Sandra & Paul
Wedding Party
Eli Robles
Maid of Honor
My big ‘little’ sister, as we like to joke since she’s much shorter than me. Born just 11 months apart, we shared the same clothes, friends, and adventures growing up. She’s more than my sister, she’s my very best friend and I’m so lucky that I’ve had this incredibly kind, patient, funny woman by my side since the day I was born. I’ve loved watching her become an amazing mama and I admire her so much! <3
Kelvin Lightner
Best Man
Kelvin and Paul first met as students at Cal in 2010. They bonded quickly in college over their balanced prioritization of economics problem sets, living the social dream, and spreading the Gospel of Jesus. Kelvin has a magnetic charm and rare depth that belie the fact that he actually talks to computers for much of the day as a software engineer. Kelvin and Paul have been roommates in three separate residences. Paul admires Kelvin's inner journey toward emotional and spiritual wholeness and has been deeply impacted by Kelvin's life and stories. Kelvin first shared the enneagram with Paul (a personality typology) that Paul has leaned on for language to understand himself, others, and God.
Cristina Owre
Bridesmaid
Cristina and I met through mutual friends in 2016 and moved in together soon after! She is my favorite person to get together with over a nice dinner and, of course, a bottle of wine (we love wine). When we’re together it really feels like we can talk about anything for hours! She’s incredibly dependable and I have tremendous respect for her.
Andy Escalante
Groomsman
Andy and Paul first met at a winery in Livermore. Andy was legendary in the family lore that Sandra shared with Paul on their first dates because he treated Eli, Sandra’s sister, so wonderfully. The world needs more people like Andy whose unanxious presence and old school work ethic are reminiscent of Pip’s Uncle Joe in Great Expectations or Paul’s Uncle Jason, who he truly admires. Andy is the man that made Paul a tio :) Paul is so grateful to Andy for sharing his family with Paul.
Alexandria Allarde
Bridesmaid
There are few people who understand my adolescence better than Alex. We met in middle school and were close through our most formative years. We were pretty wild teenagers (sorry mom!) but we’ve matured since then and most importantly, found Jesus. Of all the things we’ve done together, including backpacking through Asia for a month, my most cherished experience with Alex is getting baptized together. I’m so grateful to have Alex as my sister in Christ!
Jonathan Newman
Groomsman
Jonathan and Paul first met at a Halloween party in 2014 where Jonathan was costumed with uncanny accuracy as Lord Voldemort. Jonathan and Paul were roommates through 2015 and joined the same community group through Reality SF church where they spent their Tuesday nights together until this year. Jonathan is reliable and stable and someone that Paul admires as the best listener that he knows. Jonathan's eagerness to learn from and help the marginalized in society is nearly matched by his passion for hip hop dance and CrossFit. After several of Paul and Jonathan's close friends got married, Jonathan and Paul held it down for the single boys at church and shared countless stories of early-days dates with each other which were encouraging to Paul through some of the darker days of Hinge.
Shine Gao
Bridesmaid
Just like her name, Shine is one of the most unique people you may ever meet! My first memory of Shine goes back to the second grade when we bumped heads on the playground and she busted my lip. We still get a good laugh thinking about our big bang! She is endearingly quirky and has brought so much light into my life!
Kyle Stangland
Groomsman
Kyle and Paul first met at the polo field pull-up bars in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco in July 2016. They spent much of their quality time thereafter doing the same thing they did the day they met: working out. Kyle can run fast without getting tired. And he pulls more water in a kayak than Poseidon on a rainy day. Kyle and Paul were roommates through 2021 in San Francisco. Sometimes people ask the question, "What would you eat if it was your last meal ever?" Paul's answer is Kyle's BBQ chicken. Kyle is a faithful man of God, and he once shared with Paul a word that has stuck with him since he heard it: "shame and conviction can be distinguished because shame doesn't appeal to your identity."
Amanda Ponciano
Bridesmaid
When I was 19 I worked at Nordstrom in the Kids Dept. One day a really pretty, auburn haired girl started working in Kids Shoe Dept and I knew I had to say hi! Instantly, it was clear we were two peas in a pod and thus we became known as ‘Sandy and Mandy.’ She has remained a constant in my life and even when life gets the best of us and time passes, when we sync up it’s like we never skipped a beat. I love her sweet, free spirit so much!
Kyle Teese
Groomsman
Paul first knew Kyle as the guy who broke his friend Kayla’s heart (Kyle and Kayla worked it out and are now married). Paul overcame his early protectiveness and met Kyle outside of church, and Paul quickly learned that Kyle was the coolest person he knew. Kyle introduced Paul to SF, fantasy basketball, the Golden State Warriors, Paul’s favorite Korean restaurant, Stance socks, sick chord progressions on the guitar, Kendrick Lamar, and Soren Kierkegaard. Paul has long admired Kyle’s spiritual, emotional, and intellectual honesty. Kyle has some connection to Stance and has shared free boxer briefs and socks with Paul which make up most of his underwear and sock drawer today.
Meri Admire
Bridesmaid
Meri and I met while working together at a recruiting agency. She is absolutely magnetic and has a warmth about her that has always made me feel so loved. I admire her work ethic, optimism, and how much she genuinely cares about others. We’ve traveled across the world together from Australia to Guatemala and in between. I can’t wait for more adventures together!
Matthew Melendrez
Groomsman
Matt and Paul met at the cocktail hour snack table at a wedding that Matt officiated for a mutual friend. Despite the 230 mile distance separating their homes, the two have consistently found time to spend with each other, whether it be staying out late in SLO, finding Thai food and gluten-free beer in SF, touring Europe, or spending no less than 1 hour on the phone every time they catch up. Paul admires Matt’s longstanding commitment to justice and is inspired by the support he provided his family and mom through her battle with cancer. Matt has often shared a bed with Paul when they’ve traveled abroad and Matt is among the most serene sleepers that Paul has ever known.
Clare Kerekes
Bridesmaid
In 2019 Clare and I lived together but were always out and about living our best lives - yass! It wasn’t until Covid hit and lockdown was mandated that our friendship really blossomed. We would spend hours on end in our small living room chatting, trying to learn TikTok dances and streaming workout classes. I always have so much fun hanging out with Clare and appreciate all the wisdom she shares with me.
Rafat Khan
Groomsman
Paul and Rafat’s friendship began when they were randomly paired for a 1:1 4-hour carpool to Yosemite from SF in 2018. Nary has a road trip double-blind friendship date moved so quickly from mutual skepticism to sublime connection. Paul and Rafat have since adventured up and down California, hiked the Kalalau Trail in Kauai, kayak-camped the Napali Coast, and spent 3 months living together in the OC with Paul’s parents during CoVID. Paul deeply admires Rafat’s insatiable thirst for Type I, Type II, and Type III fun, and his unwavering commitment to eradicate loneliness. Rafat’s warm hearth, homemade butter chicken and garlic naan, and diverse, beautiful tablemates likely rival the Christ’s. Paul is most grateful for the exquisite meals Rafat has shared with him.
Julia Petit
Bridesmaid
The first time I met Julia we were standing on a busy street in SF preparing to surprise Paul for his 30th birthday. I was really excited to meet her and knew all about Paul’s deep adoration for her. I will never forget embracing in a huge hug and feeling so grateful for how welcoming she was. I have always felt a kindred connection with Julia and admire how articulate she is when sharing about her experiences and feelings. I cannot believe how blessed I am to have her as my sister!
Riley Carey
Groomsman
Paul and Riley met at Legoland Carlsbad at Brett Morris’ birthday party when they were 10. It’s been awhile since they were confused for each in middle school for their strikingly similar skinny white boy swag, but they’ve kept in regular touch through their college years, 20s, and (yep, we made it) 30s. Few people can jam to early Relient K like Riley can, and Paul admires that about him more than Riley knows. Just prior to a formative trip he took to a Big Sur hermitage, Riley shared something that Paul holds onto: God is excited for this quality time, and he will honor it no matter how you come.
Kate Petit
Bridesmaid
Before I met Kate, Paul would joke that she’s the “best Petit” … I think he was right! She’s so full of life and has the very special gift of lighting up any room she steps into. Her smile is just as infectious as her enthusiasm for life and I’m so excited to be her sister and sharing all the good times to come!
Tyler Nagayama
Groomsman
Tyler and Paul met in the backyard of the apartment that would eventually become their joint residence in the Sunset district of San Francisco. The backyard of that apartment was the gathering spot for the squad for years where Tyler and Paul loved throwing on a dense jacket, cranking up the fire pit, and hosting. Tyler is a talented designer, the dependable stalwart at goalie for Tyler and Paul’s men’s league soccer team, and almost as unstoppable with Liverpool in Fifa as Liverpool is in real life. After wisely fleeing the lonely, foggy City for Kona during the Pandemic, Tyler shared most of his very cool furniture and wall art with Paul, and it is proudly displayed in Paul’s apartment to this day.
Benjamin
Ring Bearer
Benny is two! He is Sandra's nephew and the absolute light of our lives. He is incredibly smart and the coolest kid to rock a man bun (boy bun?). With baby #2 on the way, we know Benny is going to be the best Big Bro!