Sahel & Pablo
Wedding Party
Ali Behpoornia
Bridesman
Ali has been Sahel's number one supporter her entire life. Growing up, they spent time together cheering on the Lakers, watching Pokemon, and taking karate lessons. Of course, they went through the "annoying" younger sibling and "too cool" older sibling stages, but after Sahel left for college, distance really did make the heart grow fonder, and they became much closer and more involved in each other's lives. Ali and Pablo got along immediately- you'll have to ask them about the story when they first met, it's a good one. Ali has the most compassionate heart, has the best dad jokes, and will always go the extra mile to help out.
Vianey Lopez
Groomswoman
Pablo is the youngest of 11 siblings, and Vianey is the second youngest. They’re a little less than 14 months apart in age, so growing up, they were very close, but they also had the typical sibling rivalry. Nowadays, they bond over making travel plans or grabbing a beer (or two) at one of the many Ventura county breweries. One of Pablo’s favorite memories is when they travelled throughout Europe together along with their parents in September 2019. Vianey is very supportive, passionate, driven, and involved in the community.
Andrea Valenzuela
Bridesmaid
Sally met Andrea in 2012 during undergrad at UCSB where they were RAs together. They started grad school at USC together in 2013 and have been inseparable ever since. Andrea was there the first moment when Sally met Pablo during a summer training session at USC. Sally and Andrea quickly bonded over their shared values of family, education, and of course, tequila. They have shared some fun travel adventures to Mexico City, Cabo, Utah, and most recently, Jalisco. Andrea has so much empathy and is deeply loving of others. She's also a great dancer, so at the wedding, you'll definitely find her on the dance floor!
Fernie Peña
Groomsman
Pablo met Fernie in 2006 at a Summer Transitional Enrichment Program (STEP) at UCSB, the summer before their first-year of college. During that first-year, Fernie would always be hanging out in Pablo’s residence hall, and they very quickly became best friends. They both went to undergrad at UCSB, attended USC for their masters, and lived together for about 5 years. Fernie is someone who has always had Pablo’s back. They share a lot of similar interests including golf, working in higher education, and attending different sporting events. Fernie hosted the 4th of July party in 2015 where Sally & Pablo reconnected after grad school.
Dr. Jenn Ellingwood
Bridesmaid
Sally and Jenn met in 2015, when they started the same job at USC. The two connected quickly over first, a similar work ethic and passion for working with students, and then as they got to know each other better, they bonded over a love for all things Kate Spade and a shared interest in continuing their education, both eventually receiving their doctorate in education at USC. Jenn is an incredibly supportive friend and is very thoughtful. She's also has a love for tequila, so at the wedding, you'll probably find her at the bar ordering tequila!
Marcos Cervantes
Groomsman
Pablo first met Marcos playing AYSO soccer in 2001. They both grew up in Oxnard, CA, and they attended the same high school. They knew of each other but didn’t become best friends until they decided to room together in San Miguel residence hall at UCSB their first-year. They roomed together for 6 years- through all 4 years of college and 2 years after. They bonded over a lot of shared interests including soccer, music, beer, and hiking. One of Pablo’s favorite memories is when they took a very spontaneous trip and decided to go to Vegas in the middle of the night sometime in 2013.
Corey Lueker
Bridesman
Sally met Corey in 2014 at USC. Sally and Corey are both homebodies, preferring to stay in than go out, and they have a very similar interest in many TV shows, so they bonded over evenings watching one of their shows such as Grey's Anatomy and having dinner from one of their favorite spots, Taco Bell. Corey and Pablo also swept Sally into the Marvel and Star Wars world, and thankfully Corey has patience (maybe?) for Sally's 1,000 follow-up questions after every new movie. Corey is such a dependable friend and has a great sense of humor. Sally and Corey also share a love for animals. Their Instagram messages are filled with basically only animal related memes and stories.
Armando Gonzalez
Groomsman
Pablo was 4 when Armando was born. Pablo is Armando’s uncle, but they grew up more like siblings. They lived in the same household for several years and were always getting into trouble together. Growing up, they would play Nintendo 64 together, watch cartoons, play AYSO soccer, and attend family trips. Every year, the Lopez family plans a summer trip, so Pablo and Armando have visited several places together including Cancun, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Vallarta. Pablo and Armando continue to have several shared interests including music, basketball, and fitness.
Dr. Alejandra Hong
Officiant
Ally has been an important friend to Sally & Pablo. Sally met Ally at UCSB in 2011, and Pablo met Ally at USC in 2013. Ally has provided them wisdom and guidance in their relationship and she's been extremely supportive to their growth as a couple. She is an incredibly loyal friend. She shows up to support her friends whenever needed regardless of what is going on in her own life, she is your number one cheerleader celebrating all of your accomplishments, and she loves you fiercely. She will do Sally & Pablo the honor of marrying them!