Wedding Party
Alexia Lekos
Bridesmaid
Favorite moment with Mingyi: I can confidently say that Mingyi is one of my oldest friends, considering we’ve known each other since the third grade. Of all the moments we've shared, it might seem strange that one of my fondest memories is the time she taught me how to use chopsticks. Her family was hosting several of our friends for a dumpling-making party. We gathered into the kitchen, folded dumplings, and Mingyi noticed I was struggling with the chopsticks. Without making a big deal of it, she came over to help and demonstrated how to use these utensils. This day inspired my love for Asian cuisine. Even as I’m writing out this memory, I’m preparing marinated Korean eggs to eat with rice and kimchi. What I find particularly special is that this seemingly simple moment turned into a life-long skill. In fact, it’s something that has connected me to other important people in my life. Early in my relationship with my long-term partner, I found myself passing on the same lesson, showing him how to use chopsticks while sharing this exact story When I think back to that experience, I’m especially grateful for Mingyi’s patience, kindness, and lack of judgment. Even now, as adults, she continues to teach and inspire me. Whether she’s introducing me to her favorite hobbies like ice skating, skiing, or golfing, she brings the same gentle encouragement and inclusiveness to everything she does.
Peter Morgan
Groomsman
Favorite moment with Matthew: During one of our roadtrips, we came upon our sordid accommodations. Just as Mingyi must’ve been surprised when she found out Matthew was “6 feet tall” (whose feet he used are up to anyone’s guess) we were astounded to see the amenities such as a world class fitness center consisting of two ellipticals stashed in a storage closet, an Olympic size swimming pool filled with what one could only hope was green Kool aid from St Patrick’s day 5 months earlier, and world class artwork that had been tastefully turned into a terrarium of sorts. When we tucked in for the evening each of us threw down a towel over the perfectly sterile bed we were about to lay down on and clocked out for the night. At 9am, Matthew’s alarm went off. Continental breakfast, checkout, and begin driving into North Carolina… though unlike our previous morning of Matthew springing out of bed, he groggily reached across the gap in our beds and tapped me on the shoulder. “Its time for breakfast.” I rolled over to meet his eyes and replied “I don’t want to eat a cockroach.” Matthew pondered this idea for a moment, then both of us- without further communication- turned back over to sleep with the bugs we had come to meet that evening. Why do I love Matthew? He has always has a detailed plan that I can use to premeditate intricate jokes for hours, if not days, then deliver with seamless timing as though I’m a man of wit.
Kathy Luo
Bridesmaid
Favorite moment with Mingyi: (In what has become a legend at this point), I will never forget feeling sad that we were both moving to new schools after 1st grade, and then on the first day of 2nd grade, in the Frenchtown cafeteria, turning around and being like--"Isn't that Mingyi??" 😂 The rest of our friendship is full of too many inside jokes to count--Kami (Wharton quaking at our business prowess), Henry "vill" (sorry I'm never letting this go) 2,000+ Facebook pokes (*poke*), sneaking me into ADOCH as another "Mingyi Wu" (a precursor to then continue to sneak me into Miller), our DIY graduation photoshoot (after we watched Pride & Prejudice in your apartment the night before), COVID survival and hyper-fixations (for a hot second, you loved owls...), and endless sleepovers--from dorm rooms, to Bowen St, to Chicago, to New York, to Jersey, to Boston, to Philly... all sponsored by saving money, living better, and Shin Ramyun.
Scott Mulligan
Groomsman
Favorite moment with Matthew: Matthew and I made a game called Tony Hawk’s Existential Nightmare, which is a musical about skating legend Tony Hawk. We made it in a week. I don’t know if I’ve laughed harder in my life than in that week. Matthew’s creative, sometimes whacky, genius is on full display in that fever dream of a game. He worked nonstop on crafting the game, caring about little details like the animations of a character skating on the ceiling to making sure all the songs were as catchy as they could be. I hope everyone gets a chance in their life to work with someone as talented and witty as Matthew.
Thedita Pedersen
Bridesmaid
Favorite moment with Mingyi: (WIP)
Tom Kenny
Groomsman
Favorite moment with Matthew: Here's a memory from our end of season wrestling banquet during our senior year of high school. It was tradition for the seniors on the team to give a speech to everyone in attendance. While most of us gave heartfelt thank-yous, Matthew stood up and delivered a full on roast, inspired by Michael Scott from the office. He roasted teammates, team managers, and even a few of the coaches. The entire room was cracking up, and it was one of those moments that perfectly captured who Matthew is: creative, fearless, and hilariously original. It was the perfect send off and I still think about him making fun of Coach Craig!
Anoush Calikyan
Bridesmaid
Favorite moment with Mingyi: (WIP)
Ryan Nigro
Groomsman
I remember the last day I ever doubted Matthew. We were in middle school, hanging out with a day overflowing with greasy snacks, relentless trash talk, Halo 3 (objectively the greatest game ever made), and, as fate would have it, a thousand situps. Somewhere between rounds on Sandtrap, Matthew casually claimed he could do 1,000 situps in a single day. Naturally, skepticism filled the room. I was one of the skeptics. Amidst the doubt, Matthew hit the floor and locked in. For the next hour, he cranked out situps with all of us watching. At 100, I was impressed but not convinced, 500 amazed but disbelieving, and finally at 1000 shocked but convinced. Pain, fatigue—none of it mattered. He powered through, and by the end, there was no doubt left in the room. Since then, Matthew has gone on to do the equivalent of 1,000 situps in every aspect of life. Build an app that could save lives? Done. Get into Stanford? Of course. Co-create a game with our brilliant friend Scott Mulligan that would reach and move millions? Easy. Doubting Matthew isn’t just unwise—it’s a losing bet.