Wedding Party
Nicole Damon
Bride
According to Jason, we first "met" at Maxfield's Bar in Potsdam while the Crane Latin ensemble was performing. It was my freshman year, and a group of my friends were going out. After several months of dating, Jason told me about this night and listed EXACTLY what my going-out outfit was, but quoted - "it was my eye color he noticed the most." I ended up student teaching at Liverpool where we ran into each other at staff meetings, and 3 years later our marching bands were competing against each other. Towards the end of that season, an innocent explanation of situations at a competition turned into his friends telling him "dude, she just told you she was single!" This prompted a facebook friend request from him, and an offer of drinks turning into a date which I thought was a professional get-together. After taking over an hour to order because we just kept talking, a 6pm dinner reservation turning into staying until Basil Leaf closed, I realized it was a fantastic date. 100s of dates later, 3 cats, trips around the world, a pandemic and lock-down, a house, and I can truly say I am so excited to be marrying my best friend. Thank you all for sharing this day with us!
Jason Schirripa
Groom
You can only be told, shown, prodded, or made aware by the Universe so many times that your person is right there. Consider nearly meeting or passing by that person several times in college, to an inordinate number of run-ins at marching band shows over a period of weeks. Rather than continuing to orbit one another, I suggested a visit to the Basil Leaf for dinner. It went so well that we took nearly 2 hours to order, and we left shortly after closing time. Since then, I have had the absolute joy of sharing meals, travel, day trips, vacations, holidays, sitting with cats, family, friends, career, a home, and life with Nicole. I was most grateful to ask her to share this life with me on a trip to Italy, while enjoying the company of friends, the joy of music making, and our shared intrigue in Europe and learning more about our connection to that beautiful part of the world. I cannot wait to share more adventures and this life with my partner and best friend. We are so grateful to have you share this day with us!
Ashley Trudell
Maid of Honor
Ashley is like the big sister Nicole always wanted. We first met when Ashley was student teaching in Baldwinsville, and told me her experiences at Potsdam. With her advice, I auditioned for and accepted her offer to attend the Crane School of Music. After graduation, we reconnected and would often attend the NYSSMA conferences together, as I would help Ashley with the stage crew. This led to many fun weekends together. At one of these weekends, I told Ashley about a great new guy I had been seeing, and was excited to hear Ashley and Jason were in the percussion studio together at Crane. After giving me the whole scoop - and a "if you ever hurt him, he's like a brother" speech, Ashley gave Jason the same "if you ever hurt her, she's a like a sister" talk. Ashley has remained a great constant in both of ours lives, accepting her maid of honor role over a spread of very spicy Indian food!
Marco Schirripa
Best Man
Marco and Jason grew up doing the things brothers do - watching TV, playing sports in the yard, making up inventive sports trading card games (long before MLB Showdown really became a thing) and throwing video game controllers across the house at one another as yet another Sega hockey matchup was settled. We also share a bond through percussion, which kept us connected as we navigated college and careers in different parts of the country. I've enjoyed trips to Indiana to see Marco for his Performance Certificate recital and his doctoral graduation, I fondly remember Marco joining me on my master's degree recital to perform Marco's duet for snare drum and marimba entitled "...?!". I was ecstatic for Marco to visit and meet Nicole for the first time, to see my band, "Brass, Inc." perform at Muranda Cheese Co. Since then, we have looked forward to hanging with Marco for various holidays and visits, and especially enjoy Marco's prowess in the kitchen with vegan/vegetarian cuisine! I am grateful and proud to have my brother as my Best Man.
Garrett Darrah
Bridesman
Garrett and Nicole have been friends for well over 20 years. We were on the same youth bowling team, and remained great friends throughout the years. Sharks and minnows, scary movie nights and Ouija boards, camping, marching band trips, college, and tons of hang outs later, Garrett has always been my go-to. Our childhood friendship has lasted the test of time. I am so thrilled we got to share in each other's engagement joy, I am so excited to have Garrett stand up next to me.
Danny Rosoff
Groomsman
Danny and Jason first met at the University of Central Florida by virtue of pledging Phi Mu Alpha together. We bonded over the drums and Super Smash Bros., and the rest is history. Long story incredibly short: Danny was instrumental helping me navigating my time at UCF. He always had a beer for you in good times, and ear for you in bad times, and the truth when you needed it most. Danny now joins Jason at the best time - in celebration of our wedding day!
Lindsay Rossillo
Bridesmaid
Lindsay and Nicole go way back to Pop Warner cheerleading. After the glory years ended, we reconnected by playing flute together in high school band and marching band. A few more years after graduation, we reconnected again and it was like no time had passed. The last several years have been filled with fun nights out downtown, nail and spa days, girls trips, and family time. Pizza nights are never the same without Lindsay and Alex over to help "Aunt Nicole" cook. Lindsay accepted her bridesmaid's duties at one of our favorite spots - Chilis!
James Sanders
Groomsman
James and Jason go all the way back to Jason's freshman year of college. Following an injury ending my baseball career, I started to explore other activities which SUNY Oswego had to offer. Enter James, who I would end up hanging out with for the majority of my year there. After moving away to Florida and back again, James and I reconnected, resulting in many misadventures, shows/concerts, late night diner hangs (RIP Quick Cup), and even a stint as neighbors. James remains one of my best friends.
Mariah Pierce
Bridesmaid
Mariah and Nicole played lacrosse together at SUNY Potsdam. We were roommates for almost every lacrosse trip for 4 years, as our room was the "study room." Let's be honest, we were the main reason we got the highest GPA award as a team at banquets! After graduation, we made plans to reconnect at the Potsdam reunion games every fall. She was always my go-to passing partner on the field, so there was no doubt in choosing her to be one of my go-to girls to stand next to me.
Sean Barry
Groomsman
Following Jason's stint in Florida for college, he was fortunate to return and meet several fraternity brothers at Syracuse University. Among them was Sean, a fellow drumline aficionado. After finishing school, I returned to Liverpool and called Sean to teach the marching percussion program with me. We soon after became neighbors, which made hanging out a parallel of a Seinfeld episode. We also share a penchant for golf, often playing Green Lakes or taking a road trip to play. Sean was present the night Nicole and I kept running into each other at a marching band show, and he was among the first to let me know that he was fortunate to have someone like Nicole in his life.
Jason Kammerer
Groomsman
The Jasons met after Schirripa's return from Florida. Kammerer was pledging Phi Mu Alpha at the time, and the two often chatted about fraternity, life, and career aspirations among many other things. While he was already a member of the gang, Kammerer picked up the clubs one summer and became the fourth of the golf crew along with Sean Barry and Chris Ganey. He has also shared in musical theater and marching band with both Jason and Nicole. They are thrilled to have Jason with them for their day!
Chris Ganey
Groomsman
Chris and Jason have been avid drummers. We first met competing against each other in marching band, followed by a summer of drum corps on opposite ends of the snare line. While we didn't finish that summer of drumline together, we reconnected in college, both working on degrees in percussion while marching drum corps (small world: Chris also went to Ithaca with Marco). After I moved back home, Chris and I reconnected through the drumline activity once again. Chris joined the team with me and Sean a few years later, and the rest is history: cold months teaching drumline and warm months playing plenty of golf. Grateful to have Chris with us on this day!