Wedding Party
Christina Morgan
Stepmother of the Bride
she helps make our family whole .
Molly Rema
Mother of the Groom
My mom is the kind of person who would give you the shirt off her back—even if you were already wearing several shirts. She fills everyone’s life with warmth and generosity, and as her son, she always makes sure my cup overflows. Even though I may not always say it out loud, I never take for granted just how grateful I am for everything she does. Trying to make her proud, and being the best son I can be, are the only ways I can begin to repay her for everything, even though I know repaying her for everything she does is impossible. Still, that effort has made me a better person every day, adding yet another bullet to the endless list of things I owe to her.
Les Morgan
Father of the Bride
Dad would do anything for his family! .
John Rema
Father of the Groom
If my mom is giving you the shirt off her back, then my dad is offering the pants off his legs. I’ve not only benefitted from, but also learned so much from the quiet, humble generosity he shows to everyone in his life, never expecting anything in return. It's always one of the greatest compliments when someone says I remind them of my dad, and aside from being able to dominate on a badminton court, I strive to be more like him every day. My life is seemingly smooth sailing thanks to the rough waters my parents navigated to get me here—and I’ll forever be grateful for that.
Will Morgan
Man of Honor
I've known him since his birth .
Manoj Rema
Groomsman
My brother is both the person most similar to me in some ways and the most different in others—and I’m lucky for both of those contrasts. His deep passion for everything and everyone in his life, and his "if something is worth doing, it's worth overdoing" mentality are amazing traits that I’m grateful to have influenced me in many ways. And his willingness to wear his heart on his sleeve, a quality that doesn’t come naturally to me, has shown me that true strength doesn’t come from stoically bottling things up, but from being open and authentic, even when it’s uncomfortable. Manoj set the bar high in our household, and my life would be very different had he not done that for me. He’s the kind of person everyone instantly likes, who can make you feel like you’ve known him your entire life—and since I actually have, I can say with certainty, it’s a pretty remarkable gift.
Monica Kalousek
Maid of Honor
best gal and ex common-law wife .
Philip Trandel
Groomsman
“What would Sanjay be like if he were a tall white boy?” A question no one ever asked but we have an answer to. Philip was the first friend I ever made. The story goes that I came home from preschool and told my dad, “I made a friend named Philip, like Fill-It-Up,” and if I tried to write down all the great times we've shared, I’d fill up more than this page. After nearly 30 years of friendship, the influence we’ve had on each other is clear to anyone who knows us. Together we’ve conquered quirky, tough games that hardly anyone’s heard of, and also real-life challenges that anyone can relate to. I often think about how lucky I was as an infant without any working knowledge of the world to randomly choose such a genuinely good person as my friend. It feels like one of the most significant, and one of the greatest, decisions I have ever made. I give my 3-year-old self a little credit for it, but most of the credit deservedly goes to Phil.
Miranda Blood
Bridesmaid
my pseudo twin since kindergarten .
Adam Granger
Groomsman
Have you ever hung out in a group of three friends, and the third friend just says and does hilarious and ridiculous things, prompting the other two to just look at each other and laugh at his antics? That’s what it’s like hanging out with Adam Granger alone. He is simultaneously the friend that says or does something hilariously ridiculous, and then in a wave of self-awareness laughs at his own high jinks. It’s that self-reflection and unseriousness that allows us to have meaningful and vulnerable conversations without any judgment, posturing, or vanity. I’ve found that talking to him is like talking to another version of myself, a version I can be completely open with and who will always be a pillar of support in every way. He is one of the only people I know who sees and appreciates things in me that I don’t always see or appreciate in myself, and reminds me that life is a lot better when you can laugh at, be honest with, and value yourself.
Lauren Slimming
Bridesmaid
my other pseudo twin since kindergarten .
Austin Monroe
Groomsman
My Super Smash Brother from another mother. Every gamer is asked to 'choose your fighter' at some point in life, and I choose Austin. Not just for his physical strength but for his mental and emotional resilience. Austin has always been a bit stubborn—shifting him from one of his beliefs is like trying to move a mountain—but looking back on nearly thirty years of friendship, I’ve seen him move mountains miles. He brings deep, genuine thought and care to every problem and conversation, which perfectly mirrors the deep and genuine thought and care he shows his friends. Because of this, I know he will always be f-air-ing well, in smash and in life.
Masooma Dosani
Bridesmaid
my freshman year roomie and a go-to for advice .
Blaine Wooten
Groomsman
So many nights I will never forget, and a couple I will never remember, but all cherished one way or another. Just like a music video can breathe new life into a song, Blaine has a way of injecting energy and excitement into every setting we are in. Whether that setting is Athens, Atlanta, Long Beach, Miami, LA, Williamsburg or various towns in Costa Rica it is always a lot more fun, and feels a little more like home, with Blaine there. I’ve always found it funny that he was one of the only viola players in our orchestra growing up—it made him stand out in a very unique and important role. The same can be said about him as a close friend in my life.
Megan Ogden
Bridesmaid
my college bestie and attitude role model
James Foutz
Groomsman
James is as reliable a friend a person can have, in every way. He always comes through if I ever need help moving, a ride anywhere, or hypothetically fixing a hole in a wall. However, his reliability runs even deeper than that. In every situation we have found ourselves in, James has always been a beacon of light on a dark rock. Many a time I have been at a party or bar without a soul to talk to or a shelf to lean on, and like a desperate shipwrecked captain looking for a lighthouse, I could always spot James Foutz in a sea of forgettable faces and steer myself in his direction to safety. I could dock myself next to him and spend the rest of the night relaxed, laughing, and happy. This is not a common quality that people possess, but it comes so naturally to him.
Perry Ah
Groomsman
Many people believe it was Covid-19 that led to the decline of the movie theater industry, but little do they know that it was Perry and my wild abuse of MoviePass that did them in. Whether we were checking out every movie with even a hint of acclaim, playing endless deuces in tennis, or hanging out at goth bars in Houston, I knew I was in for a great time with Perry. Beyond that, his presence at both the high school I transferred to and later the city I moved to helped me navigate situations that could have been much tougher. People have asked if I’m happy with my parent’s decision to transfer me from Clarke Central to Athens Academy for my sophomore year. Countless factors make me think either path could have worked out, but one thing I know for sure is that I never would have met Perry if I hadn’t transferred. That fact is enough to make me feel certain that the transfer was the right move and settles that debate in my head for good.