Wedding Party
Anton Limolli
Best Man
Anton and David met during their freshman year of high school. They would see each other in the hallways every now and then but never really made a connection until junior year, when they both became extremely into the NFL. Anton, being a typical New England Patriots bandwagoner, would always talk about how Tom Brady was the greatest human to ever exist. David, however, had other thoughts. He believed Tom Brady was just a pretty boy who got lucky to be in the right situation. In his mind, Brady could never come close to being as great as Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. David enjoyed listening to how passionate Anton would get about the subject and continued egging him on. They started hanging out outside of school going into senior year and have been best friends ever since. Both of them have since moved away from Massachusetts, but that hasn’t stopped them from talking on the phone and visiting each other at least two to three times a year. Anton has recently received orders to go overseas with the Army for the next year and may not be able to make the wedding. However, no matter what, he will always be David’s best man.
Christina Mercado
Maid of Honor
Shanice met Christina in June 2015. Shanice had just started her undergraduate program at City College and decided, why not take an American History course? I walked into the classroom looking for someone to sit next to and saw Christina. I thought, why not sit next to her and start a conversation? We quickly became good friends and helped each other when it came to writing our papers. We both graduated in 2017, but we stayed in touch and grew into best friends. Over the 10+ years of friendship we share, she has been by my side through every chapter of life. Our friendship has been built on countless brunch dates, walks around NYC, and endless calls and texts that keep us connected no matter what. She has supported me through the highs, carried me through the lows, and celebrated every milestone with me. Having Christina stand beside me as my Maid of Honor is incredibly special and means more to me than words can say. I’m beyond grateful for her friendship and her constant encouragement. I always said I wanted a sister, and in Christina, I found that. I’m so excited to have my best friend right there with me as I begin this new chapter.
Elka Guitia
Maid of Honor
Elka has been my best friend since the spring of 2017, when we met in an Old English literature course in college one we can both confidently say we did not like at all. We always sat in the back of the classroom or against the wall so the professor couldn’t see us. From that class on, she has been a constant presence in my life and someone I can always count on. Our friendship is filled with countless brunch dates, endless gossip we love to share, trips to the movies, exploring different parts of NYC, and long audio messages that somehow always turn into the best conversations. Elka has been there for me through all of my highs and lows, offering unwavering support, honesty, and so much love. She is always there when I need someone to talk to or vent about what’s going on, and she’s always ready to give advice and show her support. She knows my heart, understands me deeply, and has stood by me through every season of life. Having her as my Maid of Honor is incredibly meaningful because she has truly been like a sister to me. I am beyond excited to have her by my side on my wedding day as I begin this next chapter.
Ryan Cahill
Groomsman
David and Ryan met in high school while trying out for the baseball team. You can ask Ryan, David was so good at tryouts that the coach specifically asked him to warm the bench so he wouldn’t show up the other players! They didn’t really form a bond until right after high school, when they joined a fantasy football league together. Being really into sports and extremely competitive, they immediately started sending trade requests back and forth, each trying to gain the upper hand. Ryan quickly realized that David wasn’t as easy to fleece as many of the other GMs he enjoyed swindling—but that never stopped him from trying! Ryan and David would play basketball together whenever they were both in town, but it wasn’t until a “boys’ vacation” in San Diego that they truly became close. From there to Hawaii to Puerto Rico, they’ve built a great friendship and now look forward to their next big adventure—the altar!
Ana Hartop-Khadivi
Bridesmaid
Ana has been my best friend since kindergarten. I literally cannot believe it from going to P.S. 41 together to now, she has been by my side for as long as I can remember. I remember meeting Ana in our kindergarten class and how quickly we became friends. We had so many playdates in elementary school. From childhood memories to growing up together through every stage of life, she has been a constant source of love, support, and laughter. She has truly been there for me through everything, always showing up no matter what. It’s honestly so crazy to see how much our lives have changed over the years from being little girls in kindergarten to now watching her become a mom and recently welcome her beautiful baby girl. Seeing her step into this new chapter has been so special, and it reminds me just how much we’ve grown together through every season of life. It has been so special to watch our friendship continue to grow as our lives change, especially seeing our significant others become such good friends as well. It has also been so fun sending random jokes in all of our group chats together. Having Ana stand with me as a bridesmaid on my wedding day means the world to me. I’m so grateful for our lifelong bond, our friendship, and all the memories we’ve shared, and I’m beyond excited to have her there with me as I celebrate this special day.
Andrew Haynes
Groomsman
David met Andrew in June of 2023. Andrew had just graduated from Officer Candidate School and appeared to be the human embodiment of a golden retriever. Andrew had an incredibly welcoming personality and an uncanny ability to bring people together. In August of that year, David and Andrew got to spend significant time together for the first time when a simple inspection turned into a 10-hour detention. During the inspection, Andrew wasn’t qualified and easily could have spent the time playing on his phone while the two qualified inspectors handled the work. Instead, he asked questions, helped with the write-ups, and, when he noticed the team getting frustrated, lightened the mood by asking everyone what their favorite colors were. The inspection finally ended at 11 p.m., and instead of going straight to bed, Andrew headed out to enjoy what New York City had to offer. Admiring his commitment to friendship and positivity, David began spending more time with him outside of work. They shared terrible jokes, deep life conversations, and plenty of commiseration about how tough dating in NYC could be. Then, in December of 2023, everything changed. David met Shanice—and just a few days later, Andrew met Joy. Now, instead of talking about how terrible dating in NYC is, they’re talking about bachelor parties and double dates!
Olivia O'Connell
Bridesmaid
Olivia and I met in the summer of 2017 in our three-hour Music and Film course in college, and honestly, we survived that class together. What felt like the longest class of the summer somehow turned into the beginning of one of the most meaningful friendships in my life. I truly don’t think I would have made it through those marathon lectures without her by my side. What started as bonding over getting through that class quickly became a friendship filled with laughter, support, and endless memories. Since then, she has been there for me through every high and low, always showing up with encouragement, honesty, and her amazing sense of humor. Having Olivia stand beside me as a bridesmaid on my wedding day means so much to me. From surviving long summer classes to celebrating one of the biggest days of my life, I’m beyond grateful for our friendship and so excited to have her by my side.
Andrew Spellman
Groomsman
Andrew and David met on the little league baseball diamond at the bright young age of six. Andrew always looked up to David and his baseball skills, watching him strike fear into pitchers’ eyes with his infamous “Hammer” swing. You see, most people swing a bat the normal way—but not David. He was so unique that they nicknamed him “The Hammer,” practically guaranteeing three to four strikeouts a game! Andrew and David eventually attended high school together, riding the same bus every morning and rekindling the friendship they had started years earlier. Andrew was the quiet one, while David made sure everyone heard him singing Taylor Swift at the top of his lungs. To this day, Andrew and David try to get together whenever they’re in the same area. Now, Andrew works as an engineer—perhaps trying to design something as perfectly crafted as the legendary “Hammer” swing.
Anthony Svitzer
Groomsman
As Shanice’s brother, Anthony and David only met a couple of years ago, but they already share one extremely important thing in common—their love for Shanice! Anthony is everything you could want in a brother. He is caring, present, loyal, and has a great sense of humor—able to get under Shanice’s skin in a way that only a brother can. Although he’s a Yankees, Jets, and Knicks fan, he has still earned David’s respect and admiration. I mean, you can’t really hold his choice of sports teams against him—if anything, it just proves how loyal he is, sticking with teams are as bad as those! This year, David will gain his first brother when his sister marries her fiancé—and he can’t wait to add a second one in Anthony.
Maureen Moore
Bridesmaid
Soon-to-be Maureen Raabe. I met Maureen in New York in 2024 when she was visiting David, and from the very beginning, I felt so lucky to be gaining not just a future sister-in-law, but a true friend. We met our significant others around the same time, and it has been so special to walk through similar seasons of life together, especially getting engaged just a few months apart. There’s something incredibly meaningful about growing alongside each other during this chapter. As we both prepare for marriage, we’ve been able to share advice, excitement, and all the little in-between moments that make this time so unforgettable. Having her stand by my side as a bridesmaid means so much to me. She will be my second sister, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the bond we’re building and the family we’re becoming. I’m beyond excited to officially call her my sister and to celebrate this beautiful new beginning together.
Alex Monterrey
Groomsman
David and Alex met on the first day of college, when fate brought them together—or maybe it was just alphabetical order. Because of their last names, Alex and David were paired with a third guy as roommates. The two made an unlikely pair. Alex was quiet and liked to keep to himself, effortlessly radiating a cool, calm vibe. David, on the other hand… did not meet any of those criteria! Somehow, that contrast is exactly what made their friendship work. They truly bonded over how insane their third roommate was—because nothing brings two people together quite like shared trauma. Alex and David turned out to be the perfect match. They helped each other study and navigated the experience of living away from home for the first time—even if “away from home” was only 15 minutes for Alex. To this day, they call each other as often as possible to check in and make sure everything is going well. Alex has already visited Puerto Rico twice, with many more trips planned in the near future. Now a firefighter in Chelsea, MA, Alex is ready to make sure David’s wedding day is absolutely fire! 🔥
Joseph Busching
Officiant
Joe and David met at Sector New York when Joe reported from the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis to join the inspection world. When they first met, neither of them had the best first impression. David thought Joe seemed uptight and strict, while Joe thought David was a little too positive—to the point that it felt fake. However, once they started sitting near each other and actually getting to know one another, they quickly realized how similar they were, and their friendship grew from there. Joe was eventually promoted to Port State Control Branch Chief, and David became his assistant. Together, they were an unstoppable duo—their only weakness being that neither of them knows how to stop talking! Although Joe has officially left the Coast Guard and David has since moved to Puerto Rico, they still make it a point to talk at least once a week to catch up on life and recap the latest episode of Survivor. When David and Shanice were thinking about the perfect person to officiate their special day, it was Shanice who suggested Joe. Loud, commanding, and very proud of his Long Island accent, Joe will always have their backs. They truly can’t think of anyone better to officiate this special day and are so excited to hear what he has to say.