in just a few months!
Cesar Reyes
Father of the Groom
Pop/Uncle Rey/Father Time. As the father of the groom, he has watched his son grow from a kid who used to fall asleep on his chest, to someone who can now throw him over his shoulder and carry him. Growing up, Pop time was all fun and memories, from learning how to shoot a basketball, to sharing a love of movies and action heroes. All memories that his son has kept with him until now, and hopes to pass on to his own kids. While normally very reserved, he is excited to see his son walk down the aisle and even more so to finally have a lady in the family in the form of a daughter in law.
Gordon Wong
Brother of the Bride
Gordon is the big brother of Jodi and plays a very important role in her life. He is an electrician and an all around handy guy. These two have been through an eventful childhood together and continue to support each other through adulthood. Gordon is always the first person Jodi calls in times of need and is always there to help, whether it's something as big as driving her to the ER after an injury, or as small as coming over to kill a bug. He will be the one walking Jodi down the aisle on her wedding day.