Wedding Party
Michael Barone
Best Man
Michael and I grew up going on midnight adventures to the basement, riding bikes all around the triangle, building blanket forts under each other's desks, and having epic guy tradings with our lego men. We had different interests throughout adolescence but luckily found our footing and are closer than ever. Michael is someone who might be younger than me but I look up to him in so many ways. His work ethic, his commitment to his family, and mainly his example of finding a match in a partner. Sarah and Michael set a high standard for a couple that is in sync and I followed that template. Michael and Sarah have made Jenny and I feel welcomed in their home and include us in the regular facetime calls with their two adorable kids. Of course, we wish they lived closer but we're grateful we get to celebrate so many special events with them. Sharing was never really my thing and being the only non-baseball fan in the house wasn't fun, but Michael being MY brother makes me so happy. We overcame challenges and we still have to work to keep the relationship going. It is so worth it. I have a built-in best friend and I hope I have him for the rest of my life. Whether he admits it or not, he looks up to me. He even copied my haircut! You can barely see us in this picture but if I picked anything else, it'd be disrespectful! I'm cutting myself off on this because I can gush about my little brother forever, just look at my slide deck I put together for the best man speech at his wedding!
Anthony Elmo
Man of Honor - Bride Squad
I met Tony in 1987 and we became best friends immediately. I know he always wanted a super cool little sister and his wish was granted. You're welcome. Our early years together were kind of a blur (I was a baby), but eventually he learned that I wanted to be part of the boys club--playing with cars, pretending we were flying a plane and parachuting out, and racing around the house like ninjas "clearing" it from invisible enemies when we got home from the grocery store as kids. He taught me about sports--how to hit and catch a baseball, nickel and dime formations in football, and how to play HORSE at the playground. My love of action movies, Star Wars, DC and Marvel all come from him. In my teenage years, I looked up to him and he let me hang out with his friends who were all four years older. When he went away to college, I was sad that my buddy was gone and always looked forward to family trips to DC to visit him. He lives in Texas now but we keep in touch every week to catch up on life and talk about how the Phillies look this season. And he keeps me updated on his son Max's progress towards becoming part of the Phillies championship team in 2032.
Adriana Zappolo
Grooms Gal
If you haven't seen Adriana in the evening hours, you're missing out. She gets loopy and goofy and laughs with her tongue like no one else. Being the oldest of my cousins, I remember holding Adriana when she came home from the hospital. Since then I've spent years making fun of her (lack of hair, green hair, etc.) and busting her chops. Luckily, she's grown into it and become even fiercer than I could have imagined. Adriana is the most resilient of all of us and battles challenges I couldn't imagine. She also makes me laugh and, representing 1/3 of the fun cousins, can hang all night (way later than my brother and her sister). Adriana and I have destroyed most other teams on the flip-cup table, most notably at my Neon Olympics party. Sometimes I try too hard to make her have fun. One time, I got her a ticket for skipping a turnstile in the subway. Total disaster. But the thing about me and Adriana is that no matter how much we want to strangle each other Homer and Bart style, we always come back to home. We always find our way back to the three of us (Mike included), on the patio at Grandma's, arms around each other. A total Nooning but I love this girl more than I could ever express. My baby cousin isn't only fun, she is such a smart cookie. She powers through books on a regular basis but knows when to put them down and hit the dance floor. So fellas, hit her up! This beauty is single! Adriana, I couldn't imagine this most special day without you by my side.
Taylor Fleming
Bridesman
Taylor Fleming, musical genius, is my brother-in-law (Cody's brother) and one of the best people I have ever known. He has taught me a lot about life and how to be resilient. Taylor has overcome hurdles to grow into the amazingly talented, passionate, and driven person that he is today. In our early years together, Taylor and our sister Ali welcomed me into the family with all of the laughter and silliness that became the hallmark of family time together. Some of my favorite memories are secretly eating KFC and Taco Bell just before Christmas dinner, special piano performances, "I'm little!", spending all day in onesies, Gigi's retirement balloon incident, and sibling weekends. I remember our first holiday together in Ohio with spit balls flying, everyone always chasing Ali with dirty socks, and laughing meditations in my driveway. Thanks for teaching me to not take life too seriously, and how to play the drums (I promise, I'll practice more!). Taylor has been there for me through the best and worst of times. Matty and I are honored to have him be a part of our special day.
Antonia Zappolo
Grooms Gal
"Though she be but little she is fierce". Antonia and I have always had a special cousin bond. It started with spending Friday afternoons waiting for her to get off the bus just to have cinnamon rolls and popcorn. It evolved into fly kiting, pool days, Marisa, and a Trader Joes epiphany. I call her Anton the Adventurous. People often assume that her quiet, kind, and shy manner means she is weak but Anton is far from that. She swayed her Rib City-loving sister to join her as a vegan. Antonia also shed her husky outfits and traded them for her Good Charlotte punk clothes. She might not be as loud as her "fun cousin" sister, but she is a fierce and determined trendsetter. We have very different “scenes”, so Antonia and I connect through DMCs. Deep Meaningful Conversations. Once we were on the phone for hours (normal), and she eventually said “just come over!?” We have so many deep laughs like the prom eye and Penny shaking during 2011's earthquake! We're always encouraging each other and being supportive. In 2012 when the Mayan calendar said the world was going to end, I took my cousin - with tears in her eyes - to get ice cream because “if we're going out, let’s have it be doing something we love!” Glad she dropped the Princess Diaries obsession for that giant backpack, arms out, running down the street to greet me! I'm endlessly proud of her. We have always been big fans of each other. Anton needs to be up here because I love when people march to the beat of their own drums.
Arielle "Aro" Leflar
Maid of Honor
Aro came into my life in the most unexpected way--like the Kool Aid man bustin' through a wall. She's been my sister outlaw for 15 years. When Aro decided to go to Ursinus, I took her under my wing and she ended up joining Omega Chi with me as her PM (bite it!). Aro is the most loyal person I know. She will stand by her people and show up for you whenever you need her. She's a force to be reckoned with and will tell you exactly what's on her mind. Her personality matches her big heart and she gives the BEST hugs! I never knew I could laugh so hard until I met this girl. For the past 15 years, Aro has been there for me through the best and worst of days. She will forever be part of my family.
Steven Wald
Groomsman
For all the bits of my combative dedication to pretty much every situation, Steven is calm, cool, and collected. Steven is also the all-around athlete who lives and breathes for sports and I, well, I still can't throw a spiral the right way. It was a major hurdle plus our nine year age gap. But somewhere around me getting back from Thailand, everything changed. Steven and I found many more things in common. We have survivor nights and play board games. We have emotional talks in the middle of huge raves on skyscrapers in NYC. We take spontaneous trips. Steve quickly shot to the top of my list for #1 travel companion. I couldn't be happier than to be left alone in New York with Steve because I know I can always count on him to be a true team player.
Ally Schonfeld
Bride Squad
Ally was the first friend I made when I moved to Media. I showed up at Bryn Mawr Running Company one night, anxious about joining an elite team of extremely fit athletes* for a group run in my new town. I asked if I could run with her and we instantly became friends. Ally and I have been through a lot together in our almost 8 years of friendship--countless races, house moves, weddings and celebrations, happy times, and life-changing moments. She has a way of calming you with her presence, somehow knowing exactly what you need at the time--even if it's a crate full of heirloom tomatoes from her farm delivered to your door at 8pm. She's strong, smart, and brave. And I'm lucky enough to call her one of my best friends. *Mostly beer drinkers who also enjoy running.
Kristen Peirson
Grooms Gal
Let me start out by saying that if there was no Kristen, there would be no wedding because Kristen introduced me to Cody. To say that I am eternally grateful for that is an understatement. I also would not be the person I am today without Kristen. Being my first friend in college was no easy task. I was living a sheltered life and Kristen helped open my eyes to so many things. Kristen LITERALLY would walk across campus just to wake me up every morning in college. She helped me through the history of rock and joined me at Haz. Kristen might be the wisest of my friends, but also the snarkiest. One time we had a fight while I was hanging clothes in the closet. So after the fight, I just stayed in there because I was hoping she'd leave. She waited me out. I just stayed in there for way too long. We traveled to Florida twice for Spring Break. The first time, the two of us spent a week just with my grandparents and it meant so much to me. I felt like I let someone get a peek at a special part of my life. The second trip was with Scott and Cody. We had so many great laughs from the car ride down, to pool races, to lunch at the beach, and maybe most memorably, chasing Grandpa's cat all around the neighborhood at 11 pm. Kristen married the most wonderful human, Matt, and they have two twin boys who totally rock. They have all invited me into their home and it just means so much to me. I couldn't have gotten through the loss of Cody without her. I genuinely value her so much.
Kathleen Hill
Bride Squad
Kathy and I have been friends since I moved to Media! She's become my Thursday night BMRC running buddy, friend-therapist, and go-to person for "can I ask you a medical question?" We have had so much fun over the years racing all over the Philly area in the most ridiculous outfits. And I have to give her partner Dan a shout-out for driving us everywhere, bringing snacks, wearing a tutu, and always cheering us on! At the height of the pandemic, Kathy, Dan, and I volunteered at local vaccination clinics to help out the community. She has a big heart and her funny, quick-witted personality always makes me smile. But don't let her tell you there are no hills on the running route. She's lying.
Ryan Moloney
Groomsman
Ryan is a forever friend. Scouts, going to the movies, making movies, bowling, Lakeview toothpaste pranks, and Goldeneye Friday afternoons. I say friend but at Whitman, it was a laughable rivalry at times. DDBR vs Abees. It evolved into post-group hangout drives through Centerport in his mini Cooper blasting the Pirates soundtrack and nightly Monopoly games over winter break. At a point, we took different paths but one thing I admire about Ryan is his refusal to let that happen. Ryan rekindled the friendship at a time I really needed him. When I got back from Thailand, I really was struggling and Ryan never let me lose. He put in so much time with me. It's funny because even though our night outs were under the cover of "Matt's looking to meet someone", I never once started to talk to anyone because of times with Ryan. Not once. Some wingman haha. But that was because our conversations got SO real. We talked about genuine life problems and wonderings, and we worked through deep thoughts. I think of the red balloon conversation daily. I try not to think of Boston gummies! I have a map of all the places Ryan has taken me. It is a remarkable map of NYC bars. If we've gone out since 2015, it's because of a spot Ryan showed me! The locations are unique and often themed. This guy has opened my pallet to cocktails I never would have tasted. His mixology skills are matched only by his FIANCÉE! Woo! I’m so excited that all four of our lives are jumping into this next phase together!
.
.
Jack Barone
Honorary Groomsman
This guy refused me! Do you believe it? I told him I wanted him to stand up here with me and he said no because it would be inappropriate. Whatever! I'm still shouting him out! Far and away, my dad is my best friend. I know, you've all heard it before. But it's my day and I want to gush about all my favorite people! My dad spends hours a week on the phone with me just to keep me company. Man, I drove him crazy growing up. I wish I worked harder at my times tables because gosh, I could have saved Pop a few thousand brain cells. I cried for hours at the dining room table trying to solve math with him. But he never quit on me. In 2015, I came back from Thailand because he asked me to. When I saw him, I jumped right over security and into his arms. My dad is a simple guy who takes after his mom. Mild-mannered, soft-spoken, and kind to a point that they'd put themselves last if it meant helping you out. I take after his dad though! Loud! Making my presence known! And kind but in a more in-your-face way. So when I told my dad I wanted him to come to San Diego to stay in a hostel with me, I thought it was a pipe dream. But he did, and he had a great time. He became the center of attention. Now that he has retired, my dad has brought that same hostel energy to North Carolina. He is the center of attention on the pickleball courts and has rejuvenated his life. I owe him so much but that little bit, I'll chalk up to pushing him out of HIS comfort zone. Thanks for everything, always!
.
.
Cody Thompson
Heavenly Groomsman
I can understand how the entirety of this makes people uncomfortable. For that, all I can say is that I wish the circumstances were different. I promised Cody that he'd be up here with me when it was my turn to get married just the way he gave me that same honor. And boy, did that mean the world to me. No one had ever asked me to be a part of their wedding before and for it to be Cody was even more important. Cody taught me to be brave. Even before Cody passed away, I would tell the story of how he broke me out of my shell. Cody transferred there jr year and after two years of pretty much just being friends with Kristen (which I loved), Cody changed it up a bit. We'd walk across campus and people would shout "Cody!" "Hey Cody!" "What's up, Cody!?" I looked at him and asked, "you just moved here, how do so many people know you?" He told me that he was going to the campus events and others set up by the RAs. I laughed and said "that's stupid. I'm not doing that." On the way back to my room, we saw an "Ice Cream Social with Board Games". He looked at me and pretty much said if that isn't a sign, I don't know what is. 2 things you love. I reluctantly went and even as I type I'm rolling my eyes. You win, Cody! I had a blast and from then on like the flick of a switch I was so much braver. I always took Cody's advice going forward. I'm the oldest in my fam but Cody was like a brother I could look up to. I miss Cody. I wish things were different. I owe him a spot up here with me.
.
.