Lydia & Thad
Wedding Party
Lydia Ogden
Bride
I'm here for the cake.
Thad Carlson
Groom
I thought there would be skiing.
Dr. Henry Ogden, PsyD, Rev
Officiant
This devilishly handsome and charming fellow is Lydia's brother, who graciously agreed to become a reverend for the occasion of this wedding. If you had known Henry and Lydia as children you might be surprised that these two, who spent their childhoods trying to kill one another in a Tom-and-Jerry fashion, are now so close. But life is full of surprises, isn't it? He is very much loved and admired by Thad and Lydia, and they wish he lived nearby. An adoring father to three swell sons, Henry has spent his career as a psychologist, providing psychotherapy to veterans at a VA. He is the love of his Newfoundlander Moseley's life, a surprisingly skilled breakdancer, and he keeps us all laughing until our sides hurt. When Henry skis it's like he's dancing with planks on his feet. His side arm pitch is the stuff of legend in the Ogden family. His musical voice messages are a rare delight. An otherwise perfect brother-in-law for Thad, his only shortcoming is that he lives in Minnesota. He is as thoughtful and insightful as he is hilarious, and we can't think of anyone better, besides maybe Elvis himself, to bless our holy matrimony.
Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Matron of Honor
Lydia met Taffy at a wedding in 2002. Almost immediately they had to pretend they were having a love affair so Taffy wouldn't have to deal with a certain fellow who was rather taken with her. She has been one of Lydia's favorite people ever since. Together they invented the concept of being basics, although it later morphed into something different in popular culture. When they both lived in NYC, Taffy would invite Lydia to book parties for notable authors, even though she knew Lydia would eat all the cupcakes and then complain that someone ate all the cupcakes. A true friend indeed. Taffy is deeply funny, deeply compassionate, and one of the best people to call if you're not feeling great about something, or possibly dying. She's a loving wife and a mother to two awesome guys. She's also one of the few people we know who has written a best seller and made it into a tv show. We are very impressed by her noteworthy career but even more impressed by her huge heart and charismatic, infinitely lovable personality. We are grateful she has agreed to be Lydia's Matron of Honor and say a few words at our wedding.
Anja Carlson
Bridesmaid
Thad's daughter, Lydia's step-daughter, age 12. Anja is a magical fairy angel on earth. She creates incredible sculptures from clay, bakes like a pro, likes Japanese anime and eating from Bento boxes. She skis like she was born to do it, but don't ask her to get her face wet. Seriously. Don't do it.
Isa Weir
Bridesmaid
Isa's role here begins in 1979 or so, when Isa's mother, Cara, and Lydia met. Although Cara and Lydia were separated by 12 inches in height as children, they were nonetheless close friends for most of their lives, except during those horrible middle school years when you really wouldn't want to be friends with anyone who would want to be friends with you. And they weren't. But come high school they were to be found together again, hanging out in The Pit and getting horribly sunburned in Puerto Rico. Together they've driven from Boston to San Francisco, attended concerts ranging from Grateful Dead to TLC/Boys2Men, enjoyed afternoons at Walden Pond, and a weird day at some hot springs in Sonoma California. Cara is Miles' Godmother and the person who coached him into his first steps. Cara also taught Lydia the etiquette of eating a tuna sandwich in a car ("DON'T!"), and as with many of this wedding's guests on the bride's side, their friendship endured Lydia's obsessive and weirdly competitive Scrabble phase. Flash forward to 2008 and Cara, already the godmother to Lydia's son Miles, gives birth to a tiny, adorable Isa. Lydia held Isa the day she was born and loved her immediately, of course, but little did she know the incredible human Isa would quickly become. Isa, 13, is a rock-climbing cat-loving cupcake-baking kind-hearted social activist wunderkind. May the children of your beloved friends also be your beloved friends. And she is.
Miles Ogden-Powers
Groomsman
Lydia's son, Thad's step-son. Miles is 22 and a senior international affairs major/history minor at George Washington University. He likes deep political discourse, bird watching, mountain views, off-road driving, swimming in the ocean, and skiing. If you ask nicely he cooks up the tastiest spaghetti sauce, called Monday Sauce, a recipe he perfected during the pandemic. He is very grown-up and never even wets the bed anymore.
Nate Carlson
Groomsman
Thad's son, Lydia's step-son, age 15. Nate likes baseball, hiking, camping, skiing, fried chicken, sings like a bird, and gives the best hugs. His fashion sense is unbeatable.
Suzanne Ogden
Mother of the Bride
Doctor Professor Suzanne Ogden, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Northeastern University, global fashion icon, the first woman to earn tenure in her department, a tennis champion and avid player, and a kind, loving mother to Henry, Lydia, and her cat, Earl, who is among the greatest cats of all time. She has traveled widely around the world but only had to be evacuated from a revolution once. Although Lydia is also a professor and traveler, she insists she is not following in her mother's footsteps, they have practically nothing in common, her mother is not her role model.* Lydia loves her very much. *She is her role model.
John Ogden
Father of the Bride
Mr. Ogden, retired VP and General Counsel at General Electric Capital Corporation, is the greatest Dad Lydia could have asked for. He never hesitated to interrupt a corporate acquisition for a telephone call from his daughter. Although he plays a lot of golf and is a huge baseball fan, he's actually a very nice person. He roasts a delicious turkey and is the keeper of the Ogden family stuffing recipe, as well as a master gravy maker. We are hoping he will one day take-up competitive Segway riding but currently he continues to insist, at nearly 80 years of age, that 30-minute runs around his neighborhood in Maryland are more suitable.
Dotsie Boyce
Step-Mother of the Bride
Dotsie Boyce, step-mother of three, mother of three, has been a great grandmother for 27 years, and will become a great-grandmother in September. She spent her career as a social worker in housing for older adults and was a long-time member of the University of Maryland School of Social Work Board of Trustees. She is the epitome of Southern charm and grace, and will surely help us all uphold the dignity and decorum of this event.
Shirley Carlson
Mother of the Groom
Known widely as Central Vermont's greatest home baker, and known in inner circles as Nonna, Shirley is the dedicated and loving mother to Thad, Matt and Holly, and grandmother to six grandchildren last time we counted. Shirley is well-versed in the many ways of entertaining and feeding a crowd, regularly serving up dinners at the lake for as many as 15 family members, and she baked all of the desserts for her daughter's wedding. In her spare time she has picked up Italian, and is capable of mastering any art or craft faster than you can make a request for that new painting of your grandkids and their pets. Her portraits of our dog Lenny are museum quality, but not for sale!
John Carlson
Father of the Groom
Dr. John Carlson, retired remover of teeth, may be the world's foremost collector of antique skis, skates, snowshoes, and is drawn like a magpie to anything else that looks old, wooden, or brass. He is an enthusiastic supporter of Ohio State football, and would love to have you over to watch a game. In his spare time he enjoys beige wine, admiring small furry woodland creatures, skiing, and spending time at the lake with his lovely wife and stupendous kids (have you met that guy Thad?) and many grandkids.
Leonard the Dog
Watchdog and Snuggle Master
Lenny is the heart and furry soul of our family, and deserves mention here for that reason. However, Lenny will not be able to attend our wedding because he is a stickler for rules, and when people get together they break the rules. They do things like moving in unexpected ways, making unexpected noises, hugging Lydia, and also not being Lydia, or Thad, Miles, Nate, or Anja. For those reasons, he has decided to spend this time filming Home Alone VII, Doggy Style, The Musical. His agent has promised to send screeners to all guests, but his agent is a miniature labradoodle and therefore not entirely trustworthy. Despite Lenny's physical absence, he will be spiritually present and will probably send some strands of fur in our clothing to remind us of his ever-present love.