Wedding Party
Zach Martinez
Man of Honor
Zach's values live so close to the surface... as does his infectious giggle. Usually, both come out in every sentence he speaks. In his career as a visionary filmmaker, he's consistently made work that centers the dignity of the human person. Also: he's a face-meltingly good guitarist/drummer/singer, a proud Texan to his bones, and a VERY nerdy gearhead. Pictured: Us eating Whataburger in Zach's car late at night (Maria's first time! It was great!)
Gab Bottoni
Best Woman
Gab is a nurturer. Time with her feels like a home-cooked meal from your Italian mom: warm, full of love, and not without the risk of getting smacked by a wooden spoon. This quality has served her well as a writer and performer on stage and screen because of the patience required for the seemingly endless rewrites to get a script juuuuuust right, the openness to partake in many a silly bit, and the willingness to walk with a worthwhile project (or person!) through the good times and the bad. Pictured: Eating some dang good Thai food in Los Angeles (Kevin’s first time in LA, Gab’s an old hand aka lives there)
Helen Ptak
Bridesmaid
Helen is a truth-teller. I'd say "fearless truth-teller", but that'd be a disservice to her brutal honesty about how hard it is sometimes. She's someone that holds both iron strength and feathery softness side by side inside herself, and sews them together in seams of self-deprecating laughter. Also: she designs all her own tattoos, she can make / fix / reinvent anything out of wood, and (like me) she is a recovering horse girl. Pictured: Helen's wedding, at which Maria was STOKED.
Jesse Otero
Groomsman
Jesse is a creator. Time with him feels full of imagination and possibility, whether that’s writing music in his home studio, flipping the perfect pancake, or making time to ask his friends and family how they’re doing, no, REALLY, how are they doing? Pictured: Getting silly before I’ve even taken off my hat & coat.
Vijay Menon
Bridesman
I called Vijay a few summers back and said "I'm moving out of my apartment and I don't really have a plan". He said "the spare bedroom's yours for however long you need it." He's the kind of friend that sits on the phone with me for however long as I wrestle my feelings into order, and all the while I can feel him listening with his whole heart. Pictured: Us being VERY excited to eat a mini bundt cake. In addition to desserts, Vijay also gets really excited about 90s hip-hop, rum, and large data sets.
Brian Ruth
Groomsman
Brian Ruth is a force of nature. He is a hurricane of energy with a tempest laugh that could put any witch to shame, but at his core is a calm eye of loyalty that his loved ones can always rely on. Pictured: Us being told by his cat Turtle to, “zip it bub”.
Collin "Bert" Barnwell
Bridesman
Once upon a time, Bert said to me: "Look, you took an intro film class last year and you loved it and you were good at it. Why not just do that?" For some reason, that was all it took to give myself permission to be happy, and if that isn't the definition of a best friend I don't know what is. Bert is someone I consistently credit with gently opening doors in my mind to a more pluralistic social vision, a kinder inner voice of self-compassion, and a way more joyful desire to engage with the world and learn what others have to say. Pictured: us at Bert's wedding, both of us thrilled that he got married to someone that wasn't me.
Brian Knapp
Groomsman
Brian Knapp is an explorer. He has been all over the world (25+ countries and counting!), has an appetite for experiencing the new and unknown, but also an appetite that can somehow subsist on clementines alone. Ask him about the latest birdsongs he has recorded from his yard (you’ll thank me later). Pictured: Posing for our inevitable debut as a stage magic duo.
The Trio
Flower Girls & Reader
My sisters, Catharine Aiura & Stephanie Moy: These women have, quite simply, looked out for me my entire life. I saw them send letters back and forth from Japan - that taught me how to build friendships across distance. I saw them navigate college, relationships, and careers before me - that taught me how to buck up and dive into new experiences head first. Everything I am, I owe to their leadership, their sense of adventure, and their fierce tenderness in building & protecting the bonds that matter most. And my niece Kit Kat: she's the reason any of us get up in the morning!
Scott Varga
Groomsman
Scott is a surprise. At first glance you might think he is all golf and finance (which is not technically wrong), but dig a little deeper and you’ll find a dedicated chinchilla dad and a high-fantasy fanboy. Every time you have the privilege of spending time with him a new face reveals itself. Pictured: Scott emerging from our traditional springtime hug to check for his shadow & tell us whether we’ve got six more weeks of winter.