Julia & Jacob
Wedding Party
Daniel Rieger
Best Man
Jacob and Daniel first met playing soccer when they were 8 years old but became best friends in 9th grade when Daniel peer pressured Jacob to join the cross country team. They consider themselves to be brothers. Daniel lives in NYC, where he peer pressured Jacob to go rock climbing with him while Jacob lived there. Daniel is a lover of dancing, White Claw, and floral shirts
Blaire Ginsburg
Bridesmaid - Orator
Blaire and Julia have been friends for 15 years. It would have been 16 years, but unfortunately Blaire was not paying attention when Julia waved at her in the 7th grade. Nevertheless, this mishap was soon rectified following the fateful words of "And the Mouse King wouldn't freaking die!!" in November of 2006. Don't worry, no actual mice were harmed in the making of this friendship. Blaire lives in L.A. where she works for Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, a philanthropic organization that supports and illuminates skilled trades teachers and programs across America. Ask her about the time Lizzie and Julia kidnapped her for "Fro-Yo."
Kevin Kron
Groomsman
Kevin and Jacob first met on their first day of medical school and haven't looked back since. Despite Kevin's deep seated hatred of the Lakers, Kevin and Jacob's friendship blossomed even as they lived together in a cramped NYC apartment. Kevin is a lover of rock climbing, hating Kyrie Irving, and reminding everybody he's from Portland
Zahra Ahmed
Bridesmaid - Bachelorette Party Engineer
Zahra and Julia met when they were assigned to live in the same closet-sized room freshman year of college. Apparently it was a roommate match made in heaven, because they later moved down to DC together, and then both relocated to NYC. Julia and Zahra have shared a beautiful friendship, if punctuated by Julia's panic that Zahra might get eaten by a lion during her research abroad (and no, Zahra, it is NOT comforting to hear "Don't worry, if you hear I got mauled by a lion, you'll know I died happy"). Zahra is responsible for a lot of high points in Julia's life, including cliff diving and marrying Jacob (see the “Home” page for details). Zahra is an Emergency/Internal Medicine doctor in residency in Brooklyn. Don't ask Zahra anything. She knows too much.
Heather Gamble
Groomswoman
Heather and Jacob first met over orientation weekend at Boston University. They quickly became close friends and spent much time bonding when most of their collective friend group studied abroad in France. Even though they were busy with their respective majors, (Heather studied mechanical engineering, Jacob studied human physiology), they spent spent countless hours watching Disney movies and exploring Boston together. Heather is a lover of wine, tattoos, and her shiba inu, Atlas.
Alexis Campbell
Bridesmaid - Official Signatory
Look: Alexis and Julia met during one of the most trying times in both of their lives -- Law School. The thing about it is, as they struggled through endless hours of reading together, Alexis became like family. Quite literally, she went on a family vacation to Scotland with Julia, her parents, and Aunt Carol & Uncle Ian. To be quite honest with you, Alexis also became good friends with Jacob, and she likes to torment Julia by threatening to defect to the groom's side of the wedding party. Alexis is a lawyer in Washington, D.C.. Ask her about champagne on the Harry Potter train (and also her love of introductory phrases, which Julia has affectionately mimicked in this bio).
Jonah Diaz
Groomsman
Jonah and Jacob go all the way back to their freshman year of high school in biology class. However it was not until the following year when that sat together in history class and talked about the Lakers all day with their teacher that their friendship began to flourish. As with Daniel, Jonah contributed to the peer pressure that lead Jacob to join the high school cross country team. Jonah is a lover of running, the Lakers, and annihilating Jacob at Mario Cart.
Shannon Zhang
Bridesmaid - Bridesmaid Wrangler
Shannon and Julia also met during the trying time of law school, but with the added twist of being roommates! During their first semester finals period, they spent two weeks together at their kitchen table for 12 hours a day in virtual silence. It was very healthy. Fortunately, they did eventually learn how to relax, which took the form of hiking to Machu Picchu with some friends. They followed a trail that most people do in five days but they did it in three. They were on the first all-women group to do so. They are very good at relaxing. Shannon works at a law firm in NYC. Ask her about the time Julia found out she actually DOES drink wine and she'd just been lying to Julia for months.
Jeremy Nelson
Groomsman
Jeremy and Jacob met when Jacob visited Kansas City with Julia after they started dating. Jeremy met Jacob with a warm hug that immediately made Jacob feel welcome and at ease. As an only child, Jacob was excited to gain an older brother in Jeremy, as well as a sister in Anna, and three nephews in David, Alex, and Levi! Jeremy is a lover of board games, gardening, and explaining why modern buildings aren't as ugly as Jacob and Julia think they are.
Anna Nelson
Bridesmaid - Sisterly Support
Anna and Julia first met in High School when Anna started dating Julia's brother, Jeremy. They quickly bonded over a love of literature, learning, and travel and subsequently enjoyed a "two-week sleepover" during a trip to England and France. Julia was delighted when Anna officially became her sister when Anna and Jeremy married in 2013. Anna is a teacher by trade and has continued to pass along her love of literature to her students, as well as expanding their horizons by advocating for and supporting unique experiences and even a trip abroad. Anna is also the proud mum of three adorable boys and deserves a SuperMum award for carrying and caring for not just one pandemic baby but TWINS! Ask Anna about the time she and Julia accidentally let 100 bugs into Aunt Denise's guest room.
Lizzie Rose
Bridesmaid - Wedding Dress Advisor
Lizzie and Julia became friends in High School. They then embarked on several adventures involving second-hand bookstores, Google maps searches for "castle", abandoned houses, open high-ways, Fro-Yo, Blaire's Great Aunt's pool, and graveyards (yes, you read that correctly). Lizzie received her Masters in Natural Resources Stewardship with a focus in Forest Sciences. . . . Basically, she's saving the trees. You know, so we don't all die in the great water wars of 2100. While Lizzie will not be able to attend on the day, Julia is extremely grateful for Lizzie's support and for her assistance picking out the wedding dress! When you next meet, ask her about the time she and Julia got trapped in McMansionville.