Wedding Party
Sean Finnegan
Officiant
Sean is Julie’s longtime college friend and Alex’s former co-worker, but more importantly, he’s someone who has played a meaningful role in both of their lives long before they became a couple. Julie met Sean first in college, where their friendship quickly took shape while collaborating on countless film projects. One of those films even won an award, earning them a trip to an awards ceremony for up-and-coming student filmmakers! What the film was about or why it won... neither of them can remember 😂 After graduation, their bond only grew stronger as they continued working on creative projects together and building their friendship over their shared love of movies, late-night ramen, and nerdy pop culture. Then one day, when Julie was searching for her break into the industry, Sean connected her with the very job where she would meet Alex… Years later, the story came full circle when Alex became Sean’s co-worker after Sean once again put in a good word, giving the two of them the chance to form their own lasting friendship through years of working side by side. So truly, we couldn’t imagine a better person to marry us. After all, Sean is kind of responsible for bringing us together in the first place, and we are forever grateful that he did.
Johnny O'Dell
Best Man
Johnny is Alex’s best friend, former roommate, and lifelong beer pong partner. They met nearly 20 years ago at Ohio University and made the move to Los Angeles together after college. Johnny later lived with the Bride and fellow bridesmaid Cynthia for about four years. It was a time filled with unforgettable adventures, countless parties, and, most memorably, surviving the COVID lockdown together by binge-watching endless hours of 90 Day Fiancé and Sesame Street. Johnny also holds one of the most special titles of all: Godfather to our daughter, Willow.
Belinda Hamamoto
Matron of Honor
Belinda is Julie's lifelong best friend, meeting all the way back in 2nd grade! Their friendship was fully cemented when they joined band in middle school and spent countless hours practicing before school, after school, when there was no school...basically all they did was practice. But because of it they got to travel the country together and go on some really amazing trips as kids! Belinda and Julie have been known to spend hours having deep, long talks in the car while eating Taco Bell, going to every Nsync and Justin Timberlake concert together, and Belinda being ok with being the "Ethel" to Julie's "Lucy." And as if their bond wasn’t already special enough, they’re both pregnant and expecting their babies on the exact due date!
Krim Lopez
Matron of Honor
Krim is another lifelong best friend of Julie. Meeting in 4th grade, but again cementing their friendship in band along with Belinda, they soon became inseparable throughout middle and high school. Krim’s house became the unofficial sleepover headquarters for Julie and her friends, where they spent hours chatting on AIM, watching B-list horror movies, and taking late-night neighborhood walks they probably shouldn’t have. Krim and Julie are known for sending book-length text messages to each other across ten different threads, all on completely different topics at the same time.
Jabriel Anderson
Groomsman
Jabriel & Alex met in a video production class at Ohio University and instantly clicked together on movies, music & more. Especially with music, they frequently traded eclectic and diverse playlists with musicians like Mayer Hawthorne, Childish Gambino, Tuxedo, and more. Listening parties for the latest Kendrick Lamar album were a must, whether it was in the backseat of a car or at one of their apartments. One of their most memorable trips together was a 24 hour excursion to Las Vegas which, when asked, both will adamantly reply that it was and still is the perfect amount of time to visit Vegas. Perhaps the greatest bond between the two is that Alex's daughter, Willow was born on the same day as Jabriel's marriage. (Alex had to celebrate both from the hospital)
Cynthia Garcia
Bridesmaid
Cynthia and Julie met in some "Intro to Film" class, quickly clicked, and continued taking classes together until they officially went from classmates to close friends. Along the way, they co-wrote several comedy screenplays that, by today’s standards, would be considered "offensive" and will never, under any circumstances, see the light of day. After college, Julie and Cynthia worked at the same company for about 5 years and became trauma-bonded for life after surviving what can only be described as the most toxic, amazing, soul-crushing, and somehow magical work environment (IYKYK). As previously mentioned, Cynthia later lived with Julie, Johnny, and Alex, a household known for throwing many parties, with zero noise complaints. That is, until one night during COVID lockdown, when the cops arrived expecting a rager and instead found five people and one dog, innocently doing their best to celebrate Cynthia’s birthday.
Harkin Smith
Groomsman
Harkin and Alex met through mutuals at the legendary 10866 residence, the hangout spot for many of Alex's friends including fellow groomsmen Johnny, Jabriel, and Storm. Alex & Harkin grew closer as friends through the many parties at 10866 through the after hours dance offs (Harkin won every time), matching bow ties for "Bow Tie Thursdays" outings at Davey Waynes, as well as the 14 hour Overwatch LAN parties (playing video games together) every Friday at Alex's apartment that was capped off with Little Caesar's Pizza for lunch and dinner. Harkin & Alex have even worked together with Harkin as talent and Alex as producer on several projects at Alex's job at 100 Thieves, an esports/apparel organization. Today, Harkin & Alex are part of a tight knit online gaming group with Johnny, Storm, and several others, who find time to connect through video games as their lives have become more and more busy.
Marissa Vela
Bridesmaid
Julie still remembers the very first conversation she had with Marissa when Marissa was the new girl at school. It was in second, or maybe third grade, when Julie wished her good luck and apologized for the unfortunate news that she had Mrs. Barajas as her teacher (she was a lil mean). They wouldn’t become friends until middle school, as yet another fellow band nerd. For three years, they sat side by side, constantly battling over “chairs” as clarinet players, and CONSTANTLY got in trouble during band practice for giggling together for really no reason at all. Despite being the most normal, and arguably the "coolest", of the group, Marissa has always been a loyal friend. Even when she became a cheerleader and dated the popular football player in high school, she never lost her goofy side and always went along with the silly and often very nerdy hobbies Julie and the rest of her friends dragged her into.
Storm Freeman
Groomsman
Storm and Alex met briefly at Ohio University where they both attended, but their friendship truly blossomed once they both moved out to LA. They both connected through their love of music and gaming at the legendary 10866 residence (I'm telling you, that place was one for the history books), where their most notable connection were the 3am freestlye sessions to random hip hop instrumentals. Perhaps the greatest freestyle rap session they ever had together was on a New Year's Eve where they both freestyled from one year right into the next year. (There has to be a Guinness World Record for that, no?). Alex and Storm have collaborated on several of Storm's freestyle videos with Alex directing, which took place anywhere from an unfinished garage to in front of a projector screen. If you see those videos online, be sure to leave a like and a comment, we greatly appreciate it.
Tricia Cypert
Bridesmaid
Tricia and Julie’s friendship goes back the farthest of all, all the way to kindergarten, where they first met on the monkey bars. In those early days, Julie found herself endlessly frustrated because Tricia kept calling her “Ashley.” To be fair, Tricia was in the morning class and Julie in the afternoon class, so their time together was limited to the brief transition between classes. Eventually Tricia got Julie's name right, and they also grew close in middle school as Tricia was another band nerd. For some reason, outside of their favorite hangout spot as teens, Julie proposed to Tricia with a 25-cent ring from the kids' vending machine, and they jokingly still refer to each other as fiancés. Julie and Tricia shared a klutzy nature as kids, where both of them often found themselves tripping over nothing, rolling down hills by accident at the Senior picnic, or falling out of their desks in class. Fortunately, they have both become more coordinated in adulthood.
Jennifer Guevara
Bridesmaid
Jennifer is Julie's sister. Because they are 10 years apart, they didn't have the "normal" sibling rivalry of fighting over clothes or toys. Instead, teenage Jennifer was probably annoyed that she often had to walk her sister home after school or bring her along with her when she hung out with her friends. Always calm and collected under pressure, Julie knew she wanted her sister by her side during the labor and delivery of her daughter, Willow. And thank goodness she was. Jennifer caught countless details along the way, speaking up when it mattered most and helping ensure both Julie and Willow were safe. Julie and Alex will once again lean on her steady presence and support as they prepare to welcome their baby boy.
Janae Guevara
Bridesmaid
Janae is Julie's first baby niece, who is now all grown up with two baby boys of her own! The tables were turned on teenage Julie, just like her sister, and she often watched young Janae while she was hanging out with her friends. For reasons only young Janae could explain, she also decided that Julie’s friends needed new names and confidently assigned them food-based nicknames that she continued using for years, whether they liked it or not. Along with her brother Isaac, Janae was frequently the star of young filmmaker Julie’s homemade “movies” and “commercials,” helping spark Julie's lifelong love of creativity and storytelling.
