Mika & Chris
Wedding Party
Nicole McAllister (She/Her)
Officiant
Nicole entered Chris and Mika's lives within a week of their first date. Nicole knew she wanted to be friends with Mika immediately. Chris...less so. Mostly after he bought up all the raffle tickets to Nicole's favorite prizes at a fundraiser and won. 4+ years later, she has just about forgiven him. Almost. In the meantime, Mika and Nicole's friendship has flourished. On top of many fun escapades, their friendship can be characterized by "quick" calls or hangouts accidentally stretching into several hours. Nicole has been a big part of M&C's lives. She brings her deep knowledge of magical drama TV shows, a much needed eye for fashion, and a flare for drama that will make any night interesting. What to ask Nicole: What is the best reality dating show and why is it Love Island?
Will Merrow (He/Him)
Best Man
Will and Chris go way back. Way way back. Like pre-Y2K listening-to-Smash Mouth back. It was 1999 when the MacKenzies moved to New Hampshire. Will lived up the street from their new home, and invited Chris to his Fifth Grade class party right before the school year started. At the party, Chris asked Will if he wanted to be friends. Will said yes. Twenty-four years, a hundred sleepovers, and dozens of Lego sets later, they're still besties. They've even designed a board game together. You'll never meet someone more sincere and friendly than Will "Sweet William" Merrow. If you're looking for someone to share a long heart-to-heart with at our wedding, Will's your guy. What to ask Will: How's New York's bluegrass scene?
Coleman Boyer (He/Him)
Best Man
Mika first learned who Coleman was when a friend described having a crush on someone who "has perfect teeth and looks at me like I'm stupid when I speak up in class." She decided she had to scoop this man up for herself, and lured him into friendship with free dorm meals. Through lawn dancing at music festivals, shredding ungodly amounts of cheese, and having heart-to-hearts on hikes and in bars around the world, they became best friends. Coleman's ferocious loyalty is not something you want to get in the way of, and he expects the royal treatment for himself AND his entourage. What to ask Coleman: What's your favorite dance move at 305?
Mahkah Wu (He/Him)
Best Man
Mika and Mahkah met the first night of college. They became fast friends going to parties and exchanging satisfied grins when people inevitably asked "Are those really your names, or are you messing with me?" They grew closer when Mahkah's kitchen offered an off-campus refuge from several years of dorm food, and Chef Wu's talents continue to influence Mika's life (yes--Mika stopped being a full vegetarian around when Mahkah moved in). Mahkah's motto "I'm down if you're down" made for shenanigans that laid the foundation for best-friendship. Beneath that mysterious exterior is an inner Papa bear with boundless care for those lucky enough to be in his circle. What to ask Mahkah: What spreadsheet are you most proud of?
Aaron Zucker (He/Him)
Groomsman
The year was 2011, and a dive bar called the Big Hunt was serving 50𝇍 wings on Tuesdays. Maybe it was the stinging scent of buffalo sauce that brought Aaron and Chris together. Or maybe it was their shared love of board games and the fact that Aaron is such a stand-up guy. He's the kind of friend who will call you for no other reason than to say hi and check in. When someone says "because that's what friends do," they're actually just describing the high standard that Aaron has sets for all other friends. What to ask Aaron: What world-ending apocalyptical scenario should I be most worried about?
Cam Pascual (They/Them)
Bridesperson
You'll find Cam invading nature's personal space by putting their face way too close to [insert any: flowers, shrubs, tidepools, the ground], generally looking for bugs. They bring a welcoming and adventurous spirit everywhere they go. This picture was taken when--on a whim--Cam agreed to accompany Mika on a trip to Tanzania to visit Iain, though the two had only met once before. Mika and Cam go back almost a decade to when they were giggling at neighboring desks in their first full time jobs. Many hikes, dance parties, late night porch discussions, and trips to the climbing gym later, they are bonded for life. What to ask Cam: What's the coolest thing I don't know about bees?
Alex Thompson (He/Him)
Groomsman
When a movie is finally made about Alex's life, Mark Ruffalo will surely be recruited to play the harried political reporter at the center of the film. His apartment will be strewn with books and plastered with post-it notes with two-word ideas for stories. They will have to find a very, very good looking actor to play Alex's friend, Chris. Someone like Ryan Gosling, maybe, but on a stool to add height. Anyway, Alex and Chris met back in 2013 when they moved into a group house together. Since then, they've enjoyed endless hours of talking politics and going to the occasional sports game together. What to ask Alex: Is that your mugshot?
Iain Laufer (He/Him)
Bridesman
Mika and Iain go back many years to when they were kids spending time every summer at what Iain likes to call "Buddhist camp." They quickly went from being "that cool older girl" and "that kid who cracks me up" to close friends and confidants who both experienced transformative self-discovery on their Buddhist vision quests. Their bond has overcome a seemingly irreconcilable split over which coast is better, and has helped them support each other through many of life's ups and downs. Their friendship is characterized by one of them running to catch a bus or plane after a visit, and in *most* cases making it just in time. What to ask Iain: Why are you so obsessed with the West Coast?
Bennett Hillenbrand (He/Him)
Groomsman
Hot off the campaign trail in 2013, Chris was in search of a roommate as he moved back to D.C. proper. Fortunately and unfortunately, his friends recommended he find a place with known-Slytherin, Bennett Hillenbrand. Since then, they've wiled away countless hours playing board games in the basement (are you sensing a theme?). Together, they've made brief and unsuccessful attempts at "getting back into shape." And Bennett gave Chris his first dose of rock climbing, a hobby which has cost Chris more money than he cares to sum up. What to ask Bennett: Can I buy you a Smirnoff Ice?
Kelsey Lester (She/Her)
Bridesmaid
Kelsey and Mika go way back. Like Chris-and-Will-listening-to-Smash-Mouth back. They spent their youth climbing up the neighborhood trees, having sleepovers on the trampoline, and lip-syncing to P!nk. Skip to a scene of their friendship anytime in the last 20 years and you might find them eating beans by the spoonful, jumping into the Pacific Ocean when it's way too cold to swim, or caught in a cycle of laughing and crying on loop. Don't let Kelsey's girly giggle or shy smile fool you--she carries around 100lb pipes in her day job as a plumber and will come after anyone who says a bad word about Mika. What to ask Kelsey: What's your favorite subject to paint?
Tappan Parker (He/Him)
Groomsman
Most humans are 60% water. Tappan is 60% sea shanty. After meeting through mutual nerd friends in D.C., Chris fell in love with Tappan's infectious energy, his quirky sense of humor, and his commitment to the bit. Through thick and thin, through long board games and even longer board games, Tappan is always there for his friends. Recently, Tappan moved to the same neighborhood as Chris. Only a stone's throw away! Now they can grab coffee, enjoy a beer together, or throw stones at each other every day of the week. What to ask Tappan: Tell me about the board game you invented. How much singing is involved?
Mia Zavalij (She/Her)
Bridesmaid
Mika and Mia are, deep down, almost the same person. This has proven to be very helpful when trying to answer the question "Why did I do that?" from the mundane to dramatic. They met at the aforementioned first-DC-job, and their friendship solidified when they started commuting together every day. Mika knew Mia was a keeper when she started waking up looking forward to go to work. Mia is somehow simultaneously one of the most encouraging and competitive people you'll meet, and spending time with her is always a blast. What to ask Mia: What's your favorite Bullet Journal layout?
Zach Litchfield (He/Him)
Groomsman
Meet Zach Litchfield, a childhood friend whose friendship has carried through to adulthood. What brings Zach and Chris together? Maybe it's their shared awkward gangly-ness, their love of the outdoors, or the curse that the Old Woman of Mt. Kearsarge put on them both. During winter break, Chris and Zach used to hike up ski mountains or mountain access roads to sled down them. At night, they'd look at the stars, point out constellations, and Zach would remark how since they were cursed he could now hear the tortured and vile thoughts of small rodents. It was the bond of a lifetime. What to ask Zach: What do small rodents think about? Is there any way to lift the curse?
Sara Gassman (She/Her)
Bridesmaid
Depending on who you are, you have Sara to thank or scorn for Mika moving to DC. She hired Mika right out of undergrad and they soon became known as Big Cheese and Lil Enchilada. After Mika's AmeriCorps year, they found that they enjoyed working together in other contexts. They developed and co-taught a kombucha brewing class and were two of the outdoorswomen who made Wild Wilderness Women what it is today. Sara is an irreplaceable friend--how many people would bring their car to help you move AND bake you the most delicious homemade biscuits in the same day? What to ask Sara: What's the best venue for an intimate concert?
Zak Bickel (He/Him)
Groomsman
Chris and Zak met through Craigslist, and it was friends at first sight. Chris's group house was searching for a new roommate and Zak was moving to D.C., fresh out of college and looking for a place to live. Zak and Chris immediately bonded over -- you guessed it -- their shared love of board games. Six years later, Zak has moved to New York City, and he's sure to show Chris a good time whenever Chris visits the Large Apple. The two still make time for the occasional long weekend skiing or going to the beach. Are you looking for someone to stay out late with on our wedding night? Or perhaps a companion for a long walk on the beach? If it's the Jersey shore you're headed to, then Zak's your guy. What to ask Zak: What are the principles of a good drinking game?