Maid of Honor
My baby sister! We have shared so many memories. Some of the greatest highlights consist of things being "nice and sturdy," square dancing at Skytop, running around London thinking I have the best British accent only to find out from you that it is horrible, eating our way through Italy, ordering a million virgin Pina Coladas in the Caribbean only to drink a sip of them and walk away, "I guess it wasn't skim milk", "Hello, Buenos Aires" and so much more. There is nobody else I would ever consider making my Maid of Honor, except for Emily. You are my sister, and the most important person to have by my side on this day. I love you and could not do this without you right there next to me.
Best Man
To convey my feelings towards Thejas in a paragraph would be a bit...focaccia. C'mon son. He is, and will forever be, my closest, most trusted friend and confidant. The reverence I have for who he is and who he continues to become is unmatched. He perpetually teaches me focus, passion, and how to be a better person both internally and in relation to the world around me. To this day I have never laughed so hard, so much, with anyone else. He is a pillar of love and support I could not survive without. Growing up with someone is quite a journey. A journey you are put on without your consent or influence. And from the very moment I went from being just Vishwas to having Thejas as my younger brother, nothing was ever the same. And for that? Wait for iiiiiiiiit: I simply could not be happier.
Bridesmaid
We met in 5th grade when Liza came to tour The Calhoun School. I was her buddy for the day, and I guess I sold it pretty well because the next year, we were in school together! After years of fashion shows, parties in her hallway, Thai food on the east side, and spring break in Montreal senior year, Liza has become one of my truest friends and confidants. As adults, our friendship has continued to grow and she remains the glue of our group, always the first to initiate plans and bring people together. A lifelong friend and one of the kindest and most genuine people I know, I can't walk down the aisle without her by my side.
Groomsman
From orientation mates, to (briefly) dorm neighbors, to (also briefly) frat brothers, to lifelong brothers: it's been quite the ride thus far. There's a unique energy Mickey brings to our collective lives and it's a bit addicting after you've taken enough peyote. At the end of every day from Fall 2009 onward, it should be known that the person I was and am is inextricable from the person he was and is. It is almost as if the French studied Mickey while on the journey that coined the phrase "joie de vivre." Was I to go back to our first apartment together in 2010 and tell us what was to come, I'd probably say, "Will you two stop screaming Mumford & Sons songs from the balcony it's 3AM and neither of you came to this school to be music majors. And stop eating so much pizza. It's concerning."
Bridesmaid
Officially, we met in college at the University of Wisconsin as she was one of Vish's friends. However, it was not until we graduated and both started living in Southern California that we really became close. From tacos, cocktails, Juniper and Ivy, and more, Sarah quickly developed into one of my best friends. Driving the hour and a half between my house in San Diego and hers in Orange County was one of my favorite things to do. I would not have made it through that year in San Diego without her. Although we now live across the country from each other, she is still one of the most important people in my life. I am so excited to have you by my side on this day.
Groomsman
There is history here. At the very least, that can be said. If not for their contributions to music, Wu-Tang Clan should be commemorated for uniting Dan and me in the hallways of South Burlington High School by way of a t-shirt I purchased at Hot Topic. Side note: why did Hot Topic have so many hip-hop t-shirts? Regardless, Dan did and does continue to play an immensely pivotal role in my life. He was the first to believe in me and who I was, regardless of what I was doing. The list of adventures we've had is too long to even begin to get into, and many of them have been redacted from official records. If Hollywood were ever to be desperate enough to cast me as Rocky in another (albeit strange) reboot, I'll only sign the deal if payment is in crypto and Dan Healy is cast as my corner man.
Bridesmaid
I had just moved back to the city after a year on the west coast. I was looking for my next job. I find an internship at a small casting agency in a brownstone on the Upper West Side. It is there that I meet Erica. After a few months and a few Halloween parties, Erica quickly became one of my best friends. It is hard for me to pinpoint the exact moment we realized that we were meant to be lifelong friends, but regardless of how it happened I am extremely glad that it turned out this way. We have had so many great girls' nights, trips to Fire Island, and more. My shopping, sushi, and skincare buddy, I am so happy to have you standing by my side on this day.
Groomsman
My friendship with Matt began on his 21st birthday. And that's all that will be said about that. I believe that your long-term friends become so in part because they teach you something about life and yourself. I continue to be a student of Matt's passionate care and loyalty towards that which he loves. There is a deep comfort that comes with knowing Matt is on your team. It is a rare feeling that you must do everything you can to keep around, should you be lucky enough to experience it. Although change is usually good, every time I see Matt it feels like nothing has, and there is a unique beauty in sharing time with someone who elicits those feelings. But, with all that being said, what is there not to love and trust about the only person I know that loves the Packers more than me?
Bridesmaid
Rebecca (Becky) and I met at Calhoun in 6th grade. In the middle of my sophomore year of college, I decided I needed a change and moved back home for a semester before transferring to Wisconsin. During that semester, Becky was also home, and we quickly became extremely close. I will never forget trying to go to the Drake concert at the South Street Seaport that had to be canceled because fans were climbing up the buildings' side (if Vish lived in NYC then he would have definitely been one of them). As our friendship grew, Becky quickly became my travel buddy as we explored Spain and France together. Another lifelong friend that I am so excited to have by my side.
Groomsman
Have you ever met someone later in life that makes you wonder just how you were able to make it this far without? Someone who shares the things you are passionate about to the levels at which you are passionate about them? A person that understands the paramount importance of the sneaker when completing or judging an outfit? Someone who makes you feel more complete? No, I am not describing my future wife. I am speaking of the singular Justin Odell. It is no surprise that he is one of Sam's oldest and closest friends. She has great taste in people (*gestures at her groom*) even if her taste in sports teams doesn't meet those same standards. But I suppose the same can be said of Justin. So at least, in this very specific instance, the world makes a lot of sense.
Bridesmaid
My baby cousin! Well, not really, but she was before her siblings were born. Growing up, my mom and her sister always made a point for my sister and me to have a close relationship with our cousins and Nicole was the baby cousin. I remember her yellow room, helping to pack her up for her first year at summer camp, many family meals at Sambuca, Chanukkah parties, and so much more. Once her siblings were born, Nicole and I continued to bond over being the older siblings, and then we both had the privilege of going to the greatest school of all time: Wisconsin. Although we were there at different times being Badgers has only made our relationship stronger. I would not be able to get married without her being a part of my day.
Groomsman
"Two gentlemen, questionable in dignity, in fair Biology 151 lab, where we lay our scene." It is said that this was the intended opening of Shakespeare's never-published opus: Romeo & Little Romeo. Nonetheless, fate stayed on course and I met Sedat when we were paired as lab partners. Our individual frequencies harmonized well, instantly. That very night, during a clear, dark, fall night in Madison, Wisconsin we walked home together, splitting one set of headphones and listening to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. That was over a decade ago, and there is far too much to recount or say about our friendship that has turned family. But in that story are the qualities I revere in Sedat: a lust for life, an openness to share it, and the intense, unwavering support he shows the ones he loves.
Bridesmaid
The real "baby cousin," although she has grown into probably the coolest person in our family. When Jessica and her twin brother Matthew were born, I was so excited. At the time, an eight-year age difference felt huge. You were my cute baby cousin that I used to come over and want to hold. I was the big kid, and now you keep me young. The only Gen Z member of the bridal party Jessica definitely gives us millennials a run for our money. Jessica is one of the kindest and most genuine people I know. Over the years, we have grown into close friends, and that eight-year difference feels non-existent. Just like with your sister, I could not imagine this day without you next to me.
Groomsman
Take out your phone. Open your favorite music app and search: "Dr. Dre What's the Difference?" Now pay close attention from 2:34-2:46. I've felt, and continue to feel, this way about Dan. One night I was walking out of College Library and a kid grabbed my shoulder and said, "Yo! Is that a UVM sweatshirt?? I'm from Vermont." And with that, one of the fiercest duos in hip-hop was born. Dan and I have been through so much, from our biggest wins to some of our most crushing losses. There's no other way to frame it than Dre & Eminem, Stewart & Colbert, Jordan & Pippen, you get the picture. Dan quickly accepted his role as mentor and so much of my life and achievements are a direct result of it. Dan would tell me to say less, so I'll summarize with this: real G's move in silence, like lasagna.
Bridesmaid
Samantha Sheft is another lifelong friend, but it was senior year of high school that we really became close. That year, I was constantly at her house eating Chinese food after school, traveling to Montreal on Spring Break, and more. Freshmen year of college, I traveled down to North Carolina to visit Sam at Duke. It was an experience I will never forget as Sam made sure to wake me up at 7 am on game day with a tequila shot in hand. On this trip, I got to attend a Duke tailgate and a Duke basketball game with one of my best and oldest friends. After college Sam ended up moving a block away, so the "let's meet for a drink after work" became an easy date. Sheft is one of the most amazing people I know, someone I love and admire. I could not imagine this day without her next to me.
Groomsman
When Aaron asked me to be a groomsman at his wedding, it naturally led me to reflect on how we got here. It helped that Aaron lived a few houses down as kids, and it helped even more that we were both a bit out of place in that, well, place. But there is one way in which Aaron stood out: he didn't seem to care. My earliest thoughts of Aaron were usually along the lines of, "Why is he doing that? Doesn't he want to fit in with the cool kids?" But that thought quickly turned into an intense respect. One of the things I love most about Aaron is that he is, and always has been, unapologetically himself. In a world where many do exactly the opposite, my memories with Aaron have always felt more real and wholesome. Be yourself. It's all we can really do. *plays I Want to Break Free by Queen*
Officiant
Casting Michelle as our officiant was a simple task and is sure to pay dividends a la the casting of Leslie Knope. Not only is she a fellow Badger, a brilliant writer, speaker, and fellow theater major, she has also known us from the exact beginnings of our relationship. Michelle has been a dear friend to both of us through the years and bears witness to all that Sam has had to put up with to get to this day. Her quick wit and enormous heart have benefited everyone that gets to call her a friend. It has been a true gift to continue our friendship from the campus of UW to the streets of NYC. It isn't clear how much of your schooling is actually applicable to your life. But it is clear that certain friends made along the way make any uncertainties absolutely worth it. U rah rah. Enough said.
Groomsman
Contrary to popular belief, Jeezy isn't referring to himself when he touts, "Mister if I'm talkin' you should listen, game is free OK?" He speaks of Mr. Viner, of JayStayPaid, or simply "Jay" if you're lucky enough. There is a positivity Jay brings to everything he does. It's infectious. Every championship team needs a glue; someone who keeps them focused, who reminds them of why they are there and what is most important, someone who has their back unequivocally. They all have a Jay. He got me my first job at a BBQ joint in Madison where I first learned the value of earning and of great beer. But importantly, it's where I would invite a girl I liked who lived next door to come and have a drink. So it's only fitting Jay is by my side to see those invites turn into another championship ring.