Wedding Party
Dax Garner
Best Man
Danny met his best friend Dax on Lake Travis in Austin, TX. A chance encounter led to a mutual love of Star Trek: The Next Generation, late night discos, and boys. Dax eventually moved to Houston to be closer to his family and the two became inseparable. A true best friend / brother, the two regularly get together to have sushi, watch Star Trek, talk about boys, vent about life, and plan their next adventure. You are most likely to find them out late at night until the early morning dancing with friends and spreading as much love as they can wherever they go! Dax currently lives in Houston, TX with his boyfriend, Edgar, and two kids.
Jason Sherwood
Best Man
After meeting a few times on dance floors in New York City, it was a week together in Fire Island in the summer of COVID that really cemented what was to be an incredibly deep bond defined by shared love of music, arts, adventure, and radically honest and loving friendship. Having shared experiences in places like Berlin, Miami, Chicago, and Mexico it is New York City and Fire Island that continue to provide the backdrop for their most meaningful moments together.
Hannah Lytle
Groomswoman
Danny met Hannah almost ten years ago when they both lived in Madison, WI. They met as coworkers at a tech company and quickly found out they were neighbors, but more importantly, ginger soulmates. Danny and Hannah spent their time in Madison going to Badger football games, sailing, talking about boys (and girls), cuddling and watching movies, hosting joint parties, and just living life together to the fullest. Hannah = Danny's ginger older "sister" who also happens to be a fellow Kansan. Hannah currently lives in Chicago with her fiance, Kate.
Reed Caldwell
Groomsman
Josh and Reed first became friends as high school students in Longmont, CO where they participated in drama, choir, newspaper and student senate together. After losing touch post-graduation (these were the days before social media), Josh and Reed reconnected as adults in New York and grew even closer over the past decade. From shared moments together in Brooklyn, Fire Island, Miami, and Mexico, Reed and his husband Anthony have become a central part of Josh's chosen family.
Cara Green
Groomswoman
Danny met Cara when she moved to Madison, WI from Scotland for a post-doctorate program at UW-Madison. She was rooming with his medical school friends at the time and they quickly hit it off, inseparable from the start with sass and wit. Cara and Danny could be found hosting slip-and-slide parties in Madison, watching World Cup matches, hosting drag parties, and just being sassy and silly together. Cara has been known to keep Danny in line, or at least she tries. Cara currently lives in Vancouver, BC with her boyfriend, Ollie.
Kevin Mendlin
Groomsman
Kevin and Josh met by playing in the NYC gay dodgeball league. After they were done throwing balls at each other, they quickly realized that the number of similarities and shared interests must mean that they were long estranged twins separated at birth. Kevin, who is known by those who love him as Daddy Kevin (he's masterfully raising twin boys) has relocated to Austin but the distance has only made the friendship between these two grow stronger.
Abel Amezcua
Groomsman
Abel and Danny met each other while dancing in Chicago at their favorite place on earth, smartbar, and at their favorite event, QUEEN! They were friends instantly and continue to bond over community building, DJ sets with good House/Techno/Disco beats, fried chicken, and dancing. It would be immensely hard to find a soul on earth that is more unique or genuine as Abel, and you will always find the two being silly, sassy, and living life on the dance floor with all of their favorite people. Abel currently lives in Chicago, IL with his boyfriend, Imario.
Will Andrewes
Groomsman
It all started with a tap on the shoulder and a case of mistaken identity on a Berlin dance floor. From that moment--although separated by thousands of miles--Josh and Will have become the closest of friends. Having shared their respective communities with each other, both are now part of each other's chosen families in New York and Berlin. They are constantly amazed by the amount of special moments they get to share together, despite the distance. Ich glaube mein Schwein pfeift!
Melissa Traver
Groomswoman
Danny and Melissa met in Houston, TX at a birthday party social and instantly connected. Inseparable sassy "sisters" from the start, they quickly bonded over their love for house music, community, and dancing. You could find them in Houston hanging by the pool, corralling their friends together for a night of dancing, speaking their mind, or just vibing at home with good food and conversation. They continue to stay in touch through frequent trips to Chicago and Fire Island where you'll most likely find them on a dance floor making new friends. Melissa currently lives in Houston with her fiance, Ben.
AJ Arlauckas
Groomsman
Although they met several years ago, it's was the power of a global pandemic that bought them together as close friends and adventure sisters. From the countless hours they've spent together giggling in the Pines and beach vacations in places like Puerto Vallarta, St. Maarten, and Miami to transatlantic escapes to Paris and Berlin, they have established a very special friendship.
Tony Janczak
Groomsman
Danny met Tony through mutual friends on the dance floor in Houston, TX. The inside joke was that Danny met Tony two times before they officially became friends, but now they are inseparable! They bond over good martinis ("teeny tinis"), couch cuddles, yummy food, travelling, chosen family, and House/Disco music. You are most likely to find them either hanging out at home on the couch chatting about life moments, somewhere silly in Cincinnati, or all night dancing until dawn in Fire Island and Chicago. Tony lives with his two kids and dog, Watson, in Houston, TX.
Laura Yagerman
Groomswoman
Laura was the the first real friend Josh made as a new New Yorker in 2005. Having met at their first job where they were seated directly across from each other, Laura and Josh quickly became central figures in each other's lives. Through the years they've experienced many big life moments together, including Laura's wedding to her amazing husband, Justin, and the arrival of Sean and Gennie, their two incredible kids. After nearly two decades of truly special moments and memories, their bond is stronger than ever.
Steve Santangelo
Groomsman
Steve (aka "Stove") and Danny met in Montrose, Houston over a dinner friend date with margaritas, the Texas way. Friends from the start, they quickly bonded over their love for cooking (particularly Ina Garten), pool lounging, boys, travelling, and house/techno dancing. Some of their fondest memories together were quiet nights on the couch with good wine and conversation. You will most likely find them together lounging at a Houston pool with fancy cocktails or out dancing in Montrose, if they aren't abroad or lounging by the pool together in Fire Island. Steve currently is a new homeowner in Houston, TX.
Blake Tiemeyer
Groomsman
Mutual friends brought Josh and Blake together, and from their first moments together they realized that they were on the road to a strong and deep friendship. These bald beauties have shared some special memories together over the past couple of years--on dance floors, in other countries, and in quiet moments of checking in and deep conversation.
Jeff Filotei
Groomsman
Danny met Jeff on a fortuitous night dancing in Chicago and the connection was instant! Over the next year, it was hard not to find the two of them on the dance floor together, particularly at their favorite party QUEEN in Chicago. They continue to bond and grow closer with their intense love for good dance music and queer spaces, close friends, and thoughtful conversations. Some of their favorite moments outside the dance floor have been after party chats or coffee conversations, connecting each time on a deeper level. You can consistently find the two dancing at smartbar in Chicago, perhaps in Fire Island, or scouring the globe for the next best music festival. Jeff currently lives in Chicago, IL.
John Farrey
Groomsman
Josh first met John on a dance floor in Miami. That meeting set the stage for periodic run-ins over the next few years. As John was considering a move from Seattle to New York, Josh helped make the hard sell for NYC and John eventually landed in Brooklyn. Since then, they have shared so many special moments together in New York and Berlin. With a shared love of music, culture, food, the beauty of nature (although John firmly wins here), John has become a central figure in Josh's chosen family.
Kent Kalogera
Groomsman
Danny met Kent in Houston, TX while he was in his ophthalmology residency. They had many mutual friends but it took over a year before they truly hit it off. Danny and Kent quickly discovered they were similar emotional beings which led to recurrent late night chats about life, boys, and the future. You can find the two of them at the Houston Eagle dancing it up (if Kent isn't travelling....which is all the time) or travelling together to places like Chicago or Fire Island. You can always count on good energy and happy vibes with the two of them around. Kent currently lives in Houston, TX with his puppy, Hermes.
Mike Tocco
Groomsman
Josh and Mike first crossed paths at USC but never actually met each other as undergrads. This theme continued as they both moved to New York and floated around each other's circles for more than fifteen years until finally they started spending time together. From that moment, their friendship has been incredibly strong and full of more shared experiences than most pack into a decade of friendship. Their eventual connection proves that sometimes we are not quite ready for the kind of strong and deep relationship that comes along later in life. (And it's not a coincidence that Josh became friends with Mike after Mike married his better half, Toby!)
Caley Shukalek & Robert Coulas
Officiant
Josh & Danny met Caley & Robert through Josh's best friend and groomsman Kevin Mendlin. From NYC and Fire Island to Chicago to Houston, the couple have made a point to travel and establish deep connections with Josh & Danny and their friends. We could not be happier or more grateful! These two are the true meaning of chosen family and we feel very fortunate that they have agreed to marry us. Robert and Caley live in Calgary, Alberta with their daughter, Wren and dog, Ruthie.