Riley & John's Wedding Website
Wedding Party
Riley Willis
Bride
Named after Jane's mother (Anne Reilly) and a very lucky fictional character (The Life of Riley).
John Hagan
Groom
Named after Kathryn's beloved father, John Gentile.
Raluca Albu
Maid of Honor
This girl is on fire. Triumphant writer, teacher, editor and professor, best friend and amazing woman. Raluca teaches John and Riley everyday about the value of being open-minded, and allowing yourself to seek out and enjoy new adventures and friends everyday. Though she is the Maid of Honor, she really could have been one of the Best Men as well.
Andrew Charles Stephens
Best Man
A gentleman, a scholar, a musician, a singer, and now a teacher of Brooklyn's youth. Andrew spent many years figuring himself out, and thank god he did, as the children of NYC are in for some awesome science lessons from a genuinely kind, compassionate soul.
Rob Archangel
Best Man
Rob and John go way back, to the "pre-conception" days as they like to say. Rob now resides in Florida where he owns and operates a small business, an e-publishing company that assists smaller authors get their work published and make a profit from it.
Nichelle Walton
Bridesmaid
Riley was lucky enough to get to see Nichelle everyday while working at EngenderHealth. An extremely talented painter, an epidemiological wizard, and a noted lover of fantasy and art, Riley is lucky to get to have Nichelle as a friend. Nichelle inspires Riley to do and pursue the things that make her happy - and she gets Riley's jokes (which isn't always easy).
Kathleen Hagan
Bridesmaid
If you thought Riley was only getting a new husband, you'd be wrong. It turns out that by meeting John, Riley got a new sister as well. Kathleen has a way of making everybody love her and feel like they can depend on her. She is a smart, hard-working young woman, dedicated to family, loyal to a fault, who has become a second parent to Jessica.
Anna Smiarowska
Bridesmaid
Riley met Anna at a poker table, where both her and John fell in love with her banter, sense of humor, and willingness to speak her mind. This says a lot since John typically doesn't tolerate such heretical things as playing music and socializing at the poker table!
Jane Willis
Mother of the Bride
Riley's talented, beautiful, valiant "mama." Jane inspires Riley every day to pursue her dreams and not settle for anything less than what makes her happy. Jane's passion and dreams have led her to Ashfield, a lovely community Western Massachusetts where she is a doctor and valued by all.
Gil Willis
Father of the Bride
Gil decided life as a scientist was too buttoned-up and instead pursued his passion for music, bringing joy to people in their hours of need all over the city. As a father to Riley, husband to Joyce - and now the proud owner of a puppy named Pepper - Gil's commitment to his family is a beautiful thing to witness.
Joyce Willis
Stepmother of the Bride
Joyce is a brilliant, big-hearted, strong woman, who has been a third parent to Riley for most of her life. Her passion for politics and justice is only matched by the passion she has for her family - and new puppy, Pepper! Joyce is enjoying a well-deserved retirement after spending many years working at the Haven's Relief Fund Society, where she provided small rays of sunshine to people who otherwise could not get help.
Kathryn Hagan
Mother of the Groom
Kathryn is an intelligent, independent, opinionated woman who is an outspoken advocate for animal rights. Among her many virtues as a parent, Kathryn always encouraged John to be himself and pursue whatever made him happy. Her encouragement for him to apply to Bard High School Early College caused him to meet Riley, as John later transferred to Bard College where Riley was also a student. The rest is history.
Jessica Hagan
Flower Girl
Jessica is an electronics enthusiast who loves using her "iPad" (cough ::Samsung tablet:: cough) and a budding artist. She loves to draw and her pictures often embarrassingly are much better than John's. She has taught John and Riley so much about difference and the value of all people.