Loading
Loading
Loading
Loading
Loading
Loading
June 24, 2023
Santa Monica, CA

Maria & John

    Home
    Wedding Party
BouquetBouquet

Wedding Party

Meet the family and friends who are walking down the aisle with us!

Marisa London

Maid of Honor

Marisa and Maria have been friends since they met on the first day of 7th grade, almost 15 years ago. They have shared countless adventures together from attending the Coachella music festival in high school (with Maria's mom), to orange picking (with Maria's dad), to creating a song about biology to the tune of "I'll Make A Man Out of You" for an extra credit project in 11th grade honors bio (and yes, it did get sent to the whole science department, despite their embarrassment). Through it all, Maria and Marisa have always remained close as though time, and distance, doesn't exist. When Marisa not so subtly asked Maria if she would be the maid of honor at her wedding one day, Maria laughed and said "we'll see" but she always knew the answer would be yes.


Jack Keating

Best Man

John and Jack met in high school and have been friends for almost 15 years. At Belmont Hill they spent countless hours goofing off in the library, sneaking off campus to go to Chipotle, and grinding to not fail AP Bio. After graduation and throughout college, John spent the majority of summer weekends taking advantage of the Keatings' hospitality and basically moving into their house in Chatham. They spent, and continue to spend, far too many nights consuming far too many mind erasers at the Squire and spending hours riding around in Jack's boat "Drop the Bass." While Jack is always behind wheel, John is securely holding down the fort as the "Third Mate."

Alec Tibaldi

Bridesman

Alec and Maria met working at summer camp together in 2012. They became fast friends and Alec quickly became part of the Roussos family, affectionally coining the term "Mama Roussos Cooking" when referring to the many meals they shared. They knew they would become like family as soon as they dove head first into the large waves during high tide one day at the beach. Whatever the adventure is, they are always ready to tackle it together. Alec has lived with the Roussos family, and Maria has spent many hours with his family, and on his production sets. Alec and Maria have been through it all together, usually while also singing along to Broadway soundtracks. Whether hiking, sharing Christmas dinner with both of their families, or just lounging around, when Maria is around Alec, you can just about guarantee she will be laughing.


James Sutherland

Groomsman

John and James met 25 years ago, when James was born and ruined John's dreams of being an only child; 2 year old John was absolutely devastated. Growing up together, James and John scheduled an annual Middle Earth Day to watch the entirety of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and beat each other up in the backyard with a variety of sports equipment and medieval weaponry. James and John share their affection for oysters and both agree James can (and should) always be the one to shuck them.

Sandra Kibble

Bridesmaid

Sandra and Maria met playing softball at Oberlin. While roommates junior and senior year, they spent many nights baking cookies (and debating if vanilla pudding should go in cookies), watching historical dramas, and of course studying. Sandra and Maria, when not playing softball, spent many Saturdays in the crisp spring weather (snowstorms) watching John's lacrosse games. Through it all Sandra became a close friend to both John and Maria. Sandra has remained one of Maria's closest friends despite living across the country while in medical school. Although both from California, they love to talk about how they grew up a 10 hour drive apart. They also love to talk about that one time they met Orlando Bloom while eating lunch in Malibu with their moms, and argue about over who handed him the salt.


Jack Tamasi

Groomsman

John and Jack met while at Belmont Hill and bonded playing junior varsity lacrosse with Doc Fast, and sneaking off campus to go to Mama Goo's. From the beaches of Chatham, to the slopes of Sunapee, and the Sigma Chi house at Northwestern, they have spent numerous hours laughing and having fun together.

Emily Tucci

Bridesmaid

If the softball team were a sorority, Emily would have been Maria's "little." Although Emily was a freshman when Maria was a senior, they became close friends quickly. It all started when Emily had to eat lunch at the Spanish table in the dining hall and didn't want to eat alone. She asked Maria to join her, and from then on, they ate there every week together. Although there is an age difference, neither felt it and they became like sisters right away. Emily has spent many nights at Maria and John's apartment, and since graduating, has become part of their Chicago family.


Daniel Pardee

Groomsman

John and Daniel met freshman year at Oberlin as teammates on the lacrosse team. They later became roommates while at Oberlin, although short lived. Infamously, while living together, their floor happened to cave in on a Saturday night; the circumstances for what caused the damage remain unclear to this day. More recently, John regularly goes out to visit Daniel in Washington DC and Daniel comes to Chicago where they explore the city and its bars together. A fun fact- Daniel and Maria's parents met during Parent's Weekend freshman year, and Maria's parents still on occasion ask about "the nice guy from Davis" and his parents.

Ceci Burtis

Bridesmaid

Maria and Ceci met the first day of Teach For America in Chicago when they realized they would be working at the same placement school for the next two years. They quickly became friends during the summer while living in the UIC dorms and working at the same school site for summer school. Ceci was always someone Maria could go to to collaborate with (and vent to) in and out of school. After surviving those first few years teaching, Maria and Ceci have been on many adventures including a Mexico trip, a Portugal trip, and a friends ski trip in Galena Illinois.


Ian McCague

Groomsman

Ian and John met as college lacrosse teammates while at Oberlin and were roommates their junior year in a house with arguably the grossest kitchen in greater Lorain county. Now, they live on the same street in Chicago, and spend, in Maria's words, an "exorbitant" amount of time golfing together (and on occasion golfing with Maria). Ian is the self-proclaimed, and widely accepted, god father to Maria and John's dog Mickie. Although he began as John's college teammate and friend, he is now a close friend to both Maria and John.

Nell Condron

Bridesmaid

Nell and Maria met doing Teach For America in Chicago. When Nell (finally) moved to Wicker Park they became even closer friends. Nell even became roommates with John and Maria briefly when her plans changed unexpectedly. Maria has been to three countries, four states, and many cities with Nell. They knew they would be life long friends when they both realized the other was also a "get in the water with a goofy looking snorkel" friend (instead of a lay and tan and take instagram pictures friend) while on a catamaran in Mallorca. During her free time, Nell likes to take Mickie on walks (with or without John and Maria).


Sean Somerville

Groomsman

John and Sean met their freshman year of college where they both played lacrosse. They became close friends throughout college and lived together their senior year, first in a house and then after the above described misfortune befell said house, they moved into a small apartment together. They have remained close and often see each other back in DC where Sean lives, in Chicago, back at Oberlin, or on various buddies trips.

Caroline Rectenwal

Bridesmaid

Caroline and Maria met doing Teach For America together in Chicago. They were randomly paired as "collab" partners and spent the summer co-teaching together. Caroline has always been there for Maria providing endless laughs, friendship, and Malort. Together they have navigated the world of case managing their schools' special education departments, spent hours driving to and from grad school together, and spent many nights enjoying Caroline's rooftop hot tub. They are always there to answer the call for each other when life (and special education law questions) come their way.


Steve Kelleher

Groomsman

John and Steve met their freshman year of college where they both played lacrosse. They became close friends throughout college, playing on the same attack line (the last play of their college career was Steve assisting John’s goal.) Since graduation they see each other regularly with Steve traveling to Chicago and John to New York where Steve is completing a dental school residency.

Blakeley Davenport

Bridesmaid

Blakeley and Maria met doing Teach for America in Chicago. Although never roommates, they have lived in the same neighborhood since moving out of the UIC dorms after TFA orientation. During the (few) warm months, they most likely can be found hanging out in the park or going on walks (often with Mickie). During the (many) cold months, they frequent Maria's favorite museum the Field Museum, or Blakeley's favorite Chagall Windows at the Art Institute. From Bachelor Mondays, to a girls' trip to Mexico, they always have fun just enjoying each other's company.


Joey Russell

Groomsman

Joey and John met freshman year of college where they both played lacrosse and were freshman roommates. Their room was a double, converted from either a single or a storage closet and was roughly the size of Harry Potter's cupboard under the stairs. Living in such close proximity, they spent a significant amount of that year watching football and goofing off in the library instead of studying. Even after Joey transferred colleges, they remained close, and John was recently a groomsman in Joey's wedding this past fall. A fun fact- Joey was there when John officially asked Maria to be his girlfriend at the end of their freshman year.

Stephen and Mitza Preonas

Koumbari

Stephen and Maria are not only cousins, but grew up three blocks from each other and went to the same elementary school, although never at the same time. From the moment they met John, both Stephen and Mitza always asked Maria about him, and always were sad to find out he was not in California with her. Whether at Chandler New Years parties, backyard BBQs, or John finding out just how good of a golfer Stephen is (after all of one hole), Maria and John love just hanging out with them. When having to pick Koumbari, they were the clear choice to guide Maria and John into marriage. Stephen and Mitza's love is contagious, and Maria and John are thrilled they said yes!

For all the days along the way
About ZolaGuest FAQsOrder statussupport@zola.com1 (408) 657-ZOLA
Start your wedding website© 2025 Zola, Inc. All rights reserved. Accessibility / Privacy / Terms