Wedding Party
Behyar Nobakht
Best Man
The decision for Mahboud to select his father as “best man” came very easy. Having grown up as an only child, Mahboud and Behyar aka “Big Ben” have shared more than just a father/son relationship. Those closest to them would consider their relationship to be more like best friends. While they share many common interests, a few things they both love are: quality time with family & friends, Caribbean beach resorts, tacos, and good vibes. All of which Mahboud looks forward to enjoying with Behyar during this momentous occasion.
Jeff Certosimo
Best Man
Jeff aka “The Most Interesting Man in Arlington” is a fellow WVU alum and Sig Ep fraternity brother of Mahboud. Commercial real estate developer, business school professor, residential realtor, chairman of (several) boards, animal activist, aspiring violinist... just a few hats worn by this fascinating fella. Between WVU and living in the Arlington area since graduation, there isn’t much Mahboud and Jeff haven’t done together over the last 15+ years. In fact, Mahboud’s wedding will be the 10th wedding they will have attended together. How many bros can say that?! This time it’ll be much more special of course, with Jeff standing at Mahboud’s side as his Best Man.
Cherie Reeves
Maid of Honor
Anna and Cherie clicked almost right away when they became roommates 7 years ago. Cherie is a free spirit and her zest for life is contagious! They are like-minded and share a mutual love for health, fitness, and simply having fun. Even after Cherie moved back to her hometown, New Orleans, for a couple years, their friendship never changed. Anna visited Cherie in New Orleans so many times, she started joking that she was a NOLA local. Over the years, they’ve shared so many amazing memories together. From desert safaris to surfing, Anna knows she can always count on Cherie for a fun adventure. She can’t imagine saying “I do” without her friend that’s more like a sister as her Maid of Honor!
Jeremy Smith
Groomsman
Mahboud and Jeremy aka “DJ Trotter” met while attending WVU. While Jeremy was a year younger in their fraternity, they quickly hit it off and have remained close ever since. They were even roommates at one point after graduation, back before Jeremy decided to pursue a hipster life in the Big Apple. Something that Mahboud admires most about Jeremy is his willingness to face the unknown. He’s a doer who embraces new challenges. From moving to different cities, to DJ’ing sets for large crowds, to running marathons in Europe, and most recently donating a kidney to his older brother, there really isn’t much this guy can’t handle. Still the question remains... will we see DJ Trotter on the 1s and 2s for Mahboud’s big day??
Hali Vangilder
Bridesmaid
When Anna and Hali met through a mutual friend several years ago, they got along almost immediately. Since then, they’ve always shared a sisterly bond. Hali has a heart of gold and you will never meet a more empathetic, judgement free friend. They’re always down for trips to the beach and could spend endless hours soaking up the sun and chatting. Keep an ear out for her witty jokes and stories which might include an embarrassing tale or two about Anna.
Jared Miller
Groomsman
Having both grown up in McLean VA and attended rival high schools, Mahboud and Jared had many mutual friends, but they didn’t connect until later in life. After college, the two kept running into each other while out on the town, and soon realized they had much in common. In addition to being from the same hometown and having mutual friends, they both loved DC sports, and lived a similar bachelor lifestyle. Naturally, they became friends, and have since built a strong, brotherly bond. From hitting the bars, to beach trips, to cheering on the Skins at FedEx Field, these two always have a blast together. Jared is also the best dog daddy to the most awesome pit bull "Makaveli" aka "Veli", who Mahboud considers to be his fur nephew.
Hannah Pourmohsen
Bridesmaid
Anna met Hannah through Cherie, and when the three of them get together, it’s always a blast. You can always count on Hannah for a quick, witty joke. Don’t take it the wrong way if she teases you. She’s just like a Sour Patch Kid—sour, then very sweet—the perfect combo! Hannah has also been a friend of Mahboud’s for years and in the summer of 2019, Hannah planned to bring Anna to Mahboud’s annual pool party. Unbeknownst to Hannah, Anna had just met Mahboud a couple weeks before the party and received her own invite. What are the odds that her two friends had already met and hit it off!
Nick Patino
Groomsman
Mahboud and Nick first met at WVU during rush week at the Sig Ep house. It wasn’t until a few weeks into pledging when they actually started to take a liking to one another. They would take subtle “jabs” at each other, with no indication if the other could take it. Well, luckily for both of them, they could. Even ‘til this very day, their daily interactions include a few jabs. Their similar sense of humor has always been at the core of their relationship. After joining the fraternity, Mahboud and Nick were roommates for 2 years while at WVU, and another 2 years post college. Over the years, they’ve grown to know each other’s families well, and have been as close to brothers as it gets. Mahboud couldn’t be happier to have his “hijo” (and translator) standing by his side in Mexico. Vamos!
Alesia Fowler
Bridesmaid
Alesia is Anna’s sister and has always been a great confidant and advisor. As a former professional ballet dancer, and now a master Gyrotonic instructor (a type of exercise that’s similar to Pilates), who has lived and traveled all over the world, she truly is one of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet. Anna loves spending quality time with Alesia, who is the warmest and most charismatic sister anyone could ask for. Anna’s wedding day couldn’t be perfect without one of her most important supporters there.
Bobby Nobakht
Groomsman
Mahboud considers Bobby to be his favorite human. To know Bobby is to love Bobby. He is the full package - the perfect blend of smarts, wit, charm, heart, and good looks. Mahboud and Bobby are first cousins, but they have always shared a close brotherly bond. Their chemistry makes their 9 year age gap seem hard to believe, which is either credit to Bobby’s maturity, or Mahboud’s lack thereof ;-) Their love of sports has always been at the core of their relationship. In recent years, the two even coached middle school-aged boys basketball together. Mahboud couldn’t be more proud of Bobby, and is honored to have him stand by his side on his big day.
Naomi Carbone
Bridesmaid
People often think Anna and Naomi are cousins (and Anna will gladly take that!) but Naomi is actually Anna’s niece! Naomi is just as intriguing as her mom, Alesia, who also happens to be a bridesmaid. Naomi is a multifaceted person; She is a talented singer and a skilled dog groomer just to name a couple of her crafts. She was even brave enough to recently start her own dog grooming service at the young age of 26. A love for music and animals are just two of many things Anna and Naomi have in common. They are always game for a good live show. In fact, the first concert Anna ever attended was with Naomi at the Chili Cook-off in DC. They have 25+ years of memories and Anna’s special day would not be complete without Naomi.
Sam Cole
Groomsman
“Stunning” Samuel Cole is yet another one of Mahboud’s fraternity brothers from WVU, but their relationship dates back to high school. Sam is what is considered as salt of the earth. A throwback from a different era, Sam never steers far from his old school values and tireless work ethic. He enjoys the simple things in life - a backyard bbq, a nice ocean breeze, or a cold brewski can all fit the bill. He’s not here to impress you, nor is he impressed by much. He is who he is, unapologetically, and he’ll never be one to feel sorry for himself. As loyal a friend you’ll ever find... everyone needs a Sam Cole in their life.
Anne Katzer-Kennedy
Bridesmaid
Even though Anne moved away from Arlington to the boonies (aka Reston), Anna and Anne are loyal friends who have maintained their friendship for 6+ years. It’s easy to stay in touch considering Anne is the queen of memes and they can always count on each other for a good laugh. Anna was honored to be a bridesmaid on Anne’s wedding day and is grateful to have Anne by her side on her special day.