Wedding Party
Fiona Pham
Maid of Honor
Mona and Fiona met at age 6 and lived in the same apartment community. They bonded over their painfully slow eating habits, their parents’ Jane Fonda workout videos (yay 90s!), and even “fought” over the same childhood crush (luckily this is no longer the case!). Always down for a laugh, Fiona especially loves going on cruises and listening/dancing to Latin pop.
Christopher Calara
Best Man
Chris is Nico’s older brother. An avid gamer, Chris never missed a chance to skunk Nico in Madden, or team up for raids in Destiny. You’ll regularly find them bonding over sneakers and sports, usually trashing each other’s (and their own) favorite teams.
Dotto Schneemann
Bridesmaid
Mona and Dotto became close friends in 7th grade, and now, even continents apart (Sprechen Sie Deutsch anyone?), Dotto remains a big part of Mona’s life. Dotto loves music and dancing and is also an amazing cook (omggg those chapatis!!!). Count on finding Dotto on the dance floor!
Kaylen Calara
Best Woman
Kaylen is Nico’s younger sister. Growing up, they usually fought over the TV, where her choice for the Disney Channel regularly won out (making Disney Channel movie quotes a regular in the Calara household - Zetus lapetus!). A huge hip-hop head, she and Nico share a love of music, and she even took Nico to his first J. Cole concert at the Forum.
Stella Oduori
Bridesmaid
Stella and Mona became friends in 1st Grade and have remained friends ever since! A Grade A Extrovert, Stella unceremoniously pulled Mona out of her shell over the years. A lover of music and a bona fide artist in her own right, you can count on Stella to always be in tune with the latest and greatest music hits!
Joseph Suapaia
Groomsman
Nico first met Joe in high school, where they played on the football team together (Colt love!). In his spare time, you can regularly find Joe writing bars for his next rap hit and mixing it up on the turntables. You’ll find him bringing the energy all night, both on the dance floor and at the bar!
Corey Nkirote Calara
Flower Girl
Mona and Nico's first born daughter, Corey, was appointed Flower Girl because, nepotism. At 4 years old, Corey is a nonstop bundle of energy and adorable affection. You will likely find her jumping endlessly on the dance floor or equally likely getting herself some chill time in a quiet (and empty) room.
Caleb Nkirote Calara
Ring Bearer
Another beneficiary of nepotism, 9 month old Caleb is Nico and Mona's 2nd born. Caleb's favorite thing is eating/chewing on...well...everything really. Look out for his wide infectious smiles, pterodactyl shrieks and endless drool.
Serah Diamond
Mother of the Bride
Mona's mom, Serah, loves to cook, and growing up, Mona would be her guinea pig for new recipes (Mona especially loved her mom's stint with baking cookies!). A big fan of Track&Field, you'll find Serah cheering on her fellow Kenyan athletes with gusto or otherwise watching real crime/thriller TV. Serah also enjoys travel, learning about different cultures (ask her about Bali!) and loves to dance, especially with her grandkids! If funk soul is playing, look for Serah on the dance floor.
Monserrat “Mara” de la Merced
Mother of the Groom
Mother of three, Mara always had her hands full raising Nico and his two siblings. However, she never missed a chance with them to share her love of food, music, sports, and Lifetime movies. A lover of desserts and all things Coca-cola, you’ll never see her turning down chocolates. She enjoys traveling, and is always looking for new experiences to share and partake in with her grandkids.
Ben Dimapindan
Officiant
Dr. Ben is one of Nico's cousins and doggie-dad to Corey's favorite fur cousin, Amos. A self-proclaimed nerd, Ben loves the Simpsons, Comic-Con and the Ravens. But he loves his family most of all, especially making them laugh with cheesy jokes and doing not-so-magical magic tricks for his army of nieces and nephews.
