Wedding Party
Emily Small
Matron of Honor
Emily and I met 13 years ago in Hawaii through our mutual friend Jennifer, and from the very beginning our friendship felt effortless and meant to be. We bonded over our shared passion for working with Deaf children, and that connection quickly grew into a deep and lasting friendship. Over the years, we've adventured together—from chasing waterfalls in Iceland hiking through the beauty of Acadia, and many camping trips. Even during years of long-distance friendship, we stayed close, cheering each other on through career milestones, personal growth, and everything in between. Now back together in the DMV area, Emily continues to be one of my greatest sources of support, laughter, and inspiration. I’m so honored to have her by my side as my matron of honor.
Carlos Alban
Best Man
I first met Carlos when we were 12 years old in middle school. We were close right away. We connected immediately through our love of sports, but soon we realized that the connection was deeper than that. Through the years, that has not changed. Carlos is the type of guy who you can go a long time without seeing, and then when you do, it’s like you saw him yesterday. We have seen ups and downs in each other's lives, been there for each other, laughed and cried together, and got to know each other’s families closely. Carlos is the kind of guy whose presence is calming and chill. He is smart and gives good advice. He’s thoughtful and at times will tell you what you need to hear and not what you WANT to hear. He has great perspective and is one of the people I value most. Carlos is like a brother. I am very grateful he accepted my invitation to be my best man.
Emmie Parr
Matron of Honor
Emmie and I have known each other for 14 years, but it was during the early days of COVID—on our weekly walking dates around the National Mall—that our friendship truly deepened. Since then, we've shared so many unforgettable adventures, including not one, but two cross-country road trips in my little teardrop trailer. From building IKEA furniture (and surviving it!) to navigating big moves and life transitions, we've been there for each other every step of the way. Emmie is the kind of friend whose presence makes everything easier and more fun, and our bond has only grown stronger with time. I'm beyond grateful to have her standing beside me as my matron of honor.
Kevin O'Donnell
Best Man
Kevin and I also met in middle school. We knew each other then, and sometimes played basketball together (I was always better at basketball and an overall superior athlete, but that’s not relevant here). I actually knew his twin sister Becca more. After not seeing each other in person for 17 years, we reconnected through facebook in 2014, and since then he has become one of my favorite people. Kevin and I have very similar senses of humor. We are sometimes serious and other times joking and giggling like idiots. He listens, he cares, and always makes time to meet and talk. Our bond continues to grow. Kevin is one of the smartest people I know, and I appreciate his insight and clarity of thought, he continues to be a source of laughter support. I am honored to have him by my side on this special day.