Wedding Party
Christie Douds
Maid of Honor
To just about everyone Christie is a hilarious sassafrass without a filter. Her infectious giggle sometimes overtakes a story she’s trying to tell and in the right light, you’ll catch an impish glint in her eye. She’s honest to a fault and is physically incapable of being anyone but herself, a trait I have always been particularly jealous of. While many of you have had the joy of knowing this bright, giggly, and sometimes a little mean goofball, to those that are lucky enough to be closest to her, Christie is the most considerate and fiercely loyal friend. Christie and I are close enough in age that I literally can't remember a time where we weren't best friends. We even sometimes pretended to be twins (hilarious when considering the 12in height difference at the time, but our younger selves would be THRILLED we now look similar enough to unlock each other’s phones). She’s been the quiet and constant support through every heartbreak and break down, and has always been my protector, my sounding board (she has incredible taste), and the person who understands me best without explanation. There is no one who knows me better, and no one I trust more to stand beside me (and make sure I’m not late).
Andrew Lunanuova
Best Man
Andrew is my little brother, my built-in best friend, and somehow still the person I’ve spent more time with than anyone else on this planet. We’re only 15 months apart, which meant we did practically everything together growing up. Mostly sports, and mostly with Andrew being better than me at all of them. As a kid, I’ll admit I was jealous. As I got older, it became something I genuinely admired, and I was always secretly proud of just how naturally talented he was. We didn’t run in the same social circles, but it was obvious that he was a leader in his own world: someone people looked up to and gravitated toward. It feels strange to say as the older brother, but I looked up to him, too. He’s a goofball who loves to ham it up when we’re together with our parents, but when he drops the bit, you see the thoughtful, intentional, reliable, and deeply caring person he’s grown into. I only hope that I can be for him what he’s always been for me. I couldn’t imagine anyone else standing next to me as my Best Man.
Rachel Douds
Matron of Honor
My first memory of Rachel is sitting next to her in the car repeating “pudding” so she would burst into explosive giggles. As an adult, she is equally committed to the bit sparing no embarrassing expense to make you laugh. She has a smile that takes up her whole face, a belly laugh that fills a room, and a hug that cozier than even the softest fluffy. But what I love most about Rachel is her heart. From dancing around the kitchen (and pulling her back) to doing dishes (and denting the sink), everything Rachel has ever done she has put her entire heart into. This also, obviously, applies to being an incredible sister. As the third of the four of us, Rachel has always been the steady presence in the middle. Even though I am the oldest, she is the one who quietly makes sure everyone is taken care of. She is the first to offer help, the first to roll up her sleeves, and the first to step in when backup is needed. If something needs to get done, Rachel is already on it. In so many ways, Rachel is my rock and having her by my side feels less like a decision and more like a lifelong constant.
Billy Collins
Groomsman
Billy is my older cousin, and for a long time he was basically my hero. My brother and I idolized him when we were little, and whenever he was around, we were glued to his side, following him around, wanting to do whatever he was doing (unless he was playing Diablo, I was scared of that game). When we weren’t together, we made up for it by spending what felt like countless hours on the phone talking about video games and asking his help on how to get through especially tricky levels. He probably had much better things to do than spend his afternoons on the phone with a seven-year-old asking questions about Pokémon Yellow. But he always picked up, and that’s something that’s always stuck with me. As we got older, we didn’t get to see each other as much outside of holidays, but these days we’ve found our way back to regular hangouts thanks to my work travel. Now we bond over craft beer, emo music, our shared disdain for corporate life, and navigating adulthood. He’s someone I will always look up to, and I’m incredibly grateful to have him by my side on such an important day.
Megan Douds
Maid of Honor
Megan is light in human form and probably the funnest person you will ever meet. From developing intricate backstories for her hordes of imaginary friends to coming up with a theme for every party, Megan is determined to make life as fun as possible. This mixed with the fact that she’s the goofiest lil critter you will ever meet is probably why I’ve never laughed harder than when I’m with her (sometimes we get into a weird trance, it’s best to just let I happen). But it isn’t all fun and games, Megan is also the bravest person I know. She has this crazy ability to only see the best in the world when she’s fearlessly chasing after the things she wants. She may be my baby sister, but I hope one day when I grow up I can be just as brave. Megan doesn’t just see the best in the world, being loved by her also means that she sees the best in you, too. She is the ultimate hype woman and a true ride or die. She’s not one to talk you out of a bad decision, but she will definitely make sure that you don’t make it alone. I couldn’t imagine getting married without dancing the night away with Megan.
Matt Littenberg
Groomsman
Matt and I have been best friends since the fourth grade. Though, as it turns out, our friendship may have been pre-arranged by our parents before we even knew each other. What started as a quiet master plan quickly became a lifelong bond built on Halo marathons, knee hockey tournaments, and the shared experience of somehow always ending up in French class together through middle and high school. Even as life pulled us to different colleges and eventually different cities (Matt now calls Baltimore home), our friendship never skipped a beat. We still make the effort to visit whenever we can, picking right back up where we left off. Matt is the calm one of the group: low maintenance, rock steady, and endlessly reliable. He also happens to be one of Katie’s favorite people, thanks in no small part to their shared love of Taylor Swift. So, if you hear “Love Story” or “Cruel Summer” on repeat during the reception, there’s a good chance Matt had something to do with it. I couldn’t imagine this day without him by my side.
Morgan Hamby
Bridesmaid
Morgan isn’t just my cousin, she is my oldest friend. We’ve been besties since before she was born and we communicated through morse code on her mom’s stomach. Since exiting the womb, our antics have only accelerated (ask us about the monks if you’re brave). Morgan is the kindest, warmest, and weirdest person I have ever met. I both fear and am in awe of how her brain works but if you ever need to cast a muppet movie, giggle at a bad pun, or have a random curiosity that’s a little embarrassing, she’s your girl. Morgan is fiercely loyal and the hardest working person I know. She brings a light wherever she goes and is particularly talented in making everyone feel wanted, seen, and included. Morgan has this unique way of seeing people for exactly who they are and without question, loving them entirely. If you haven’t been loved by Morgan, I am not sure I believe you know what love feels like. We’ve been president of each other’s fan clubs for the last 32 years and I am so lucky to have my built-in cheerleader standing beside me on this day.
Garrett Mitchell
Groomsman
Garrett and I go all the way back to our Little League days, but our friendship really took root in high school. More often than I can count, he’d swing by my house in the evenings right around the exact moment my dad finished making dinner, as if he had a sixth sense for when food was in the air. My dad still gives him a hard time about it, and while he’ll never admit it, I think he secretly loved the extra seat at the table almost as much as I did. A lot of our best memories are built on those simple nights: watching sports, talking about life, trading advice, and pulling completely random trivia factoids out of thin air. Garrett knows how to keep things loose and have a good time, but beneath that easygoing vibe is one of the most loyal friends I’ve ever had. He’s always shown up when it mattered, and I’m beyond grateful to have him standing by my side as I start this next chapter with Katie.
Fred D'Ascenzo
Bridesman
Fred is smart, considerate, witty, and quick with a dad joke. And although these jokes are objectively hilarious, no one is laughing at Fred more than Fred himself (my favorite quality in a person). In addition to his excellent sense of humor, Fred also has an excellent sense of style. He’s a truly creative person and almost curates a vibe like an engineer. As a vintage watch-repairman, record collector, lamp enthusiast, and estate-sale art curator, Fred collects more hobbies than he does items and knows the history, ins and outs of everything he’s ever cared about, especially the people in his life. Fred is the newest addition to our family and my very first brother. Although we weren’t kids together, he’s been around so long I still feel like I got to watch him grow up. Fred may be more reserved than the rest of us, but he is fiercely loyal and deeply dependable. He would drop everything at a moment’s notice for any of his sisters. He balances our big personalities, keeps us grounded, and loves our family wholeheartedly. Having him stand with me means the world.
Alex Simonetta
Groomsman
Alex and I became best friends when we joined the same fraternity in college, though his extremely strange introduction (his story to tell, not mine) almost made me regret joining Phi Kap altogether. Thankfully, I stuck around and ended up getting to know one of the most caring people in the world. From that first weird moment on, we’ve been there for each other through our best and worst times, always ready to celebrate the wins or offer a shoulder to lean on when things got tough. He’s also the only person I know crazy enough to fly halfway across the country with me just to watch a Dungeons & Dragons podcast. Alex also deserves a huge amount of credit for this wedding happening at all. Katie and I knew each other before we started dating and had even matched on a dating app, but I somehow convinced myself she was chatting with me only to be nice. In a truly baffling move, I ended our conversation so I “wouldn’t bother her anymore.” (Yes, really.) Katie was understandably put off, and it was Alex who encouraged her to give me another chance, thankfully ignoring my terrible instincts. The rest is history. I’m beyond grateful to have Alex standing by my side on the big day. This, quite literally, wouldn't have happened without him.
Jessica Smith
Officiant
Jess has been stuck with Jerry since the tee-ball days, back when his dad was her coach, so you could say she’s known what she was signing up for for a long time. From the very beginning, she’s had a big personality and an even bigger heart. She’s the kind of person who fills a room the moment she walks into it. Loud, proud, and absolutely unstoppable on the dance floor, Jess is the life of any party and will almost certainly be dragging guests out of their seats all night long. More importantly, she has been one of our biggest cheerleaders from day one and jumped at the opportunity to officiate our wedding. We couldn’t imagine a better person to lead us into this next chapter.
Gina Gallucci
Groomswoman
Gina has been my partner in crime since freshman year of college, literally. We both studied Forensics and were lab partners the entire time, which meant Gina made sure everything was done on time (and that I remembered to eat once in a while), while I made sure we actually passed all our classes. We’ve been inseparable ever since… except for the brief period after graduation when I moved to Dallas. Those were the dark times. We don’t talk about that. Thankfully, Gina had a place for me to stay when I moved back to Pittsburgh, which turned into us becoming roommates for another six years. When she is not dragging me to a social event to make sure I leave the house every now and then, we spend our time trying different coffee shops/restaurants throughout the city, desperately longing for her cats' affection, or meticulously planning out our anime-watching schedule for the next season. She is my social battery, chaos gremlin and ride-or-die best friend. I can’t imagine this day without my favorite partner in crime by my side.