Emma & Sam
Wedding Party
Simone Ellis
Maid of Honor
I met Simone when we joined Tri Sigma in 2010 but we became friends in 2013, when we both needed roommates. When we moved in together, I was a recruitment guide and not allowed to hang with most of my friends in public for 2 months. This led to a LOT of time in our apartment together; as we quickly got to know each other I found myself wondering how I hadn’t made friends with her before. Simone is so easy to talk to and the most supportive friend you could have. A small-scale example: she once found a discontinued nail polish I had been after for months, and even though it was a total Simone color, she let me have it. When Simone & Sam met and became fast friends, it was a dream come true. Simone’s friendship means a lot to both of us, and I’m so lucky that she is my(our) Maid of Honor.
Trevor Lichtmann
Best Man
Trevor has been a best friend of mine since our early childhood days and I can’t think of someone who I have gone through more with, making him the perfect Best Man for my wedding day. Traveling, boating, hiking or enduring any twist or turn life has thrown our way, he and I have been through and done it all. While he’s always been there through the tough times and is certainly someone I can lean on, I can also count on him to make some fun ‘dad-jokes’ on my wedding day, a huge plus side to having him up there with me. He also happens to be married to Emma’s maid of honor! Our friendship has gotten better and better throughout the years and I’m excited to see the next chapter through with Trevor!
Ana Carvalho
Bridesmaid
Ana and I have been friends since middle school but we were also lucky enough to get to live together in young adulthood. She is more like a sister than just a friend. She knows me so well and has always called me out on my crap while simultaneously encouraging me to do what’s best for me. We were roommates when I first met Sam so she has watched our relationship from the beginning. When Sam came to pick me up for our second date, Ana sat him down on our couch to give him a good scare and make sure he was the real deal, so when she gave her seal of approval I knew he was something special. Ana has seen me through the absolute best and toughest moments of my life – it was a no-brainer that she would be standing beside me when Sam and I get married.
Joey Shields
Groomsman
Joey has been the only brother I’ve ever had or needed. I remember being thrilled at the news of being told of having a little brother, and he’s grown up to become a best friend. From our annual family vacations in Minnesota to our countless driveway basketball games, through our respective times at UNH and so much more, I couldn’t imagine a childhood and early adult life, or wedding day for that matter, without Joey by my side.
Dave Gelsomino
Bridesman
Dave and I attended the same summer camp from middle school on, but only knew each other from afar until 2008 (our first summer on staff), when we were assigned to be Prayer Partners. We immediately bonded over everything from CIT nightmares to show tunes. From then on, we were pretty inseparable! Dave is one of the most kind, hilarious people you could ever meet, and the life of any party. I have been so lucky to have Dave as a constant in my life, and one of my best friends no matter where we are, geographically or in life. While studying abroad in Europe, we actually auditioned to be on the Amazing Race (not picking us is still one of CBS’s biggest mistakes in my opinion). I couldn’t imagine getting married without Dave standing by my side!
Jordan Ponto
Groomsman
Jordan is the groomsman that I have known the longest and he is much more than a cousin to me; he’s a great friend of mine. Jordan was one of the best parts about my summers in Minnesota growing up, from spending time at the lake together to riding every ride at the Mall of America. Going to Twins games, endless trips to DQ and exploring all over Minneapolis. I couldn’t have my big day take place without Jordan by my side!
Chelsea Marcelin
Bridesmaid
Chelsea is another one of my famous ‘camp friends,’ which to me has always meant someone that you stay connected to, no matter how far away you live or how long you wait to see one another. I don’t think I’ve met a single soul that wasn’t immediately sucked in by Chelsea’s energy and infectious laugh. When Sam and Chelsea first met and Sam could keep up with Chelsea’s good-natured teasing and handle all our cackling, I knew he was a keeper. Chelsea and I have laughed and cried our way through life together since junior high (has it seriously been that long?); she is one of the greatest friends anyone could have and I’m so excited she is part of our wedding day!
Jordan Hoekstra
Groomsman
Jordan officially joined our family as my brother-in-law in 2019, but I’ve considered him family pretty much from the first time I was introduced to him years ago. He’s a fantastic friend, a great golf partner (with an equally bad slice) and an even better husband to my little sister Emily. We had a blast at Emily and Jordan's wedding in 2019 and I’m honored to have Jordan with me on my wedding day.
Kia Minor
Bridesmaid
On the first day of third grade, I was waiting out front to line up with my new class and noticed a girl I had never seen before. That girl was Kia; we introduced ourselves and the rest is history. She and I did so much growing up together and Kia has always been someone who just ‘gets’ me. She’s embraced my truly weird sense of humor, created strange but epic snack combos with me, and encouraged me to be myself even through the awkward tween and teen years. Kia could make watching paint dry fun and I’m so happy to have her as a bridesmaid!
Craig Fitzgerald
Groomsman
Craig and I bond over our love for who can eat more tacos in a single sitting, or who feels worse after a long run. Regardless, he’s always been the friend that is willing to take on those lengthy runs (and taco challenges for that matter) together and I know I can count on him for anything life brings our way. He’s the definition of what a great friend is and I’m so thankful for our relationship that has evolved more and more since the first grade.
Laura Bello
Bridesmaid
Laura came in to our lives just a few years ago (thanks Craig!) but quickly became a dear and valued friend both to me and to Sam. She has one of the sunniest, bubbliest personalities of anyone I have met and can instantly brighten up any atmosphere. Laura is the type of person you can confide in about anything and such a great listener, but she’ll also have you on the floor laughing in no time. Laura is unapologetically herself and it’s so refreshing to have a friend like her who makes it so easy for both of us to just be ourselves too. And, most importantly, Laura and I share the ‘no plans on Sundays’ rule. Sam and I couldn’t picture our wedding party without Laura in it!
Corey Fitzgerald
Groomsman
Corey is the other half of the Fitzgerald best friend combo who I am so thankful for over the course of the years. I’ve seen how Corey reacts to a bad driver in Massachusetts or a Bruins or Patriots dumb play and am proud to say that I very much so enjoy sharing those emotions with him. The high energy, endless laughs and conversations that come along with my time hanging out with Corey, from UNH to UMASS and now in Boston, is what makes him such a great friend to me to this day.
Emily Shields Hoekstra
Bridesmaid
I grew up with a big brother but always wondered what it would be like to have sisters too, and I couldn’t be more excited to be gaining two with Emily and Abby. I remember how nervous I was to meet Emily and her now-husband Jordan for the first time, but they both welcomed me right away – Emily and I even discovered that we had run the same half-marathon, and probably passed each other without ever knowing! Emily has such a kind heart (she is the most loving dog mom) and has been so helpful with the wedding planning process. It was so wonderful to witness Emily and Jordan’s special day and I am so excited for them to be a part of ours, and I can’t wait to have Emily as a sister-in-law!
Jared Liamos
Groomsman
The fate of Jared and I’s friendship was sealed the day we moved into UNH freshman year of college, as Jared was placed as my dorm room next-door neighbor. We clicked instantaneously through our Monday nights watching Jack Bauer in ‘24’, playing basketball on every court UNH had to offer and our love of watching the Celtics. Our friendship has evolved over time, both living in cities across the country while chasing our respective careers, but through the years and miles I’ll always consider Jared a best friend of mine!
Abby Shields
Bridesmaid
I grew up with a big brother but always wondered what it would be like to have sisters too, and I couldn’t be more excited to be gaining two with Emily and Abby. When Sam and I were first dating, I remember Sam telling me about his siblings and mentioning Abby’s great sense of humor, and how he thought we would get along. He was right! We both have a dry sense of humor – great for ragging on Sam – and a weird memory that makes us pretty good Jeopardy contenders. I can always count on Abby to be the other lady up for a round of golf and to give her honest opinion on anything. I can’t wait for her to be my sister-in-law!
Derek Brown
Groomsman
Derek has quickly and effortlessly become a tremendous friend over the course of the past few years. He’s been a roommate of mine, a coworker, a summer softball teammate and a buddy through his time in Boston and since then. Despite his professional sport allegiances, he’s always been someone I can talk to about anything going on within our circles of friends, industry or life in general.